"I don't feel like asking anyone anything."

Léan looked like he was being deliberately stubborn again. He wasn't curious about anyone, or anything about them. Like he himself was a private person, he assumed other people were as well...and honestly, he didn't want to know any dirty little secrets or anything of the sort. He rested his head against Kratos' chest, closing his eyes, and dropped one of his hands down to rest on the hand that was on his tail, to loosely hold that hand.

Shadow could already see that pushing the siren would probably result in him having a temper tantrum, so he only sighed and shook his head, smiling slightly. It was best not to push Léan, most of the time. "All right, then. Does anyone else feel like going? We could always stop, and perhaps do something else..." He glanced downwards, towards his stomach. "I may be up to getting something to eat."

It looked like Léan had ended the game. Kratos didn't mind it at all. In fact, he was rather comfortable with the merman on him and snuggled up real close. He was surprised, though, when he'd felt that hand on his own and his own heart skipped a beat. "We're not hungry." Kratos turned to look up at Shadow and then at Hebs, Gian and Alfie.

Gian nodded at that and patted Alfie's hand lightly. "I know I am," he said with a grin before he'd turned to look at Hebs' way. "Let's go get breakfast then." He had noticed Shadow glancing down at his hand stroking that stomach of his and he shifted a little to press a light kiss onto Shadow's stomach. Wetting it with a bit of saliva, he dipped his tongue into his belly button through the material before he'd licked his lips and pulled back.

"What are you two wanting to eat today? And, what about that other one?"
"Blake? I'll go ask him." It looked like the rain had stopped, too, and he and Kratos had dried up a bit. The shirt and pants still felt rather damp.

Léan yawned softly, noting that the rain had indeed stopped--he couldn't smell the water all around anymore. He held onto Kratos' hand gently, not too tightly. "...What do you want to do?" he asked, quietly. "Should we take a nap?" He didn't mind laying down and resting outside of his tank with the other, and that was exactly what he was implying.

"I know I want my usual giant conglomeration of meat with whatever else we decide to have. Ooohh..." Alfie glanced at Shadow with a big, silly grin on his face. "Why don't you help Hebs make your famous strawberry pancakes?"

Shadow closed his eyes, making a small purring sound in the back of his throat, and reached down to run his fingers through Hebs' hair as he kissed at his stomach. Once Hebs had finished, he grinned wryly in Alfie's direction. Shadow made amazing strawberry pancakes that everyone in the family, even Léan, loved to chow down on. Only he seemed to be able to make them just right, though.

Kratos nodded at that. He'd definitely like that, especially if it was with Léan. Smiling softly and using the others' conversations as a chance for him to leave first, he hoisted the merman up into his arms and opened the door to Shadow's room. "We'll leave first," was all he'd said before he'd shut the door with his foot.

Hebs had liked that small, purring sound and he noted to get more of those sounds out from Shadow one of these days. "And, that sounds like a perfect idea, Alfie," Hebs said with a bright grin. Gian looked confused. "Pancakes?" he asked as he turned to look at Alfie, "What's so special about Shadow's pancakes?" Hebs chuckled at Gian's innocence and he gave Shadow's stomach another stroke.

"Come on then, Shadow." He gave the man a little pat on the chest and rolled off of bed to stretch out his arms in front of him and roll his head about.

Léan clung contently to Kratos as he left the room, closing his eyes and enjoying the feel of the still-moist air on his skin. He didn't know if he would be able to settle down and nap...but, at the very least, the chance to cuddle up with the other was a good idea. He would relax...

"Oh, you poor thing, having never had Shadow's wonderful pancakes..." Alfie cooed, patting Gian on the head. He was out of the door before any of the others still in the room, looking eager. "Come ooon! I'm hungry!"

Shadow slid out of bed absently, shaking his head around so his hair was no longer drooping into his face. "Lead the way..." he crooned to Hebs, content.

Kratos got to his room rather quickly. Considering it was just close to Shadow's place, he opened the door and shut the door with his foot as always. He set the merman down onto his bed first before he got out of his wet clothes to change into dry ones. Surely, he wouldn't get sick. He was half dead anyway. Settling down beside Léan, he laid himself down and pulled the merman close to him before he'd welcomed the arms of sleep a second time that day.

Gian frowned a little at Alfie cooing and patting his head like that. He almost seemed like he was talking to him like a kid. "Aren't I going to have a share now?" he asked as he scrambled to his feet and half tackled Alfie. Pulling him down a bit and wrapping his arm around his shoulders, he pinched Alfie's cheek before he went on ahead towards the kitchen.

