The Blackbird Tavern & Inn

He'd nodded to his mother as she passed him and moved into the interior of the Blackbird. His left eye twitched ever so slightly not having to rely upon the mental control while Veta was inside, the Ice Trolls seemed to get far colder for a moment as if drawing in the ambient heat surrounding them before moving out and moving back to their temporary quarters many of the old buildings that had been left desolate and forgotten. Even if the sensors were dilapidated that were watching them it would be obvious that they moved far too fast let alone quietly for most conventional bipedal creatures, and especially ones of such size. The occupants who remained being mostly rats and perhaps a goblin or a wild kobold suddenly having a most unwelcome house guest. The interiors of each of the buildings would generally end up seeing to become ice caves or freezers that were left far too long without cleaning. Dakkon had done his research on the areas surrounding the Blackbird years ago shortly after she had left. The buildings magical protections against most forms of damage were perfectly utilizable in this capacity. The holes the Ice Trolls made entering into the buildings would close up the wounds to the buildings laving them localized cold spots for another few hours. The general atmosphere outside the storm that was coming in started to spit snow due to the collection of cold spots and the remainder of the freezing asphalt of the road section, but after an hour or so the heat of the upper-atmosphere carried with each drop would warm the area back to normalized levels. The buildings would seem to start warming back to average temperatures in a day or two, but for now the resting places would be easily identifiable due to the frost clinging to the walls, and windows on the outside. Blinking hard a few times he forced the contact lens out of his eye and caught it in his left hand before stepping through the door after Veta. His right hand reached into his pocket and pulled out a contact lens container. Using his ring finger to spin the top he dropped the contact lens into the solution, and then flipped the lid back into place before spinning it closed . As he looked up his eye red and slightly angry looking due to the sudden departure of the lens he turned and pushed the door closed allowing the ambient heat of the Blackbirds solid walls to act as a bulwark against the early onset of winter outside. "So who was that guy mom ?" He said his eyes squinting a little as his eyes became accustomed to the darker interior as opposed to the exterior light.
 
As she heard Dakkon has moved inside she slowly turns her head to gaze in his direction, finding him to remove what appears to be a lens..and of how carefully he handled it to place away.
" His name is Marcus...said he works with the Equilibrium Corporation.." she took another swallow of her cola, then places down the can to the table as she once again rubs the sides of her arms still feeling chilled. Looking to the window she stares wide eyes seeing that there is frost that had formed on the glass.

She slides out from the booth, taking a few steps back still transfixed to the window. " What the h...whats with the frost, why is the air so cold all of a sudden ? This is so peculiar..I'm going to fix on getting some heat going in here.."
Stepping now to move across the room, she paused at Dakkon's side, " So..what's with the lens, Dakkon..another of your inventions ? I recall that you loved to tinker a good bit as a child..." Once again she gave a loving pat to the side of his arm..then began to start walking away only to pause again..not turning around but says.. " And this about you claiming I abandoned the family...that will be a discussion coming.."
 
His eyes narrowed ever so slightly at her mention of Equilibrium Corp. It was at least something he could start with because the name Marcus was not exactly much to go upon. Her reaction to the frost was a bit startling although he supposed she had been in a world without much magic since she'd left, let alone technologies like his medium sized pets. Certainly they were nothing like Tulkas, but Tulkas was truly alive, and a being of magic ,the only one he willingly tolerated. Even so the trolls general impact on the atmosphere would degrade rather quickly now that they had reached the interiors of many buildings. Although they would activate if anything disturbed them, but it wouldn't be noticeable soon. Hearing her question he let out a long sigh before taking speaking "The cold is a side effect of that noise you heard, an unanticipated but not unwelcome side effect of the M.E.C. device I created years ago as a part of the infinite power start up project back before the Corporations and Assassins went to war. Dragonsblood has one or the better fine tuned versions. However don't worry the effects will dissipate shortly " He was slightly surprised at her curiosity concerning the lens he licked his lips ever so slowly, a tick he had inherited from his father. Then he looked out the windows attempting to sort out his thoughts ever so slowly as his mother started to walk past him "The Lens helps me keep control of the cellular nanites I infested the blackbird with as well as a few other mostly autonomous inventions, its not the best means to control them but it at least helps keep the headaches at bay " As she patted his arm and started to walk again he heard her words and his eyes rolled up and a little to the right. At least nonverbal signs of annoyance were harder for her to notice, let alone it felt nice to be able to roll the eye without worrying about the nanites liquefying a city block. Then he spoke " I'm ready for it when you are mother."
 
