Ita McNairee: *she's fussing about in the kitchen, trusting the babies are occupied with making their happy little noises, the pikey's perched on the counter reeeeaching for caocao* och.. they make these bloody shelves fer giant folk.. cannae reach pess aul.

Joe Vellim: *Headphones drift music into his head as he sharpens a length of wood. folding knife and stake both brand new, his brow is furrowed in concentration. Oak dowel... kinda 'spensive..*

Joe Vellim: Wan' me ta get summat? *He calls into the kitchen, pausing in his sharpening and setting the trashcan aside as he puts both tools back into the duffel bag and rises to go to the kitchen.*

Ita McNairee: uh! Pff! * the cocoa canister tips over just out of reach of grasping gypsy digits, rining down chocolate powder onto a pikey* blech.. elch.. *she shakes her head, laughing* och fook. bollox.. nae joe! *she sings into the livingroom* Ah'm aulready negro'd.

Aerin Thomas: He comes down the stairs, rubbing a little at his abdomen. Getting your chest perforated with bullts can make one sore...but then again, so can sleeping badly. He managed both deeds last night. He's dressed in a plain white T-shirt and jeans, hair hanging loose. He stops misway down, pausing a moment there, listening to the two others talk with a hint of a wistful smile on his face.

Joe Vellim: *He pauses in the doorway, looking at the pikey with eyebrows slowly rising up his head...* Whancha ta know.. da tings goin' tru mah head righ' now? Ah'm sahrry feh. *He chuckles*

Joe Vellim: d10: : 5,2,6,3,2,

Joe Vellim: *whoops! Shit... he clears his throat and looks around as he hears Aerin coming down the stairs. The step he takes back out of the kitchen heavily laden with forced innocence.* 'Ey deah..

Ita McNairee: Och yer hoorible mester vellum.. *a waggle of her finger at joe. then she makes a face. cocoa was horrible stuff when it wasn't IN something. spitting some chocolatey saliva into the sink, she scoops a bit of the powder off herself and into the bowl near her feet, before launching off the counter in a cloud of dust and a clatter of bangles*

Ita McNairee: d10: per alert: 9,8,2,9,

Aerin Thomas: d10: Dex+Stealth: 2,9,3,4,

Ita McNairee: Och.. wha a mess.. *she chirps upon landing, shaking powder out of her hair onto the floor, speckling it brown as she sees a not so stealthy Aerin creaking down the stairs*

Joe Vellim: ((DLP. Joe doesn't hear Aerin.)) *He leans against the doorjamb with playful lasciviousness, nodding slowly as she moves around in the nasty stuff.*

Aerin Thomas: He nods a little bit to Joe, giving him a waint but sincere smile. "Hey, Joe." He's gotta work on that. Something to get help from Bliss doing, perhaps. He makes his way down the stairs, crossing the main room.

Aerin Thomas: ((Yeah, he did. Defender wins the tie.))

Joe Vellim: ((oh- then nevermind that post just then- right! everyone square? *G*))

Joe Vellim: *He nods to Aerin, a frown flashes across his face for a moment.* Still hoytin' deah?

Ita McNairee: *she slips towards the pair of them, reaching beside the fridge to retreive a broom with a cheery cocoa faced smile to Aerin* good mornin doves. *she licks her hand and leaves a brown smudge across joes cheek, a chocolatey caress, she looks like she's going to do the same to aerin as well, licking the other hand and taking a swipe*

Aerin Thomas: "Little bit." He nods. Least he can legitimately cover for that. Thank you, Ingvar. Protecting the Veil via attempted Gaian homicide. "I'll live. How are you?" He looks over to Ita, blinking at the cocoa-covered Rroma woman.

Aerin Thomas: He'd go do dodge, but sore chest and all...he just takes the cocoa-painting in stride. Dodging is not his strong suit over the last week.

Ita McNairee: chocolate flavoured low fat an edible.. *she sings quietly, shaking like a wet dog to get all the powder off her, a dust cloud poofing into the air, bangles clattering loudly before she starts sweeping*

Joe Vellim: 'Ey! with a scowl he wipes his face off on his shirt, taking a step back from the dangerous, chocolate covered gypsy. He looks back to Aerin with another nod, considering.* Whul, pretty good.. ah gahtta lotta questions dough.. y'know. *He shrugs, stepping toward the living room again to give a bit of space.*

Aerin Thomas: He grins slightly to Ita, before nods a little bit in Joe's direction. "Yeah...yeah, I guess so." He gestures to the couch. "Shall we?"

Joe Vellim: SHuwah.. jes'... whenevah, yannow? *He seems nervous, now that it appears to be time for 'the talk'.. perhaps a bit adrift for a place to start.*

Ita McNairee: *a grin to herself mostly as she sweeps up, singing* Ah'll bee oot enna moment darlin.. ah've jes tae sweep thes oop an stir oop sooome batter, aye?.. och.. an than mayhaps change.

Aerin Thomas: "Okay," he says toward Ita, and moves to take one of the single chairs near the couch for himself. Give Joe his space. He settles into it, relaxing a bit.

Ita McNairee: *a soft song sung in the background as ita putters about the kitchen*

Joe Vellim: *Bratwurst fingers lace against each other.. jaw set.. but for what is hard to tell. Even the setting.. sooner or later, thinks Joe... they have another talk coming.. he can't quite figure which is worse. A breath is drawn in heavily before it gusts out again. The image of an odd woman and moving water flickers through his mind.. he's soothed a bit, and doesn't know why.* Wheah da fuck do we staht? *He chuckles.*

Aerin Thomas: "That's...a good question." He nods. "I guess the best thing to start with is...what questions do you have?"

