Love in the time of LIQUOR {Kidnapping Plot Peeps}

[Ilani Moonblood ♬]

"Sweeeeeeeeet emoooooootion. I got some sweeeeeeeeet emooooootion..."

The voice rang out through the empty expanse of the bar, clashing with Aerosmith's scratchy voice. And, given how the two people behind the bar counter winced at every high note it made, it was obvious that the owner of the voice should probably have kept her mouth shut.

Too bad for them that Ilani Moonblood could give two farts.

"God, Ilani, for all that's freaking holy..." Making a show of plugging his ears, Tommy Gallagher, her head bouncer, practically ran for the door. "You sound like a dying cat. I'm heading out before you shatter my eardrums. I'll be back for opening."

"Me too!" Scuttling after her husband, Sherry, her fill-in bartender, waved and shot out the door.

Huh. Was her singing really that bad? Damn, she'd have to remember that the next time she wanted to clear the place out.

With a laugh, Ilani kept wiping down the booths at the back of the bar. It was four in the afternoon and just about the time she'd normally be heading down to the market to stock up on food, but after last night's bachlorette party, the place needed a more thorough cleaning than her tired brain could pull off. Recruiting Tommy and Sherry with a reward of overtime, they'd managed to bring the place from 'Lord, who knew vomit could get THERE?' to something a bit more presentable.

Wiping her forehead on the back of her hand, she straightened with a happy sigh. Steel toed boots made soft thumping noises as she moved back toward the bar, plopping her rag and disinfectant onto the counter. She'd chosen neon blue for her streaks that week, and currently wore a corsette style shirt and tights, with little snarling werewolves in her hair.

Yep, she was definitely ready for 8 o'clock to come around. She loved the noise, the bikers, seeing all those happy faces as she greeted her clients outside...

Ugh, but she really did hate the back up at the bar. She did have a pretty good bartender a while back, but Pauolo liked his two hour 'smoke breaks' a bit too much.

Man, good help was really hard to find these days. Talk about her baby being a double edged sword.

[Marissa Skye ☀]

It's never enough to say I'm sorry
It's never enough to say I care
But I'm caught between what you wanted from me
And knowing that if I give that to you
I might just disappear
Nobody wins when everyone's losing
It's like one step forward and two steps back
No matter what I do you're always mad
And I, I can't change your mind
I know it's like trying to turn around on one way street
I can't give you what you want
And it's killing me
And I, I'm starting to see
Maybe we're not meant to be

The compound was eerily silent as Marissa pressed her ear to the door and listened for the sound of feet outside. She awakened alone in bed early that morning and the solitude of the day had about driven her nuts. Several times she'd tried to pop her head out the door only to get snarled at. Even Danger seemed to be more irritable than normal. It made her wonder just what the hell was going on and why she battled with the urge to flee the place.

Finally, about nine o'clock, Danger had knocked on the door to inform her that Corbin would not be returning that night and the positive air Rissa had been trying to keep popped like a bubble. The sick feeling she'd been battled was back in full force and she suddenly couldn't stand being locked away in the rooms she shared with the man she had come to care a great deal for. Making up her mind, she'd dressed in a pair of jeans and a emerald green halter top before pulling her hair up in a messy ponytail. Then, moving to the door, she pressed her ear to it and... Wallah... There she was.

Contemplating escape for at least a few hours.

Corbin would surely go off if he knew about it but then.... He wasn't going to be coming home tonight so he wouldn't know would he? She needed some girl time and she was going to see Ilani. Maybe the other woman could help her sort this whole thing out.

Satisfied that no one would notice the shift of power in the air, the little nymph moved to the far side of the room and closed her eyes. Drawing on the inward bank of power she'd learned to tap with the help of her little dragon companion, she shifted the air around her and then a feeling of lightness swept her away. In the blink of an eye, she left the dark rooms of the compound and appeared in the ladies room of the infamous pit. One drunk woman blinked at her blearily and then shook her head. Rissa just smiled before waving and exiting the room and making her way to the bar.

Sliding on to a bar stool, the petite blond looked around the place and realized she probably looked very out of place. A few of the biker dudes were eying her like a piece of very tasty candy but a little flicker of her eyes and they backed off. Yes, this new power was certainly handy at times wasn't it.

Just then, the vivacious looking woman behind the bar turned and looked in her direction. Raising her hand, Marissa waved enthusiastically and shouted.

"HEY LANI GIRL!!!! WHAT A GIRL GOTTA DO TO GET A DRINK IN THIS PIT???"

