It's not so much a problem with angels as it is a problem with Sebastian himself. Shadow seemed certain of that much. The fallen angel burrowed his toes through the sand, working at it until both of his feet were completely buried in cool, wet sand. It was one of his favorite things to do at the water's edge--it felt amazing! Sebastian likes to keep himself busy. He loathes idle time. If he's not working, or doing something that is equally useful, he feels like he is a waste of space. His brother was a bona fide workaholic, very rarely stopping to sniff the roses and whatnot. One day, that man was sure to run himself ragged.

"Hm?" The angel looked up from his place on the chair. He didn't look relaxed at all. In fact, he sat with his back straight as an arrow, and he constantly twiddled his fingers around. He just couldn't bring himself to stay still. "Oh, ah...I'm not really dressed for the occasion." Sebastian glanced down at his outfit--a thin long-sleeved white shirt and a pair of athletic shorts. He looked strangely human with this outfit on, which was the point. He needed to blend in with the humans as much as he possibly could during this pilgrimage. It was punishable by angelic law if the identity of one of their own was compromised by a meddling human being.

Shadow wasn't dressed for the occasion, either, still clad in his rumpled clothes from the previous night. He wasn't sure if he wanted to swim or not. For now...the fallen angel was content with getting his feet wet and taking in that sweet ocean air...


Most snakes were actually loners until mating season rolled around. But their humanoid counterparts (and Alfie's potential relatives), the nagas, were anything but. They lived in close, tightly-knit family groups. Colonies, so to speak. Alfie loved his family. They were the closest thing to a colony that he had ever had--even though he knew nothing about his heritage, the instinctual need to be part of a community was hard-wired into his brain.

With a happy squeal, Alfie launched himself at Gian, wrapping his arms around him and planting a huge, sloppy kiss on his cheek. "I'll go and get everyone, then!" He rocketed off, wisely avoided Kratos and Léan for the moment--they were sure to be cranky when woken. Instead, he made a beeline for Damon's room. Damon was in the middle of tuning his piano, but gladly wheeled himself after Alfie as the excited naga hurried off again. He hesitated briefly upon reaching the couch...but he eventually spoke up. "Uh...guys? Hey, guys. Kratos. Léan. You in the mood for a decent home-cooked meal? Gian's making some food for everyone."

Léan groaned, curling himself even more against his mate. He obviously didn't want to get up--he was still too groggy to even think straight. But, ah...his belly had other ideas. The mere mention of a home-cooked meal brought forth an unpleasant gurgling from the siren's stomach. He grumbled, cheeks tinging a little pink with embarrassment.


Predictably, Blake didn't emerge from his room for the remainder of the day. All alone. Doing who-knows-what up there. It was all a big mystery, really. He finally trudged out of his room just after midnight, scaling the stairs silently. Blake was a stealthy young man. He never made too much noise as he moved about. It was disconcerting, really. That stealthy movement was a tell-tale sign that probably he used to engage in some criminal behavior in the past. He could easily sneak up on people, too.

Ah, I see. Hebs blinked again. Shadow had mentioned a while ago that Sebastian was a workaholic. This seemed to lay bare the truth now as he turned to look back at the angel seemingly settled but rigid on the beach chair. Do angels get sick? Somehow, the thought was fleeting, but he couldn't help but be curious. Angels still had to take care of themselves right?

When Sebastian finally replied, he turned to look back at him and smiled. "That's all right. We aren't dressed for the occasion either." Hebs motioned to both he and Shadow before he, yet again, bent and reached down to pull up his silk pants. He didn't mind if they were to get wet, but it was going to be problematic for him to bring them with him. And, inasmuch as he didn't want to admit it, Sebastian really did look good in those clothes. If Hebs had probably met him for the first time, he'd just have thought he was your average joe, a beautiful one, at that.

Hebs turned to look at his lover again and he smiled at the sight that greeted him. Compared to Sebastian, Shadow looked very relaxed and that relaxed feeling of his washed over him in what he'd likened to a gentle wave. The snake man moved. He sat by the waters, felt the cloth soak with water. Although he had mentioned that it was going to be problematic to bring wet clothes, he didn't seem to mind. It was either that or he go naked. He doubted Sebastian was going to be happy with the latter.


Gian almost stumbled back and hit the both of them against the counter if it weren't for his fast reflexes. Oh, he'd cried out all right in surprise, but he quickly clamped his mouth shut as he laughed at his lover's antics. Seriously, one of these days, they were going to get burnt if he did that while he cooked. Then again, he wouldn't mind getting hurt. That just meant Alfie was going to take care of him. Blushing at these thoughts in his head, he shook his head and chuckled again. He decided to continue preparing the table and making sure to leave some for Jae.

In his condition, he doubted he could eat so much.

Kratos also groaned in reply to the naga's question. As much as he didn't want to wake up after having just a few hours of sleep that day, the very thought that he'd be able to eat sure caught his attention. Gian, though, making food? That's a first. It wouldn't be poisoned, though, would it? Cracking an eye open to see his lover's cheeks tinging with that color pink, Kratos' lips curled up in amusement. "Fish for Léan," he told Alfie, "We still have some, don't we?"


It was well past midnight when the car in the garage was switched off. Johnny stepped out, shut the door and adjusted the tie around his neck. He undid the top most button and made his way into the house. Dropping his bag onto the coffee table, he flopped down the couch and yawned. He was tired, but he didn't want to sleep in his work clothes just yet. And, finally. He was done with that bastard of a man.

Angels can suffer from a disease called Tenebris Odore. To my knowledge, it is the only disease they can contract. It comes about from having too much contact with dark creatures, such as demons. Fallen angels do not cause this disease in angels, because they were once angels themselves...but other demonic varieties most certainly can. Shadow seemed to have no problem talking about this disease, which was peculiar indeed, seeing as he disliked speaking of his angelic heritage. But at the same time, he wasn't really delving into his own past by explaining the disease, so it made sense.

"If you do feel like going for a swim, I think there are some extra swimsuits in the upstairs dresser drawers..." Sebastian declared, jumping a little as the chilly water finally washed over his feet. "That is cold!" "Ah, yes..." Shadow nodded sagely, eyes closed as he took in that salty ocean air. "There are a few spare swimsuits, both for males and females, upstairs. But to be honest, I'm far too lazy to make the journey. And the water seems too cold for me."

As the minutes passed, Shadow hummed to himself, obviously as relaxed as could be. Sebastian grudgingly relaxed after a while, but only after he closed his eyes and tried his best to block out the world around him. After a while, though, his eyes snapped open, fixing on Hebs. "...Was there anything else you wanted to know about my kind?" He paused, and then an uncharacteristically naughty grin curled his lips. "Or about my brother in particular?" "Hey..." Shadow pouted, bottom lip sticking out farther than it should have. If Hebs asked any questions, the fallen angel wouldn't stop his brother from answering them. But that didn't meant that it wasn't embarrassing.


Damon was the first member of their family to arrive at the table, wheeling himself along at a gradual pace. He was looking much better, but he still hadn't regained full usage of his legs. Now he could feel them and even wiggle his toes! But he couldn't walk yet. That had more to do with Erudito's constant and oppressive presence than anything else, though. "Hello, there." He always seemed like such a polite and well-mannered man, probably traits he picked up on from Shadow over the years. The fallen angel did raise him, after all.

"Yep, I'm pretty sure we still have some..." Alfie didn't care much for fish, so he normally left Léan's stock of frozen fish alone, even when he was starving. "Just hurry up and come to the table, okay? I'll get his fish." With that, Alfie slithered off toward the kitchen, brushing against Gian playfully when he passed him. He went straight for the freezer. Three large fish were left. Someone had to go shopping. Shadow, Hebs, and Gian usually did the shopping in shifts. Now, though...would Damon perhaps be willing to do some of the shopping? Someone would have to go with him, though. He was still wheelchair-bound.

Léan gratefully snuggled against Kratos after Alfie beat a hasty retreat. He was still tired...but the notion of having good fish in his belly spurred him into action. He rose from his comfortable seat, offering a hand to Kratos. "If his cooking is decent, I may have a few bites of his food."


Blake wasn't aware of Johnny's return. He froze at the end of the stairwell, catching sight of the man all sprawled out on the couch. For a moment, the young man stayed perfectly still. And then...he disappeared into the kitchen, probably to forage for some food. Because he hadn't been expecting Johnny to be there, he wasn't as cautious as he normally was while the other male was home.

His bedroom door had been left wide open.

Tenebris Odore. Hebs wasn't able to stop himself from repeating it as Shadow explained what it was. Even the sound of it seemed Ancient. As he looked back up at his lover, he found himself frowning just a tad. Although he was glad about Sebastian not being able to contract that around Shadow, he wondered. If Sebastian were to come with them, he'd be having a hard time should Kratos' friends come around, wouldn't he?

Looking back over his shoulder again at Shadow's brother, he blinked and then laughed at the angel's exclamation. The water was cold. But, if one stayed long enough, it didn't feel as cold as the initial touch. "Mm. Likewise." Hebs agreed with a nod. He turned his attention back to the sea before them. The healthy rays of the sun beaming and reflecting onto the clear waters hurt his eyes, but that shouldn't be a problem should he close his eyes. "This is fine."

Hebs was just about to relish in the silence, the sounds of the waters were making as they licked further up into the Earth, when Sebastian asked that question. He doubted the other was directing that to Shadow because, well, the mere words 'my brother' caught told people otherwise. Seeing Shadow act like a kid made him smile and he finally grinned.

"His past. What was he like when he was an angel and when he became a fallen? Surely you've watched over him in his first years on Earth."


The greeting from Damon made Gian blink and he, for a moment, cleared his throat. "Hello," he started, feeling rather hesitant now that their family was gathering for his cooking. He wasn't a full-fledged chef in the kitchen like Shadow and Hebs. In fact, he didn't even cook much except for food that didn't need much attention or knowledge cooking. "Sorry it's just these." The boy motioned to the ham and eggs and toast. "It's not much."

Alfie brushing against him seem to get the jitters out of his system as he followed after his lover. He went for the fridge to get a pitcher of water. "Looks like we need to go shopping. Léan's not going to like this news." Chuckling lightly, he kissed his lover on the cheek.

"Maybe Kratos would go get food for him?" They better ask him.

Kratos reached out to take Léan's outstretched hand. As he pushed himself up to his feet, he nodded. "How decent is decent for you?" He hadn't meant to tease. It just came out as so.


