Loki had decided he would just lay there and let Regan talk if the vampire wanted to, or just sit next to him. Loki had nothing to say, well, that wasn't true. The wolf had no intention of doing anything, he would just lay there and relax against the vampire. But then Regan began to tremble, Loki's nose wrinkled a bit, catching some scent coming from the vampire. Fear. So Regan did fear him in this form. A whimper and a whine left his throat, and Loki moved some, turning his head to gently nudge the vampire and lick him softly. The wolf nuzzled Regan lightly, then licked him again. Those red wolven eyes filled with nothing but concern for his vampire.

Familiar sounds made the vampire look up just as Loki shifted around. A tremulous smile crossed Regan's lips as he was nuzzled and licked. Letting out a long breath, he moved to place a light kiss onto the wolf's muzzle. "You know, I never thought something like this would ever happen to me. I never thought I'd meet anyone fascinating enough to catch my attention, or my heart. And yet here I am... I've been chasing after you, Loki. Nothing I do seems to be good enough, because the moment you catch sight of Vex you seem to forget all about me. But I don't care, not as long as you turn back to me. You make me happy, even if it doesn't seem like that. So please stay, or if you leave let me come with you." Those red eyes, they were worried about him or they had been when Regan had begun his little speech. It hadn't been planned per say. Though the redhead had been musing over it since he'd begun his search for Loki. He realized that this was the first time he'd laid everything out for the wolf, and Regan could only hope it was enough. If this was well received, perhaps there was a chance. Burying his hands into the wolf's fur, Regan tried to calm himself while he pet the wolf.

Another whine, and Loki's form had changed. One moment he was a dire wolf, the next he was just Loki, sitting there all humanoid with his arms around Regan. Holding the vampire close and tight. "It's impossible for me to forget about you." He nuzzled Regan gently, holding to the vampire fiercely. "I only wanted Vex to understand why I can't be with her, but I only pissed her off. I wasn't trying to. I just. I don't understand why she's so angry at me, we barely even know each other as it is. Something like this, it shouldn't make her so unhappy. If I leave, she might be happy, and you might too because I'm so mean to you." Loki closed his eyes tightly, clinging hard to Regan. "I only stopped by in the first place to give Luce a message. Then I was going to be gone before sun up. Like usual. But now I can't seem to bring myself to leave, because I would have been leaving you behind, it's hard enough to leave Luce, but leaving you seems damn near impossible. Hasty decision or not, I chose you so that must count for something." Everything was so complicated, but he was the one that had complicated things. It was his fault. "All I do is ruin people's lives." That last bit had been whispered so softly, but the way Loki said it, it was clear the wolf really did believe it.

Letting out a surprised gasp, Regan wrapped his arms around Loki and listened. As the wolf spoke about Vex, he let himself be reassured. It did help, hearing the other speaking about what had been going trough his mind. Regan, though versed well enough in politics, had a hard time figuring Loki out. He was always guessing with him. Though at the mention of the wolf's departure, Regan tightened his hold on the other man at the same time as Loki did. It seemed like they both wanted to stay together.

The last whispered sentence had Regan pulling back a little form Loki. It was only so he could kiss the man fiercely, nipping lightly at his lips. Now looking at Loki squarely with his blue eyes, Regan smiled a little. "You didn't ruin my life. Must I get those words tattooed on my forehead to make you believe me? And Luce, he seems glad to have you here from what I can see. " Now he was running a hand trough Loki's dark hair, while the other rested at his hip holding the other close. He still feared that Loki would leave him, despite his words. The man had seemed so certain of his words earlier, and he'd been so miserable for the past two days!

It was no wonder Regan had a hard time figuring Loki out, even Loki couldn't figure himself out. When Regan pulled back and kissed him, Loki blinked softly and turned his head slightly. "Don't worry, stay with me long enough and I'll ruin you eventually. Luce tolerates me, I'm not sure how much he really enjoys my presence. Besides, I've already ruined his life he just doesn't know it yet." A soft, almost sad sigh passed the wolf's lips and he hid his face against Regan. "I'd forgotten, what it's like to let myself get so close to someone. I haven't had a mate in so long. I don't want to leave you, I don't want you to leave me. I'm so tired of being lonely." Of course Loki had friends, but it wasn't the same and being near them sometimes made him feel even more alone.