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She was on her way to the kitchen but paused as her son mentioned 'infested' by those little things that were responsible for the changes to The Blackbird. In a good sense, she was relieved that she didn't come across actually 'seeing' them, that most likely would have 'really' threw her over the cliff of sanity. One could only imagine. Just the changes alone had made her hysterical. She did like her horror books and movies, but don't like being a participant in one. Some of what he was explaining to her did kind of fly over head a little, she was sure once she had settled down some from all of this that has happened so far..she will start grasping an understanding to the rest. She had missed act of Dakkon licking his lips as her back was turned. But once he had finished, she did turn and took the short steps back to him.

" It is wonderful to see you Dakkon..and regardless of what you, and my other children may think...even in your absence, I never stopped loving you. " She then placed her hands to the sides of his arms for support as she stretched up and kissed his cheek..as she lowered she chuckled as she noticed she had left an lipstick imprint to where she kissed him. She then turned and began heading to the kitchen soon disappearing behind the door to begin the process of making his pancakes. She also started another pot of coffee..she mumbled slightly to herself as with a slow turn looking to where everything is placed. Finally locating , she carried an armful to the inner island of the kitchen, slowly, carefully leaning to push a lidded container, milk , eggs ..and also the butter to the counter. She was bad about toting things all at once especially in a kitchen. After mixing with the spoon instead of using a hand mixer, she swiped her finger to the spoon and then to her mouth before setting the bowl aside to get the oil for the pan.

Flipping the first couple of pancakes, she couldn't help but think if it would be such a bad thing to let her family know of one of her children returning. She hadn't spoken to them in awhile, considering they made it quite clear they weren't happy with her marriage to begin with. As upset as she was with them, she still thought of them, of course she would, that's her family, just as Dakkon and the others. She finally finished, placed his plate, utensils, napkin and glass of milk...syrup and butter...making it back to a table and sat it down for him. " May not be the best, but it is pancakes...or at least shaped like them ." she said with a short laugh. She then left to get her coffee, pouring it to a carafe to keep from a back and walk to the kitchen. Sitting now across from Dakkon she takes her first sip.
.
" Well..why don't we start with how you been doing...dating ? maybe..married ? " She said the later with a raised brow.
 
Dakkon hearing his mothers words did a slow intake of breath as she took hold of his arms and leaned forward kissing his cheek " Mom, we never stopped loving you either, but you just up and vanished " He said as she turned and headed towards the Valhalla pancake creation. As his mother tinkered in the kitchen, he was reminded ever so softly of hearing his mother in the kitchen at Olorii Castle tinkering and muttering to her self. As he sought her out he discovered her making breakfast, well kind of she seemed to be having a hell of a problem with Klaus and his organizational system for the kitchens, but once Dakkon had strolled in with wide eyes, Klaus left the kitchen in a hurry. Klaus must have assumed Dakkon had done some kind of wretched horror somewhere else in the house, but it gave him and his mother time together cooking. Well she cooked and taught him measurements in that kitchen when he was very young. His brother Az was out playing with their father in the forest around the lake, and Lilith was in the Library as she always seemed to be. It was indeed part of his driving force when it came to science to relive measurements as he recalled them and the warmth of that kitchen. Blinking his eyes as he felt the warmth of nostalgia laced tears attempting to well forth. Forcing back his happy memory laced tears he took a deep breath and moved towards the easiest table from the exit of the kitchen and sat down waiting for his mother to return with the coffee.

