Chapter 10 - Family

27th of July 2013

Lucien LeBlanc

Lucien woke before his alarm, around 12:30am. The owner of the Shadowplay club apparently wanted to speak with him and had sent an agent to give him the card in person. The proper etiquette, which his grandfather had drilled into his head since he was a child, was to call back the following evening.

Lucien walked out of the 'clubhouse' and out into the open field between the house and the outskirts of the property, with a box of cigarettes in his hand. He caught the habit from his father and didn't bother attempting to stop once he realized it wouldn't do anything to him. His grandfather always had a pipe in his mouth and would smoke cigars on special occasions, so Lucien figured it to be a family trait. He slid the first cigarette between his lips and lit it with a wooden match. He waited for the end to fully catch before flicking out the match and taking a deep drag on the stick. He stared up to the slowly waning gibbous moon. In a few nights, it would be Molly's second moon of the month. She always spent those moons out in the yard in her breed form, running through the cut grass with reckless abandon. The image made him smile widely and let some smoke escape his lips. When his cigarette was finished, he crumbed the still burning item between his thumb and forefinger, ignoring the burning, and pulled out his phone with the business card.

The phone rung twice before getting picked up by a woman. "This is the Shadowplay Club. We aren't yet open for business, so what can I do ya for?"

The voice sounded like the woman that handed him the card. "Hello, I am Lucien Leblanc. I believe you gave me a card and asked me to call back. I figured by now any construction is likely over for the night."

The punk woman, Monica according to John, scoffed. "You would be right about that. Hang on a minute." Her voice grew louder, but distant. "Hey Boss? That Lucien fella is calling about when to meet." After a moment, her voice returns to normal. "My boss wants to meetcha. How's 9 o'clock tonight? Lazy sods don't like workin' afta nightfall. Course, with all the vamps and shit walkin' the streets, can't exactly blame em."

Lucien smirked and pulled out another cigarette. "Sounds good to me. Say, does your boss smoke?"

Monica's voice had a smile to it. "Sure does. He smokes them big cigars. Can't see the point in them. Take too long to smoke."

Lucien laughed heartily and lit another cigarette. "I can agree there. I have been meaning to try those little cigarillo things, myself. Hear they taste like something besides nicotine and paper."

The punk woman laughed. "See you and your friends tonight then, puppy." The line died after that, but Lucien still chuckled around his cigarette. He put away his phone and just stared up at the moon as his cigarette slowly burned away.

There was a curious voice not too far away from him. "Pretty Darkness, Lulu. What are you doing out here?"

Lucien smiled at her, crushing the half-burned cigarette in his hand to keep the smoke from Molly's sensitive nose. "Just smoking and staring at the moon, Molly. What are you doing out on this beautiful evening?"

Molly scrunched her nose up. "Watching the lake sparkle in Luna's light. I don't know why you smoke those. They smell bad."

Lucien smirked at her, putting the pack into the pocket of his pajamas. "They taste just as bad I assure you. To some Dreamers, they are a bad habit that slowly corrodes their insides. They smoke them to calm down, despite the chemicals actually making them active." He laughed at her focused face. "No, it doesn't make a lot of sense, but that is how the habit works with regular humans. I do it because it reminds me of my grandfather, who I haven't seen in a number of years."

Molly smiled warmly at him. "Can you tell me about him?"

Lucien smiled and pat the side of her cheek. "As well as those eyes work on me, I think we should head back inside and get some more sleep. We have some more combat training and then, if you want, you can accompany me to a club." Molly was at first disappointed and then excited to learn what a 'club' was. Lucien was happy to explain on the way to the house.

After a hearty breakfast and some intense hours of combat training, the group had taken a break to make an early lunch and decompress. Lucien picked this as the opportunity to bring up the club with his pack. He sat on one of the logs they rung around the fire pit they had in one corner of the property and smiled at his pack. "So, would anyone be interested in going to the club tonight?"

Innokenti was laying on his back in the soft grass. "Would this be the club that woman with the blade-wielding hands told you about?"

Molly nodded. "I remember her. She had metal through her teats. Why would you do that? Wouldn't it stop milk making?"