Johnny caught movement at the corner of his eyes, but he knew full well that was Blake. There was no need for him to think about it too much. I do have to get changed, though. With this thought in mind, the male forced himself to get up to his feet and march up on to his room. He did stop, however, at the slightly ajar door of his current companion and raised a brow. Has Blake even aired the place out at all? Pursing his lips in obvious distaste, the male made his way in with the intention of opening the window.

He couldn't have one of the rooms of his place stay stuffy after all.

Kratos himself wouldn't affect Sebastian in this way. However...with the current situation at home, and his demonic associates' habits of sticking around to help deal with the all-important issue of Erudito, the villa would certainly be a toxic environment for Sebastian. Before he set foot in the villa, Kratos was going to have to shoo his inhuman friends away for the time being. Sebastian, being both of angelic descent and certified as an Angelic Reaper, could easily cleanse that entire graveyard by himself.

And that included Erudito. Powerful or not, he was still a spirit, and all spirits had to bend to the will of a Reaper, regardless of whether they were Angelic or Demonic.

"Come, now..." Shadow was practically sulking like a surly teenager, shoulders slumped and expression sour. "Do you really have to talk about me? Especially when I'm, oh you know...right here? In front of you?" "Oh, but of course." Sebastian seemed to like teasing his brother. Shadow was the younger of the twins, and that automatically made him a target for teasing and taunting. "That's the fun of it, you see. Besides..." He cast a brief glance in Hebs' direction. "This is your partner, yes? He will eventually find out everything about you. Better sooner than later, hm? I'll save you the humiliation further down the road." Shadow didn't even bother gracing that with a response. He just grumbled, staring out at the rippling waves.

Sebastian folded his hands in his lap, eyes closed as he basked in the warm sunlight and wiggled his toes in the chilled water. "Before falling, Shadow was called Shadiel. Destined from birth to become an Archangel. That would never happen, of course. He fell long before claiming that title. He was never meant for a life among angels. He's too curious. Too adventurous. Too different. We are a people of structure and order. While the others eagerly paid attention to their instructors in school, Shadow drew pictures of what he imagined demons to look like in his notepad. While the others actually played during recess and breaks, Shadow went off exploring in places he shouldn't have. He was also fond of tormenting instructors who were unfair to him. Everything from thumbtacks on chairs to using his powerful magical prowess to turn an instructor into a weasel."

At this, Shadow began to snicker openly. Sebastian wasn't impressed by this sudden outburst of laughter and affixed his brother with a stern look, but kept speaking. "His rebelliousness only grew during his teenage years. Constantly sneaking off. Refusing to listen to his elders. He once disappeared for three days straight and returned with a serious case of Tenebris Odore. Erm...it's a sickness we angels contract when we spend too much time around demonic entities. He was constantly at war with everyone else. When he turned twenty-four, he suddenly up and left, and he never returned. Only our sister knew where he'd gone. So...the two of us kept an eye on him. He was happier among humans. Happier being fallen. So we did nothing to stop him."


"It's enough." Damon had a way with words, even if he didn't speak much. He always spoke quietly, never saying too much...but at the same time, he always said just enough. The emerald-haired young man wheeled himself up to the table, settling in and folding his hands in his lap. Having been raised by Shadow since he was a newborn, Damon picked up on a lot of Shadow's habits, both good and bad. And just like Shadow, he wouldn't eat until the whole family (save for Jae, of course) was present.

Alfie purred when Gian kissed his cheek, one decently-sized fish in hand. He was well aware of Léan's preference to eat his fish whole...but he also knew that Kratos liked to help him by cutting the fish up for him. It was funny to watch. Léan absolutely hated to be pampered, but he let Kratos pamper him quite a bit.

"I don't know if Kratos would enjoy shopping..." The naga's nose wrinkled up as he turned, heading back to the table. "That would mean being around large groups of people. But we could ask him." He gingerly set Léan's fish down where he knew the merman and his lover were fond of sitting.

Léan led the way toward the kitchen, scratching the back of his head as he did so. After this meal, he wanted to head back to their room and get some rest. He was still exhausted. "If you taste it and it seems fine, I will have some." A deviously playful expression crept across his face. He was using Kratos as his guinea pig.


Blake didn't have many belongings. In fact, when the family of freaks found him on the side of the road, he had only a suitcase and a heavy duffel bag on him. The room was plain as could be...but the desk at the far corner of room was cluttered with all sorts of stuff. Pens. Pencils. Markers. And...were those little jars of paint? Notebooks and sketchpads were scattered all over and around the desk, and right beside the desk stood a creaky, well-worn easel. Propped on the easel was a half-finished painting of what looked like an older woman in distinctly Victorian garb. Behind the easel were several more paintings left out to dry, all of these finished. They were also of people, some with backgrounds and some without. These people were all different...and some of them looked to be injured. There was a Native American man with a tomahawk protruding from his head, for instance. A painting of a little girl was right beside this one. She looked rather white and was sopping wet.

"...Do the words 'stay out of my room' even mean anything to you?" Blake stood at the top of the stairwell, munching idly on a cereal bar. One of his only demands when he first arrived here was that Johnny steered well clear of his room.

Hebs brought up a hand to quietly laugh against the side of his fist. That was true. He was going to find out about Shadow sooner or later, so why not save him the trouble? Also, it'd be nice hearing parts of Shadow's life story from a relative instead of someone else's mouth. As much of a gentle snake this man was, he had trouble trusting anyone who wasn't at least one or two degrees in the family line from Shadow. He also doubted he'd be able to hear from Shadow's parents, considering his lover was now a fallen. Did parents of Angel descent worry about their children like humans do?

A weasel, really? he asked as he raised a brow and glanced at his lover. There wasn't just amusement playing at his lips, they were also dancing in his eyes. As Sebastian continued the story, he listened while he put his hand down onto the sand and into the water. Putting just a bit of his weight on it, he blinked a little. He hadn't expected Shadow to have experienced Tenebris Odore. "That sounds like Shadow, all right." Hebs smiled. "He has great siblings to have them still watching over him." Family was hard to come by. Back then, Hebs didn't have anyone; but right now, he did, which is why he's experienced quite a lot of things with his family of freaks.

"Oh, but this Tenebris Odore. What's it like? Does it really hurt?"


Gian followed after the naga back to the table with a pitcher of water in one hand and a couple of glasses in the other. He did agree with Alfie about Kratos and shopping, but he doubted he could ask anyone else. There's Damon, sure, but to bring along an invalid was going to be difficult. Also, knowing Kratos, this was his lover he was going to go shopping for. Surely, he wouldn't mind?

Sending Damon a smile his way as he set the glasses by the occupants of the table, he poured them a glass of water before he settled in himself. Waiting for Kratos and Léan to come join them, he finally piped up his question. "Kratos? You wouldn't mind coming with me to buy Léan's food, would you?" Oh, he'd seen the look Kratos gave him, but the boy, luckily, didn't squirm nor look uncomfortable. It looked like he'd gotten partly used to it. Partly only because his eyes were still darting off to the side sometimes.

"Fine." Kratos pulled up a chair for his lover before he sat himself. Inasmuch as he hated that devious expression the other wore, he couldn't help but admit that it did make his heart jump a notch. That was no surprise there. Kratos was and still is very in love with the merman - legs or tail. Helping himself with a taste of the eggs, he chewed languidly, slowly as he leaned back into his seat. It wasn't so bad, indeed.


Johnny was rather awed the first time he'd seen the paintings right after he'd turned away from the window. He was just about to make his way out, but they caught his attention. The lavish use of colors, the way the details were painted and not left out; they were beautiful. Johnny would've had continued to look at the rest of the minute details if it weren't for Blake's voice suddenly coming into the room. It did surprise him, though, a bit. He turned to look up to meet Blake's gaze.

"It technically isn't your room," he pointed out, "So please air out the place." It was good Blake hasn't made a mess of the floors yet. If he had, he might've had complained about that, too. Resuming his way to head for the door, he stopped just when he was standing in front of the boy.

"Keep painting." That was all he'd said. It seemed like it was the lawyer's way of saying, "Nice works. I like them." As he brushed past him, he stopped again in his steps only to say the words: "Try and keep ants away from the room, too." before he made his way to his own room.

In that case, Hebs was lucky indeed that he came chasing after Shadow and just happened to run into his angelic twin brother. Shadow's parents wanted nothing to do with him, even before he fell from grace. His elder sister Nomi was confined to the royal castle where Goddess Amelia resided. She rarely got the chance to leave. In fact...Shadow had not seen her since he initially abandoned his home in Babylon. Not being able to see her hurt more than anything else. Shadow had a close bond with his elder sister. The two of them were unwanted by their parents and had both been dumped off at the nearest orphanage. Sebastian, the perfect poster child, was held onto. Thankfully, Sebastian had enough sense to keep in contact with his siblings, much to the chagrin of their parents.

Shadow said nothing in response to his lover's unspoken question. He only smiled like he had some dirty little secret.

"Oh, we watched over him, all right." Sebastian was starting to relax, little by little. Having something to talk about, and in such depth as well, seemed like work to his mind, and his body was finally able to let go and go limp. "He was, and still is, a troublemaker. Especially with that special ability of his. The ability to read minds. That landed him in so much trouble, especially during school. It's an uncommon ability, you see. Just like mine." Despite having brought it up himself, Sebastian seemed wary of speaking about his own unique power. Each angel was born with the usual holy powers, but each one also possessed a unique power, which would develop and make itself know during their childhood.

When Hebs asked about Tenebris Odore, Sebastian glanced at his brother idly. Shadow shifted uncomfortably, and then he heaved a great sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. "Tenebris Odore starts out like influenza mashed together with mononucleosis. Nausea, weakness, vertigo, extreme fatigue...all of those wonderful things. It lasts for a few weeks. It temporarily darkens the wings of an angel, down to a lovely charcoal gray. It also prevents angels from using their holy powers, and from flying--it weighs them down. It can be life-threatening if it is not treated within the first week. It can make angels fall, as well."


Alfie settled into his chair, right next to Gian of course. Léan sank into his chair with a huff of discomfort--he really wanted to get to bed after this. At the back of his mind, though...he couldn't help wondering about how the search for his brother was going. Over the past few days, his concern had mounted, and now it occupied his mind more than anything else. Anyone who knew the siren could tell that his mind was a million miles away.