Sitting idle was a challenge when your mind was attempting to search through all the data you could using mental search controls, but he'd gotten used to it when he was really bored with the newest projects required of him at work. Murakumo might indeed be one of the cutting edges of science and technology, but they got orders from all over, and there were only so many death rays, and world ending bombs you could make before you found them trivial. Sure the weapon could destroy all life as it's known, but does it have an LED display that flashed for the words boom three seconds before it detonates. Can it give a long ornate speech in my own voice to distract the would-be-hero, because who would dare interrupt the great insert name of random villain x this time. If there was one thing Dakkon had learned in designer weaponry and technologies it was that heroes were incredibly rude and destructive. How many of his babies had died before their time because someone couldn't wait to bash the beam focusing crystal, or the energy batteries, or the harmonic chambers. It seemed to be a continual business of build and have the broken parts shipped back while getting yelled at for following the customers specifics for appearance and stupid side gizmos. He was close to getting information about Equilibrium, perhaps nothing in their background systems or skeletons but he would get everything that was known about them publicly soon, he just had to wait for the data to be located in the Ayenee City government offices, and then for that information to be transferred and recompiled after scanning it. As he was caught between his bitching mentally about all the lovely inventions he'd had to bury because people were too personally invested in making a point rather than doing what they needed too, his mother returned with the Pancakes of Eternal Glory!!!! As she set everything upon the table he saw the milk and smirked slightly remembering her always insisting on having milk with his pancakes when he was able to catch her making breakfast. "
I would wager that the pancakes fit the definition, and taste of pancakes although that one looks a bit like a rhombus" He said with a smile pointing to a perfectly round pancake.

As his mother rushed off to get her coffee his eyes flicked back to the windows noticing that the frost had fully dispersed, and now just the heavy rain was beginning to fall. The rain itself was laced with metal particles, and chemical compounds which would help bring his plan of re-establishing the flora of the landscaping into a reality. The one real benefit of Ayenee Capital City, the various chemical compounds in the air, just hovering about due to all the various industries, from old smiting to high-tech polymer creation and various others. Generally the chemicals were too disparate to be of much use, and in the air too diffuse and hard to net without giving away that someone was collecting them. The rain however would knock them to the ground and then they could be collected. He had to pause his thoughts at he was fed information about properties of certain chemicals he's not played with in years, and some of the proposed properties of newer materials that were being fabricated but not officially upon the market yet. When Veta returned his eyes looked to her coffee cup and then to his milk, and the carafe. Seeing a lack of coffee cup he stood up as she asked his personal life and fetched a cup from the back before returning to the table holding a cup, and setting it down besides his milk glass and then sitting down. " I've continued to work for Murakumo Industries been doing pretty well in that area, although some days the lab is beyond boring and disheartening. You'd be shocked how often you get yelled at for doing exactly what the customers request.....Well maybe you wouldn't. As for my love life I'm one of the sons of Mithrandir Olorii and Veta Norr, I'm married to my work, just like my parents" He said. Picking up the fork and knife he scrapped some cutter with the knife, and smeared it liberally upon the hot cakes of majesty, and then grabbed the syrup bottle upending it and bathing the delirium in circular form in the sweetest of liquid sugars. As the syrup hit the butter the heat inside the syrup started to melt and move about the excess butter, as his form came at them with rapid and excessive gestures butting them into smaller squares before stabbing them with almost an expert level of precision. Collecting three squares per fork-full and making sure all sides were coated in the syrup.
 
As Dakkon returned with a coffee cup, she then felt a bit silly with herself putting a glass of milk on the tray..( he isn't a child anymore , veta. )
Thinking that made her sad in alot of ways. Then as Dakkon replied with saying she disappeared, made her saddened her more, but the comforting of him saying he still loved her seemed to ease much of the sadness. One thing that really made her happy was their reunion.

" Dakkon, I can't tell you , Azrael and Lilith..and Raine enough of how sorry I am for disappearing the way that I did..one day I will tell you what happened, and the reason for not contacting. Important thing is , is that you're back here with me now. "
She fell silent for a moment , taking in how he prepared his pancakes and then watched him eat. It definately placed a smile to her face. She then took a good sip of her coffee and leaned back comfortably in her chair and crossed her legs. Taking another swallow of her coffee she then turned over in her head of him stating to be married in his work, like his parents. Her head drooped slightly and stared to her cup, and now sliding a fingertip around the edge of the cup. " I'm sorry , Dakkon that, that's what we had taught you...I know I spent alot of time working..the Blackbird was new, and I just wanted to get it on it's feet financially..seems I have messed up lots of things doing that. Even cost me my marriage, which I really didn't want..just to make that clear. It hurts, your're grown now, and I can talk to you about it, at least part of it. In all honesty, I wish it never happened, the divorce that is..."