Ossy looked at her. "I don't think that would be a problem. I didn't notice them, but her tattoos were extremely intricate."

Lucien blinked and looked between them. "Well you two seem to have interesting priorities, I was stuck on how well that blood red hair went with those wine-colored eyes of hers."

Anastasia sighed. "If we are done going over which parts of the woman's body we were ogling, can we get back to the matter at hand? You are meeting with her employer tonight? Are you supposed to go alone or are we expected to join you?"

Lucien turned to regard the Black Fury. "She said he wanted to meet me but that her boss was expecting us, so I think he expects me to bring at least some of you. The Baron said that he likes the current arrangement to continue, so I am not too worried to go alone if you all don't wish to join me."

Anastasia nodded and looked down for a moment to think. Innokenti raised his hand in the air. "I have to meet with Mr. Kaihn about gathering info on a spirit I met in the Umbra." The others looked at him concerned, but Lucien knew which spirit he was talking about.

Lucien smiled and looked around. "Anyone else busy? I don't expect us to do literally everything together."

Anastasia looked up. "My mother wants me to join her for some training in Black Fury combat techniques. I would like to go and see what else I can learn to help our cause."

Lucien grinned. "That is great! The more tribal secrets we can gather into the pack, the better." Ana looked and him with a little bit of concern, but the rest were mumbling in agreement with him. He looked around at the others. "Are the rest of you joining me?" Leena nodded and looked to Ossy, who in turn looked to Molly who nodded enthusiastically. Lucien smiled warmly. "Excellent. I will meet you all here at 8 tonight. I have to be the proper guest and bring a gift, as I was taught."

Lucien returned at a quarter to 8 carrying a wooden box tied with simple string and a few other containers the size of a cigarette pack. Molly was running around with Ossy in Lupus, obviously waiting for him. Molly ran forward and shifted through her forms in a leap before rolling and standing in front of him in Homid. "Pretty Darkness Lulu! What did you bring for presents?"

Lucien lifted the box as an indication. "I heard that the man smoked cigars so I went into town to procure some of the ones that my grandfather smokes on special occasions. I also got some smaller ones for myself and the Kithain woman, but the proprietor gave me three packs of the little ones. Hey Ossy, do you smoke?"

Molly scrunched her nose together as Ossy stepped forward and stretched his hand out. "Not that I remember, but I will take them. If I don't like them, I will give them back to you."

Molly looked up and the taller man. "Why use smoke sticks, Ossy? They don't do anything." The older man simply shrugged and tucked the container into his pocket. Lucien gathered Leena and the Get and travelled into downtown.

Before long, they were standing in front of the Shadowplay Nightclub, which had a large sign on the door declaring it closed until its grand opening. Lucien knocked roughly on the door and after a moment, the blood-haired punk Kithain looked out at him. "Your early, that's good. Boss would like to see ya as soon as possible." She opened the door wide for them and they all walked in.

Lucien turned to her and noticed the slightly predatory look she gave Ossy as he walked by. He pulled out one of his containers. "You said you wanted something better than cigarettes, so I grabbed you some small cigars while I was getting the gift for your boss."

She looked at him quizzically for a moment before taking them and nodding up the stairs. "Straight up them stairs and it's the door at the end of the hall." Lucien gave her a slight bow of the head before leading his companions up the stairs. He found the double doors at the end of the hall and knocked before opening them both. What welcomed them was a back wall that was one giant mirror. At the angle of the door they only saw themselves reflected in the glass, so they moved inside. Lucien looked to his right to find another mirrored wall that reflected him and an empty desk. Leena moved passed him and sniffed. As Lucien was still pondering the empty room in the mirror, Leena shifted to breed form and growled. Lucien spun around with the rest of his group and found that the desk in the mirror wasn't empty.

There was a man sitting behind the actual desk. He had a dark, but handsome face with smooth, short cut black hair and dark eyes. His mouth held a small smile and his eyes didn't seem fazed by the fact that a young woman just shifted into a ten-foot-tall monster in front of him. He simply sat there with his long fingers woven together in front of his neck with his elbows on the desk. Each of his fingers held three metal rings that went up to the first knuckle on all his fingers. "Welcome to my establishment, Lucien. It appears you are one member short of a full pack."