As soon as everyone was settled in at the table, Damon began cutting up his eggs, a pleasant expression on his face. The naga was much less refined, digging into his food with gusto. Léan's nose wrinkled up in disgust and he purposely leaned away from Alfie before scooping up his fish. He sank his surgically-sharp teeth into the flesh of the fish and tore a big hunk of, chewing it as quietly as he possibly could. His behavior was strange, really. Merpeople were not known for having great table manners.

The mere mention of going shopping piqued the siren's interest. He perked up somewhat, eyes darting between Gian and Kratos curiously. Even though he now possessed a pair of human legs, Léan always shied away from venturing outside, where he knew there were humans scuttling about. He still disliked the human race as a whole, and he also happened to be extremely attractive, which was unfortunate in this case...he was bound to get a great deal of attention in a public place. So...he just never went out. But now that he had the means to go out...could Kratos potentially convince him to venture outside?


"It's my room for now," was Blake's immediate retort between purposely loud and obnoxious bites of his cereal bar. He did things like this purposely to grate on Johnny's nerves. Perhaps he was just looking for a proper reaction from him. "And the weather is horrible. So the window needs to stay closed." It was warm outside, despite it being late. It was also horribly humid, the air saturated with moisture. "If it's open, it'll make my paintings wet. And ruin them." Blake strode across the room, shutting the window instantly.

He seemed to care quite a lot about these paintings. So much so that after closing the window tightly, he hurried over to check on them. As he moved them around, more paintings were revealed--a well-dressed businessman whose head was hanging onto his neck by just a few strips of flesh, a housewife with what appeared to be a nasty shotgun wound to her chest area, and an elderly lady, tending to a flourishing garden. These paintings were all starkly different. Some of the people were injured, graphically, but others weren't.

Once he was sure that his paintings were fine, he peered over his shoulder at Johnny, his expression muted...but somewhat curious. "If you like them, you're welcome to look at them. I don't mind. Just ask me for permission the next time you need to come in here for something."

Indeed. Hebs, for some odd reason, seemed to find Sebastian less of what Shadow thought of about angels. He was snobbish, true, but it was the different kind of snobbish - a different degree. Perhaps, it was his siblings - both a fallen and one who served the Goddess Amelia - who kept him grounded. Idly, he wondered. Did Sebastian's parents have no control over him that they still allow him to go and visit his brother and sister while they were at the orphanage? The snake man kept these thoughts to himself as he continued listening to Shadow's twin.

He did, however, turn to look back at Sebastian when he'd stopped at the words 'just like mine'. He had half expected him to go on, to tell him what his power was; but, he supposed it's dependent on the carrier as to whether they've accepted their powers or not. Hebs didn't ask. He'd only rid of the look of curiosity he wore, but for a moment, to nod and smile. It was almost as if he were silently telling the other his gratitude through those expressions of his.

"Good to hear youd didn't die because of it." The snake man grinned. That seemed pretty weary for Shadiel, all right. "And, good to hear that you're here with us." If Shadow were anywhere close, he'd have kissed him. He'd have touched him. He'd have held his hand. He'd have kissed it. He was pretty thankful he met Shadow in this lifetime; and, although he did wish to live by his side for a long time, he doubted he'd be able to get his wish granted. To extend one's life always meant having to have something in exchange.

"So... what's Sebastian's power?" Hebs raised his brows. "I mean, if Shadow's is mind-reading."


And, indeed, Kratos had noticed it. He reached out to take his lover's hand to squeeze it gently. Moving his gaze from the merman to Gian who was now ready to put a spoonful of scrambled eggs into his mouth, he opened his mouth to speak. "Later, could you call that lawyer of yours?" Stopping as he blinked, Gian put the spoon down a bit and smiled. "Sure!" It seemed like he'd forgotten about the search for Léan's brother. Then again, a lot of things had happened: Damon, this spirit thing, Jae, and then Shadow flying off to heavens know where. It reminded him that he still had to bring Jae some food. The lack of home made food, he was sure, was not helping with the pretty human's recovery.

"Don't worry," he assured the merman with the brightest of grins, "I'm sure Johnny's found him. He always makes sure not to break a promise." The boy put the spoonful of eggs in his mouth, chewed languidly, and then swallowed before he'd used his fork to get himself a ham and a toast. "Also, you can come along Léan if Kratos is fine with that."

Kratos only replied with a grunt. Although he was worried about his lover, he doubted the other would like to turn down this chance. After all, it wasn't everyday that he got to get out of water without having to look just half human. Even the fins in his ears were now human ears. He'd just really look pretty, and he was most definitely going to be a magnet of trouble. Kratos, then, made up a silent determination: to keep as much hands away from Léan once they were out.


Johnny undid the tie around his neck. Why did he always let the boy be able to grate his nerves like this? Grunting in annoyance as he pulled at his tie to toss it onto the bed, the male looked over his shoulder to the open door of his room. Although the boy wasn't out, it irritated him to know that he was just a door away. Why had he designed the place with the rooms close together and put apart by just a wall?

But, he had to say, those paintings of his really did Blake different. Was his outlet painting what bothers him? Such powers certainly didn't come free. Had something happened back then to make the boy act in such a way? While he thought these thoughts, the lawyer buttoned down his shirt. Pulling to untuck it from his pants, he undid the belt of his slacks before he'd reached up to take off his glasses.

Well, whatever.

Right now, he just really wanted to sleep.

Neither brother liked to speak about their parents. Shadow had enough sense to keep thoughts of his parents locked down like Fort Knox in the back of his mind, doubly so now that Hebs had the power to both scan minds and read thoughts. Sebastian wasn't nearly as protective of his thoughts. Their parents were not friendly people, their mother more so. Their mother, Christabel, was an Archangel, just like Shadow was supposed to become. Very few angels had the preset skills to become Archangels. It was hereditary--it ran in specific bloodlines, and their family just so happened to be one of those prestigious bloodlines. Their father, Balthazar, was more on the modest side. He actually worked alongside Sebastian in the ancient angelic library. Just in a different wing.

They were perfectionists. Sebastian was their perfect little poster child, so it was no wonder that they got along. Most of the time, anyway. He still sparred with his uptight mother on a regular basis.

...You really shouldn't trouble yourself with thoughts of eternal life. Shadow sounded uneasy, as if merely speaking about the idea unnerved him and made him all kinds of anxious. It is a hot commodity among mortal beings. It's incredibly difficult, nearing impossible, to attain such a thing. I myself only know of one way. At this point in time...I am not willing to share the details. It's far too dangerous. Having the power to read minds, and having had it since birth, gave Shadow a distinct advantage over his lover. He knew how to hide his thoughts properly. Damon knew the same trick, having mastered it over the years to constantly keep Shadow on his toes. Perhaps Damon could teach Hebs how to do this, as well as how to combat it whenever Shadow was obviously hiding something from him.

"My power?" Sebastian seemed taken aback, and a little nervous. Shadow rolled his eyes, snickered, and began whistling a little ditty to himself. "It's not that difficult. Just tell him." The elder twin huffed, eyes narrowing. All of a sudden, Shadow rose from his seat--the whistling stopped short and he scowled, struggling to turn his head and glower at Sebastian. "Oh, my power...it's nothing special, really. Nothing special at all." The fallen angel suddenly broke into a sprint. "Sebastian!" Shadow sounded both frightened and infuriated. Just after shouting that word, a chilly ocean waved smacked into him. He squealed like a tiny piglet, promptly turning and barreling back into shallower water. He stood there for a moment, sopping wet and trying to catch his breath.

Sebastian laughed, folding his arms up and behind his head. "I can control peoples' bodies. I can make them puppets, to an extent. But I can only control their bodies. I cannot control what they say, think, or feel."


"Even if he has found him, I doubt he'll have an easy time keeping him healthy." Léan played with the remaining bits of his fish, eyeing up the food on his human lover's plate curiously. He was just as much of a pig as Alfie was when it came to quantity--if he could eat all day, he would. But he would do so neatly! "My brother is nothing like me. He is not a fighter. Not strong. Not courageous. He may look quite similar to me, but we are two completely different beings. There are tricks to dealing with him...tricks I highly doubt have lost their effectiveness over the years."

Arcturus was a difficult creature to deal with. He was terrified of human beings, more likely to run than fight in the face of extreme danger. If he was in captivity, he was sure to be taking it much harder than Léan, and that was saying something--being in captivity severely damaged a strong merman Léan, perhaps beyond complete repair. Arcturus was likely to be ten times worse.

When Gian mentioned going shopping, Alfie predicted the merman's reaction spot-on seconds before it happened. Léan bared his teeth in a primal hiss and tore into his fish once again, finishing it off in a few quick, powerful chomps. No, he definitely did not want to tag along. Or, at least, that was what he told himself. His outward aggression was meant to hide his trepidation. If anyone was going to convince him, it was Kratos.


For the longest time, nothing but silence came from Blake's room. Usually, the two of them slept at different times--it was a rare occasion that they were ever in their respective rooms, so close together, at the same time. Once the clock struck one-thirty in the morning, some strange sounds began echoing through the house. It was centered on the stairs. Heavy, clunking footsteps. Dripping water. Heavy breathing. The sounds were so loud that they would surely disturb the sleep of anyone within range.

There was something scaling the stairs.

It drew closer and closer, clunking its way up the stairs. And then...an inky black shadow passed over both doors, blocking out the small slivers of light that snuck in through the edges of the doorways. It stood there for a second...and then the sound of Blake's squeaky bedroom door rang out. It opened and shut within three seconds. A mere thirty seconds later, telltale signs indicated that Blake was awake, shuffling about in his room and doing...something.

As those thoughts of Sebastian's flew into his mind, he finally realized what Shadow meant when they were perfectionists and why he'd labeled his twin as the 'perfect poster' child. It was quite sad, true; but, not everyone was wanted. He wasn't exactly wanted, either. At least in that department, he didn't feel very alone. He had something similar, at least, with Shadow - with his lover. When the fallen angel spoke in their link, he looked back up at him. Hebs looked a little taken aback and he rubbed the side of his neck. Ah. Sorry. The sheepish look was not missed on Hebs' expressions. He cast his gaze down again. It was near impossible, true; but, he wanted to stay by Shadow's side. Perhaps now was not the right time to think about that, indeed. Was it too far early on in their relationship? Or, was he just taking two steps forward?