Hebs turned to look at Shadow and smiled in amusement. "Yeah." Yawning widely and running his fingers through his hair again, he held a few strands between his fingers and went on to follow the naga and the human to the kitchen.

Léan was happy to curl up in the other's warm embrace, but he knew he wasn't going to be able to sleep. He just knew it--usually, he could tell when sleep was going to evade him. So instead of sleeping, the siren just stayed curled up snugly with Kratos and rested, his mind drifting off into little daydreams.

Alfie whined when his cheek was pinched and he slithered after Gian at once, looking pouty and rueful. "Hmph. You're lucky I just really want pancakes or I'd go back to bed right now and lock my door," he huffed, lying of course...

Shadow walked beside Hebs, his clothing in total disarray and maskless for once. On their days off, he resembled a lazy, unemployed young man who paid little attention to his clothing and looks...

Gian snickered. "Somehow," he started as he grinned at Alfie, "I just know you're lying." Reaching out to clasp their fingers together, he tugged him closer and let his grin turn to a smile. "And I'm still looking forward to your taking care of my problem a little while ago." Gian also planned to ask what it is that Alfie wanted.

Hebs followed after the two in the kitchen and left the door open for Shadow. He pulled out a few items and utensils for Shadow to use and put them all on the counter. "Now then, what do you need?" he asked before he'd turned to look at Gian. He paused for a second or two and frowned. "Weren't you supposed to go get Blake?"

"Oh yeah." Gian grinned in embarrassment and tugged Alfie's hand a bit. "You coming with, Alfie?"

"Later," Alfie grumbled, when Gian tugged him close--his tail briefly wrapped around the other's legs. "I want pancakes more right now. Sorry--you'll understand once you have a taste of those pancakes! Mm..." He tilted his head slightly when Gian asked if he wanted to go along to fetch Blake and then shook his head, apologetically. "I'm so hungry...I'm just going to have to wait here."

Shadow absently began to dig around the kitchen for all the proper ingredients, thankful they still had fresh strawberries to work with. "If you want to make the batter, go on ahead. You need to add strawberry milk once it starts getting thick."

Hebs only nodded at Shadow and went to get the ingredients. He was rather quick whipping up the batter and when it was too much for him to mix it, he went with the mixer. Glancing at Alfie and Gian, he smiled slightly in amusement at the conversation of the two. "We'll try to have a couple of pancakes ready for when you bring Blake here, Gian."

Gian's eyes lit up at that and he smiled brightly. "All right!" Releasing his hold on Alfie's hand, he chuckled and patted the naga's back. Of course, he had teasingly ran his fingers along one wing on Alfie's back before he'd pulled away and left for Blake's tent. Knocking on the door, he opened it and peeked in. "Blake? Can I come in?"

Shadow took his own time preparing the strawberries. Strawberries, as anyone who knew Shadow well enough, were the fallen angel's favorite fruits. He would prepare them in strange and glorious ways, unheard of previously, to eat. As such, he ate a lot of them and incorporated them into meals where most people would think they wouldn't belong...

Blake was half-awake when Gian peeked inside the tent, and he yawned softly, stretching and peering at Gian with an ice blue eye. "Yeah..."

Hebs had noticed that great liking of strawberries with Shadow, which was one of the reasons why he made sure there always are strawberries in the fridge for him. As he continued to mix the batter, he glanced over at Shadow preparing the strawberries. "You think the kid's okay? Blake, I mean." he asked as he returned his attention back to the batter.

Gian stepped into the room and shut the door behind him. He came over to the side of Blake's bed and reached out to put the back of his fingers on the others' forehead. "So, all you really needed was rest," he said, looking rather gleeful as he smiled, "Our ringleader's cooking one of his specialties. You hungry? You can meet everyone in the kitchen."

As if Gian had just remembered something, he snapped his fingers. "Well, minus Kratos and Léan."

"He will be fine. I do not think he minds being around a family of freaks," Shadow added, idly, as he finished preparing and cutting all of the strawberries. "Considering he has a strange ability himself, after all."

This was something Shadow had neglected to mention to the rest of his family. He had sensed something was strange about Blake, but he hadn't confirmed it until Gian had directly told him he was staying with a family of freaks. Thoughts about his strange ability had flooded Blake's head, and Shadow was able to confirm his suspicions.

Blake resisted the urge to flinch back when he was touched--a sign that all had not been well before he started hitchhiking on that road. "...I am hungry. I guess I'll go with you..." He sounded nervous.