Leena was moving toward the desk in her war-form, but Lucien put a hand in the crook of her arm and held firm, lifting his other hand to stop Molly and Ossy from shifting. "Yes, it wasn't as if you demanded to see all of us."

The man behind the desk smiled wider, but didn't make any sudden moves. "I assure you, I wasn't demanding anyone come anywhere. I just wanted to meet you in person."

Lucien looked to Leena ignoring the man for a moment. "Leena. Leena, look over here and tell me what's wrong."

The man at the table put his hands on the table. "Your companion seems to know what vampires smell like, Lucien."

Lucien took a step forward, still holding on to Leena and swinging his other arm down to stop the other two again. "Well, that would explain why you didn't appear in the mirror from a literary point of view. As much as I would like to know why you can't be seen in mirrors, I would much rather like to know why a vampire, who has a Kithain working for him, wanted to meet me."

The vampire smiled wider and leaned back in his chair. "Well Lucien, the LeBlanc family is something of a guilty pleasure of mine to investigate. Other vampires that know about it tend to think less of me for it, but I have done things far more damning then checking in on my own family to worry about that."

Lucien shivered slightly. "Family?" He looked the man up and down and realized that the resemblance was obvious.

The man stood up, causing the rest of Lucien's group to step in defense of him. "Yes. If you want to be technical, I am your great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-granduncle. I am Rubair LeBlanc the First, at your service." He took a deep bow, almost hitting his head on the surface of his desk.

Lucien was wracking his brain on family trees and bloodlines to try to find who this man was claiming to be. Ossy obviously saw his puzzlement and put his hand on Leena's other side, trying to calm her down. Molly threw caution to the wind and stepped up to the desk. "Pretty Darkness, my name is Molly. It's nice to meet you Mr. LeBlanctafuss." She stuck her hand out to the man. "Can I ask you questions?"

'Rubair' chuckled slightly and started reaching his hand out before pulling it back quickly and smiled at her. "A pleasure to meet you Molly. You can call me Rubair and feel free to ask me whatever you wish, but I can't guarantee I can answer you."

Molly looked puzzled at her still proffered hand and then scowled when he mentioned not being able to answer. "Okay, why didn't you shake. That was rude."

'Rubair' nodded and lifted his right hand. "I apologize for that, but it would be ruder to injure my guests." He waggles his fingers at her, the rings catching on the ceiling lights. "These rings are pure silver." He turned his head to give Leena a small smile. "If there are any questions that I can answer to help you relax, please ask them." Leena growled and then slowly moved her hands in a very vulgar motion. He nodded his head and grinned. "I can read hands, young lady. Ask away."

Lucien turned to her and placed his hand on her shoulder. When she turned to him, he smiled and nodded. Leena looked back to the man behind the desk. Why did leeches try to kill my mother?

'Rubair' looked thoughtful. "When was this?" Leena answered swiftly enough and he shook his head. "I am sorry to say, but I can't help you with that at the moment. I only arrived in the city three months ago, though I did hear about a high-ranking member of the Prince's court being killed by Garou, so I would say that someone found the culprit. If you wish, I can look into it further?" Leena stared him down for a moment and then shifted back to Homid, not breaking a glance. As she shifted through the forms, Rubair's eyes widened briefly. "Oh, you're a Metis. That would explain the muteness."

Everyones' eyes widened. Lucien took a step forward while his packmates stepped back. "You are either remarkably or dangerously informed. Which is it?"

Rubair smiled and stepped around his desk. Lucien was the only one that didn't tense. "As I have said, I am your family. My elder brother was Pierre LeBlanc II, son of Pierre LeBlanc I both of which were Garou. I like to think of myself as still Kinfolk, whatever you full-blooded and living Garou may think."

Lucien nodded at the man. He made a great deal of sense and seemed to have details correct that wouldn't be used for a normal cover identity. However, Lucien was a Shadow Lord and he wasn't about to be manipulated into a trap. "Why don't you tell me what happened on the 12th of December 1613, Uncle."