Ita McNairee: *Sweeping done, she sets her broom back where it should be and mixes up her batter, humming away. Talks like this were better with cake to soothe.. it shouldn't take long*

Joe Vellim: Well..? *He blinks, realizing that his bag is all the way across the room..* ey uh... Aerin- *His voice is quiet as he gestures to the duffel.* Couldja close dat? *Continuing in a normal voice.* Why'dja know dat skinny chick was da problem?

Aerin Thomas: "No problem." He nods and gets up, moving to close the bag. A brief pause as he sees what's inside...oh, dear. He makes no other reaction, but for the pause. It's zipped shut and he turns, heading back to take his seat. "I knew because I'd seen her do something before. She had tried some sort of mind control and messed up, accidentally projecting herself into everyone else's minds. I'd warned her then...so, when I saw everyone start laughing for no reason, and saw her reaction, it was pretty obvious."

Joe Vellim: Sa she's... wha... like.. Ahmean... *He scratches his head.* Sa she's a vampiah, right? Oah ona dese... yannow.. wizahds, ah some shit? *He almost laughs at his own words.*

Ita McNairee: *hum hum hum.. she trusts the boys will be playing nice. a clatter as she putsthe chocolate concoction in the oven, and lets a scratching great dane in the back door, chuckling and giving its face a rub before she streaks out of the kitchen to the livingroom, freya on her heels as she bolts to get changed*

Ita McNairee: wiiizard darliiiiin.. *it comes on the way by, as the pikey's getting scratched up by an over exuberant pup, dissappearing into a bedroom*

Aerin Thomas: He nods. "She's what we call a willworker. A sorceror...they call themselves mages. She uses computers and the like to do her stuff." No laughing...in fact a slight twitch of an eye at the willworker discussion. They seem to be coming up a lot lately. Perhaps, a moment's consideration of remembered words in his head...but no. He's back on topic now.

Aerin Thomas: ((BTW, guys...per Fox, Bliss is around the farm for the next few days. Watching, being protective, but mostly staying out of sight.))

Ita McNairee: ((then ita's pestering, teasing.. generally making the shadowlord uncomfortable and half ass annoyed.))

Joe Vellim: ((Joe is Bliss-fully ignorant. Gettit? Blissfully ignorant? I kill me!))

Aerin Thomas -> Ita McNairee: ((Aerin will put a stop to that immediately. Bliss is lonely and depressed right now, Aerin explains. He asks her not to antagonize him. He tells her it very much hurts his feelings when she does it.))

Ita McNairee -> Aerin Thomas: ((*scowls!* well then in contrast she'd be all up on poor bliss. afterall.. the joking etc is for fun. if he's actually sad she's curling around him and baking cookies. etc))

Ita McNairee: *noise from the bedroom as ita changes and plays with the dogs*

Joe Vellim: *He nods slowly. Clearly that isn't going to sink in anytime soon.. not become real yet.* Can... can ya feel 'em? Ahmean.. feel it when summat spooky's happenin? *Bright eyes darken slightly..*

Aerin Thomas: "I wish." He grins a bit, and shakes his head. "Make my job easier. No, I'm forced to rely on seeing what I can observe and figuring it out the hard way."

Ita McNairee: *and she tinkles out of the bedroom, closing the door behind her and moving to sit on the couch near joe, figuring he likely needs the reassurance*

Joe Vellim: *He nods, murmuring to himself before he looks back to Aerin.* Ah can. Ahmean.. feel it. Lika itch. Sometimes Ah can feel it comin from a specific poyson. Uddahs, naht sa much.

Joe Vellim: *He smiles weakly to Ita.. now that they're actually talking about it.. he's rather nervous.* Why was she fuckin' wit people, Aerin? Ahmean... was jes average shmucks innat bah.. *A glimmer of something behind the nervous mask.*

Aerin Thomas: An eyebrow raises. "Really?" He seems surprised, and impressed. And that's something to file away for reference. "Did you feel stuff going on last week in the bar?"

Ita McNairee: ye've a geft darlin.. soome folks cannae feel et et aul.. ah cannae.. *she shrugs and pets the broad man's shoulder* an soome folks are prats..

Joe Vellim: ((not mask. Joe doesn't wear masks. Its all pretty much just right there on the front of his head.))

Joe Vellim: *He nods, rubbing his head as ita rubs his shoulder.* Yah. Mebbe.. five times uh so... *His eyes shift to Aerin, then away. He wasn't sure. Not that time..*

Ita McNairee: *she looks to aerin*

Aerin Thomas: "I don't know." He frowns a little bit, a hand going through his hair. A moment, as he chooses his words. "Some people have power, Joe. And they abuse it. This is the same in the world that most don't know about as it is in the one everyone does. Politicians or mages, cops or vampires...they all have power, and they shouldn't, because of how they use it. And then, there's others...people like you and me. People like Ita. We may have power, we may not. But either way, we try to protect those without power from those with that would use it wrongly."

Ita McNairee: *she nudges the side of joes face with her nose, singing quietly* see.. tha's wha ah was tryen tae sae afore ah mungled et all oop.

Joe Vellim: Whul... don' know as ah gaht some kinna powah. But- s'like ah wuz tellin' Eeda heah. If some punk cop decided ta muck wit people, anyone inna woyld would pretty much be able ta stop'em. Technically, anyways. But wid dese guys... its da few fightin' da few- an' nahbahdy gaht any way ta stop 'em even if dey wanned ta. s'like.. alla dese... tings.. all fightin' each uddah. But heah yew ah, gettin bettah- betcha she's jes' fine, betcha whoevah made dat 'gatah come inna bah is fine tew- but dose ig'nant bahstads what gaht caught inna middle jes' wanderin' around hoytin' still.