Brushing these thoughts off his mind, the snake man moved his gaze back to Shadow's twin. At least, the other replying and Shadow mingling in with his brother, teasing him, managed to get him to focus on something else. Yet again, surprise was apparent on his face when the fallen angel suddenly broke into a sprint and he called out his brother's name in such a tone. Even he'd be shocked and would probably do the same thing out of reflex.

"Oh!" There was awe and amusement playing about Hebs' eyes as he chuckled. Poor Shadow. He just had to be the one being demonstrated at. "That's a nifty power. Handful, too, when taking care of things." Shifting a bit as he crossed his legs and tucked them under him, he raised his brows. "Are you able to control the dead's bodies, too, Sebastian?" Idly, he wondered if there could be a power to counter that.


Gian's eyes widened and he shrunk back a bit, laughing nervously. Casting his gaze to Kratos who only made a face, the life man reached out with his free hand to set it on the merman's knee. His thumb lightly caressed the skin underneath his touch. "If you're coming along, you do not leave my side." He gave Léan a look that resembled that of a warning look.

Leaning a little against Alfie as he told his heart to calm down, the boy quietly resumed eating then. He didn't look like he was going to be speaking any time soon - not at Léan anyway.

"How... are your legs, Damon?"


Johnny stirred at the heavy, clunking footsteps and the sound of dripping water. Frowning and glancing towards his door, he silently reached for the gun under his pillow and pursed his lips. Who the hell was that waking him up in such an ungodly hour? Also, he better not be making any mess in his house - whoever this house wrecker was. Pushing the blankets off him, he sat up and listened. He listened to this 'house robber' and raised a perfectly arched brow.

Was he hearing right? This 'house robber' was going into Blake' splace? Also, it sounded like the boy was doing something. It's not that he was curious. He wasn't worried, either. But, he couldn't shake off the feeling that this wasn't... right. It didn't feel right. Before he could stop himself, Johnny found himself at the door of Blake's, gun in hand. Holding the knob, he pursed his lips again and turned it with an attempt to open it.

Shadow took his time wading through the shallow ocean water, absolutely soaking wet. When he finally reached the shoreline, the fallen angel rapidly removed his wet shirt, exposing his pale, toned torso. He chucked the balled-up, dripping wet shirt at Sebastian like a professional baseball pitcher. It hit the angel squarely in the chest--he wheezed with booming laughter. "Don't do that to me!" Shadow didn't sound nearly as angry as he looked--in fact, his thoughts revealed that he was trying his very best not to break into peals of laughter. "You know how much I hate that!"

"Precisely. Which is why I enjoy using that power on you." Sebastian flicked Shadow's crumpled-up shirt to the side, seemingly unaffected by his brother's partial nudity. Angelic Soldiers and Archangels often went about their day shirtless--it was a uniform requirement in some cases.

The angel glanced up at Hebs, humming to himself while Shadow trudged back toward the vacation home. I'm going to change into dry clothing. I will be back outside in a moment. Shadow was freezing! He wanted nothing more than to slip into a cozy sweater. Luckily, he thought ahead and packed his favorite sweater--a puffy black turtleneck--before hastily leaving the villa. Sebastian didn't seem to mind that his brother suddenly left. He leaned back in his chair, eyes closing gradually.

"I cannot manipulate the bodies of the dead," he murmured, folding his hands in his lap. "It must be a living, breathing creature. It doesn't have to be a human being, either. It can be any creature, regardless of whether it's sentient or not."


Apparently, Léan didn't care that his aggressive snarling startled Gian. He didn't care if it hurt the human's feelings, either. Merfolk were a people that relied heavily on simple sounds, facial expressions, and body language to communicate with each other. Léan was normally a quiet creature--the only people he spoke with often were Shadow and Kratos. A loud, terrifying hiss was akin to a verbal rebuttal in the human world. He meant nothing personal by it. It was simply an instinctual reaction. 'Back off. I don't like what you're saying/doing.'

Merpeople were also infamous for being territorial and constantly reminding their families or the packs they ran with of their rank in the figurative food chain. In his mind, he was above Gian in the hierarchy and had every right to chastise him. He met Kratos' warning glance with his usual stubborn, challenging expression. The more comfortable he grew with Kratos, the more he challenged the other male. Merpeople were all about the dominance. There were no clear boundaries between Kratos and Léan--there was no Alpha. In a mating pair, one party usually took on the role of Alpha. The protector, and the enforcer. Now that he was growing comfortable with Kratos, the siren would continuously prod at these unclear boundaries until they became clear.

Shadow would be able to help Kratos curb this behavior in Léan. There were specific steps one needed to take to tame a merperson.

Alfie snuggled against Gian, but didn't come to the human's defense. Léan was the senior family member here. Technically, he had more authority than the naga did. Also...Alfie was terrified of him. Damon, on the other hand, didn't seem the slightest bit intimidated. In fact, he cast the merman a look that practically mirrored the one Kratos fixed him with. Out of all of the remaining family members at the villa, Damon exuded the most confidence. He would have no problem calling the merman out if he continued misbehaving. He seemed perfectly happy when he responded to Gian, though. "I have more feeling in my legs," he replied genially. "However, I still cannot move them."


Blake's voice could be heard through the bedroom door. It sounded like he was mumbling under his breath, but the words were inaudible from behind the door. The second the knob turned and the door opened, however, the words became clear.

"T-trapped..." Blake sat at the cluttered desk and was furiously scribbling something on a fresh piece of paper--the big paper he used to paint. "Can't get f-free..." His eyes were wide, but hazy and unfocused as he scribbled...no. It wasn't scribbling. He was sketching. And it was an amazingly accurate sketch for how fast his hand was moving. "So c-cold..." His voice was low and shaky, and very much mirrored the voice of someone stuck out in the cold. It didn't even sound like him. "C-can't b-breathe..." The drawing was a downward view of a young man in distress. He seemed to be reaching upward, looking panicked. As Blake continued to draw, he penned bubbles exiting the man's mouth. "Trapped here, under the ice...can't find a way out...h-help m-me..."

He was sketching a man trapped underneath a thick sheet of ice.

Watching the two converse and act around each other was all too amusing. Siblings, he thought, was great. They were able to do things that an only child was not able to do. They didn't just share a bond. They also happened to seem to understand each other and care for each other whether they were far away or not. This was something Hebs hadn't experienced yet. Sure, he and Shadow were lovers; but, that didn't mean they shared a strong bond yet. Sebastian's and Shadow's definitely surpassed all kind of bonds. At least to him, anyway.

Hebs chuckled at Sebastian's reply to Shadow. But, like all amusing things, there was going to be a time where one will be standing on the edge of the cliff. Idly, he wondered if Shadow was annoyed at his brother or just at the weather.

And, by golly gee. That sight was certainly something he never got tired of seeing: Shadow's pale skin, his toned torso, and the perfect face that went with it.

"Ah," came Hebs' thoughtful realization as he nodded and smiled. He had to literally tear his gaze away from Shadow to the fallen angel's brother. "That is definitely a nifty power to have." Slowly, he got up to his feet, and slowly, he made his way to Sebastian's side. Hebs pulled at his pants a little to keep them from, well, sticking to his skin. If there was anything he'd like to avoid, it was "exposing" himself to Sebastian. After all, he did see him as someone he should be showing his good sides... somehow. "But it's quite useless if you're exposed to beings in the underworld, isn't it?"

The cold breeze made him shiver a bit. His toes were starting to get cold and as he wrapped his arms around himself, rubbing at his arms with his hands, he moved his gaze from the villa and back to Sebastian. "Sebastian, has any creature other than an angel ever stepped into your world?"


Oh, no. Gian didn't feel at all hurt. He was just startled and he didn't want to have Léan see him badly. Kratos, on the other hand, though, was feeling a little irritated that his lover was still putting up this dominant front of his. Although it was one thing he found quite adorable and fitting on him, he would prefer if Léan didn't show that when he was here, trying to protect him from the reality of the world outside. Squeezing Léan's knee, he slid his hand up a bit to squeeze his leg, too, before he let go. As if to silently tell the other to continue eating, he finished what meal he had on his plate, but left just a bit. He eyed Léan quietly, raising his brows. That was a silent question as to whether the other wanted it or not - just a taste, that was.

When Gian felt Alfie snuggle against him, he smiled and nuzzled him a bit. He did, however, stop when Damon replied to his question. He made sure not to be rude so he turned his attention back to him to smile brightly at his words. "That's good!" he started, "I can't wait for Shadow and Hebs to return so you can completely walk then." It was obvious he was bubbling with excitement. After all, Shadow was definitely going to be able to find a way to get the feel of Damon's legs back.


Johnny was stunned at the view that greeted him. Was this the result of Blake's powers? Was this the reason why he had different paintings, all depicting the untimely deaths of these souls? Or, is it that Blake is able to see someone who's in need of help at present? Somehow, this was the conclusion the lawyer was getting to as he let go of the knob and stepped in. Although, yes, he was afraid, he also wanted to make sure that Blake wasn't going to go ballistic and do something idiotic like throw himself out the window.

This level of detail, though, he thought as he silently watched the boy sketch, It's amazing. It was just like that time when he'd seen Blake's paintings for the first time. It was true that yes, he was partly worried for him; but, at the same time, he'd also not want to have the spirit see him as a hindrance. So, he stood where he was, waiting for Blake to finish sketching before he rested a hand on boy's hand, around it, around the one moving so quickly.

Such movement was definitely going to strain the boy's hands, and it'd be such a waste to hurt them.

Sebastian didn't seem to mind that he suddenly had company. In fact, he leaned backward a bit in his chair and closed his eyes, enjoying the cool breeze whipping his short azure hair around. This almost playful interaction between the twin brothers...it actually wasn't normal, or even common. Understandably, there was a lot of tension between Shadow and Sebastian. Sebastian was the perfect poster child, and both Shadow and his elder sister were simply dropped off at the nearest orphanage once Sebastian was born. Shadow was dumped there as a newborn, so he didn't even get the chance to bond with his parents.

Even though Shadow knew his parents weren't worth the time, it still stung. It wasn't fair for him to hold it against Sebastian, because he was also a newborn at the time, but Shadow just couldn't help it. He didn't understand what made Sebastian so different from him at the time--they were identical twins, weren't they? What, did his parents just flip a damned coin or something?!

"Hm?" The angel peered over at Hebs, looking quite relaxed. Well, good--according to Shadow, it was incredibly difficult for Sebastian to settle down and relax. "I can use this power on dark and demonic beings, but it isn't very effective. The same goes for those beings--their powers usually don't work all that well on holy beings such as myself. Fallen angels, again, are an exception. They used to be angels and still have similar genetic structures."