She thought a quick moment .." Have you heard from your father ? " she then thought maybe she shouldn't ask that. " Are you going back ?...or will you make me happy to have you stay here, with me.?" she hopes his answer will be yes.
Then she heard the rain as it hit the window , " Wow..this is certainly been a fast weather change.." she took another swallow of her coffee, then reached for the carafe to top off what remains in her cup, then reached over and topped off Dakkon's as well..as she sat down the carafe she added, just for conversational purpose, " You don't care for Marcus , do you ? He was going to help put Blackbird back on the grid, being this 'sector' is abandoned. As for me personally, I would like to see this city flourish again . I think it could be done..or at least give it a try."
 
Dakkon tasting the sweet ambrosia of syrup laden pancake, with butter flavoring his mouth as he lifted the coffee to his mouth taking a long sip he raised a brow at her mention of how she couldn't tell him or his siblings although she'd conveniently left out Nora. His mind started to slide around looking for possible answers. Certainly Nora couldn't be the only one in the loop. No that was preposterous. Nora was always the little artist, but she couldn't be the rock his mother was depending on, at least he could offer all the technologies she could ever need to deal with what-ever problem had driven her away. Azrael could magic things although the thought was poor comparison to the sweet flavor on his tongue, magic would also be more useful than a painting. Lilith could also be more use she at least had seemingly read every book she could find and at Olorii Castle that was a sizable collection, histories laws, treaties, philosophies and various others. Rain too although a mage could have helped, but Veta was entrusting the supposedly least capable of his siblings. "So you're telling me that technology, ....magic" He said with a unmistakable disdain " or vast stores of knowledge wrapped in a blonde girls head were unable to to help with whatever drove you away, and you cannot explain now, but will some day in the undefined future ? Maybe you can tell me why you didn't mention Nora " He said looking at her with a blank expression upon his face although his lips and corners of his mouth still sported the tell tale signs of having just eaten pancakes ravenously. ~reaching forward he picked uphis coffee cup and took a sip weakening the hold of the remains of the syrup upon his lips, although the corners of his mouth still remained slightly coated as he heard his mother before looking up sharply " I don't blame you or Father for the example, on the contrary its one of the few things I can say I like about Father, and I love my work, maybe not the people we supply, but its always challenging and enjoyable, and it provides me funding for my own side projects. As for the divorce I know you nor he were happy about it, but it happened and I don't blame you for that either, I blame Piper, but even so I know when we were younger, Az and I thought it was due to other people, Lilith seemed to think it was our fault." He said softly before looking down and then back up the smell of the coffee was a refreshing scent upon the air as he felt the weight of the meal slide firmly into place in his stomach hearing his mother ask about his father his right eye twitched ever so slightly, but obvious even though he attempted to hide it. " I know he is still around he is often either at the Blue Flames Castle, or at the Forgotten Eclipse Tavern, last time I saw him he was headed into the oldest Tavern in town, but after that most of my instruments in the area encountered some kind of temporal anomaly but other than that I haven't seen him " His eyes blazed with a bit of madness before it fell backward into his deeper psyche. His father was a rival, a goal, and the embodiment of everything that Dakkon hated and admired. He was never able to separate the differences though. Mithrandir an Istari , and a vampire. Magic and practical application of logic and humor. It galled him to no end the reliance on magic his father seemed to embody, and the disregard for newer technologies in favor of the quote old ways .

Giving himself a mental shake his eyes refocused upon his mother hearing her question " I could stay here with you for a while, but I'd have to see what projects are needed to be done at work first, and it'll give my little friends the chance to make some alterations to make me being here viable" He said his eye flickering before realizing that the contact was securely inside his pants pocket inside his pants pressing lightly against this thigh. Letting out a soft sigh as left hands fingers traced the wood grain of the table top he cast his mind towards the information he needed to send to the nanites to make some significant alterations to the sub-basement, it was always like attempting to jungle while high wire walking, while having a diving helmet on filled with water, but it was doable, it just took a lot more effort than he ever liked to, getting the initial plans and changes loaded into form he sent the commands. He could feel the cool beads of sweat pushing to his forehead before looking towards the window as his mother mentioned the rain the rain was forecast the snow, and ice well that could just be attributed to Ayenee's rampant magical problems and would probably be described as such on the nightly news. Looking towards her as she mentioned Marcus his left eyebrow arched slowly as he licked the corners of his mouth feeling the syrup crusting and breaking under his tongue giving his a sweet taste to reflect on as he spoke " I don't know him, and he seemed to think I would hurt you, but he doesn't know me either, or our family, and he's a moron the kind of guy thinks he's got a handle on everything, when he doesn't have a clue....Like claiming it could be a trap, if I wanted to trap you or him I could have just liquefied the concrete walkways you were both on allowing you to sink in and then harden it, but no, the upgrades to the tavern scream evil!" He said while making wild hand gestures. Although Marcus was half right about this section of Ayenee Capitol city it was not completely abandoned, and people did traverse it from time to time the problems were always most people wanted to get from the higher population centers to the others with little muss or fuss, and the older sections of the city had a lot more old wild magic saturating them which made it difficult to traverse safely. "The main problem is the wild magics that linger in the various sections of the city, where I could probably breakdown most of it using technology, Azrael, or Rain would be better suited to crack some of the more complex energies, or Father...." He said before standing up from the table and heading towards the bathroom to wash his hands and mouth, and replace the contact.
 