Rubair smiled and sat on the top of his desk, crossing one leg over the other and gestured to the chairs lined up against the wall with the entrance. "If you would like a seat, please take one. As to my story, it began in 1610. My elder brother went through his first change late, but it was unlikely I would become a Garou. I didn't want to be another disposable cog in Garou Society, so I decided to join the French Navy. I left my home and lived on a ship for years, moving trade goods on occasion and patrolling for pirates. My ship was assaulted by another during that night on December 12th. It turns out that the ship was crewed with vampiric ghouls and the captain was an elder vampire of some centuries. I surprised her, blew a chunk out of her stomach with my blunderbuss, but I was a human so I didn't stand much of a chance. I woke up at the bottom of the ocean off the shore of Florida. There was a glass bottle strapped to my neck that contained a note. My sire wished for me to track her down. Since then, I have been walking the nights of the world. Unlike most vampires my age, I don't sleep as often, which means I can adapt to the changing times much easier."

Lucien chuckled mostly to himself. "How very Shadow Lord of you."

Rubair actually laughed out loud and gave him a grin. "True enough, I suppose. Any other questions?"

Ossy spoke up at that, the only one to actually sit down at the invitation. He crossed one leg over the other and folded his fingers together in his lap. "What exactly are your goals here? You say you want to meet your descendent, but what is your end game? Most of our kind would be screaming at us for not attacking you and I am sure you have a similar situation. Is this an armistice, a temporary peace?"

Rubair looked serious for a moment and sat down, steepling his fingers as well. "To be honest with you, you are correct. My 'peers' in the vampire community here would be very concerned with me having a calm conversation with a pack of Garou. Frankly, that doesn't matter to me at all. I am older than every other vampire in the city at the moment and the one that is older than me is on my side. As for you attacking me, there is a reason your Shadow Lord was holding you back. I have been alive for over four centuries and I have been fighting for most of it. I don't need these silver rings to kill every single one of you even if you were to attack me in Crinos. I have killed more werewolves then your entire Sept combined, and that includes your frankly frightening Sept Alpha and Albert Kaihn."

Lucien was happy that none of his pack made a move toward the vampire while he explained this, because Lucien believed every word he said. Vampires are known to be smug, but he seemed calm and accommodating in the presence of four Garou. They, on the other hand, had never been in a fight with anyone who wanted to kill them in return that they remembered. "As much as I would like to know how you know Albert Kaihn, I think Osvald's last question is more pertinent. Is this some armistice, or something else?"

Rubair smiled warmly at him. "Honestly, I want to be an ally to you." He raised his hand in a silencing gesture. "Don't bother with the disbelief. I am doubling down. I didn't mean for you, Lucien. I meant your Sept as a whole. Whatever your senses tell you, I am not working for the Wyrm. I think of myself as a Kinfolk primarily and I work to fight against the Wyrm just like any of you do. Those werewolves I have killed, the vast majority of them were Black Spiral Dancers. You don't have to believe me if you don't want to. I don't know why vampires intrinsically show up as tainted for those looking for it and frankly I don't care. I am not your enemy and if at all possible, I would like to be your friend. Do you see this club I am building? I will use my resources to make this neutral ground, where Kithain, Garou, Kinfolk, and Dreamers can come to enjoy themselves. There will be no drinking of blood in this club and know that I will be enforcing that myself. My only enemies are Pentex and those that wish to combat me in my own goals."

Ossy stood up looking neither surprised nor disbelieving. "I have no other questions. We cannot make any decisions like this lightly. If you will excuse me, I need a cigarillo." He pulled out the case and walked away. Molly looked after him looking conflicted, but Ossy turned back to her. "If you have questions for the man, then ask them Molly. Don't worry about me." Molly immediately sat back down.

Lucien smiled after him and turned to regard his 'uncle'. "He is correct of course and you do know that." Rubair nodded with a sly smile. "I, despite my tribal inclinations, really want to believe you, but I sure as fuck am not going to endanger my pack by secretly allying myself with a vampire. We shall have to discuss this when we have finished our Rite of Passage and when our whole pack is here."

"That is fair. Would you mind if we just exchanged questions and answers then?" Molly jumped up from her seat, nodding enthusiastically and Leena finally graced them with her smile. Lucien watched the two women next to him before turning to Rubair and nodding.