Fallen angels were simply angels that could not use angelic powers. That was all there was to it.

He took note of Hebs' shivering and smiled, nodding toward the villa. "Shall we go back inside? It's a bit nippy today. Shadow and I were contemplating going whale and dolphin-watching today--there is a boat that leaves in a couple of hours. I don't know if that's something you would be interested in. Specifically...I'm hoping to catch a glimpse of a merperson." He looked fascinated. "I know that your family includes one...from the description Shadow gave to me, it sounds like he might be some sort of tropical species. I like merpeople. It's a lifelong goal of mine to see one of every variety. I've seen many...but there is a crown jewel among sirens. One I have yet to see, and would love to see sometime."

Hebs' last words seemed to intrigue Sebastian. He squinted, rolling that thought around in his mind. "...Demonic creatures are sometimes dragged into our domain to stand trial. But that is about it."


If there was anything that would distract Léan from his dominance high, it was food. Predictably, the siren leaned in Kratos' direction when the human glanced at the food, glanced at him, and then raised an eyebrow, sniffing the air profusely. He said nothing for a few seconds. Then, the merman hummed softly, glancing up at the human. "I suppose I wouldn't mind trying it." He sounded perfectly calm after his little temper tantrum. It was never personal when he behaved like that. Just instinctual.

"Oh, I wouldn't rush it just yet..." Damon sounded the slightest bit uneasy. "My legs are very weak. I may have to undergo some therapy to regain my full strength." His legs had been immobile for so long that his muscles had possibly wasted away. Yes, therapy was probably necessary. Alfie frowned, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. Shadow was the only one in the group who had a great deal of medical experience, and he wasn't so sure if physical therapy was part of that experience. If it wasn't...they would have to take him to a professional back home.


Blake continued to mumble and mutter under his breath, hand moving at an alarmingly rapid speed. With each sweep of his skilled hand, more details came to light. It was a young man he was sketching--tall and lanky. He was clad in a striped sweater and was missing one of his boots. He looked to be panicked, as well as horribly cold, and his mouth was wide open. Bubbles leaked out of his mouth, as if he was desperately trying to breathe, but was taking in a mouthful of water instead.

He finished after a few more minutes, eyes still wide and staring blankly at his work. He certainly wasn't expecting to be touched. With a panicked wail, Blake instantly swung at Johnny, not knowing who or what was touching him. In his panicked state, he thankfully missed and practically fell onto the other man. He stared at him with those wide, wild, and unfocused eyes of his...and then, slowly, they blinked themselves back into a conscious state. Suddenly, Blake looked more like himself...and he also looked to be terribly tired.

"What are you doing in my room...?" ...Yeah, he sounded exhausted. "And why are you holding me?" he added, irritation etched on every inch of his face. ...Wasn't he aware of what he'd just been doing?

Hebs hummed thoughfully and nodded. "I see." He was just about to suggest going in after he'd run his fingers through his hair when the other brought up the topic. Idly, he wondered if Sebastian could read his mind. Then again, that might just be his being too obvious. Smiling at the other, he replied with a short, "Yes. It is," before he'd stepped back to make way for the other to get up. Hebs, though, was rather taken aback when he'd heard something about whale and dolphin watching. There's a boat around here, really?

Also, when had this villa become such a luxurious place?

While his mind lingered on this, he only smiled and chuckled softly at Sebastian's true intentions. His fascination, too, wasn't left out. He'd seen it, and he found himself only wondering in awe. If there was more of their merman, he certainly wanted to see them - even just a glimpse would do. Léan, after all, was a fine beauty. If he was a tropical kind, then what did royals look like?

"I'd love to come. If you guys would have me."When the other finally answered that last question of his, he only let out an, "Ah." It wasn't like he could ask anything else about it. Shadow didn't want him to think about it, so he wasn't going to delve into that topic for far too long. Though, he'd admit, he'd love to see Shadow's place - the place he'd been in before he became a fallen.

Hebs went on ahead back into the villa. The first thing he needed to do was change out of his clothes and into a fresh pair.


Kratos' lip twitched. It twitched in amusement, especially when the other replied to his silent offer. "Go ahead," he told him as he pushed his plate to his lover. It wasn't much, but it should be enough for Léan. He knew about his appetite, but he wasn't sure if he was going to like such a simple dish from Gian. Gian, after all, wasn't a cook like that of Hebs and Shadow.

"Oh," came Gian's reply. He seemed downtrodden to have heardt he news. As he felt his lover shift in his seat, he turned to look at him and smiled softly. Reaching out, the male squeezed Alfie's hand before he'd turned to look back at Damon. "Though! It's still exciting." This was the first time he's seen a dead man come to life first-hand. It was also his first time seeing spirits, and it was his first time having to have experienced cooking. There sure were a lot of firsts for him today. "You can and will walk soon, Damon!" That was just Gian. Full of positivity.


Johnny's eyes widened. He wasn't wearing his glasses, but with this close distance, he could tell that the other had just tried to hurt him. Although he wouldn't say it was Blake, whoever this spirit was, it was making Blake do things he normally wouldn't do. "Ah!" In his surprise and by reflex, he reached out to hold onto Blake to keep them from falling onto the floor. The black-haired lawyer stumbled, but that was just about it.

When he'd moved his gaze from the paper where the odd sketch resides to the boy in his hold, he finally saw his eyes well-focused. Well-focused on him. Johnny cleared his throat and he momentarily wished he was wearing his glasses. He was feeling a little naked and quite not used to not adjusting his glasses. "You fell," was his first reply, "And you were sketching that." Pointing to the paper on the other's table, he raised his eyebrows a bit and frowned a tad. Idly, he wondered if his hand was tired. He sounded exhausted.

"Do you not remember what you had been doing?"

"Oh, I'm sure Shadow won't mind. He missed you terribly before you suddenly arrived here--no doubt he wants to take advantage of the opportunity and spend more time with you." The angel made no mention of whether or not he would mind, and that was purely for his younger brother's benefit. He didn't get to see Shadow often and a small part of him wanted the fallen angel all to himself, but another part of him wanted to better know this person who was privileged enough to have a hold on his brother's heart.

Sebastian trailed after Hebs toward the vacation house, happy to fill the otherwise awkward silence with chatter. "How much has the merman in your family told you about his kind? They're a fascinating people, in a general sense. Many different variations exist--one for each marine species. Goldfish and Catfish are among the most common varieties. The rarer the original animal, the more uncommon it is to find merpeople of the same variety. Pollution and habitat destruction affect those merpeople the same way they affect the fish."

A vast array of knowledge, mostly otherwise useless trivia and fun facts, was something Sebastian loved to boast about having. Sentient species other than humans, demons, and angels, like merpeople and nagas, utterly fascinated him. He could go on about them for hours if he wasn't stopped.

"You're not likely to find your crown jewel in this area." Shadow stood near the stairwell, dressed in a clean pair of extended white cargo shorts and his favorite fuzzy black turtleneck. He certainly looked comfortable. "This is a warm area. Mostly tropical year-round. If you're looking for your self-proclaimed crown jewel..." "Yes, yes, I know." Sebastian frowned, heading straight for the living room. "I would need to venture farther north. Near the Arctic Sea."

"Even if you did that..." Shadow was in the process of toweling off his soaking wet azure hair. "They especially despise humans, and they will mistake you for one. They go out of their way to avoid other creatures. Not to mention, they are some of the strongest and most dangerous merpeople on the planet--" "I get it," Sebastian interrupted in a sing-song voice. Shadow shrugged, still running the towel over his hair. "The boat will leave in a couple of hours," he declared, clearly addressing Hebs this time. "We'll have to go across town to catch it at the marina. In the meantime...we could go sightseeing, if you so wish."


Léan hesitated when Kratos first pushed the plate toward him, looking wary. He sniffed the remaining bits of food from a distance, nose all wrinkled up. After a moment, he reached out and nabbed a piece of ham off of the plate. He popped it in his mouth, chewing thoughtfully. There were a tense few seconds of silence...and then he reached out to take another piece, humming in the back of his throat. He must have deemed it acceptable.

"As I said...I don't want to rush it." While Damon was indeed sick and tired of being confined to a wheelchair, straining his legs wasn't the brightest of ideas. For now, he was just intent on letting them recover. Once he regained all the feeling in his legs, from his calves to his toes, then the sensitive issue of physical therapy could be breached. Alfie snuggled against Gian with the happiest of smiles on his face. That smile faded after a moment, though...and he glanced at Damon. "Could Shadow have something in his vault that might help...?"

The second Alfie mentioned the vault, a cold chill ran up his spine. He shivered and instantly peered over his shoulder, looking uneasy. Oh, no. There was that feeling again. That feeling that something, somewhere, was about to go horribly wrong...


Blake huffed at Johnny's initial response, blearily shrugging out of the other man's grip. "Well no shit, Sherlock." He stumbled for just a second before regaining his balance. The mention of a sketch, though, immediately woke the young man up. He spun around, at once making his way to the desk. He scrutinized the sketch, rubbing his chin with a single finger. For a while, he said absolutely nothing...and then he stood up, rubbing the back of his neck and yawning widely.

"Oh, that. No. Nope. Can't remember a thing." Blake said that so...so nonchalantly. As if sleepwalking--or rather, sleep-drawing--was a totally normal occurrence. "Don't remember getting out of bed. Don't remember getting a piece of paper or my charcoal pencil. Don't know how I drew that guy, or why. Nope. Doesn't ring a bell." Blake ambled back to his bed, flopping over onto it and heaving a great sigh. "This happens a lot." His voice was slightly muffled by his pillow. "I wake up with a new sketch on my desk every couple of days. No idea how it got there. No recollection of sketching it. Pretty weird, huh?"

Hebs found himself momentarily stopping in his tracks. No, what Sebastian said was true, but he still couldn't get his mind to wrap around it. When he'd arrived, he'd finally gotten Shadow's answer, they'd finally consumated their relationship, and are now lovers. But, he'd still say it was a little hard to believe. Honestly, even being all emotional with the fallen angel was a hard concept to believe especially when he'd spent all his years with the immortal. Bringing up his hand to rub the side of his neck, he wasn't able to stop his embarrassment to show on his face. As his cheeks colored, he only smiled at Sebastian's willfullness to continue his mindless chatter.