As Dakkon slipped away from the room, she rose from her chair, placing his plate, the milk glass , the syrup bottle and utensils onto the tray, lifting it and carrying it off to the kitchen setting it atop the counter next to the sink. She would get to it in a bit, she just wanted to finish her coffee. As she returned , settled back to her seat she poured a bit more coffee into her cup. Leaned back comfortably as she took one sip followed by another. She sighed as she felt Dakkon is just upset with her.. seems like he is either punishing her for the past or just down right making her feel guilty. She took another swallow of her coffee. She then sighed as she thought, "Well, if they want to be upset with me, fine..just because I didn't list each and everyone of them by name", suddenly once again she feels she is being labeled as a bad person.

"You know, you have certainly made me feel like I should just crawl under a rock somewhere, ...and you seem angry with me about leaving.. then why not answer this.. why had you not bothered in coming to me sooner ...instead picking now to come visit..?"
 
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As Dakkon stepped into the bathroom his eyes flicked around the room rapidly as he moved towards the sinks with their mirrors above each, and turned on the hot water. Feeling the chill of the air still gripping lightly upon his skin he plunged his hands under feeling how well the improvements for the water-heater had taken, it wasn't as impressive as one of his designs for heating fluids but it was impressive for what his nanites had to work with. His hands cupping up the water he splashed it over his mouth seeing the remainders of the syrup in his reflection. As he scrubbed his face removing the last vestiges of his favorite breakfast food. Once he was content with the state of his face, he reached up to his left and pulled down a paper towel and dried his face. He couldn't understand what His mother was feeling or why she'd just returned without calling any of her kids. Had he not kept a net out for watching for his family he'd not have been any wiser about her return than his siblings were. Reaching down his hand slapped his left thigh as the scrambler system whirled down to a Stand-by state. As his looked up and stared into his own eyes in the mirror he felt a bit of irrational anger build within him, he could have sworn he was staring into his fathers eyes, it was just for a moment, but it was enough for him to be irrationally agitated. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out the contact case, and pressed his ring finger against the screw cap before it shuddered in his hand. Twisting the cap he saw the contact sitting atop the hydrating solution, pinching the lense with his thumb and forfinger he lifted it looking at it before pressing it against his eye softly before feeling it flip onto his eyeball. Once the lens was in it started up processing the information finding out a bit more about Equilibrium, and Marcus. " VP of sporting goods....That can't be right " He said to himself as he flicked his eye over the lens controls and started the process of converting the subbasement into a ready state. As he blinked a few times allowing himself to get re-accustomed to the lens then looking himself up and down in the mirror. He looked good, and besides that he had found his mother. As he thought about it he should contact at least Az, or maybe Raine. Lilith he could contact but doing so would be more of a hassle since he'd have to go to Olorii Castle, and there was a strong probability that he returning to the family home would arouse his fathers interest, and perhaps participation in events. Although Niverm was another issue around Olorii Castle, and Niverm knowing about his research on removing vampirism through technology would also be a problem. Niverm hadn't forgiven him when he's completely by accident turned one of his fanged friends into a sentient pool of goo. Although he didn't know what all the events that were transpiring around his mother either. She'd been gone for so long, and he had no idea where she'd been, but now she was back. It would only make sense she had problems of her own, and she'd eluded to that but she was unwilling to explain what they were.