[Kyle Aodhagán †]

Kyle’s expression was grim, and his heavy footfalls just as severe as he traced and retraced the paths that he and Lillie had taken together before her disappearance.
Having gained the trust of many of Sephira’s dragon minions, it had become lucid that though the prophet’s vision of the sorceress starting war in the human realm was accurate, she had nothing to do with the human’s kidnapping.
This realization had put a constraint on the dragon’s search. The shifter had easily found the den where the otherworldly monsters had been holed up, but he was now left with no other information on where the woman could have been taken. Kyle had not informed the Council on this matter and therefore none of them could help him. This was his fault, and there was no way he would allow anyone else to find her; to rain retribution on the one who had stolen her from her home.

That smell…her apartment…it had been so familiar….

A rumble vibrated in his throat as he passed an ancient magnolia and he could not keep his fist from striking out at the thick trunk. The tree shook, and leaves fell around him like papery rain as the timber crumbled under his knuckles. Kyle stretched out his hand and turned it over to look at the skin on his fist that had barely abraded; the thin bleeding scratches already healing though the wound in the tree truck would take months to mend.

Why couldn’t he find her?
So help him if she was hurt; if the gift of her life was stolen from the world, he would never be able to forgive himself.

The very thought shook him to the core like his fist had shaken the tree. Why was her life so important to him?
Was it the importance of her ability and the significance of her visions? Was it the fact that she could stop the deaths of so many others because she could inform the Council before hand? Or was it the way she smelled like paradise and the way her smile reminded him of ambrosia on his lips.

Kyle drew in a deep breath and forced that thought from his mind. It was those types of superfluous human emotions that had weakened him so long ago. He refused to be weak again; not now…not ever.

His feet had guided him to the very place he had met Lillie that night, and Kyle nodded somberly to the doorman as he slipped past, making his way to the bar where a familiar countenance stood under the portrait of him that had jokingly been named ‘Doobie’.
The shifter, though not a biker in any sense of the word, fit in just fine with the other clientele. He wore dark jeans and a long sleeved black tee-shirt; his aura as sinister as any of the tattooed men that crowded around the bar counter and pushed each other in mock intimidation.

When he paused just before the woman called Ilani, who was the owner of the bar as well as a chair on the Council, he made no apologies about interrupting the blonde woman who was ordering a drink. “Ilani. I require words with you.” Kyle spoke grimly, casting the airy woman next to him a brief glance before turning his azure eyes back to the brunette. “It is about our shared acquaintance, Lillie.”

[Ilani Moonblood ♬]

“I…wanna rock and roll all niiiiight. AND PARTY EVERY DAY. I wanna…dude, the sign says ‘closed for a reason. Turn that fine butt around and get the hell out before I sock you good.”

Hearing footsteps behind her, Ilani didn’t even bother turning around as she snapped the words over the wail of her music. She was still wiping down the remnants of last night’s vomit-fest- if she didn’t see a check in the next few days, the newly christened ‘Mrs. Janes’ was going to get a size six shoe kicking down her door- and was none too happy about it.

She only allowed her regulars and/or favorite customers to come in for some pre-night caps, and as far as she could tell, all of them were present and willing to get stoned. So really, this new schmuck who thought he/she would just waltz right in, as if they owned the place? Really not settling too well with her…ESPECIALLY after that whole ‘building worth grader’ guy who came in the other week. She’d thought he was just another Joe, poured liquor down his throat as he protested and laughed as one of her bartenders smooshed his face in her boobs.

She sure as hell wasn’t laughing the next day, when some insurance guys came sniffing around. God, sometimes, life was a damn bitch on wheels.

But then, woohoo for her, a familiar voice just had to ring out and smother ‘ol Kiss’ collective voices. Oh, how she was ready to take out her current irritation on the closest warm blooded body…too bad that said body belonged to one of the only women she could call a ‘friend’ in this two cent town.

“Rissa!” She said with a laugh, tossing her towel onto the bar. “I’d hug you, but I smell like shit! Girl, what’s going on? Did the world end and nobody tell me about it, ‘cause you’re here and you never come down to bless us with your presence. Hold on, lemme grab some disinfectant…”

Practically dousing herself with the antibacterial foam, she scrubbed away at the parts of her that had went near the vomit and skipped over, giving the woman some air kisses. She didn’t normally go down that bubble-gum route, but given the fact that she smelled like a bachelorette party gone bad, it would have to be excused.

Hopping over the bar with a grunt, she swung a few bottles around and slid a glass toward the other woman, careful to touch only the sides. “And that ‘Pit’ comment better be reiteratin’ my bar name, lady,” She said with a grin, taking a swig of the liquor straight from the bottle. With a very unladylike swipe of her lips with the back of her hand, she raised a brow. “Honey, you okay? I can tell when something’s up, and you’re practically oozing ‘not alright.’ Want me to kill someone for you?”