Joe Vellim: yannow? dey can't go ta nahbahdy. *Bright eyes seem rather sorrowful.*

Ita McNairee: *she swallows a sigh and watches joe with big brown eyes, leaning back on the cushoins of the couch and slipping her feet across his knees* aye darlin.. boot et works both ways... aye? Alot o oos cannae gawn tae doctors an police an sooch, causen we'll end oop en jars oor en jail.. try explainen tae a bobby why yer lested as died, orr tae a doctor why ye've nae heartbeat.

Aerin Thomas: He nods a little bit, empathizing with the man. "I know, Joe. Believe me, no one would agree with you more then me." He sighs. "There are authorities here, people who try and keep normal people from getting hurt in the crossfire. That's where I work. We do what we can to make sure that people are safe...that whatever problem willworkers, or vampires, or what-have-you do, it's not going to get in the way. We're not perfect...of course not. And neither are the cops. I always try to find the non-violent approach...the one that's safest for those around me. I went over there to Nes, to ask her to give me her little mind-control device. She responded by trying to kill me. I can control what I do as much as possible...and had I known she could do that and would, I would have been ready for it. But the point is, there are those of us who try to keep mankind safe from those that would harm it. And anyone who got hurt in that bar...trust me. I feel responsible. It weighs on me just as much as if I'd caused it myself."

Joe Vellim: Yeeah. *He waves a hand, but in a moment Joe forgets himself, settling one broad hand on Ita's foot, looking at her toes. He starts a bit, a glance at Aerin, and removes his hand... cheeks growing a bit red.* Yeh but dem ah vampiahs. Dey eat people. Dey needa die. *He nods* 'sides- deah aftah yew, yeah?

Joe Vellim: *He nods at Aerin's words.* Fine den! Nah dats a good idea... sa... wheah do ah sign up? Ah wanna protek people tew, yah?

Joe Vellim: *He raises his eyebrows, nodding more rapidly. Yep- sounds like a plan to Joe.*

Ita McNairee: Darlin.. *her eyes get wide, and she shakes her head* Ah was a vampire an ah never tried tae et ye.. aye? *she draws her feet out of his lap, hurt* they're nae aul bad. jes soome. *and getting up she moves to the kitchen, scowling to herself*

Joe Vellim: Yah butcha diffrn't, Eeda. ~Yew~ dint try ta eat me- don' mean dey won't. 'Sides- from whatchu say- dey aul tryin' ta eat yew, right?

Ita McNairee: nae aul o em! *she growls from in the kitchen, the sound of the oven openning*

Joe Vellim: Nah comaaaan, Eeda.. *He raises his hands as she walks toward the kitchen, worried.*

Aerin Thomas: "Most are, Ita. Though you are right...not all." He shakes his head as she sulks off, and looks to Joe. He blinks, though honestly, looking at the man, he's not surprised. "Well..." He looks over at Ita...he is going to get in SOOO much trouble for saying this, but he's not going to tell the man no...eyes go back to Joe. "If you want...I can set you up a meeting with the manager of it."

Ita McNairee: *something snapped out in gaelic as she slams the oven door*

Joe Vellim: *He nods rapidly, a sort of hope brightening in his face... but he screws up his face as Ita slams the oven door. He hooks a thumb toward the kitchen, murmuring.* eh uh.. sahrry..

Aerin Thomas: He falls quiet, leaning back in his chair and looking around the room a moment to let the two talk.

Joe Vellim: Comahn in deah! We don' speak Gypsy tawk. Don' be smaht! *Hell's Kitchen consolation as Joe tries to soothe the angry woman- and fails miserably.*

Ita McNairee -> Aerin Thomas: (gaelic to ita translation) - somethink about knowing/not knowing one's ass from one's elbow.

Joe Vellim: *Joe's still sitting across from Aerin.*

Ita McNairee: Ah'm maken a damned cake.. *she sings out sharply* keep talken, ah'm bloody well lestenen.

Aerin Thomas: "All right," he says into the kitchen, before looking to Joe. "So...what else can I answer for you?"

Joe Vellim: Ah tink ya hida impahn't stuff... sa.. whatabaht me? Need me ta tell yew stuff? Ah don' really remembah very much, yah?

Ita McNairee: *bustling and general pissiness in the kitchen. *

Aerin Thomas: "Well...like I said, my memories of what happened when I was unconscious and after are a bit hazy...can you fill me in on what you remember from after I got zapped?"

Joe Vellim: Eeda! *He struggles to keep the humor from his voice- women and their cute little tantrums... oh joe... you moron..* Dat cake- its fightin' backa whaht?? ya gahnna beat th' shit outta it!

Ita McNairee: *a growling noise and then the back door slamming. oops. Pikey is in an ill humor*

Aerin Thomas: He struggles to keep his face even at Joe's comment, laughing inwardly. Why the hell can't he ever get away with stuff like that?

Ita McNairee: (brb)

Aerin Thomas: Oh. Joe didn't get away with it, either. Shit. He winces a bit. "Eesh."

Joe Vellim: ah wuz... jes' kiddin... *murmured before he looks back to Aerin, rubbing his head and looking at the floor. Mebbe he should leave her alone.* Lessee... yew gaht.. 'lectrocuted uh summat.. den.. *he trails off, trying to remember.* Den.. whatevah O'Tooley puts in deah whiskey hit me.. like... acid uh summat.. stuff gaht kinna foggy.. but it was real noisy in deah. Ah figgah dat's when th' gatah came inuh summat?