Gian saw the other's nervousness. It was written all over his face. "It'll be fine," he assured him as he held out his hand to him, "Come on. I'll help you up." Of course, he wasn't going to force him to be comfortable with his touch. Plus, he wouldn't want to give Alfie the wrong impression. He did like the naga.

"Oh?" Hebs asked before he'd turned the mixer off and took a small plate to put it on so as not to make a mess on the counter. He took the batter to Shadow and put it in front of him. "What kind of power does he have?"

Blake hesitated, but he ended up taking the offered help, using Gian's hand as an anchor so he could pull himself up and out of bed. Once he was standing up and steady, though, he immediately released Gian's hand. He looked exhausted, still, probably just physically worn out from having to stand in the cold, heavy rain for so long.

"Okay, then...where are we going?" He was waiting to be led to the kitchen.

Shadow began to assemble the strawberries expertly in the batter. "I don't want to ruin the surprise. Ask him to demonstrate while we're eating," he hummed, pointedly.

Hebs blinked and chuckled. He hated this part of Shadow, really. "Never one to spoil, are you?" he asked before he'd went to the cabinet to pull out a pan. He heated it and turned on the fire. "Alfie, could you get us some plates?"

Gian helped Blake up and was just about to pull him close to keep him upright when he'd released his hand. That was rather quick, too. It told him enough that the other didn't like to be touched. "Outside," he started with a grin before he'd went on ahead to open the door. He left it open for Blake and made sure to look at him every now and then while they made their way to the kitchen. Immediately pulling out a chair for him, he motioned for him to sit on it.

"Blake, these are the members of the freak community. Alfie, the naga; Shadow, our ringleader; and, Hebs, the snake man."

((Have to shove off for school. :( I'll talk to you later!))


Alfie scrambled to get plates, hoping to move the food-making process along as quickly as he possibly could. He was so busy fetching plates and laying them out neatly for Hebs and Shadow to work with that he didn't notice Gian return with Blake.

Shadow gave Gian and Blake a curt nod as a sign of a greeting--he, like Alfie, just wanted to eat right now and nothing more. It was scary how alike Shadow and Alfie were sometimes...very scary.

Blake followed Gian to the kitchen slowly, glancing around him with curious, perceptive eyes. He was more than startled when he was led into the kitchen and was able to see firsthand Alfie's tail--that seemed to startle him the most. Hebs' scales seemed to scare him as well. He spent a good chunk of time, as he sank down onto the chair Gian pulled out for him, staring at Shadow's exposed face. He didn't seem to be able to break his gaze away from it--understandable, considering the effect it had on people.

Hebs, like Shadow, had returned a curt nod towards Blake. He also noticed the way he was staring at Shadow and he snickered in amusement. "I think someone has become enchanted again, Shadow," he said as he started to cook the pancakes once the other had done mixing the strawberries in.

"Yeah. Even I have a hard time breaking my gaze away from that guy," he told Blake as he patted his shoulder. Seating beside him, he crossed his arms over the table and turned to look up at Alfie scrambling to get the plates. It was really hilarious how the other showed much of his enthusiasm for food. Not that he'd complain. Even he was hungry himself.

The food was ready in a bit and Hebs had put and separated them onto five different plates. There was more share for Shadow since he was the one who had created the pancakes and Hebs gave a bit of his share. Taking forks, he put them on the table, in front of Gian and Blake before he set the three plates - his, Alfie's and Shadow's - on the table.

The pat to his shoulder from Gian startled Blake out of his staring and he immediately looked away, cheeks a bit red. He huffed a little, looking pouty. Quite obviously, he didn't like being embarrassed...a lot like their dear siren, who reacted in much the same way when he was embarrassed.

Alfie didn't even speak once his plate was set down and he plopped down on his chair.. He dug into it, immediately shoving as much food into his face as he possibly could. He only stopped to grab silverware before he started eating, to be somewhat polite in front of the new addition.

Shadow, as usual, ate politely and slowly. He had to constantly extend his arm over in Blake's direction, while he ate, to bring the boy out of his staring reverie, but he didn't mind. Most people reacted in a similar fashion when they first saw his face.

Gian seemed to notice Blake's huffing moment and he chuckled lightly again before he'd turned to look at Alfie again. Smiling at the sight of him stuffing his face, he went to eat his own food... hungrily. "So," Gian started as he moved his gaze to Blake again. He was just about to open his mouth when Hebs had beaten him to it. It seemed that Hebs himself, too, was curious.