Before she could go on listing some of her underworld experiences, another voice popped up. Peeved, she snapped back in reply.
“Boy, you sure do know how to piss a girl off. I’m happy you need ‘words’ with me. Fuck off, turd-face; I’m talking to my girlfriend.”

She turned, ready to add some glaring to the mix. Stupid goober was probably looking for some flirting with the bartender; a fact that was really starting to piss her off. Did she have a ‘hey, hit on me!’ sign pinned to her forehead? And oh, the irritation that that mounted on an already annoyed head, given the fact that, not some six months ago, she’d have basked in the attention. But NO, just ONE hot afternoon with a wolf shifter and she’d been kicked out of the game like a psychotic pedophile…

And crap, hello, fellow Council Member. Introduce some foot-chewing here.

“Aw hell, Doobie, give a girl some warning before cutting into her conversations,” She groaned, wincing. “Crap. I’m so sorry about that; I thought you were a drunk. Not that you might not want a drink; and you can definitely have one. For free. Because I’m a schmuck…er, wait, Lillie?”

Finally catching onto the tail end of his statement, she immediately frowned, glancing at Rissa for a minute. “I’m sorry, boo, gimme a minute? I don’t like the look on this guy’s face when he talks about my girl.”

Turning back to him, Ilani crossed her arms over her chest, face set in seriousness. “Spill it, Kyle. What the hell do you mean ‘there’s something about Lil?’”

[Marissa Skye ☀]

It's not like you to say sorry
I was waiting on a different story
This time I'm mistaken
For handing you a heart worth breaking
And I've been wrong, I've been down
Been to the bottom of every bottle
These five words in my head
Scream, "Are we having fun yet?"

There was simply nothing like a nice chat with a girl friend that seemed to make everything better. Lani's reaction to her presence and immediate concern was a balm to her soul even though she KNEW she couldn't really tell her EVERYTHING now could she? No matter if her own lover was a shape shifting wolf who ran with a group of supernatural baddies. Somehow, she thought the whole Fae kingdom and crown issues would be a bit extreme for even Lani to take in.

So, she settled back to just give her best mate a quick over view of her typical man versus woman issues... Er... or would have if another body hadn't pushed into the space next to her and sent her almost sprawling off her bar stool.

It was only by chance that she caught herself and turned to scowl at the individual looking so fierce beside her. What WAS it with males and their sudden need to go all growly caveman lately? Geez.. this WAS the modern age. As much as a woman dreamed of dominant, take me now or lose me forever men, they preferred it in the bedroom.. Not knocking them off stools or barking at every little thing they did.

Then, as his words registerd, Rissa frowned and decided maybe he had reason to be gruff. Moving off the stole, she picked up her drink and nodded when Lani spoke of having a small chat with the fellow.

"Thats fine, Lani bug... I'll just.... Go sit over there!" she said, pointing to a booth. "Out of the way of any more.... Enthusiastic gentleman."

Not to mention the fact that she didn't want any more of the mans scent to linger on her skin. Corbin would smell it immediately and she didnt' need THAT sort of hassle. Turning on her heel, she headed for the spot she indicated to wait.

[Kyle Aodhagán †]

Turd- Face. The endearing pet name would have most likely brought a smile to the dragon’s lips if he wasn’t in such a grim frame of mind, so instead of a grin he furrowed his brow and glowered; a tic starting in his tightened jaw.
He hadn’t known the council chair long, only briefly made acquaintance with her at the last meeting and the one night which he’d met Lillie, but he knew her to be an effervescent soul, and like him, she cared little about the impression she made on others.

The name didn’t anger or move him, but Ilani felt the need to apologize once she recognized him. He shook his head and cast a weary glance at the blonde, an eyebrow raising at the suggestion to give warning before he spoke.
Kyle winced as she corrected herself by referring to him with the name she had dubbed the painting, his dragon likeness, Doobie. Heaven help him.

“A drink would be welcome.” The shifter answered, lifting an index finger to point out a bottle of tequila with a bloated worm floating in the bottom. “That Agave would be fine.”

He didn’t want to interrupt the conversation between the women, nor did he purposely jostle the female with hair the color of spun gold. Sometimes his size and strength slipped his mind. The shifter would have offered her an apology, but he could not compel himself to complete it before she stood to take her leave; not when his mood was so somber and his thoughts consumed by the missing prophet. He was thankful when the blonde dismissed herself to a booth, for the topic of discussion was grave and not one for unfamiliar ears.

As the stranger walked away, a breeze brought in by the opening of the club doors moved her golden strands and a familiar scent drifted towards him. A growl resonated low in his throat, and his eyes widened briefly before he regained his self-control.