And, he was glad. If they talked any more about this relationship of his with Shadow's, the snake man wasn't sure whether he could keep his composure up any longer. He'd probably turn beet red.

"I'm afraid he hasn't told me much. Shadow, though, is pretty knowledgeable about mermans." After all, hadn't Shadow mentioned before that he once had a lover who was a merman? Idly, he wondered if the other was in the Arctic that time. "Which," he added after Shadow finally made his way into their conersation, "I'm afraid he's keeping all to himself." Chuckling softly at the conversation between the two, he continued on his way towards the stairs, intent on taking the towel from Shadow to help dry him his hair. If there was anything Hebs loved doing, it was spoiling his lover with the littlest of things.

"Mm. We can." Hebs tilted his head a bit and looked up at Shadow. "Is there a place here where we can buy souvenirs for everyone?" As he reached around Shadow's shoulders to rub his hair with the towel, he shifted to hold it with one hand, and turned to stand at a stair step to make it easier for him to towel the top of Shadow's hair. He made sure not to mess up his hair, to towel it in a way where it would look less messy. "And, just let me get changed. We can leave afterwards."


Kratos watched Léan. He couldn't help it. The merman was simply fascinating whatever he did. And, although he wouldn't admit it out loud, he was very fond of him. Add up the fact, too, that he'd do anything to keep him safe. The Life Man hadn't felt this way for anyone at all and he was glad he had Shadow to help sort him through his feelings, see how genuine it was. When the other reached out to take another piece, the male brought up his free hand and turned away, coughing a little in his hand to hide his laughter of amusement.

Gian nodded. He understood Damon, but he couldn't understand that feeling of not wanting to rush things. He usually was the type to rush head-in into situations, which, more often than not, had gotten him into trouble. "Huh?" Turning to look back at the naga, he blinked and raised both his brows. He felt him shiver and look over his shoulder like something was about to happen. Was something going to happen? "Hey," he started, uneasiness now present in his voice. He lowered his voice so he wouldn't worry their companions, "You okay, Alfie?" As if he were trying to get the other's mind off things, he leaned in to give his cheek a peck and kept his face close. Just in case Alfie wanted to share with him something he didn't want to tell the others.


Johnny's hands fell back down to his sides as soon as the other left them. It wasn't like he could keep his hands up like that when he wasn't holding anyone upright anymore. Straightening himself up as he tugged his plain shirt down after it had ridden up with Blake falling atop him just a little while ago, he watched him stumble for a second. It was a little hard to hide his amusement and that was obvious with the way the side of his lip curled up. It did, however, curl back down when the other finally answered his question.

Well, that was dandy. This was, he thought, perhaps, something of the supernatural - a normal occurrence for the other. He was glad, though, he hadn't died yet. Wait, glad? He raised a perfectly arched brow at his own thoughts. That was strange. Why would he be glad that this power of Blake's hadn't killed him yet? Being possessed like that carelessly, Blake must have such weak will power. For such a strong mouth and careless attitude, it was certainly a surprise for anyone. Even for him.

"No," he replied honestly as he turned to look back down at Blake already on the bed. "I was wondering where you were getting your inspiration. I see how it's honed." The lawyer stepped up to tower by the side of the boy's bed. He pulled the covers from underneath him and then put it over the boy. He didn't tuck him in. He just left it there to rest atop the boy's body. "But, I also wonder. Do they come visit you when they're dead or while they're still suffering?"

That habit Hebs had of blushing profusely whenever he became too embarrassed...that was a troublesome habit, indeed. After all, Shadow certainly had a thing for making people blush--he admitted it openly. Thankfully, flushed cheeks and embarrassment had absolutely no effect on Sebastian. In fact, he didn't even notice that Hebs was embarrassed as he kept on walking and continued his blathering.

"Oh, I'm well aware." Sebastian almost pouted at this--a very Shadow-like expression, indeed. "Merpeople only exist in this realm, and I'm usually stuck back home in Babylon. I rarely get the chance to see them. I'm surprised, really, that he knows as many merpeople as he does. They're not fond of land-dwelling beings, even if they don't happen to be humans. It's not often that they allow other beings into their social circle."

As he tried to wring out his long hair, Shadow's thoughts shed a bit more light on the topic. Merpeople typically lived in familial clans, small settlements, or gangs of two to twenty (usually in their adolescent years, before settling down with a mate). They rarely traveled alone, but if they did, they were probably loners, ill, or Cecaelians like Rousel. There was a strict hierarchy in all of these groups, with an Alpha (or two, if the aforementioned Alpha acquired a mate) leading them. Shadow himself first became immersed in their underwater world after rescuing a merman from a secretive noble in Venice, Italy during the Renaissance era. That particular merman just so happened to be practical royalty, coming from a rare and prestigious bloodline. Because of that singular merman, Shadow now held a great deal of influence among the sirens, which kept on bolstering itself over the years as he did favors and rescued them from the illegal Black Market trade.

He rarely saw that particular merman anymore. He was in fact one of the 'crown jewels' of the underwater world that Sebastian yearned to catch a glimpse of, but there was no way Shadow would tell him that. Even if it did mean rubbing it in his brother's face.

Shadow readily welcomed the snake man's helping hands, closing his eyes and allowing the other to dab at his slowly-drying hair. "There are a few small shops we can visit," he admitted, briefly opening one golden eye. "It would be nice to bring gifts back for everyone. They probably miss us." Sebastian could be heard flipping through television channels in the living room. He had Shadow all to himself yesterday and was intent on leaving him in Hebs' care today.


Léan instantly rounded on Kratos when he heard him stifling laughter, looking both annoyed and slightly amused. He never did like to be laughed at. Without his ear fins to fan out aggressively, he just resembled a pouting teenager. He popped the second piece of ham into his mouth, obliterating it with his sharp teeth. After that, he gingerly pushed the plate away, looking uneasy. There was no more meat on the plate, and he only ate vegetables and other non-meats when Shadow or Hebs cooked them. He didn't really trust anyone else to do it correctly.

Damon was always patient. He took things slowly. He knew better than to rush anything, even something as important as this. He was a careful person by nature, which was probably why it took him so long to truly warm up to other people. He was friendly and polite toward the other members of the family, but made a point of not getting too close for comfort. Alfie snuck another peek over his shoulder, seeming anxious. "I don't know..." He returned his focus to Gian, cooing when his cheek was pecked like so. "I just got that weird feeling again." 'That weird feeling' could often be used to reliably predict the near future. After all, 'that weird feeling' was what usually let him know when Shadow was about to blow a gasket, or when something bad would be happening soon.


Blake's vibrant blue eyes snapped open and honed in on Johnny as the older male tugged those blankets over him. Instantly, he reached out and snagged them, rolling around until he was all warm and snug in his own little makeshift cocoon. "What do you mean 'they?'" were the first words out of his mouth. He arched a violet eyebrow. "...Oh. The spirits, you mean. Yeah, there are always a few of them hanging around. Spouting nonsense. Interrupting my sleep. Yakkity-yak-yak--seriously, do they ever shut up?" He closed his eyes again, snuggling into his pillow. "Only angels, demons, and dead humans (or sentient beings, maybe...I don't even care) can manifest themselves as spirits. So all the people I see have to be dead."

He didn't try to explain why he drew them while he was still asleep, or how they managed to possess his body so very easily. It was extremely dangerous for mediums to allow constant possession, even if they were unaware of it happening at the time. Sooner or later, a particularly powerful spirit would waltz along and try its hand at a total overhaul. The dead were awfully jealous of the living. If one had the power to force Blake out of his own body and take it for himself...why, it most certainly would!

As Shadow's thought flitted about in Hebs' mind, he found himself looking thoroughly surprised. Shadow had associated with a merman? A royal at that? Somehow, someway, the snake man wasn't able to keep his lips from curling up in amusement as he continued drying his hair for him. Once he was sure he had left the other's hair damp instead of wet did he move to put the towel around the other's shoulders. "Teasing your brother like that," he started, "You sure have strange taste." Sliding his hands down Shadow's arms, he leaned in to kiss his jaw before he grinned.

"They would, I'll bet. Hopefully, they are still eating right." Squeezing his lover's arms, he finally let go and took another step back up the stairs. "I'll be back. Give me a couple of minutes to change." Hebs climbed up the stairs and yawned again, stretching his arms up over his head. True to his word, in a couple of minutes, he was back downstairs dressed in a simple white, v-neck shirt, and a pair of pants that he seemed to have worn yesterday when he came to chase after Shadow.

Shall we go? And, ah, is Sebastian not coming along?


Kratos turned to look back at Léan when he'd seen movement at the corner of his eye. Watching him bite down on the ham, he leaned in to wipe that uneasy look of his away from his face with a kiss on the lips. "I want to get more sleep." He leaned in further to press his forehead against the other's cheek. He was still tired, and it helped a lot that Léan was around him. "But we need food." Especially for when Hebs and Shadow would decide to return from their trip - honeymoon, or whatever it is they call that.

Gian hummed. "You know," he started, "You should really consider a field of reading the future or something." Grinning playfully just to lessen the tension in the air, he chuckled before he'd turned to look at Damon and then at Léan and Kratos. It seemed like they were done eating. Was everyone done eating?

"When do you want to leave, Kratos?" After hearing a grunt and a sigh from him, he gave Alfie's leg a little pat before he straightened up in his seat. He pushed his chair back, reached out to take his and Alfie's used plates, and then looked back up at Kratos who replied with a short, "Five minutes. Go wash the dishes first."


The way the boy spoke really did not match his looks. Johnny, though, managed to get this thought off his mind as he nodded at the other's reply. He's gotten his answer, there was no need for him to stay any longer in the boy's room. "Get some sleep." These were his last words before he turned in his heel and went back to his own room, but not after shutting Blake's door behind him.

That kiss to the jaw instantly had Shadow purring like a content feline. He continued to speak to Hebs as the other male scaled the stairs, though he did so mentally to keep his nosy brother at bay. It is mostly for his own good. Obsidian would not react well if he found out that I've been talking about him with someone who may actively seek him out just to get a glimpse of him. I'm not truly concerned about you seeking him out, so I don't mind mentioning him in detail around you. If you are curious, that is.