Taking a breath he resolved himself and turned from the mirror before pushing on the swing door of the lavatory, and walked back through the little hallway towards the main room, and then pushed upon the door stepping out and seeing his mother looking forlorn. " You look awfully cheerful Mom, So what is happening with you anyway ? " He asked as he slipped back into his chair opposite of her, his left eye flicking about as he micro-organized the nanite colonies into various ranking systems to help relay information and get things moving. Then he got a report of the dishes from the nanite group K-43 to start removing the residue of his breakfast and getting his dishes that she'd dropped off into perfect form.
 
She raised her cup to her lips to take another sip of her coffee. Scrunched her face a little as her drink had cooled. "Pardon me a moment, Dakkon.." she said as she began to scoot herself from the chair and begins heading towards the bar..slips behind the counter . In the sink she poured the cool remains of her coffee down the drain, then flushes the sink with water as she rinses out her cup . Heading back to the table ,sliding back to her seat..she emptied the last cup fills from the carafe to her cup.
"Well..I'm relieved in knowing I'm really not insane.." she replied to him with a small chuckle and a wink as she dressed her cup with sweetener and a kiss of cream.
 
Watching his mother slip to the bar holding her cooled coffee he blinked for beat and then refocused upon her. Watching her rinse out the sink he almost felt the need to tell her that wasn't necessary with the nanites inside the tavern, but decided against it. One thing he had learned through all of his experimentation and creations was that peoples ingrained habits were perhaps once based upon need or rules, but that tradition had made them harder to remove than sylvan blood from porous quartz by hand. As she returned and she boguarded the last of the coffee from the carafe his hand stretched forward and took up his cup of cooling coffee and lifted it to his lips taking a small sip before looking up to her. " Well I don't know if we can write you a clean bill of mental health yet, but you seem sane to me." He said with a passive smile before his left eye flickered changing some of the orders to the subset of nanites WY-32. Group WY-32 was currently working upon the surface of the road out front making it smoother than average while increasing the hardness of the asphalt. Soon the old neighborhood would be one of the best kept in all Ayenee Capital City except the heart of the active centers. At least in general appearance, but what could he do about the people, certainly there were plenty of subjects back at the lab, but they would make unreliable patrons for his mothers bar, let alone funding them would quickly empty his modest holdings. Although Ayenee's precious metal based economy would be far easier to manipulate than the credit based economy, but even so that could bring down bigger issues than he wasn't willing to engage at present. With a subtle flicker he set his systems back at the lab to analyzing a few exhibition matches of Mr. Marcus's youth. There was something about his movements and speed that seemed familiar to Dakkon, but he needed the computers to break down the difference from normal fighters. Although in Ayenee normal was always relative. "So mom, have you reached out to Az, or Nor, Raine, or Lilly ?" He asked thinking it was hard to believe he would be the first one to know of her return, and even so it had taken him a few days.
 
She softly chuckled at his statement of her 'sanity', then looked down momentarily as when she noticed him lift his cup as to take a sip, she then looked to her own cup knowingly she had taken the last remains of the coffee. She quickly took a swallow of the warm morning delight then placed her cup on the table sliding it forward across the what appeared a newly polished table top towards Dakkon..

"Sorry about that Dakkon..I'm quite sure yours has lost it's welcomeness.." She gave a smirk to herself as she wondered briefly if that was even a correct word. Then she leaned back to her chair..still looking over at him she could tell from his expression that he seemed deep in thought. He was, as she remembered him growing up that he had always been the 'thinker' as well as a tinker. Then his sudden question to her about his brothers and sisters broke the somewhat dropped silence between them.
Giving a slow bow of her head, here it comes, something else for Dakkon to look down at her about.

" Like leaves in the winds of Fall , Dakkon...all of you seemed to have scattered. I had no inkling of you, as well as the others whereabouts. I hadn't even heard anything of your father in years...and that's something else I could point out to you...has HE been in contact with any of you ? I would like to think if he had, had contact he could have had the decency to inform me. "

Her attention then went to give a glance around the room as a thought ran through her mind that she should be doing something..but then a saddened sigh escaped her as the realization came about and she questioned herself, ( why bother, Veta..the area is 'dead' remember ? )
 
The conversation between Doriaon and Marcus had taken longer than he'd wanted it to. Of course, any conversation with Doriaon was too long, as far as Marcus was concerned. Sure he was a nice enough guy, but Marcus didn't like him purely for the fact that he couldn't touch him. A supernatural collection of fog from another realm was a poor excuse for a body, in Marcus' mind. But, considering Doriaon's actual body was committed to protecting the Myst realm, or more accurately, protecting its gates so the Myst inhabitants didn't excape, there was no other way for him to have any physical representation in this realm. Marcus never had asked Doriaon how he managed to keep sufficient watch over the Myst realm and still concentrate so readily on the affairs of Ayenee. He would have to make a point of that some time.