Shaking his head in denial, the vampire's face fell a little. He hated seeing Loki unhappy, if even the slightest bit. "Tell him, and let him make that decision," murmured Regan when the wolf began speaking about Luce. Then the conversation turned, and he was pulling Loki close and rubbing his back soothingly. "Well, I'm glad we agree on something! I don't want to leave either, and I definitely want you to stay." Smiling and laughing a little, Regan was trying to cheer the other man up.

When Regan told him he should tell Luce, Loki tensed. A spike of fear pierced his heart, then it was gone. It wasn't fear that kept Loki from telling Luce whatever secret he had. If Luce killed him for it or hated him for the rest of his life, Loki would accept such a thing easily. He could not easily accept making Luce sad. "I can't. It would probably make him sad. I can't ruin his life further by telling him I've already ruined it when he doesn't even know that. Sometimes, it's better to keep people in the dark about certain things." Loki nuzzled Regan gently, clinging hard to him. Hearing Regan say he didn't want to leave and he wanted Loki to stay did cheer him up slightly. His ears twitched slightly and he nuzzled the vampire again, Loki felt emotionally drained, he didn't like that feeling. At least, being here with Regan, held like this, helped. Maybe sometimes it was better to just talk, instead of trying to hide or react with anger to everything. Especially when he wasn't angry at the people he vented that anger on.

Biting his lower lip, Regan looked down at Loki. It sounded like this was a big secret, something life changing. This was a situation the vampire did not like, not one bit. Sighing, he closed his eyes briefly then looked down at Loki while rubbing a hand over the other man's soft ears. "I don't know what this secret is ... But if it's something this important, don't you think it'd be better to tell him?" Letting the subject drop , Regan smiled and bent his head down to nip the wolf's neck lightly. Licking the spot over, he sighed contentedly as he pressed himself closer to Loki. This felt wonderful. For a while, Regan had thought having such a conversation with Loki might have been impossible. Now he knew that was a false thought, and he was glad of it.

"I could tell you the secret...but you'd have to swear you would never ever tell Luce." Loki had shifted slightly, but only so he could stare into Regan's eyes. His own red ones were intense. This thing, whatever it was, it was very important to Loki. It was a secret he had guarded well for centuries. Only two others knew it, but even so, Loki had not told them of it. Loki didn't think he had ever talked to anyone about it, and he probably on some level, did want to actually tell someone. "I know, eventually, one day I'll tell him. I just, the time just never seems right." That last bit was spoken just a little uncertainly, but still Loki looked intense and sincere.

Thinking about it seriously, the vampire lifted one hand and grazed his wrist with his sharp teeth. A thin line of blood welled up from the wound. Offering it up to Loki, he tilted his head to the side. "I swear on my blood not to tell anyone about your secret, unless you yourself give me permission to do so." A blood bond like this was something very powerful, and doubly so for a vampire. He was certain Loki would know what this entailed, this offering up of blood. It was a little funny actually, since Regan's blood contained Loki's. Perhaps that would make the binding vow all the stronger.

Rida shook his head, not agreeing with her. Settling on his sit, he swung his legs a little as he watched the people. Aine walked in, sitting next to him, joking a little about her hurt hand. Frowning, the neko wondered what had happened to her. But another thought also tugged at his mind. Rida had to also wonder about why Priscilla so jealous of Luce. He didn't think the demon had done anything to her. Nor was there any reason for it.