"What exactly can you do, Blake?" the snake man asked as he, like Shadow, ate slowly. Leaning back every once in a while, he turned to glance at his fellow freaks to watch their reactions as they ate the pancake. Gian's was particularly amusing. He seemed surprised that such a taste existed. Hell, he wasn't even able to stop himself from saying: "This is delicious! A normal person wouldn't think to put strawberries and pancakes together all right. Thank the heavens." For giving them a fallen angel.

Alfie snickered through a mouthful of food, nearly choking. He had to pause to swallow, but was immediately wheezing with laughter afterwards as he quickly shot up out of his seat to grab something to drink from the fridge. He found Gian's reaction hilarious.

Shadow smiled, looking mildly amused, but then laughed once he saw Alfie choke on his pancakes. He had a strange sense of humor. When Hebs asked about Blake's power, his eyes lazily passed over the new boy's face, a dull curiosity aflame. He didn't know exactly what Blake would make of what had just been asked. After all, he hadn't told anyone about his power.

Blake looked shocked, startled--he had just been about to take another bite of his pancakes when that question had been asked. He looked very paranoid all of a sudden, and he looked like he would rather get up and run than share with the others at the table. He made a sour face and shook his head, looking bitter. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said, shortly, as he continued to eat.

...Had he perhaps left his last home because of his strange power? It would certainly explain his attitude towards revealing it now.

Cue Johnny coming in to interrupt their joyful bounty blessings. "Is that strawberries?" he asked as he quirked a brow and reached up to adjust his glasses. The light in the kitchen had reflected itself on his glasses for a second, making whoever looking at him not see his eyes. Gian was stunned to see Johnny and he pulled his plate closer to himself while he continued to horde the food on his plate.

Hebs had smiled at the sight of Johnny and he nodded once. "It is," he said, "It's one of Shadow's specialty. What brings you here?" The lawyer was just about to open his mouth to reply to that question when he'd suddenly seen the new addition on the table. "Who's he?" he asked bluntly as he shut the door behind him and frowned for a second or two and shook his head. He almost forgot he was in a hurry.

"There are just papers I need Shadow to sign. Nothing of importance really. I've taken the liberty of writing the letter in behalf of the Freak Community so that man won't bother any of you ever again."

Shadow's mood seemed to darken considerably at the mention of the man, but he held out his hand for the aforementioned papers, as he continued to eat his pancakes. "Give them, would you please? And this is Blake. Blake is a hitchhiker we picked up on the way home...I assume he's also a runaway. He seems very unwilling to reveal his power to everyone else, even though I already know what it is, seeing as I can read minds. Want to give it a shot and try to coax it out of him?"

Blake, now understanding how Shadow had known, leaned away from the man, as far as he possibly could. He looked both startled and irritated, and his bottom lip was sticking out farther than it normally should have in a kiddish pout. He pointedly ignored the man who had just walked into the kitchen, assuming he was the one Shadow was urging to try and 'coax' the revelation of his power out of him.

Alfie had just finished up with his food when Johnny walked in. He leaned forward to watch what was going on, his eyes alight with interest.

Johnny didn't need to be told twice. He came over to hand Shadow the papers from inside the brown envelope and turned to look at the boy while he held the pen out for Shadow. Blake. He had quite a nice name but it seemed too manly for him. Scrawny, was the first thought that came to mind and he silently watched him. Observed him.

If anything, being a lawyer had its perks. "I'm thinking it's something dark with the way you're pulling yourself back," he started, crossing his arms over his chest as he brought up his thumb to rest it lightly on his lower lip. "And why the hell would I waste my time coaxing it out of him?"

Johnny grunted as Gian chuckled. "I don't like brats." He was referring to that bottom lip of Blake's sticking out so much and he turned his attention back to Shadow, waiting for the said papers so he could leave.


[[ Sorry for the late reply! >.< ]]

Shadow snatched up the pen and began to read through the papers thoroughly, deliberately creating a long pause so that Johnny had to stay longer. He knew, now that Blake knew about his powers, that the young man would not listen to him in particular. So, someone else at the table had to try and ease the admission of the boy's power out of him. "Well, quite obviously, he isn't going to listen to reason from myself. Why don't you all work together and give it a go?"

"Brat!" Blake shot up from his seat, looking thoroughly annoyed. "I'm no brat! I'm an adult!" he retorted, eyes narrowed slightly. He was an adult...but just barely. He was sometimes overly mature or overly immature...for Blake, there was no in-between.

"Whoa...simmer down, simmer down..." Alfie chuckled nervously, placing a hand on the back of his neck. He looked like he felt terribly awkward in this situation. He wasn't the best at being sneaky and wheedling admissions out of people, so he felt pretty useless right now.