Aerin Thomas: He just nods a little, frowning contemplatively. Surely, he must just be trying to put it together in his head.

Joe Vellim: *Joe nods as well.. the man will need some measure of guile, if he is to be successful. In the meantime, he shares a quiet moment with Aerin.. so quiet one can hear a pin drop.. or a gypsy sneaking up to lay on an angry curse. Right?*

Ita McNairee: *she sits on the back steps, breathing and leaning against the door* .. och bollox.

Aerin Thomas: "So then, I woke up...Erin had hauled me away, or something? And that's when you left. And she got me out of there." He looks up to Joe, watching him for a moment, head cocked to the side.

Aerin Thomas: d10: Per+Empathy: 2,6,5,10,9,9,3,

Aerin Thomas: d10: Specialty: 8,

Joe Vellim: *He frowns slightly, shaking his head.* Hell no. Ya gaht up.. ah tink ya tol' dat skinny chick ta getta hell out.. she dint- jes saddown an' called somebahdy. Erin helped ya up, but yew wah standin' awright.. ya lookdt bad, sa ah offe'd ta help ya. Figgah'd yew dint heah me, oah ya was mad at me. Yew dint say nuttin... ah left out da back, Yew wah apparently leavin' wit Aerin. Dat skinny chick looked wicked bit up uh summat.. but th' gatah was jes' layin deah. Maybe.. she shocked it tew? *He frowns.* But if it bit heh up... who else was deah? *He looks back to Aerin* Dat pretty black chick- she did summat tew- all.. did summat wiehd like- yew know- made mah head tingle. Maybe she made thet gatah?

Joe Vellim: ((nice roll- is that directed at Joe?))

Ita McNairee: *damnit. it was too hard to eavesdrop from out here. a huff and she shakes off her irritation, moving to the kitchen. the cake would probably be cool enough once she'd made up icing*

Aerin Thomas: ((Yep.))

Joe Vellim -> Aerin Thomas: ((nervous. very scared. On several levels. One being Ita's irritation, but he can't grasp why she doesn't see that vampires are bad. Second, when he's around Aerin and Ita- even when he's just around Ita, he feels like he's intruding. Walking on Aerin's territory. Third, the doors opening up right in front of him- badly, badly shaken and scared by talk of the supernatural, but oddly excited. A wakening core of strength and courage in Joe. Remembering when he was a good man, and worthwhile. Something happened to him recently that bolsters his nerve and will to do good.*

Aerin Thomas: "It's possible." He nods to the man. Damn, if he was willing to risk calling on his gifts of Persuasion...this would be easier. "I don't know the black woman. What I do know is that gator may have saved my life. Whoever it was that brought the thing into the bar, they need to be smacked around a bit, at the very least bitched at, for being so vulgar and open about it, and putting others at risk...normal folk, who can't defend themselves. That pisses me off, that it was done that way." He's got a deep frown on his face, forehead wrinkled with the furrowing of his brow. He sighs. "But luckily, no one else was harmed, besides the gator and Nes, that I saw. It was dangerous, and it was stupid of them. And I don't know their true intent, whether it was to help me or just stop Nes. But I have to admit, I might not be standing here today if the thing hadn't tried to stop that psychotic willworker."

Ita McNairee: *she frowns and moves to lean on the kitchen door frame, looking into the livingroom. He hadn't exactly phrased it like ~that~ before*

Joe Vellim: *He nods, then glances toward the kitchen as the back door opens and closes again... his eyes swivel back to Aerin as he cants an eyebrow.. offering to quiet up for a bit if he'd like to go do what seems to be so natural to the man.. console, strengthen.*

Joe Vellim: *He nods, angry, bright eyes electric as he shares with a deep and frightening anger Aerin's statements about the normal people. Apparently something once, rather important to the bullish man.* Sa.. yew tink she jes' came inta dat bah... wha... feh fun? Fekkin wit people feh fun? Do dey all do dat? *It becomes a growl toward the end.*

Ita McNairee: they dinnae Aul dae tha. *she sings quietly, half irritated despite her best efforts. she sighs and pushes it back. It was alot for the man to absorb afterall*

Joe Vellim: *He glances at Ita, considering.* dat aint right... *he trails off.. the word reflecting an almost eerie, violent adherence.. right was to be lauded. Wrong, crushed.*

Joe Vellim: *Its inflection.. the absolutism.. just what kind of skinhead was he?*

Aerin Thomas: "No...they don't all do that." He shakes his head. "I've known some willworkers who've been quite sane and normal, relatively speaking. In fact..." He sighs, grumbling this part. Anger toward recent mage events aside, he has to admit... "...the majority of the few I've dealt with have been quite good people. Looking out for humanity." He reaches up and rubs at his face. "There's always bad people out there, in every group...whether willworker, vampire, human, man, woman, white, black, whatever. But there's good, too. Nes...is not good. And if I ever see her again, you can be damn well sure I'm going to make sure she doesn't hurt another person again. Ever. But you can't, unfortunately, just assume that just because someone isn't a normal person, that they are evil or they fuck with people for the hell of it."

Joe Vellim: oh.. *He nods, absorbing this.* Fekkin' hate dat shit can't jes be simple. Mucked up freakin' woyld..

Joe Vellim: Yew awright, lady? *He smiles at Ita. Warm, and concilatory.*

Ita McNairee: aye darlin. *she lets her head rest on her shoulder, breathing in deeply as she watches them together* ah'm peaches.

Aerin Thomas: "Yeah, it is a mucked-up world." Few know that better then him. He looks over to Ita, pursing his lips a moment before offering her a smile.