Aine smiled sweetly at the demon as he placed a drink in front of her and passed over the ice pack. Setting her hand flat on th surface, she placed the pack on top of it and took a sip from the glass. The fae hummed softly at the drink, glancing to catch sight of Rida looking over at her. Smiling brightly at him, she turned back to the concerned demon. "Oh it was just a misunderstanding. I shouldn't have acted so childishly in return. It was only words anyway." She knew she was being vague, unsure how Luce would take it. Plus it seemed both Luce and Rida had someone nearby that was rather close and interested in them, and it wouldn't really be nice of her to say anything about their previous bedroom activities.


The young woman sighed, she'd been traveling for so long. "Stopping again? You're such a weakling." A voice spoke in the back of her mind, obviously sneering at her. "Oh be quiet. I should've had you exorcised in the last town." She murmured softly, doing her best to ignore the stares she was recieving from the town locals. Sometimes it was harder said than done. Pulling her cap further down her head, she hitched the strap from her backpack up higher on her shoulder. "If you had, you'd still be lonely. No one really cares about you. Didn't your parents already prove that?" The demon remarked cruelly, laughing as tears welled in her eyes and she started running away from the town.

It was a such a low blow to her, when normally nothing else bothered her. Arcis came upon the Inn in a few short minutes, easily telling that it housed quite an array of beings inside already. Pulling a fist into her jacket sleeve, she used it to dry her eyes before entering, pausing in the entryway at the sudden onslaught of jumbled energy, a more subtle one seeming to test her in case she meant anyone harm. She might not, but the demon in her she couldn't be sure about. "Oh. He's a sexy one." She heard him purr, and she looked up to see a rather feminine looking male standing behind the bar, talking with a bright red haired female, a flower fae, if the wings and flowery aura was anything to go by. "Why can't you just shut up?" Arcis snapped back at him quietly as she moved towards the bar, finding a free seat at the end and mostly away from people.

Loki hadn't even considered a blood bond, though this was a very serious matter to him. A blood bond did seem rather fitting, for a few moments Loki hesitated. Then he took Regan's hand in his own. Mumbled something in his old archaic native tongue and then licked at the blood that had oozed from the wound, a second lick was given and Loki closed his eyes for a moment. This wasn't easy, Loki had thought since he wasn't saying it to Luce, that it would be easier to tell. He could only imagine how much more difficult it would be when he actually did tell Luce.

"Lucidna of the Ebon Moon, Lord of Shadows and Lust is my son.." There was a bit of pain in Loki's voice and he pulled away from Regan completely, standing and turning his back to the vampire. Hands clenched at his sides. "...His mother died not too long after he was born, and I ran away. I ran away from my responsibilities and duties as a father. I left him in the capable hands of his mother's clan. I didn't abandon him completely, I came around sometimes. It was easy to pretend like I was just some distant relative, a cousin. But that, that isn't the worst thing I did."

Loki's shoulders shook, but the wolf would not cry, even though he was filled to the brim with pain and sadness. "I killed Luce's mother. She was a succubus, but I loved her anyway. I didn't care that she couldn't spend every night with me. I wouldn't have cared even if she had stolen away all of my life force. I understood, she needed the life force to live. I didn't even realize that loving me was tearing her apart. Succubi and Incubi aren't meant for love. It breaks them in ways you could never imagine." Loki's eyes were closed tightly. "After Luce was born, she took her own life. All because she loved me. I had killed her so I ran away from Luce, because he would be happier if I weren't there. No child needs a father that had killed his mother."


Luce eyed Aine for a few moments and then shrugged slightly. Perhaps it had been Loki, he often tossed insults around when he was hurting or angry. But Luce didn't know for sure, though from the scents around Aine, Loki had indeed been near her. He wouldn't press the matter. "Sometimes it is alright to act a little childishly." The door had opened and Luce looked up to see who entered. "Ah. Hello and welcome to Red Rose Inn. The bar is self serve, rooms are available, I can prepare a hot meal for you and everything is on the house." Luce gave the young woman a welcoming smile as he greeted her.