That smell…

Mingled with the scent of flowers and ocean waves lay the aroma he had smelled at Lillie’s apartment. The caustic tang left by the one that had taken her. Could it be?

Narrowed sapphire eyes watched the blonde float towards a booth and then he whipped his head toward Ilani. “Lillie has been taken.” Kyle answered harshly, not bothering to waste breath on niceties. “I believe who ever has taken her will force her gift and use it in malevolent ways and...I think they will harm her.”

The latter confession made his chest tighten with anger and grief; the foreign emotions almost too much for the soul-weary shifter to bear.

Suddenly his head swiveled back to the unknown blonde; the friend of Ilani. The expression he wore was blood-thirsty. “Who is that female?”

[Ilani Moonblood ♬]

“Sorry, Rissa,” She called after her friend, an unhappy frown on her face. “Just give me a few minutes and we’ll get on planning to geld whoever’s making you unhappy. Joey, baby, get my boo a drink?”

With a nod at where Rissa was sitting, she sent one of her bartenders over. Attention back on Kyle, she gave a nod and poured him a double of the fiery drink. Whoof, thank God the guy wasn’t about to kick her ass for calling him names. After the Council meeting, she’d poked around, asking the other members about the mysterious Dragon Shifter. What she’d heard was pretty damn intimidating, especially when she’d heard that he was assumed to be older than Wulf himself. She’d made a vow not to call the poor guy ‘Doobie’ anymore, at least ATTEMPT to be respectful, before she got her hair burned off…

And look where that led. Man, she had to work on this ‘politics’ crap.

At the look on his face, Ilani felt herself slowly tensing. There was some seriously bad mojo roiling around in her stomach, and that infallible gut of hers was telling her that something was moving on the horizon.

And it wasn’t no happy wagon full of fluffy bunnies and sparkly rainbows. Oh man, what the hell now? It wasn’t like the world wasn’t going to hell in a hand basket all on its own. She really didn’t want to hear anymore bad news, especially about one of the nicest people she’d met when she’d first pulled into New Orleans—

“Oh God, I knew you were going to say something like that.” Her face paling, she leaned on the bar counter. Jesus, why the hell would Lillie have been kidnapped? She was so damn nice, but it wasn’t like she was any kind of special; none of her psychic flags had been raised when around the gallery owner. And…wait, why was Kyle even there in the first place? Gifts? HARM?

Her eyes narrowed in confusion and anger. “What do you mean she was taken? And what gifts? Lillie doesn’t have any…oh God, she’s your ‘prophet’ isn’t she? Damn, I never put it together!”

Shaking her head, she ground her teeth and turned around, glaring in what should have been thin air. Instead, or so her senses let her see, she addressed the particularly curious looking ghost of a Confederate soldier. “Gather up the unit, and find Cash,” She barked. “I want every dead thing mooching off of me to start scouring this city. Gather ‘em up. NOW.”

As the ghost disappeared with a mocking salute, the psychic turned back to Kyle, face set in a very unhappy frown. “What have you done to find her? Have you told the Council? I swear, we find the guys who took her, and I’m getting my five minutes alone with them…eh?”

She blinked at the sudden change of direction, looking over at where Rissa sat. “What? You mean Rissa, the lady who was probably gonna bad mouth her deadbeat boyfriend? She’s a close friend of mine. Why you wanna know?”

[Kyle Aodhagán †]

The dragon wrapped his hand around the little glass full of liquid valor and tossed it back, wincing at the trail of fire it made down his throat. The liquor made his eyes water and his stomach recoil, but it left a nice dulling sensation in his head that was going to make dealing with his emotions all the more manageable. After living so long without them; the newly awaken sensations stung more than the wounds he had received in battle through out the years.

When the little brunette firecracker made to whisk the bottle away, Kyle reached out and grabbed it; shaking his head back and forth and giving her a look that silently told her he planned to drink until he got to the worm. He needed the drink to deaden the weakening emotions if he meant to focus on finding the human.

The shifter watched Ilani’s face pale; the sorrow and confusion giving way to anger and reprisal. He winced when she revealed that she had no idea Lillie was the prophet he’d spoken about in the Council meeting; feeling as though he’d failed the artist in some way. It wasn’t his place to tell her secrets. He’d just assumed that Ilani had recognized her work when he’d shown it to the assembly.

Kyle’s azure eyes narrowed in confusion when she whirled around to address some unseen being; ordering the gathering of some unit and something or someone named Cash. The dragon bristled a little at the command, thinking that though assistance was appreciated, he was hesitant to trust those that he didn’t know, or see for that matter.