Ita McNairee: *she smiles back, warm, running a hand through her hair. Cocoa drifts from it*

Aerin Thomas: "The point of this all, Joe...I know you're angry with the idea that people out there are at risk...the normal folk who can't defend themselves. I very much understand that. And believe me...I share it. But I do want you do understand that there are people out there, like me, and Ita...others, lots of them, who do what they can to help protect these people. That keep them safe...and will die to do so, if necessary." The man's conviction there is evident...underneath, floating there, a sense of sadness, or loss. He's apparently known a few who had paid that sacrifice. "And I know you're the kind of person, you'd like to help. That's laudable. But please...make sure that you know what you're doing before you start moving. There's a lot of myths, many of them untrue. History is full of false stories about how to deal with the supernatural. Don't believe what you hear."

Joe Vellim: Sa.. when yew want me ta meet dese people? *He glances between the two of them, glad the spat is over.*

Ita McNairee: *ita looks up to Aerin, tucking a strand of tangled hair behind her ear*

Joe Vellim: *He nods, listening closely to Aerin's words.* Shuwah.. Ah wadnt gahnna go off half- cocked uh nuttin... don' s'pose yew'd be willin' ta tell me sumah dat stuff? Ahmean... *He scratches his head.* Sorta... also... wheahevah th' hell dey all came frahm??

Aerin Thomas: A quick glance to Ita, green eyes watching her a second.

Aerin Thomas: d10: Per+Empathy (WP): 6,8,7,5,9,8,9,

Aerin Thomas: ((OH MY GAWD! He successfully Emped the pikey!!!))

Ita McNairee: d10: bleu!: 4,10,3,1,9,4,

Joe Vellim: ((Does the "dance of six" whoo hoo! Count 'em, baby- thats SIX! Why Aerin- you're so insightful! *bats eyes*))

Ita McNairee: *she tilts her head as She's watched. Soft chocolate brown eyes melting to a bright electric blue. a mischevious wink*

Aerin Thomas: ((*Does the "Curse is over" dance*))

Ita McNairee -> Aerin Thomas: right now she's releived he's gotten through to joe. a good amount of pride in his communication skills.. she'd not been able to do it as well.. and its gone so well. She's reassured joe's got the idea of us versus them out of his head, and is delighted that they're getting along, if a little worried about what it means.

Aerin Thomas -> Ita McNairee: ((Worried?))

Joe Vellim: d10: per/aware: 6,2,6,9,

Ita McNairee -> Aerin Thomas: yeah.. she doesn't want to put joe in danger. but she knows he's going to toss himself at it anyway. Likely at aerin's side, now that they're getting along so well. she doesn't want anyone to get hurt or in trouble.

Joe Vellim: ((wait wait- does Ita's stuff make his radar go off?))

Aerin Thomas: He grins a little at the wink, adoring green eyes staying on her for a moment, before looking back to Joe and chuckling. "I'd love to. Sadly though, I don't know it all either, to be honest. I can tell you some things, but I'm not the end-all be-all of supernatural knowledge. Most hide their secrets pretty well."

Aerin Thomas: ((Nope. Numina doesn't send up the Awareness flair.))

Ita McNairee: *a chuckle, and ita peels herself off the door. She moves to curl beside joe again, watching them both*

Joe Vellim: *He nods, moving toward the kitchen as he continues to shuck plastic from peppermint candies and pop them in his mouth. He works each, sucking until it vanishes, then pops another.* Ya gahtta sody uh summat?

Ita McNairee: wha? *she says from the couch*.. there's stoof en tha fredge...*she looks to aerin, then back to joe in confusion*

Aerin Thomas: He watches Joe head off for the kitchen, sighing a little bit, then looking back to Ita with a shrug.

Joe Vellim: Thankee- right back.. *He sweeps the kitchen door open smoothly, coming back with a coke. He pops the top, and settles where he was- not particularly further from Ita or anything- perhaps his throat was simply dry. He takes a swallow of the drink, and looks at the can as though having just met one.. something was missin... oh... alkyhol.*

Joe Vellim: Sa... *He looks from Ita to Aerin.* Sa whenwe staht? Issis ting gahnna be like X Files uh summat? We gahnna investygate people wit wiehd powahs? Ahmean... isseah a salary?

Ita McNairee: are we aul squaresh?

Ita McNairee: *she starts laughing at that, shaking her head* och darlin.. nae nae.. tha's nae sae good.. ye'll gie torched broke fanged an lynched ye poke aboot willynilly

Joe Vellim: *He shrugs slightly.* Nah diffrn't dan any uddah day, iffat scene innah bah is any indication. May get alla dat stuff jes readin' comics tew, looks like.. *A rueful chuckle as he takes another swig from the can.*

Aerin Thomas: He chuckles. "Funny enough...your last question was my first. I'll set you up to talk to Jody soon."

Joe Vellim: Heh heh- supah heroes gahtta eat tew, yah? *Blunt, powerful legs kick a little as he laughs. Like anything else, Joe's emotions sweep through his entire body- and he smiles or laughs with the whole five feet five inches.*

Joe Vellim: d10: per/alert: 8,2,6,10,5,

Aerin Thomas: "That they do." He nods and laughs a little himself, relaxing as much as he ever does, these days. Still some tension to him...there always is. Probably always will be, and we're not talking the rage. But for the most part, right now, he's very okay.

Ita McNairee: *she shakes her head and presses at joe with her feet, glowing with happiness and releif. thay're both getting along. someof the tenseness that always seemed to linger having drifted away. *

Joe Vellim: *Another peppermint, before he offers some to the two of them as well- he pinches one of her toes briefly before smiling and speaking agian.* Yew guys wan' one?