Loki's words shivered in the air, hanging in the silence which Regan would not break. Not yet, not until the whole tale was told. It shocked the vampire, made him growl low in his throat as emotions tumbled trough him. Saying something, finding the right words ... It seemed like such an impossible task. Anything that could be said would never be enough. So the redhead stared at the wolf's back in silence as the other man finished the telling of his secret.

Standing to go and place an arm around Loki's shoulders, Regan looked down at him with concern, and obvious love. "You did not kill her. It was her decision, and her decision alone to do as she did. Loki, there's nothing you can do to change the past and ... I believe, even without knowing her, that she would want you to be happy." The vampire kept his surprise at finding out the true relationship between the wolf and Luce to himself for the moment. It just didn't seem like the right time to talk about it, not now when the wolf was so sad. In fact, Regan wasn't even sure he should have spoken at all. It was worth a try though.

Placing soft kisses along Loki's jawline, Regan hesitantly moved a hand to brush it over his tail. Perhaps he was trying to distract the other man from his sorrow, but what else was he supposed to do when all the other things he could have done seemed so inadequate?

With a sigh, Priscilla turned her eyes to Luce. She really felt like trying a drink out, but had no idea what to taste. The past few days had been that eventful for the mostly prim and proper young lady. "Luce, I know the Inn takes care of these things but would it be too much trouble for you to pick out my first drink?" Of course, she only asked this once the other young lady had been taken care off. It was only the polite thing to do.

Meanwhile, she glanced at Rida with uncertainty. They were friends, but it didn't seem like they would become anymore. So distracting herself with drink ... A very bad idea yes, but one Priscilla was determined to try out.

It had been so long ago, hundreds of years and Loki could not let go. He couldn't let go of his pain and sorrow. Loki's eyes were closed, shut tight when Regan came to him and put an arm around him, but the wolf leaned against the vampire, leaned against him as if he had no strength to stand on his own two feet. His hands came up, clutching and clinging to any piece of Regan's fabric he could find. "How could I ever be happy knowing that I was the cause of her death? How can someone go and do something like that, and expect me to be happy?" Those eyes opened, his tail twitching slightly against the vampire's hand, Loki stared at Regan's face. "Even you, earlier, you thought it would be better if you died. All because of me." Loki's grip on Regan's clothing tightened, sharp nails almost poking holes into the fabric. "One way or another, I'm responsible for her death, and I nearly killed you."


Luce blinked and smiled at Priscilla. "Oh. Of course. I am sure the Inn will know exactly what you need." He glanced at Rida for a moment, giving the neko an encouraging smile before he turned to the shelves, already picking up a glass, he waited for the Inn to direct him to the proper bottle. Lightly one slid forward and Luce took it, poured it in the glass, returned the bottle and moved to place that glass in front of Priscilla. Luce looked over Aine once more, to make sure she had everything she needed, then he watched the newcomer. To see if she needed or wanted anything.

"How noble," Vex responded to Luce as she finished off her second drink. When Aine came in with the new guy, she only smiled faintly, before seeing Aine's hand. If Luce hadn't taken care of the fae's drink, Vex could have, without the Inn's help and with her eyes closed. But Luce seemed to have it under control.

Vex ignored everyone else, only slightly paying attention to Aine and Ciar, as Aine and her had formed a small friendship and Vex wanted to be sure everything was ok. That too was new to Vex. Her eyes moved to the girl who'd entered with cap, raising an eyebrow as the girl seemed to be talking to herself. This Inn got stranger and stranger by the day.

Her ears picked up on a familiar voice asking for a drink, so she turned her head to see Priscilla at the bar. She shook her head as Luce turned around and waited for the Inn to direct him. The Inn would surely pick out something nice, but Vex could have done better. In fact, Vex turned around, eyeing the bottles before picking out a nice rum and turning around again to face her glass that had been empty for far too long.

She stood there for a moment with the bottle in her hand, opened and held over her glass as if she were going to pour the liquor at any second, but she didn't. Instead, she put the bottle down next to glass as she appeared to be in a sort of daze. In the moment that Vex tilted the bottle to pour, she caught the reflection of herself in the bottom of the empty glass. She realized that he life was never going to change if she continued living the way she did, and change meant not being such an alcoholic, and that she had decided at that very moment.