"So what now, little brother?"

Marcus stayed quiet for a moment as he watched the Myst guardian's hand pick up the metal staff from the platform it had been on earlier. After that, the 'man' simply floated away like vapor riding the breeze.

"I don't know, Kat. This Gaetano family sounds a lot like some familiar people I don't want to get involved with. But, I'm not seeing a more reasonable way to deal with The Board and get the Catalyst."

"More reasonable? No there probably isn't one. But you know there are other options."

Marcus started moving, turning the car back toward the main portion of the city.

"There are always other options. But what's worse? A crime syndicate, an immortal creature who always brings more trouble with him or an interplanetary war that will likely destroy the entire city?"

"Gaetanos here we come, then?"

Marcus sighed. "So it would seem."
 
She wandered through the seemingly broken city. Thinking thoughts that had no real reference to this place, however the tear in the barriers in which she would faze through gave her a bit of a shiver like feel. *Mm, that was nice* she would say in her head as her cool skin enjoyed the little charge it gave her. She quietly strolled past the now empty windows of building to which she assumed were once filled with grand things of human luxuries. A chuckle escaped her as she continued along the shadowy back alleys that would be littered with chunks of concrete scattered along the brick buildings.

Coming to a T crossing, she stood for a while..her keen senses rising as she Felt one near..but yet there was also another to whom whose energies were same but not so connected. Her long black overcoat flowed at the hemline as the winds of night blew about her form. A wry smile now formed upon her lips as her ears had now picked up sounds in the distance. *I think some excitement might occur* she thought to herself as she now picked up her pace stealing towards the sign she read above the door stating it was the..Blackbird Tavern.

Once finding the one locked backdoor to the place, she looked to her left, then to her right.."Ahh there we go!" she said to herself as she now stepped towards the left of the building. Looking up she estimated the height to around 30 feet. Chuckling she now set her focus on the rooftop. Now standing on the much needed repairs of the roof, she made the best assessment and made her way towards the front of the building. Glancing down towards the sign then scanning the road leading to it in both directions she had now decided to make this place her perch. She looked around finding old crates, pulling them together, she now had a makeshift bench.

Seating herself, she took out her old wooden pipe of oak, then from her vest she took out a pouch of worn leather which held the contents of vanilla tobacco. Going through the motions, she now stuffed said pipe..tucked the pouch away..blew gently upon the bowl lighting her favored pipe. *Now we wait* she said to herself, the dark night damp, the air musty, she could hear the faint voices from within the building, brief words being exchanged. Humming a quiet tune to herself smoking her pipe, she adjusted her worn fedora and patiently waited to see what now might unfold.

She chuckled to herself when the thought of finally seeing her after such a long time..Blowing a stream of smoke..she whispered her sisters name..sending it to her *Veta I am here*. Carina continued to hum to herself while watching and listening for any movement or the sound of breathing.
 
I hadn't even heard anything of your father in years...and that's something else I could point out to you...has HE been in contact with any of you ? I would like to think if he had, had contact he could have had the decency to inform me. "

Dakkon looked to his mother with a mild look of incredulity and almost hope. Veta seemed to be angry with his Father, and that in a weird way made Dakkon feel closer to his mother. He wasn't sure if Mithrandir had been in contact with his siblings or not, he knew he'd attempted to get in contact with Dakkon from time to time, but he had not spoken with his siblings about their father, perhaps because they all knew Dakkon was not his fan, or perhaps because he was just all to common a player in their world stages. Flicking his eyes to the side he started searching his records for his father before speaking " Well I know he's around, and he's reached out to me from time to time, but I don't know if he has contact with any of the others, we've not really talked about him....." He left off that he knew Niverm his half-ish brother had spoken of and to their father, and not too far back either, but it was not a conversation he wished to repeat in front of his mother. There were few things as hard to explain to ones parents even if you were an adult such as rounding up vampires, and vivisecting them, to attempt to isolate the core component of their magical nature to undo the whole undead aspect. Let alone that it caused a fight with a half sibling, who presently wanted to kill you. Such topics were better left alone.