The shifter turned the bottle up to his lips, taking several heavy swallows before Ilani turned back around to address him. He shook his head and a severe expression crossed his face at her inquest on his progress and whether or not he had spoken to the committee about the disappearance.

“I have assembled some allies that are skilled at tracking as well as searched for Lillie on my own.” Kyle told her brusquely and raised an eyebrow in reproach. He knew she was not calling him out for not doing enough, but he felt as though he had failed the artist in this regard as well. He had been so far unable to find her and he was too hard-headed to ask for help. “In regard to advising the Council, I have not and I would ask that you avoid doing so as well. I have reason to believe that there may be a sinister association in our group; some one not to be trusted.” Kyle absently traced his fingertip across the lip of the bottle, pausing to take another deep pull from it before continuing.
“As far as your five minutes, I will grant them, but I cannot guarantee there will be anything left after I’ve had my time with them first.”

A shadow crossed his face then; dark and malevolent, as he imagined all the ways he would make them hurt.

When Ilani spoke of the blonde, and inquired the reason for his curiosity, Kyle inhaled sharply and glanced back at the woman. It was a male scent that he’d detected on her; perhaps the deadbeat boyfriend which she’d been ready to ‘badmouth’. Could -he- be the evil that had stolen Lillie from him like a thief in the night?
“Just curiosity…” Kyle answered stiffly, forcing an unaffected look so not to give away his notion lest it was mistaken. “I didn’t mean to interrupt the two of you. Apologies. Perhaps you could introduce me…”

[Ilani Moonblood ♬]

Catching sight of what had to be some very male ego-bristling, Ilani just shook a finger at the dragon, as if she didn’t think he could burn her place down with one fart. Wait, could he? Actually burn the place down?

Damn, respect, woman! She had to be respectful! Dammit, just remember sixth grade, when her father had made the mistake of enrolling her into Catholic school. Respect meant no mouthing off and using words like ‘please,’ and ‘thank you.’

…Aw hell, who was she kidding? The last time she’d tried to be anything but the loud mouthed fool that she was, she’d practically cursed out a nun. Ugh, now THERE was a memory. She was so going to hell…

“Yeah, you can stick that ‘alone’ crap so far up your ass, you gag on it,” She said with a growl, then winced, and proceeded to smack her forehead with her palm. Crap, man, she really had to work on her people skills. With a deep breath, she held up a finger in a ‘okay, let’s forget I said that way.’

“Eh, what I meant was that Lillie is my friend as well as yours. I’m so happy that you and your…buddies are looking for her, but I see dead people, man. Where your guys can search houses when people aren’t looking, mine can get into hidey holes and locked basements. So chill; I’m not questioning your ability to find Lillie. I’m just telling you that I’m helping.”

Shoving a hand through her hair, she shook her head, looking out at the crowd behind him. She had the sudden pang of longing for her man; for the comfort of his arms around her shoulders. God, she wanted a hug…and immediately slapped herself for it, because it was her FRIEND who’d been kidnapped. No, she wasn’t selfish at all to think that SHE needed her shifter to comfort her.

Straightening her shoulders, she looked sharply at him about the Council comment.
“You think one of ours did this?” She asked incredulously. But, before her brain could rationalize it as being an old guy’s paranoia, a certain paranormal researcher’s face flashed into her mind. Alright, when Kyle was gone, she was definitely doing some spying.

Her attention whipped back to the dragon as the conversation shifted. Confused, her brows creased as she glanced over at the booth where her friend sat.

“Introduce you?” Okay, so that was really out of left field. “Damn, that’s not real random. But hell, you’re right; Rissa actually might be able to help. Even if she came here to vent and her boyfriend’s practically psychotic, she’s got resources to expand our search. Definitely, man!”

Planting her palm on the counter, she did a hurdle-lunge over the bar that would’ve done her high school gym teacher proud. Without a second thought, she charged over to where her friend said, waving at Kyle to follow.

She definitely could’ve hauled him along with her, but she already had enough problems with meeting up with her boyfriend smelling like drunk guys. She’d read enough werewolf stories to know that certain shifters were a bit territorial…not that she’d mind a bit of growling on her part. Ooh, she did love it when Derek turned all animal on her—

Bah, wrong time for those thoughts.

Sliding into the booth across from Rissa, she scooched over so that Kyle could sit, looking up at the big guy with a nod.
“Yo, boo, this is my buddy Kyle. Kyle, this is Rissa, my home girl.”

[Marissa Skye ☀]

Seated at the table, Rissa was quiet happy to drink her drink and ignore the dragon that was talking in her head. The creature thought it absolutely hilarious that she was sneaking out again and predicting all sorts of dire ends if Corbin realized what she'd done.