Osvald Robertsson

Osvald made his way back down the stairs to find a woman he didn't recognize speaking with Monica at across the bar. Monica spun in her bar stool to face him. "Well, how'd it go with the boss, Wolfy?"

Osvald lifted one eyebrow to her. "Is 'Wolfy' your standard nickname for werewolves, or me in particular?"

She smirked at him, he noted that despite the sheer number of piercings on her body, she had none on her mouth. "Ya look like more of a wolf than the rest of your group. Your eyes are lighta then I have seen, almost yellow. With your chiseled face, you certainly look like a 'Wolfy' to me." The tall, muscular woman behind the bar chuckled as she cleaned the bar counter.

Osvald offered his hand to her and smiled a wolfish grin. "I guess that Wolfy is my name then. It is a pleasure to meet you, Canvas."

Monica shook his hand as she raised her own red eyebrow. "Canvas?"

"In reference to your tattoos." He gestured with his free hand at her body. Her current relaxed dress showed that the tattoos on her neck and arms were connected by those covering her chest. "You are creating quite an intricate portrait."

Monica turned to regard the other woman. "I can't tell, Virginia. Is he hitting on me?"

Osvald answered before Virginia could. "I assure you, I was just commenting on the complexity of your tattoos. I do not remember if I know how to hit on women. Though, judging by how attractive I find you and my lack of nervousness I have some experience with such situations."

Monica rose both her eyebrows and blinked at him a few times before looking back at Virginia, who turned to look at Osvald thoughtfully. "I had a pack member who had the same problem. When was your first change?"

It was Osvald's turn to blink at the bartender. "First of the year. You're Garou?"

She nodded before turning to Monica. "He has no memory of anything before the first of the year." As Monica's eyes widened, Virginia looked back at Osvalad. "From what I know, most who end up with your affliction don't speak the entirety of their thought process to people."

Osvald pulled out his pack of cigarillos and started fiddling with it. "That was only the portions of my thought process fit for normal company. I often wonder about whether or not I know how to do things." He clipped the end, popped the cut end in his mouth, and lit a match. "Well it looks like I have done this before." He waited a moment and then lit the end of his cigarillo.

Monica pulled out her own pack and fiddled with the cutter. "Well I certainly haven't. This is much harda than 'stick in mouth and suck'."

Osvald raised an eyebrow letting the smoke build in his mouth before lifting his head and blowing out three rings of smoke. "Well I seem to know what that phrase means."

Monica colored pink a moment at her own clumsy choice of words while Virigina laughed heartily. "Well, there is no smoking in here, so both of you go outside if you're going to do it."

Monica grumbled, but grabbed the crook of Osvald's arm and dragged him outside. She all but shoved her pack into his hands. "Show me how ta do this. I really need a smoke." Osvald blew out his smoke through his nose and showed her how to cut it before putting the cigarillo in her mouth and leaning in to light it with his own while it was still in his mouth. He wine-colored eyes watched him as the end of her cigarillo started to burn. She sucked a bit of smoke into her mouth before breathing out. "You sure you're not tryin' to seduce me?"

Osvald simply smirked, smoke spilling from between his teeth.

17th of November 2013

Albert Kaihn

Albert found himself on the periphery of the moot but without his usual company. Galataea was busy in the center of the bragging circle for her turn. She had taken her pack south toward the border with California, where she destroyed a convoy of Pentex technology heading for their facility in Washington. Albert couldn't help but smile at the huge grin Taea wore while she bragged. Katya leaned against a tree nearby crossing her arms over chest. "She has done some good work."

Albert turned to his alpha and tilted his hat to her. "That she has. We have been giving her some good competition though. We seem to be doing just as well despite the fact we have almost half what she has in a pack."

"Yes, Albert. We all know you enjoy playing against each other." Albert turned to regard the second voice to find Rudella with a wry smile on her face. She was wearing her standard high-collared power suit and heels. Her full black hair was tied back in a braided knot on the back of her head. She had sharp features with piercing black eyes that bored through most people's souls.

Albert regarded her with a wry smile of his own. "Everyone likes a little friendly competition, Rue-rue."