When she snapped out of her daze, she was still staring at the empty glass. Her eyes flicked from the glass to the bottle and back again as if contemplating one last drink, for good luck. But Vex was way too stubborn and already had her mind set on quitting. She'd never stuck to anything she'd planned to do if it didn't involve running away, but today, today was her day.

Vex was frowning now as she nodded at the internal pep-talk. She picked up the bottle, carefully replacing it on the shelf. Her hand lingered on the bottle for a moment as if she were second guessing her decision. With a sigh, she removed her hand, turning her back to the wall as she crossed her arms and turned up her nose. There, she'd done it.

~~~*~~~*~~~

Ciar held the door open for Aine, moving to sit beside her at the bar. He kept to himself as she requested a drink and some ice. While she talked to Luce, his eyes swept over the large array of liquors on the wall in front of them. Had he heard correctly? Was this bar really self serve, and all accommodations free? How was this possible? Either way, Ciar had money, he just figured he'd heard wrong. How else could a place manage it's finances?

His eyes flicked to the blonde behind the bar who seemed to be at war with herself as she frowned down at her glass. When she replaced the bottle and turned her back to the liquors, he couldn't help but smile. What an odd woman. Ciar's dark teal eyes found Aine again as he smiled to her, not wanting to interrupt her conversation.

Rida sat thinking, there wasn't much he wanted right now. Wasn't thirsty and wasn't hungry. Ear twitching, he glanced over at Priscilla in confusion as she asked for a drink. Scrunching his nose, he folded his arms on the table top and rested his chin on them. Eyes slipping closed, he yawned. "What really is love?" He murmured softly as he dozed off.


"Not so for one of my standing. But then, neither is accepting the implication of being a whore." She murmured the last part thoughtfully. Maybe though, he spoke a bit of truth? She did behave rather poorly, joining the pair in bed that way when she should have stayed away. Now if she returned to her clan, she'd have to give up her place in the line of succession. It was their belief that even if her mate was dead, she was supposed to remain pure for him in the next life. But then again, she was so tired of keeping to the ideals and beliefs of her people, giving up her spot on the throne wouldn't be so bad. It would certainly give her more freedom to travel.


Arcis watched the demon greet her, one arm curling around her bare midsection, trying her best to hide the marking that surrounded her belly button. Though he probably already had seen it when she walked in, or the magic from the Inn would have told him about the marking, and its meaning. "Oh will you shut up already? Quit whining. I can't believe I got stuck inside you." Wincing, Arcis chose to ignore the rude demon, tentatively offering a small smile. "Food and a room would be much appreciated. Do you have any soda?" She asked quietly, pulling off her blue and white cap and setting it on top of her backpack.

He punched him, even if a good part of Regan wanted to pull Loki close to soothe, it was the only way to get trough to the wolf. Shaking his head, Regan looked to the ground with a harried expression. "She's dead and gone! Whatever happened back then, it's in the past. And the way I see it, you've deprived yourself of the only thing remaining of your love in this world. You lost her, but you still have Luce." Pacing back and forth now, the redhead gestured emotionally with every one of his words. They rang with the force of his emotions. He'd lived with the loss of his own mother, and his father had never cared an ounce for him.

Regan couldn't count the times when he'd wished for a loving father, they were so many. "As for myself, I told you I wouldn't have been able to go trough with it. Either way, this is my life to do with as I will just as your life belongs only to you." Moving to the wolf, Regan let his blue eyes fall to him. There wasn't anger in them, only frustration and a sincere show of his feelings. " I love you, but right now you're being selfish. You're focusing on yourself, but have you never thought of the fact that because of your decision, Luce grew up without either of his parents? And then, look at you! You're an absolute mess! That only hurts the people who care for you, because seeing you in such pain, brings us pain." It didn't seem like anyone had ever given the wolf a reality check, and it was about time someone did.

Giving Luce a smile, Priscilla took a delicate sip of the drink and grimaced. It tasted absolutely awful! Spluttering a little, she turned to Rida upon hearing his words. The question rang trough her mind as she watched the neko doze off. Reaching out, the young woman began running her hand over his ears absentmindedly. "Is it giving another person the ability to break your heart?" There were so many different kinds of love, but that seemed to be such a common factor.

Shifting impatiently in his seat, the kelpie spotted Vex. Lifting a hand into the air, he waved at her excitedly. "I took you up on your offer! I'm here, so what should we talk about?" Turning to grin briefly at Sikura, the blue haired male chuckled. He found himself twisting around between the two young women in an attempt to include them both in a conversation. They seemed quite fascinating to him. In fact the kelpie hadn't ever had much experience with females. What with Luce running the Inn, they barely ventured out to the pond and men tended to stay away from the place. Perhaps it had been a little lonely in the water.