However, since she had absolutely NO plans of TELLING her lover she'd been out and about... Well, she wasn't paying her guardian any heed.... Er... at least TRYING not to pay him any heed. Which only made the dragon talk LOUDER.


"Oh... Would you shut up all ready!" she hissed out loud after one dire prediction that involved manacles and chains.

"Geez Whiz, Riss... Does this mean I can have your share of the Cheetos when you cross over?"

Just then, the sound of approaching feet cause her to glance up and she spied the man from the bar and Lani coming over. The man made her nervous with the way he was looking at her and she wondered what on earth he was staring at. Did she have ink on her nose or something? She had been writing alot.

"Um... Hello?" she said, watching him cautiously. "Nice to meet you?"

Taking a chance, the fae princess decided to tap into her new found powers and scope the dude out. What she found made her blink in bemusement and wrinkle her nose a bit. He wasn't human, that she knew for sure. Her dragon companion was suddenly going ape wild but she couldn't make out a thing it was saying. Something about "back away from the creature" and "Frying alive" but that didn't make any sense. She couldn't figure out if it meant the man was going to fry THEM, which he looked perfectly capable of, or if her dragon wanted to fry HIM.

Glancing at Lani, she frowned and then shifted uneasily. Did her friend know that she was conversing with another ancient supernatural creature? What on earth was going on here? The migraine setting in to the back of her skull was insisting she should know what the man was but since she was new to the whole mythical creature thing... Well, she was a bit dense. Call it a blond moment.

[Kyle Aodhagán †]

Kyle lofted a brow in astonishment at the choice of words the human used. Usually people who were right in the mind did not cross him by making such ghastly demands; even if said in haste. Those unlucky few that had spoken to the dragon in that manner hadn’t lived long enough to recognize their mistake. Kyle was not a lenient man. Dragons by their very nature were intolerant; hot-heads, so to speak.

The mental image Ilani put into his head made the shifter physically shudder, and he took a heavy pull from the bottle of tequila as the psychic went on to restate her previous remark in a more civil manner. This time, the dragon regarded her thoughtfully. She was right. He was being stubborn; the more eyes looking for the prophet the better, especially since she was a friend of Lillie’s. Who was to say that Lillie would even want to seem him after the way he had run out on her-- every SINGLE time they had spent any time together.

“What you speak is truth.” Kyle told her with a respectful dip of his head. “You’re help would be most welcome and I accept it with much gratitude. As you have said, you have known her longer than I. Apologies for my curtness before. I have lived and worked in solitude for so many years and support is a foreign notion to this councilmember.”

The dragon did not comment further on his suspicions of one the council, instead answering her confused hesitation to introduce the blonde with a quiet nod of his head. His eyes brightened ephemerally as the human leapt easily over the counter, a hushed chuckle resonating in his throat.
Kyle’s suspicions about the ‘boyfriend’ were amplified as Ilani spoke on his psychotic nature and he followed deferentially behind the psychic, pausing to bend a little at the waist when introduced to the blonde.

A little hum of something light but powerful vibrated through his insides, and Kyle inhaled sharply, waiting for the brief sensation to pass. Awkwardly, he scooted into the booth next to the human and set the bottle he had brought with him, folding his hands on top of the table.

The shifter dipped his head in greeting, using the gesture to take a moment to close his eyes and inhale deeply. That familiar smell, though masked with Rissa’s feminine aroma, was without doubt the one he had beheld in Lillie’s home.
A growl of possessiveness rumbled in his throat, but he caught it quickly, clearing his throat and lifting his gaze to the woman. “It is my pleasure to meet you, Rissa.”

The shifter picked absently at the label on the bottle, acknowledging the uneasy air that had suddenly enveloped them. The woman was nervous. Perhaps she knew more than she realized…

“Forgive my previous intrusion. I had urgent word for Ilani could not wait. I would make it up to you by taking care of your check, if you would allow it…”

Kyle tilted his head slightly; azure gaze burning with intensity. “Excuse my further inquiry, but have we met before? You are very familiar to me…or perhaps we share an acquaintance?”

[Marissa Skye ☀]

Heads gonna roll (Heads gonna roll)
I'm back in control (back in control)
It's a jungle out there it's gonna eat you up
And strip you bare
I'll swallow you whole (swallow you whole)
Then spit out your soul (spit out your soul)
I wanna make this clear, my dear, that heads will roll

Oh dear. Talk about tall, dark and dangerous! Broody much? Rissa's take on the man didn't ease as he and Lani sat down and her discomfort only escalated when he turned his attention fully on her. His words, however, distracted her for a moment and she frowned.