Aerin Thomas: "Naah, I'm good." He takes a deep breath and sighs. A moment's pause, as a question comes to mind, but...no. Not now. Later...he rises slowly to his feet, nodding to them. "Nicotine calls." He makes his way to the back door, to have a cigarette and give them some time.

Ita McNairee: nae thank ye darlin. never loved pepperments. *she watches Aerin leave to go smoke, nibbling her lip a little*

Aerin Thomas: The door is pulled open and gently shut behind him, and he pulls his cigarette, popping it into his mouth as he leans against the wall, pulling his cell phone out. A speed number is dialed, as he lights it.

Joe Vellim: *He nods to them as he pockets the candies again.* Yah, Ah getcha.. *He glances from Ita to the door- but does a double take.* Whadda fuck?? *He blinks, looking at her eyes in silent alarm.* Wha.. contacts? Yew don' need dose!

Ita McNairee: *she starts, having forgotten about the eyes, then her voice rings out in laughter* och nae nae darlin.. ah changed em fer giggles. aye?

Joe Vellim: *His mouth drifts open as he leans closer.* Dat's pretty damn neato... do me! *He watches, amazed and delighted.* Nah- do Aerin!

Ita McNairee: ah cannae dae other folk *she laughs and takes the oppurtunity to kiss the bald man's cheek* only me darlin.. och.. watch.. aye.. *she grins and moves off the couch, holding up her hand*

Joe Vellim: *He nods rapidly, leaning foreward, his hands on his knees. In a moment free of self consciousness, he chucks the woman's chin a bit as she rises.*

Ita McNairee: d10: crazy hand!: 3,6,9,9,4,7,

Ita McNairee: *her fingers shorten by degrees, blackening, curling, pads bubbling to the surface before, viola! Her entire hand is a large black cat paw*

Joe Vellim: *Shock, and entranced disgust. He laughs, and makes a noise.* Ugh! Dat's jes fekkin wiehd.. 'ey canya toyn inta... like.. th' whole cat?

Ita McNairee: well.. nae quite yet.. boot soone ah reckon.*she smiles at him* jooooe.. ye kaaaaaained ah could dae thes sort o theng.. ah showed ye afore. en yer apartment.. aye? *she takes a playful swipe at him, claws flashing out then back in carefully*

Aerin Thomas: Cigarette finished, phone call made, he slips back inside the house. A pause at the door, wavering as to whether to move forward or step back, and give them more time.

Ita McNairee: d10: per alert: 7,6,7,4,

Ita McNairee: *the back door gets her attention and she tilts her head that way* doone wie yer cancer?

Joe Vellim: Right! An' its still freaky! *He blares, good natured, before blinking toward the kitchen. Wha.. cansah?*

Aerin Thomas: "I am." He nods and, decision made, steps back into the main room. "One nail, firmly pounded into the coffin."

Ita McNairee: och! *she scowls at him a moment, pointing at him with a clawed hand* Nae o tha!

Joe Vellim: *Joe continues to watch the hand, fascinated.* Really, dat's jes... *he shakes his head.* heah- lemme see.. *He rises from the couch and takes a step toward Ita, wanting to look over that hand.*

Ita McNairee: och? och.. *she grins and holds out her hand, smiling at joe before turning her face to aerin* ets like show an tell...aye?

Aerin Thomas: His phone buzzes, and he pulls it out, looking it over. A blink, and he shakes his head with a chuckle. "I've got to go into the city. Stuff to take care of...you know, the usual. No rest for the wicked, right?"

Ita McNairee: och... yer sure darlin?

Aerin Thomas: "Sadly, yes." He nods.

Ita McNairee: *a sigh, the pikey nods* .. breng back soome mollasses? Mayhaps? An dinnae gie yerself electrocuted oor naethen darlin?

Joe Vellim: Say... yew wan' me ta go witya? *Interest blooms in Joe's face.*

Aerin Thomas: "I will, and I'll try not to." He smiles to her, and then to Joe. "I'll see you guys later." He makes for the door.

Aerin Thomas: "Not this time, Joe. This isn't that." He shrugs. "Something else to take care of."

Joe Vellim: *He waves, perhaps a touch grumpy.* awright. See ya.. yew uh.. *he ahems, looking between Aerin and Ita.* Mebbe ah should go tew?

Aerin Thomas: "No, it's all right. Stay, if you like."

Ita McNairee: och aye darlin. coome.. ah made a cake.. soomewan 'as tae et et.. *yes. thats it. buy him with food*

Aerin Thomas: And with Ita's distraction, he's out the door. Got to go save someone from something they are SO not ready for... ((Thanks for the scene, guys. *Hugs*))

Ita McNairee: ((okies. thank you!)

Joe Vellim: ((later!))

Joe Vellim: Sa.. wha kinna cake we talkin' heah, peaches? Summat chocolate? *He sweeps a finger against her collarbone and tastes the errant cocoa- and promptly grimaces.* Wha kinna chocolate issat??

Ita McNairee: och darlin.. et doesnae taste like chocolate oontell ye add sugar.. *a pawed arm is wrapped around him as she tugs him towards the kitchen*

Joe Vellim: ooooh. *He nods, wandering with her.*

Ita McNairee: *she digs large kitty claws into his back a moment and tilts her head*.. yer aulrecht? Absorben everythen?

Joe Vellim: *He starts a bit as she digs claws into him.* Ey- stop at... *He swipes at her hand, then pinches her bum.* Dem claws aint nuttin ta sneeze at! *He smiles, but grows rather solemn.* Slowly.. yannow? Naht really allat once. say... why'd yew get sa pissed?