Loki stumbled back when Regan punched him. It had caught him so completely by surprise that the wolf couldn't do anything else but stare at the vampire. Loki didn't do anything until Regan stepped toward him, the wolf took a step back. Didn't the vampire understand, he wasn't selfish at all. "You don't understand..." Loki was frowning deeply, and he took another step away from Regan. He would have taken another but already his back was pressed against a tree. Loki was shaking his head, but he didn't know what else to say. Luce was always on his mind, he was constantly thinking about the fact that because of him Luce had never grown up with real parents. But Luce had turned out okay, and Loki had been there, every now and again. At least he hadn't completely abandoned Luce. Loki blinked when Regan called him a mess, and looked down at the ground. Staring at it hard and pressing his back even harder against that tree. Loki really had nothing to say.


Luce smiled at the girl. "Of course we have soda. I will be right back." The tall demon turned and went in to the kitchen. Luce was in there for only a few moments and when he came out, there was a glass of some soda in his hand and a plate of steaming hot food that looked freshly cooked. He definitely had not been in there long enough to cook anything. With a smile he walked down the bar and set the plate and glass in front of the girl. "Here you are, darling." After setting the items in front of her, Luce seemed to pull at a ribbon hanging in midair. The ribbon lengthened and soon a key dangled from the end. He set the key on it's ribbon next to her glass. "The key to your room. The ribbon matches the color of the door handle. I hope that your stay here will be a very enjoyable one." Luce winked at her and was already turning to return to where he had been standing moments ago.

Placing his hands on either side of the wolf, Regan had a far away look in his eyes. Memories flitted trough his mind of times past, none of them pleasant ones. "No, you don't seem to understand how difficult is it to grow up without your parents. I lost my mother, and my father was no such thing. I still find myself wishing I had their support, even though I'm over a thousand years old. The longing never goes away." Blinking a little incredulously at his own words, the vampire let out a long sigh. Even the crisp air and beautiful day did nothing to alleviate his mood now.

"I'm sorry, I suppose I'm putting a lot of my own feelings into this mixture." Pressing himself against the wolf, Regan slipped a hand under his shirt. He just wanted to forget, and make Loki think of anything but his past mate and his misery. Smiles and laughter, it really didn't seem likely that this would be their lot. "Living in the past won't change anything, so why not work in the present towards the future?" The words were as much for the vampire himself as the wolf. Tipping his head down, Regan nibbled at Loki's neck with a small growl.

Something the vampire said caused Loki's head to snap up, anger in his red eyes. "Oh. Of course, I wouldn't understand how difficult it is to grow up without parents. Must be because I'm a wolf, and wolves are so very loyal to their packs." Loki's words were filled with sarcasm and he growled, placing his hands on Regan's chest and shoving the vampire back some. "You're right. I don't know what it's like to only loose parents. I know what it's like to be abandoned by an entire pack. Mother, Father, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins. An entire family threw me away. Their reasoning? Oh, I was the runt. Smallest and weakest. The seventh born from a litter that should only have had six." But as quick as Loki's anger had come, it had fizzled out. He rubbed his temple lightly. "I'm stronger than all of them now, but I would have died back then. I was lucky another pack found me, took pity on me and raised me as one of their own, a member of their clan."

Loki lowered his hand from his head, leaning back against that tree hard, until the bark poked painfully at his spine. "I used to tell myself that I'd be a wonderful parent once I had a litter of my own, but look. The moment things got painful, I abandoned my son. I'm over seven thousand years old, and I act like an immature child. Luce is only a little over eight hundred years, and he's far more mature than I could ever be. So I do know what it's like to lose a family at a young age, I know how difficult it is to grow up that way. I know what it's like to be surrounded by people that want to include you, but it all feels empty and hollow, because you know they aren't really your family. It's nice to be with them, but it isn't the same, it isn't as nice as it would be if they really were your family."

((I'm super excited to bring in Jinsu! :eager:))

Something caught Vex's eye and she turned her head to see Ferwen sitting at the bar waving. "So you did," she said, moving to lean on the bar across from him. He wanted to talk about something now? Vex shook her head, he certainly was a strange one. "What do you want to talk about Ferwen?" she asked with a sultry smile that seemed to disappear quickly as her mind poked at her to get another drink.

Whatever Ferwen decided to talk about had better be interesting, or else she'd surely pick up drinking again. As of now, she'd been sober for almost five minutes. Well, technically she was a little toasted when she decided to stop, so, she wasn't technically sober either... She did a mental shrug. At least she was trying.