Then the thought struct him hard like a hammer from a jet liner "
Hang on, did Father know where you were and how to get in contact with you ? " He asked his facial expression going stony and silent. Even his eyes which normally flicked back and forth went completely still as he awaited her response. As he did his nanites started to report a structural impact on the roof of the Blackbird the weight of which was not something of significant density. So it was unlikely a bomb, or a missile , or Valexian gel. Even so his little friends went to work reinforcing the structure and and supports, using carbon to interlace diamond crystalline structures through the intervening walls and ceilings. He wasn't sure what was on the roof, but it could be human, or a vampire, or one of the smaller demons, or various other races, but not something as large as a power-suited human. His left eye flicked quickly moving towards activation of one of his Ice Troll robots. The one closest to the Blackbird was only half a block away, and its standby mode was engaged. The building it had lodged itself in would slowly grow chilly as the mech started to move towards the outer wall that had self regenerated, before punching a hole back through it and stepping into the street. The air around it started to mist and cool, as it stepped forward into the road. Then he spoke to his mother " Seems the tavern has a guest, on the roof" He said calmly and matter-of-factly.
 
" So many years had passed by since any connection with your father, and no, I never mentioned about my absence to him, just figured he wouldn't be interested in it. And you know him, there could have been a possibily that he did know or sensed it. I wouldn't know."

Suddenly she then noticed the movements of his eyes. Especially the one that keeps flickering. From outside she heard what sounded as huge crash though it was faint. She rose from her chair and began to step away from the table . She was almost to the window as she wanted to peer out to see if she could catch a glimpse of what that sound eminated from, but suddenly stopped and turned back to Dakkon with a slight wide eyed expression, " Someone on the roof ?" She said , shakiness in her voice, she now moved over closer to Dakkon .
 
Having finished her smoke..she watched for any signs of movement both down below in the streets as well out in the distance. *Hm thinks Ima need to make some kind of gesture* she thought to herself as she now stood, pushing aside the crates, adjusting her lightly wet coat, tapping out the ashes then tucking her pipe back securely into her vest pocket..

The cold air so welcoming it gave her an ever so inviting shiver..*If this atmosphere keeps up Ima think I just might linger in this lil section of the city*..Now taking steps towards the back fire escape, she took her time making her way down to the ground floor where it met with the old and weathered brick walls of the tavern. Strolling now towards the front and stopping at the doorway she removed her fedora, letting her long tresses of black hair fall to her shoulders. Carina now did a lil spin and twirl, as if shadow dancing on the wet pavement..She hummed a cool sassy blues tune as she danced her way pausing bowing at the lamp posts and window panes, as if they were people. She did one final twirl as her coat came around her legs to a halt.

She inhaled the scent wafting out towards the street...*Mmm..very nice* she said quietly to herself as her slender hand reached for the door..Knocking once, then twice she couldn't resist her playful side and called out..."Hello..Avon calling!"..a little chuckle escaped her as she now waited a reply from the taverns occupants..meanwhile she wondered, would anyone in this decade even know who was Avon? But before anyone would see, she secured all things *lively* away. Her excitement rising eager to enter and see what wonders lay inside.
 
Before adding to her conversation with Dakkon of him saying of someone on the roof, she was interrupted by the sound of knocking at the tavern entrance, which was a bit odd to her for someone to be knocking at the door when the door was unlocked..it is a tavern afterall, and the door was unlocked to allow customers to walk in freely in expect to be served. " I could have sworn the door is unlocked, perhaps I had locked it from being.." Veta also heard the voice, it was woman which could tell from the softness of the tone. Curiously she stepped away slowly from Dakkon and headed to the door. Reaching out to the handle of the door she quickly learned that it was indeed unlocked..she pulled the door open and as she stood there she stared at the woman 's face for a moment and soon recognized her..a soft gasp she then said.." Carina ?...why..what are you...oh my god...do come in ! "

Veta quickly stepped aside pulling the door back along with her to allow Carina into the tap room. Veta couldn't believe it..it had been years since she had seen her when she had left home..Veta then turned her attention to Dakkon. " Dakkon, ..this is my sister Carina ...your aunt.." Veta then looked back to Corina with complete shock and amazement.
 
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