When the snake man returned, the fallen angel was in the middle of brushing through his hair with his fingers. It was a futile effort trying to style it in this condition. After their boat ride, he intended to take a nice, long bath. Those wounds of his needed a proper washing with medicated soap anyway. He instantly turned toward Hebs, taking in his appearance with one sweep of his sharp eyes. He nodded once to himself, as if in approval, but didn't say anything on the matter. Instead, Shadow offered his hand to Hebs, looking pleased.

"I don't think he's too interested in being our third wheel at the moment." "I heard that!" Sebastian shouted from the living room, though he sounded more playful than anything else.


The siren's sour expression was washed away in an instant by that kiss. He cooed, curling himself affectionately around the human's body. Once again, discomfort passed over Léan's features when the inevitable shopping trip was brought up. He wasn't looking forward to it. Sure, it could be interesting. But he highly doubted it. He had little to no desire to be around large groups of human beings. He would go if Kratos went, though. Now that he was more mobile, Léan rarely let his human mate out of his sight.

Maybe he was afraid that someone else would gobble him up.

"I will stay here." Damon sounded adamant about that much. "Someone needs to watch the villa. It also wouldn't be wise to leave Jae here on his own." As uncomfortable as he was around Jae, he didn't mind taking care of the other man for a bit while the others were out. If he had a medical emergency and cried out for help, someone had to be there to assist him, and though he wanted to be helpful Alfie didn't exactly have a caring bedside manner (more like clumsy bedside manner). He turned and began wheeling himself back toward the direction of his room. "Oh..." He paused and peered over his shoulder at Gian, looking thoughtful. "Shadow likes fresh strawberries and fresh pineapple. It would improve his mood when he returns if you were to fetch these on your outing." With that said and done, Damon wheeled himself away.

"I can't really control those feelings I get," Alfie reminded Gian, helping to gather the dishes and silverware. "I've never been able to. Oh, well. I wouldn't wanna know what happens in the future, anyway--that would ruin it for me. Spoiler alert, much?"The naga slithered his way out into the kitchen, seemingly in a good mood. He didn't mind that the others were going on an outing without him. He was tired, anyway. He needed some rest.


The rest of the night dragged on without much incident. About an hour after Johnny returned to his room, another spirit made its way through the house, up the stairs, and into Blake's room, but it made absolutely no noise. Blake did get up and sketch something else, but immediately curled back up in bed afterward. Maybe this was why he slept so much during the day--nighttime was a busy time for spirits, and his body didn't get much respite.

Predictably, Blake didn't wake in the morning. The only creature stirring at that hour was poor Arcturus, who refused to move from his cozy little spot at the bottom of the pool.

Hmm. Indeed. I won't seek him out, but I am rather curious about your relationship with him. Did it not last long? Sure, it might not be normal for Hebs to ask about Shadow's past relationships, but he was a curious creature and he wanted to know as much as he could of the other.

Hebs looked up to see Shadow run those fingers of his through his hair. In a futile attempt, it seemed. And, when he'd seen his lover's eyes settle on him, he couldn't help but feel a tad overly conscious as his cheeks, yet again, colored. He did, however, smile at the nod he did and reached out to take the other's hand in his own. As he squeezed his hand, the snake man stepped closer to not only clasp their fingers together but to use his free hand to reach up and thread his fingers through his hair.

Taking a few strands to put it over Shadow's shoulder, he blinked at Sebastian's reply and then laughed. "Don't worry. I'm sure he'll find someone soon enough." Grinning, the freak tugged at Shadow's hand a bit.

"We'll be back for the whales and dolphins, Sebastian."


Strawberries and fresh pineapple. Gian made a mental note of that to himself as he turned to look back at Alfie. That was true. Someone had to take care of Jae. And, as much as he'd like to not admit it, the best person who'd be for that role is Damon. After all, what man didn't want to become better if the ones they love is the one taking care of them. It might speed up the man's healing process, too. "I know, I know." he chuckled and waited 'til they were in the kitchen.

Once he'd set the plates down, he reached up to thread his fingers through his hair, slide his hand down to the nape of his neck and smiled as he pulled him down for a kiss. "I was just teasing you, Alfie." Following after his lover who had slithered out of the kitchen, he resumed collecting all the used plates and washed them. He made sure to prepare a plate for Jae, too, and send this to him after finishing with the dishes.

It was five minutes later when Gian was outside waiting by the small van that they had come with. This was going to be a strange trip. After all, he was going with two of the not really easy to get along people. Reminds me... I should make that call, too, when I get back.


And, Johnny awoke as usual right on time. When it was seven in the morning, the lawyer was already up and bout, dressed in casual clothes. He didn't have work anymore. Right now, he was waiting for Shadow's call so he could get back to work. After all, the man did promise him his own office as long as he took care of the legal matters of the freak community and joined them. As he walked down the stairs, he made his way to the kitchen, cooked himself some breakfast before he glanced out the window. It reminded him that he had another mouth to feed. A merman.

Gathering a plateful of raw fish, he chewed on some sandwich he just created on a whim and set the said plate down by the pool. Johnny moved to sit on one of the beach chairs, shifted to lean back, and relaxed. Today was oddly a good, sunny day.

We didn't truly have a relationship. We simply fooled around a few times during our travels. It took quite a bit of time to travel back in those days, and I was taking him back home to the Norwegian Sea, where he was initially captured. Obsidian was adamant about returning to the sea, even after having been away for a few years. He outright refused to join the family. Most merpeople Shadow asked to become a part of his family reacted in much the same way. They despised being on land and away from their native homes, even the extremely rare freshwater varieties.

Léan was a special exception. He was captured at a young age and heavily conditioned to life in captivity. If he tried to return now...he could very well perish.

"Hm?" Shadow blinked at his lover's words, though he followed him out the door easily enough. "I'll be here," Sebastian called simply from the living room, more interested in what shows were running on television than what his brother and Hebs were up to. The moment they stepped outside, the fallen angel chuckled, taking the lead. He knew where that street chock full of little shops was located. "What do you mean 'he'll find someone?' Don't forget that he happens to be a full-fledged angel. He isn't interested in that sort of thing."

Yes, Sebastian was an innocent little thing. As well, he was extremely dogmatic about angelic rules. He had no interest in relationships, particularly those of a sexual nature.


"Yeah, yeah. I'm aware." A coy little smile curled the naga's lips as his hair was stroked and the back of his neck was touched. He eagerly welcomed the kiss, purring in the back of his throat. Predictably, Alfie pouted and huffed when Gian pulled away...but he didn't mind helping his human lover gather up the rest of the dishes.

Léan was understandably feeling gloomy about this trip. It was only when Alfie and Gian both retreated to the kitchen for a final time, every last bit of dirtied tableware collected, that he untangled himself from Kratos and rose, rubbing his eyes. The siren rarely brushed his hair. It was naturally wild, with long, loose curls. Trying to tame it was a futile effort on his part, so he didn't even bother. "I need to change," he muttered, glancing down at his pajamas. He trudged back toward their room, momentarily disappearing inside.

Just after the merman left, Alfie offered to deliver Jae's plate. He was on good terms with Jae, so he didn't mind. He passed a now-dressed Léan (a simple long-sleeved white shirt and some gray sweatpants) in the hallway. The two of them made a point of keeping their distance from one another, but thankfully didn't spar. Alfie knocked on Jae's door, a bright smile on his face. "Hey, you awake? Got some food for you."

Léan returned to Kratos just then, arms folded across his chest and expression dark. "Shall we? Lead the way." His voice was forcibly calm. Nope, he wasn't looking forward to this at all. But at least he got to spend time with Kratos.


For a grand total of twenty minutes, there was no movement. There was absolute silence. Arcturus didn't make a grab for the plate full of fish, instead leaving it there in the hot sun. After twenty minutes passed, though...the tiniest of splashes broke the silence. Suddenly, that plate of fish was nowhere to be found. Small ripples on the water's surface indicated that the siren popped up, snatched the fish as well as the plate, and retreated into the safety of the deep end of the pool once again.

Another twenty minutes passed before something else broke the silence--heavy, plodding footsteps and an irritated groan. Blake was awake--he could just barely be seen from the backyard, rummaging through the cabinets for snacks. He looked like a total mess, hair all tangled and clothing disheveled. Hell, his eyes weren't even open all the way. He looked...ill. Like he was coming down with something. That sick look was complimented with coughing and the occasional sneeze.

But how had he gotten sick so quickly...?

Hebs chuckled. "I know," he said as he looked up at Shadow and grinned, "I was thinking more along the lines of... someone who's very straight forward and one who'd accept Sebastian as he is without having the need to go further than a kiss." That was going to be hard, true; and, he wasn't sure if a being of sexual nature would be right for him. But, nonetheless, it'd be nice to see Sebastian experience falling in love, too. That'd defnitely be a sight to see.

Also, it could help him get his mind off things. "And, I'm just saying." The snake man added for good measure just in case his lover thought of him badly. Linking their arms a bit as he continued to clasp his fingers around the other's own, he leaned into him a bit and looked about. Already, it seemed like they were getting to a more populated place.

"Are the shops nearby?"


Kratos was a little disappointed to feel Léan not sitting on his lap anymore. It wasn't that he wished the other still had his tail, but it'd be nice to be able to continue bringing Léan around. Pushing his chair back as he, too, got up to his feet, he made a beeline for his and Léan's room to get changed as well. Like his lover, he dressed in a simple black, long-sleeved shirt pulled up to reveal his forearms, and a black pair of pants. He did, however, seemed to have changed a lot faster than Léan because he was already out, waiting for him.

When he'd seen Léan dressed very casually, he couldn't help but feel that slight thump on his chest. It was like seeing a new side of the other just like that time when he showed him his legs for the first time. "Yeah." It was all he'd said as he came up to Léan. The Life Man leaned in to kiss those lips of his before he cast his gaze away, looking rather, well, embarrassed at his own thoughts. Clearing his throat, he led the way to where Gian was waiting and got on to the back. He never did like sitting inside the car. If he did, too, it was possible that Gian was going to try and strike up a conversation.

Gian, on the other hand, only got in the driver's seat. He only got his driver's license a few days ago, and was still learning. Surely, Kratos and Léan wouldn't mind him driving at a snail's pace.

Jae stirred at the knock to his door. He groggily opened his eyes and peered up from under the blankets. "Mm." All he gave was a groan of reply. After having rested for at least days, now, he was feeling better. At least, he thought he felt better. The stitches he got from that big blow from Erudito wasn't really nice to see. There had been blood every where, too, he remembered. He ought to apologize for that and clean up his mess.