~~~*~~~*~~~

Ciar's smile faded at Aine's last words. Though mumbled, he seemed to hear them loud and clear. Was it true? No, he could tell. A small frown formed as he shook his head, the nerve of some people. He was still refraining from interrupting, but Luce appeared busy now, so he figured he was in the clear.

"Sometimes it's words that hurt the most. Even more than sticks or stones," he said, referring to the old saying, and Aine's comment of them being 'only words anyway'. "Or even a broken hand," he added as he pulled a clean bandanna from his pocket. Ciar folded the bandanna into a square before gently taking the wrist of Aine's injured hand to bring it closer to him. He placed the bandanna gently on top of Aine's knuckles, followed by the ice pack. "It's far too cold for such delicate skin," he said, motioning to the pack. "Especially with swelling such as this. It can be quite dangerous to leave such a thing in direct contact with the flesh."

~~~*~~~*~~~

Stepping into the Inn, Jinsu Maeda's dark brown eyes assessed the people, all seemingly at the bar. He scoffed. Jin walked to the bar, sitting in between a girl with a baseball cap and another male, Ciar, leaving space on either side of him. He dropped his heavy duffel bag that he'd been carrying on his back, onto the floor with little care.

Jin frowned the entire time. It seemed to be the only expression his face made. Years of martial arts and boxing hadn't helped that in the least, nor had the years of anger management. Looking to the blonde woman behind the bar, not caring that she was having a conversation as he assumed she was the bar maid, he spoke, a hint of bitter cruelty in his voice with each and every word he ever spoke. "Woman, a drink," he said simply.

As the words began pouring out from Loki's mouth, the vampire simply stared at him with disbelief and guilt. Regan always seemed to say the things which would get Loki going, or somehow make some painful memories resurface. He didn't know how it happened, only that he regretted that it did. So as the wind brought scents from around the small area, calming scents, the vampire tried to relax.

It was an impossible task though. Blue eyes filled with emotions, the vampire reached out to gather Loki up in his arms. Holding the wolf close, he sighed softly then began singing. It was a lilting melody, with flowing words and a haunting air. It had been so long since he'd heard it, this lullaby his mother had created for him. "Let me be your family," murmured Regan after he finished the song.

Considering the question thoughtfully, the kelpie leaned casually against the counter top to wink playfully at Vex. "Well I always did wonder why land dwellers wear shoes. And women, with those strange strapy contraptions! And why do women wear corsets? " His lack of interaction with women was beginning to show. Though, Frewen really wasn't embarrassed about that at all.

His attitude changed immediately when a strange man entered the Inn. Leaping up, Frewen glared at him. "Talking to people like that is rude. I'd advise against it." Nope, the kelpie really had been sitting in his pond for too long. Now he was going to get into a heap of trouble.

Luce had just picked up a rag to wipe down something that really didn't need to be wiped down when the male entered, sat down and directed his words to Vex. It was unmistakable that the surly man was speaking to Vex, but Luce just couldn't resist interfering, mostly because the man had been rude. He dropped the rag, giving a quick warning look to the kelpie, and also a look that said 'I'll handle this'. Luce moved to lean on the bar top directly in front of this new male. Eye lashes fluttering softly as he let is blue eyes roam over the man in front of him. "I know I look feminine, but I had