Ita McNairee: *the claws retract and she jumps as she's pinched, curling into him with a sigh* och darlin..Aerin's folk..well.. most o em would o kelled me as soon as look et me when ah was a vamp. Jes grouped me as bad an tha was tha.. ah dinnae like jes.. groupen folk.

Joe Vellim: Oh yeah? *He nods, listening to her seriously before speaking again.* I own't know, Eeda. Ahmean... really. Dey ~do~ eat people, right?

Ita McNairee: darlin.. *she turns and faces him, golden light of the kitchen showing clearly the speckles of cocao on her skin as she rests her arms over the man's powerful shoulders* they need blood fer tae lev.. aye? Ah ded tae.. ah et aft me dags... but even when ye et aft humes.. as long as ye jes take a wee bet o et, yer aulrecht. *she considers a moment then rubs his neck, voice slipping to a lullaby* an et feels good.. magic like.. better'n a shag an a high an a fooll stomach.. ets.. amazen.. boot ets awfi addicteve tae.

Joe Vellim: *His face scrunches up.* An dat sounds likeah good deal ta yew? Lemme tell ya a ting ah tew abaht addiction- it aint nice. It AINT fun. An' it ONLY feels good feh a second. Den, ya feel like shit onna stick. Yew heah me? Sa, wha ya tellin me, issat dey don' just eat people... and dey do. But even if dey DON' killem- dey makem misrable feh de rest a deah lives. An' yew expect me ta b'lieve it wouldn't be a mattah of civic soyvice ta stakem all an boyn'em straight ta hell? *He shakes his head, a self deprecating laugh.* Gettem alla dag a summat feh dem da suckon, an' shuwah, mebbe dey aint half bad. Inna meantime? Ah'm gahnna go make some stakes, heah me?

Joe Vellim: *He doesn't, however, stomp off. He blares in confusion and anger, but not specifically at her.. more a matter of his blunt, simple style.*

Ita McNairee: *her face melts into something nowhere near pleasant, and she steps back from him, shaking her head with a scowl, she opens her mouth to speak, but nothing comes out, hurt passing across pretty features*

Joe Vellim: Comeahhhhhn, Eeda... deah aftah yew tew! If'n one dint wanna kill ya, and mebbe a few dont- would ya want'em ta feed onya? Oah Ahchie? *He waves a hand toward the living room.* Shit, babe... would dey even ask?

Joe Vellim: Ah'm naht tryin' ta makeya feel bad, Eeda. Ahmean.. but Ah don' see wheah ah'm wroang heah, yannow? *He leans back against the counter.*

Ita McNairee: AYE! they would! an ah've let em feed aft me afore! *she throws her hands up with a clatter* Ye kain wha darlin.. gawn an fook yerself. *she waves her hand* Ah kain vampires wha are far better people than leven folk, an accordan tae yer bloody logic ah should o been ashes therteen years agawn. Archie's GRANDA' es a vampire! an Ee's peaches an pie. Ye cannae jes write aul o em aft causen ye dinnae like et!

Joe Vellim: Dey EAT ~PEOPLE~. Naht DAGS! Ya mudda fuggin' RIGHT Ah can write 'em auf! Feh crissake, woman!! *He stomps toward the fridge, then stops.. no beer in there.. instead, he crunches angrily on a peppermint. Fuckin' peppermints..*

Joe Vellim: Yeh heah- ya moved, 'cause yew was runnin' from 'em- ya told me dat yesself. Right?

Ita McNairee: aye! ye kain why they've nae FOUND ME?! *her voice rises to meet his, eyes flashing* causen ETHER vampires..me FRIENDS.. 'ave been keepen them followen WROONG leads an PROTECTEN ME!

Joe Vellim: *Is he ~sure~ there's no beah? bettah check again.. these peppermints are the devil in little round form. He stomps to the fridge, trying to get his point across... trying to figure out hers as well. He swings the door open, blushing as relief sweeps through his body. Who th' hell drinks Corona? Ah nevamind.. me! He grabs one of the bottles and shuts the fridge again, scowling at Ita.*

Ita McNairee: *her chest heaves, eyes lit with anger as they melt back to brown, hurt clear on her face as she tosses a hand on each hip, little scott pitting joe with a glare*

Joe Vellim: GREAT! *He blares back, screwing off the top.* How many ah we TAWKIN heah?!? Three, FOAH even? Den- how many ah deah in th' gaddamn CITY? Lemme tell yew summat- *he points a finger at the woman as they continue their shouting match- and both his hands work at the corona bottle, shaking slightly.* How many o' them owe yew fuckin favahs? Its AERIN an' ME whatah protectin yew! Tell me deah gahnna be heah ready ta lay it down iff'n every UDDAH vampiah inna woyld finally gets WISE! *The bottle tilts waaaay back in a flash of gold.*

Joe Vellim: Dey eat gahdamn people, but I'M da asshole? Gotcha.

Joe Vellim: *Relief, and calm as the alcohol finally courses through him. He stops yelling, shoulders slumping slightly as an oddly present tension leaks from him.*

Ita McNairee: Ye Kain thes es tha VERY REASON why They're after me?! THA VERY REASON! an dinnae ye point yer fenger at me irishman.. ah can grow teeth jes as well as ah can grow claws. AUGH! Fook ye AN yer bloody assumptions!

Joe Vellim: *He spreads his arms wide.* Right! Assumptions. Sa... dey DONT eat people. Right? Ah was wroang deah? *He scoffs, tilting the bottle again, then throws it away.* Sa what- why ah dey aftah yah. Aint cause deah bahstahds an' devils- despite dat little "Ah Eat People" ting. Its some UDDAH reason- sa GAHEAD- whyon't YEW tell me why deah aftah ya!