"Um.... I'm sorry.. I dont' think so. I'm not very familiar with anyone in New Orleans but for Lani and Zoe Harris. I only stay in the area when business brings me this way...." she said carefully. "Why do you think we might share an aquaintance? Are you in the courier service?"

For one bad instance, Marissa had to consider the fact that this new friend of Lani's could, in fact, be an assassin sent by her brother. If so, then she and her friend were both in mortal danger. However, surely if that were so... He would have made a more direct attack, wouldn't he have??

Tilting her blond head sideways, the young Fae again tapped into the river of magic at her fingertips and scanned the man. Her brows furrowed as she caught a glimpse of a banked fire and something shifting inside of him.

HOLY CRAP!!! THE DUDE WAS A DRAGON SHIFTER!!! NO WONDER HER OWN DRAGON WAS GOING NUTS!

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh" she suddenly exclaimed, more at ease. "YOUR A DRAGON!! I HAVE A DRAGON TOO!! He likes Cheetos and pie! Do you like pie? Cause He just absolutely loves it. He also likes cheeseburgers and french fries..Do you like cheeseburgers and french fires? I can't order them without having to order him some too or he eats all of mine. Hmmmm speaking of food... I'm hungry... Are you guys hungry?"

Feeling more like herself, Rissa glanced back and forth between her two companions totally oblivious to the looks on their faces. Ok, so maybe she was rambling but a girl had the right when she was suddenly relieved her sense of alarm was over nothing but the fact the guy was a DRAGON!

For goodness sake, there for a moment, she'd had the feeling it was something REALLY bad.

(OK, Lani told me to go ahead and post Rissa so... Hope this works guys!)

[Ilani Moonblood ♬]

Whoof, from how this guy spoke, one would think that he'd been born in the 1800s...hell, maybe before that. As she played a bit of word-tennis and listened attentively to the conversation between the dragon and her friend, she couldn't help but eyeball the guy when he wasn't looking. He had that whole 'broody' thing going for him, was pretty damn handsome- not as pretty as her man, of course, but definitely up there- was obviously used to kicking the crap out of the bad guys...and that little head bow before? SO screamed of some kind of priviledged upbringing. Or was that just Old World charm?

Damn, talk about the long lost Council member being one helluva enigma. When everything was over and done with, she was definitely sending some of her soldiers out for a bit of recon. Sure, she wasn't exactly the biggest player in that coveted club of theirs...but hell, she hadn't grown up with con artists and mobsters NOT to appreciate the God of Information.

With a curious tilt of her head, Ilani turned her attention to her friend, brow raising slightly in surprise. How had Rissa figured out that Kyle was a dragon, again? Interesting...as far as she knew, the witch dealt in ley line magic, not aura reading. Damn, she really did hate spying on friends, but she'd have to put Rissa on her 'To Look Into' list, even if it meant helping in future intervention. If the girl was dealing in stronger magics, her friends had a right to know.

...Friends, and people who really didn't want to waltz into a buddy's apartment and get mauled by a demon. Not that she didn't have that problem already...damn, talk about a crappy choice in boy toys. That Corbin guy was a FREAK.

"Yeah, I'm definitely not touching the 'pet dragon' thing with a ten foot pole." She said with a snort and a definite 'we will talk later' eyeball at Rissa. "Ah, you guys are hungry? You're in luck; we've got game munchies left over from yesterday's football game. YO BENNY. WE NEED SUSTENANCE!"

Benny, her bartender, proceeded to return the bellow. "Sure Boss, I'll pull those chips outta my ass when I DON'T have so many orders! I NEED A RAISE!"

Snickering, the psychic just shook her head, turning back to her guests with a wide grin. "You gotta love the funny ones. What would us women do without guys and their jokes?

Leaning back in her chair, she rested her elbows on the back of the booth behind her, regarding the two with another, less shark-like smile.
"You know, it's kind of surprising that you two don't know each other," She drawled, brow raised in mild surprise. "'Specially you, Rissa. Doobie here is on the Council, supporting the Shifter set. He hasn't been in on the secret club meetings lately, but I'd have thought that Corbin would've mentioned him, given that your man's got the Fae slot. Scary ass mofo that he is--er, no offense, baby doll. I'm surprised that Corbin doesn't have complete files on every one of us."
r

[Kyle Aodhagán †]

Kyle’s brow creased even deeper at the blonde’s inquiry at his profession. A courier? What on earth would give the woman any reason to believe that was the reason for her familiarity? He shook his head and inhaled deeply to keep from lashing out at her with a fiery tongue. The dragon had neither time nor the patience for such nonsense, especially since Lillie’s life was on the line. He held his breath in as he took a deep swallow of the amber colored liquid, wincing as he set the bottle back down on the table with a heavy thud. His cobalt eyes caught the plump worm swishing side to side at the bottom of the liquor, and immediately he was transported to the night he had shared a similar bottle with the prophet.
If he could have just disregarded the human; ignored how sweet her voice was and the way it made him feel human again…she would have never been involved in any of this. She would probably be here tonight, sitting at the very spot he had met her, talking of girlish things with the animated bartender. The shifter let his lips fall slack and a despondent sigh escaped with his exhaled breath.