not realized that I could so easily be mistaken for a woman." He licked his lips almost seductively. "I am terribly sorry though, the bar is completely self serve." Luce tilted his head slightly, just barely motioning towards a sign that hung in plain sight declaring that very fact. "Of course if you need something from the kitchen, I would be more than happy to get it for you. Or anything else you may want." That last bit was spoken with a flirty tone. Luce couldn't help himself, this man looked so very delicious. A bit rude, but still delicious. "Welcome to the Red Rose Inn, my love."


When Regan reached out for him, Loki practically fell into the man's arms. He was crying. He was crying hard. The tears had started only moments before Regan had reached for him. His arms slipped around the vampire and held to the man so very tightly. Loki's entire body shook with the sobs. It was a hard, deep crying. Loki had cried before, but not like this. It was as if all of this had been held in his whole life. He clutched and clung to Regan, hiding his face against the vampire, soft whines leaving his throat every now and again. But Loki didn't cry for very long. Only a few minutes, it probably really wasn't enough to help him feel better. He placed a kiss on Regan's neck. "You already are my family." He whispered the words, he said them as if he thought Regan already knew that. Loki nuzzled the vampire's neck and clung to him even harder for a few moments. "Tell me the truth. Am I really just being selfish?" Loki had to know. He had never thought that he was being selfish, especially where Luce was concerned, but maybe he really was?

The tears had surprised him, though at the same time Regan was glad. This was such a different Loki, one who showed his vulnerabilities from time to time, then the one Regan had met not too long ago. They had put each other trough to much though, in such a short time. He supposed it wasn't all that surprising that they would lean on each other in times of need. It was heart wrenching to hear the wolf crying, but Regan knew it would do him good. His own tears had helped him too.

"You're afraid, and I was wrong. You did what you thought was best for Luce. I don't know how you were then, but ... You could be a wonderful father, if you gave yourself the chance." Hugging Loki close, the vampire smiled down at him with an unusual warmth in his blue eyes. Telling Loki his own problems had helped Regan too. Kissing the wolf deeply, Regan let out a content sound. Family. Now he finally had someone he wanted to call his family, someone that he wanted to call his and felt the same way. Pulling the wolf closer, Regan passed a hand trough the wolf's hair, only to deepen the kiss. Finally pulling back after a few moments, Regan chuckled. "I wonder what this makes me, in regards to Luce. The thoughts a little strange..." He couldn't be all that much older then the demon, could he? It was hard to tell.

Loki held tightly to the vampire, just listening as Regan spoke and then just listening to the sounds around them. Even though Loki did feel a little better, he did not like being so vulnerable in front of someone else. Even if that someone else was his mate, but Loki just nuzzled Regan softly and held to him tightly. Eyes closed as he leaned against the vampire, the wolf really felt as if he had no strength left in his entire body. Who knew such things as this could be so draining? Loki felt as if some of that strength was returning when Regan kissed him, the wolf completely melted into that kiss. Somehow it was very refreshing. He almost whined when Regan pulled away from it. Loki licked his own lips, savoring the taste of Regan there. He only shrugged at Regan's words and leaned towards the vampire to capture those lips in another kiss.