The thought of eating food didn't make Jae any happier. But, he knew he had to eat if he wanted to get better. "Thank you, ah... Sir Alfie. How... is everyone?"


Johnny's heart almost leaped out of his throat when he'd heard the sounds of splashes. Immediately, his eyes shot down to the pool where he knew Arcturus had swam up to grab the plate. This pool was going to need thorough cleaning all right. Why, again, did he have a pool made in his backyard? As Johnny finished the sandwich he had, he shifted to set his feet back down onto the ground again. Just as he got up to his feet, he noticed the sounds of footsteps. That certainly wasn't his.

Peering into the pool, he watched Arcturus eating for a second before he'd made his way back in. He did, however, stop the moment he'd heard the other sneezing and that coughing. It was prety hard to miss. Johnny found his features scrunching up in disgust. Blake was going to get germs all over his place. "Hey you, brat," he started. He saw how bad the other was getting. Color-wise. "Go back to bed. I'll bring you food and medicine."

"He's not the romantic type." Shadow's amusement peaked at the very thought and he began to chuckle. "He'd much rather lose himself in work. He won't be here for too much longer, anyway--a couple of months, at the most. Best to leave him be." That subtle bitterness crept into the fallen angel's voice, even though he tried his damnedest to suppress it. Catching up with his long lost twin was a pleasant experience, sure. But the longer they lingered around each other, the higher the likelihood of a fight would become. They were two very different people, with drastically different values.

As well, Shadow still felt bitter about the relationship between his parents and his brother. The perfect little poster child.

"They're close by." Oh, was he ever glad to be off that topic. Even just thinking about the strained relationship between himself and Sebastian was enough to sour Shadow's mood somewhat. "Just down the street, here." This was tourist season, and the island was packed with them. A good chunk of them were male, and several more had joined hands just like Hebs and Shadow. Shadow ignored the plentiful amount of appraising looks cast his way as he walked down the street, contently winding his arm around his lover's. When he turned the next corner, a quaint shopping center sprawled out before them. "Any of these little gift shops will do."


Even though he could now follow Kratos everywhere he went, like a baby duck trailing after its mother, Léan preferred to be in his natural form. In fact...unless he knew he would have to get up soon, the necklace was ripped off and his tail returned. He was always most comfortable when he ditched the necklace. On some level, the siren must have sensed that Kratos missed carting him around everywhere. He wasn't fond of public displays of affection, but lavished them upon Kratos anyway. He always kept close to him, too, when he had his legs.

The merman purred invitingly when Kratos kissed him, leaning into the gesture until the other male pulled away, looking embarrassed. He clicked his tongue in the back of his throat, obviously displeased. With determination, he reached out, grabbed onto the human's cheekbones, and pulled him forward for another kiss--this one the slightest bit deeper. Then, like nothing happened, he sauntered in the direction of the door, peeking over his shoulder and waiting for the other to quickly take the lead.

Just like Kratos, Léan was in no mood to strike up idle chit-chat with Gian. He followed the Life Man into the back of the van, instantly settling in close and closing his eyes. Vehicles still bothered him, but not nearly as much as boats and airplanes did.

"Oh, they're all right." Alfie slithered his way to Jae's bedside, setting the tray of food down on the small nightstand next to his head. He knew it wasn't a good idea to plop it right down on top of him--not with those stitches--and it was still easily in reach. "Kind of bored and bummed out because Shadow and Hebs still aren't back, though. They've all gone grocery shopping. I didn't go because, well..." He glanced downwards at his brilliant crimson and fire orange-scaled tail. "I'm me, you know. Damon and I are still here to watch the villa. And you. Wouldn't want anything bad happening."


"I'm not tired." Blake sounded worse than he looked. He fixed a sideways stare on Johnny, holding back a sneeze for a moment. "Besides, there's nothing to do up there besides draw and paint. Not exactly in the mood to be bored out of my mind." He reached up and ran a hand through his hair, but instantly looked disgusted and pulled it away. "I guess I could use a shower. But after that...got a spare television anywhere? Or a spare laptop?"

Movies and television sounded like a great cure for boredom. Blake was crazy about movies, particularly horror movies.

Hebs chuckled. No, indeed. Sebastian wouldn't be the romantic type. Somehow, he found it quite difficult to wrap his mind around it nor could he imagine such a kind of Sebastian. And, as this thought flitted off his mind, he raised his brows at the tone Shadow used. Yet again, he glanced up; but, this time, Hebs spoke nothing of it. He could feel his lover's emotions wash over him, and he only reached up with his free hand to hold the other's arm. It wasn't like he could say anything about it. Even he, himself, was bitter of the parents that had bore him and left him, letting someone else take care of him.

"That is pretty close," he started before he'd hummed thoughtfully. Somehow, it was strange. Why were the souvenir shops somehow close to the homes Shadow owned?

Like Shadow, he, too, seemed to look over the looks of awe, jealousy, and amusement from the other tourists. Their thoughts only carelessly entered his mind when he dropped his guard not too long ago, but he was able block off their thoughts after a few trial and error. This, though, seemed to have given him a slight headache. But, as soon as they turned the next corner, his eyes widened a bit and his lips broke out into a smile. "They all look quite warm." And, Hebs like places that warms both his heart and his body. Giving Shadow's hand a squeeze, he finally let go and looked at the display at the nearest shop. "Do you have anything in mind that you'd want to give to everyone, Shadow?"


To say that he was surprised would be an understatement. Normally, Kratos initiated the move. He only happened to be embarrassed this time because Gian, apparently, was watching them. The door was left open. But, he wasn't complaining when Léan gave him another kiss, one much deeper, too, than just their mere press of lips against lips. "M-hm." He, though, returned the kiss with much fervor, his hand moving up to rest at the side of Léan's neck, thumb pressed against his jaw. He'd have deepened it a little more if it weren't for the merman breaking the kiss. Kratos was lost for a moment.

Once he regained his composure, he cleared his throat and grunted, seemingly looking annoyed now as he settled down. Gian, on the other hand, only smiled in amusement, as he started the van and drove off.

Jae shifted, managing to sit up, though with a lot of difficulty. He didn't complain, though, his expression only changed. "Oh," was his first word after he'd breathed out a sigh of relief. He had to be careful if he didn't want to re-open his stitches. After all, that painkiller the doctor gave could only do so much. He was lucky, though, that his pain tolerance was high. "Mm... thank you." He chuckled softly, but was cut short at the sting and stress it gave to his wound, "I'm sorry to be a burden to all of you. Especially to Mr. Damon." He should've left that time, that time when he had ruined the mood of their leader, was it? Shadow?

"Ah. But, you look great, Mr. Alfie. Fascinating, in fact." He smiled softly. "I was a little surprised, though, at first. Even with Mr. Léan, was it? He's beautiful just like Mr. Shadow but... I always find my eyes moving back to Mr. Damon." He wore a pained look as he reached out for the plate. "Thank you again, Mr. Alfie. I should be all right."


Johnny made a face just as equally disgusted by the look the other was wearing. "I'll pull up the sofa bed in the living room. You can watch there." The male finally stepped into the kitchen. "And, don't touch anything." He gave the other a warning glare as he made his way towards the fridge, intent on making something - maybe a porridge - for the other to eat.

With the stark exception of Alfie, everyone at the villa seemed to have an unpleasant past, and shaky relationships (if there was even a relationship at all) with their original families. Alfie was lucky to have had a mother that adored him with all her heart--it was a shame she passed so young. Shadow usually played the part of foster parent to the freaks he welcomed into his family...but after playing that part for so long, it had to wear on the fallen angel from time to time.

Maybe it was the fact that Sebastian and he had been identical at the time his parents abandoned him and his elder sister at an orphanage that left Shadow so bitter. What stood out about Sebastian when he was just a newborn? What made him so much better than Shadow? He would never understand.

"Well...let's see." Shadow idly toyed with a loose string on his shirt. "Shall we list them off? Léan likes shells. Alfie likes peculiar things--unique things. Damon would appreciate something to do with art or music. As for our wayward family members back home..." He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Food or something amusing would do the trick for Rousel. I haven't the faintest idea of what to get Blake. He's a teenager--perhaps he'd appreciate something to do with movies or video games. Or zombies." Not exactly a souvenir, but Blake didn't strike him as the kind of person who appreciated whimsical trinkets and the like.


Now that he was completely comfortable around Kratos, and also comfortable with touching the human, Léan seemed to find thoroughly embarrassing the man and making him squirm (especially in public places) a rather enjoyable pastime. Humans often teased and insulted the people they liked, usually during childhood and adolescence. Merpeople did this, as well...but it continued well on into their adult years. So...instinct was partially to blame for this behavior.

But mostly, the siren just liked working Kratos up enough until the Life Man actually broke down and blushed. That was the sweetest of victories.

Toying with the artifact around his neck, Léan once again curled himself around Kratos, eyelids drifting closed and a heavy sigh escaping him. He still wasn't looking forward to this. Just how many humans would be there?

Alfie frowned as Jae practically admitted the slowly-growing feelings he had for Damon aloud. He said nothing for a few moments, twiddling his fingers together...and then he sighed, pouting and glancing off to the side. "...Well, better late than never..." The tip of his tail wiggled, a show of nervousness. "Someone's gotta explain it to you in detail. See, Shadow's really protective of Damon. Really protective. It's because they, uh...they used to be an item. A long, long time ago. There's nothing there, now...but Shadow worries about him because, you know...he looks so defenseless and stuff. I don't think he's quite as innocent as he looks--he's probably tough as nails, if I had to guess. But Shadow insists on babying him, and as you saw he's prone to acting like a toddler having a tantrum when things don't go his way..."

He smiled sheepishly. "It's not a problem if you wanna ask him out when you get better. Just be prepared for potential rejection. I don't know if Damon's ready to open up to anyone else just yet. ...I probably ruined the mood. Just enjoy your food, okay?" With a cheerful wave, Alfie beat a hasty retreat out of the room. He had this unrealistic, but nagging feeling that somehow, Damon would figure out what he was doing and get angry with him.


"That works." Watching television all day sounded much better than loafing around in bed all day, even if he did feel like shit. When Johnny demanded that he not touch anything, Blake sneered at him, even as he started tromping his way up the stairs. "What, you want me to levitate my way into the bathroom--is that it? I'm not the one who can move shit with his mind." With another rough coughing jag, Blake disappeared into the bathroom upstairs. A few moments later, the shower could be heard running.