When the vivacious Rissa spoke again, it was Kyle’s turn to be surprised. She had pegged him for a dragon as if easily seeing his reptilian skin through the human flesh or smelled the noxious brimstone fumes from his throat. The shifter narrowed his gaze on her. What magic lie within that deceptively innocent guise of hers?

The shifter blinked in disbelief at her nonchalant question about food.
Food. As if he could eat at a time like this. His stomach was a pit of shifting acid; the fire threatening to consume him from the inside out if it didn’t escape. Perhaps he could go hunting tonight and let it out in the form of flames. Char-broiled blonde didn’t sound like a bad idea at that moment.

He held up a hand as Lani chimed as well about food, his gaze going to Benny as he and the council chair exchanged playful teases. A frown came to his face as he turned back to Ilani with the intent of bringing a halt to all the frivolity, but it faded into an expression of astonishment when the name Corbin fell from her lips.

The vague smell which covered the blonde suddenly hit him with the force of a hurricane vale.

Corbin

He recalled at the last council meeting that the dark fae had exuded a sinister energy that was hard to ignore, though the dragon was too taken with other worries to pay any mind.

The council chair had the power and the means to obtain information on the artist, but why? Why did he need the human prophet when he had so much sovereignty at his fingertips already?
Thoughts of the missing king and queen of the fae danced in front of his absent stare. Did Corbin have something to do with that as well? Where did Lillie fit into the picture?

Abruptly, Kyle shifted to lean closer to the blonde. Gone was his semblance of calm and manners; replaced with impatience and irritation. “Corbin? Corbin is your…man? Where is he now? Where is the fae?”

[Marissa Skye ☀]

Well you built up a world of magic
Because your real life is tragic
Yeah you built up a world of magic
If it's not real
You can't hold it in your hand
You can't feel it with your heart
And I won't believe it
Well if it's true
You can see it with your eyes
Even in the dark
And that's where I want to be, yeah

Blinking innocently at Lani, Rissa frowned and then sighed. It seemed Corbin had been busy making a name for his grumpy self. As much as she had been hoping he was turning over a new leaf... That was probably to much to hope out of a man who still was uncomfortable with the fact that he couldn't bring himself to hurt one little fae witch.

Yeah, Ok... So her lover had issues.

"Yeah, so many issues that they'd all gotten together and had baby issues." Chimed in her little dragon companion.

Inwardly growling at the beast, Rissa gave it a mental brain smack.

"When I want your opinion, I'll ask for it!" she told it before turning her attention back to the others at the table.

Honestly ... Did anyone play with a full deck in this game? She certainly didn't and she liked it that way!

Before she could outwardly respond to her friends comment, the dragon's glare caught her attention once more. Oh dear, there was that "I'm going to roast you whole, eat you and then spit out your bones for the homeless puppies to chew on." look. She was pretty darn sure she hadn't meet this guy before. He wasn't exactly a dude that a girl forgot so why on earth was he staring at her like he wanted to use her for frying practice?

Man, talk about temperamental. The creature SERIOUSLY needed to lighten up. At that thought, the fae in her itched to try out her new powers but she tapped them down. No need to infuriate the man more if things didn't go exactly as planned. He wasn't exactly getting the "Mr. Congeniality" prize at the moment as it was. She'd hate to see what he'd do if he REALLY got pissy.

And then the real trouble struck.

One moment the dude was simply looking disgruntled and the next... He was all up in her face about Corbin and his business. If there was one thing Rissa didn't take well to.. It was rude people.

"Wow.. ummmm.. that was abrupt....... Are you always this temperamental or did someone forget to order you a virgin sacrifice? " she said slowly, a frown growing across her normally friendly face. "You can just back that snout up, buster, cause you ain't the only one with powers around here.... As for my MAN.....I don't see what business that is of yours. If your on this Council then you can ask HIM the next time you see him."



In her inner mind, her guardian squawked and sputtered but Rissa was to perturbed to take notice. Getting to her feet, she sent Ilani a look and then put her nose in the air.

"Since you've got other company, hon... I'm going to leave you too it. Give me a ring if you get a chance and we'll do coffee sometime soon."

Giving the dragon one last look, she made to turn away.