Ita McNairee: CAUSEN THEY"RE SCARED AH'LL TELL EGNORANT HUMES ABOOT EM, AN THEY"LL AUL GIE HUNTED JES CAUSEN THEY"RE CURSED! *She shots atthe top of her lungs, dissolving into a prattle of angry pikey speak, as he whirls on her heel and opens the back door, slamming it 3 times in succession behind her, and striking out alone across the yard*

Joe Vellim: *He storms out after her, snagging another beer on the way. No WAY does she get the last word.* THREE fekkin' times? Mebbe a liddle much, huh? Tell yew what- th' next time ya see ya friends, tellem mebbe a good way ta stop all'at nonsense is tryin a liddle STEAK! Side salad! Some Mashed TATAHS Uh summat! COYSED don' mean ya getta make everyone ELSE pay feh it!

Joe Vellim: *He goes back inside- SLAM! Wha.. door didn't shut- SLAM! Why won't it shut? SLAM! Jezzus... there..*

Joe Vellim: Take some responsibility feh deah own gahdamn actions.. *He spins around, pointing as though he were going to blare that at her too- oh wait.. she's not there.. he turns back around, fuming as he opens the bottle of beer.* Tell yew summat... *glug glug*

Joe Vellim: *Parched, he drains the beer before grabbing another.* Tell yew summat... wadn't feh da dick an' hairy ass... ah'd be all kindsa homo... fekkin women. *he spits in the sink.*

Ita McNairee: augh!*she turns awrn so fast her hair nearly smacks her in the face, eyes glittering with tears as she jerks pen the door* They CANNAE ET NAETHEN ELSE! AH am gintae slap ye sensless..a SWEAR TAE GAWD! Ah'm gintae coome o'er there an sod ye fer bein sae theck fooken 'eaded! *her hands curl into little pikey talons, cat paw gone now, normal fingers having returned sometime during the arguement, and the door SLAMS again behind her as she stands in the kitchen, babies crying from within the house. Oh yeah. Babies*

Joe Vellim: *He jumps and spins around as Ita storms back in, beer sloshing across his shirt.* oh yeah? OH YEAH?? *He scowls as he realizes he didn't actually have anything else to say. Apparently nonplussed, he blares along anyway.* TELL ya WHAT- Jes don' fekkin EAT me! UDDAHwise, AH'd be an' asshole feh sayin' NO, huh??

Ita McNairee: *and she makes to smack him right up the side of his head, gone from hurt and indignant to absolutely FURIOUS, but she stops short, face crumpling as she storms past him, voice cracking tearfully as she makes to go console the babies, tears streaming down her cheeks* why ye 'ave tae be sooch a bastard joe..

Joe Vellim: 'CAU- oh. *He blinks, realizing that she's not arguing anymore... mutely, he follows her.. she's actually ~crying~ he thought this was the part where she slaps him, then he gets indignant.. somewhere in there the really hot freaky- deaky makeup sex happens.. but she seems hurt..*

Joe Vellim: ((mod that to: "Happens, then she sees things his way."))

Ita McNairee: *she's sobbing quietly, moving to the babies room to gather them up, hiccupping as she tries to calm them* shh.. shh darlins.. shh shh..

Joe Vellim: *He stares into the beer, rubbing his nose with one broad finger. He can't very well go ~after~ her.. cause he's right. But it doesn't feel right, just standing here.. he looks after her, then finally follows.*

Ita McNairee: *she's seated on the floor, sitting squaw with the babies in her lap, tori wailing like a banshee, archie hiccupping as she touches his chest softly, pikey dripping tears down her nose as she tries to rock them slightly, making soft soothing noises between her own tearful gasps for air*

Joe Vellim: wan' me take onah dem... Eeda? *He reaches out a hand, before letting it drop again.*

Ita McNairee: *she reaches up and snags his hand, tugging him down beside her and curling against him, shifting archie to his arms*.. jes.. dinnae be a prat joe.. *she swallows and looks up at him* es nae as bad as ye make et.. ye need tae talk tae claudius. ye'll see darlin.. aye? please? *she rubs at her eyes with her free hand once archie's securely in Joe's grip*

Joe Vellim: ah wadn't bein' a prat, damnit. Nah.. let's make nice. *He glares at the woman in warning, but takes Archie with gentle hands.*

Ita McNairee: please joe.. *she says softly, sniffing and rubbing her teary face on his arm.* please.. dinnae start a war... ah love ye.. please.

Joe Vellim: Ah aint gahnna. Tell ya what dough... dose bahstahd's come inta th' kitchen, ah'm ganna ga ta wah. *He nods, arranging Archie in one arm.*

Ita McNairee: cannae let em kain ye kain.. cannae let em darlin.. *she sniffs and soothes a tori to soft hiccups, archie falling asleep in joe's arm* ah love ye.. dinnae wan ye tae die.. tae many folks wha are dien.. ah'm loosen track o who's alive... please? *red ringed eyes looks up to him, soulful and soft chocolate brown*

Joe Vellim: *He frowns a bit, but is not un- moved.. the woman clearly an important part of his life.* We'll see, huh?

Ita McNairee: *she jiggles the baby slight;y and presses her face to his neck* .. ah'm soory fer screechen o ye joe. can we jes et cake like we were gintae?

Joe Vellim: *THe bullish irishman curls an arm around her as he nods.* Shuwah... ya don' gahtta apologize.

Ita McNairee: *she kisses his jaw wetly* love ye... coome.. we'll curl oop... *Tori has since settled, seems no one screaming = happy baby.. though she looks nowhere near going back to sleep*