Her face soured before she sighed and regarded their pack leader. Katya had the same kind of beauty as her daughter, which would lead many a potential suitor into a trap. She had a youthful heart-shaped face with smooth, billowing black hair that ended at her tailbone. Her eyes were a deep brown that shined on the rare instance that she became excited about something. Rudella smiled to her. "He does have a point with that, Alpha. How goes the development on your little project by the way?"

Katya turned to regard her packmates. "It is going well. Am I to assume that you are thoroughly enjoying the prototype?"

Rudella's face colored slightly and she coughed slightly. "That would be a safe assumption, yes."

Albert was confused. Katya was a Theurge, so he had to assume that they were speaking about a fetish. He wasn't always kept in the loop with his small pack due to his gender, but creating a fetish was a major thing. "Might I ask what this is pertaining to?"

Rudella shook her head. "I don't think you need to know, Albert."

Katya turned to look at him. "I have almost finished that fetish we spoke about in February."

Rudella turned to look at him. "Wait, you were the one that gave her the idea?" Albert knew what they were talking about now and the idea that Rudella was using the 'prototype' gave him some very unwanted thoughts and feelings.

Katya turned to the Shadow Lord. "Yes, he thought that Galataea needed something due to her duties keeping her from 'relieving stress' as she normally would." Albert placed a hand over his face. The ordeal of asking his Black Fury Alpha to aid him in creating a 'relationship aid' fetish for Galataea gave him sleepless nights on occasion. It wasn't that Katya was angry at the idea, it was that he had to explain what it was and what its purpose was to his frigid alpha. Having to pull up videos to show her the process was the second most uncomfortable thing he had ever done.

Rudella smirked. "Oh, how kind of you Albert. Is this going to be a Christmas Present or a Valentine's Present?" Albert responded by giving her the most deadpan expression he could muster. After laughing again, she turned with a smile toward her alpha. "If it's for Taea, that would explain the proportions certainly."

Albert felt dread fill his soul before his alpha turned to Rudella and gestured toward him. "I don't understand what you mean. I based the proportions off Albert." Albert couldn't stop his groan as Rudella stared at him with her face getting more and more flushed.

Albert turned to his alpha. "I thought that measurement thing was one of your rare jokes! Why didn't you tell me that was what the measurements were for?"

Katya looked calmly at him. "You never asked what the purpose was, Kaihn. It isn't my fault that you didn't know. I am not looking for another base and you are only getting one, so you make the decision whether to give it to her or not."

Rudella pulled the top three buttons from her shirt and was taking a few shaky breaths. She tried to speak for a few moments her eyes shooting from his face and his crotch before turning to face the bragging circle and clearing her throat. "We will never speak of this again."

Albert breathed out, trying to control his own emotions as he placed a hand over his face again. "Agreed."

There was a very uncomfortable silence for some time before a familiar voice sounded behind them all. "Katya, would your pack be willing to accompany me on a mission?" Victor walked up in his dull grey Lupus form.

Before Katya could speak both Albert and Rudella spun around and said. "Yes!"

Katya turned in both directions to look to her packmates. "Well, we don't ordinarily vote on such things, but I do think we need a good mission. What do you need us to do?"

Victor looked to the pack with mild surprise. "I have been crawling through historical data and I believe there is an important location relatively close that needs to be investigated. Would you all like to wait after this holiday that is coming up?"

Katya shook her head. "No, this would take precedence over any such commitments." She turned to look at Rudella and himself but they both nodded in agreement. Katya turned back at Victor and gave him a small smile. "If you will give me a few minutes I will let my daughter know."

Victor nodded his head and Albert smirked after Katya. She seemed to be getting closer to her daughter after her first change, which didn't fail to bring a smile to his face.

28th of November 2013

Innokenti Blackmont

Innokenti moved up the stairs toward Gracia's apartment. Gracia invited him to the small family dinner she usually spent only with her mother after she realized that Katya was out on a mission and wouldn't be back for the holiday. She had invited Anastasia as well, but she had politely refused. Strangely enough, she was backed up by Lucien, who had apparently invited her to his holiday meal along with Leena and her mother. Innokenti was happy that it would just be him, Gracia and her mother, because whenever his face would heat up from looking at Gracia a little too closely, his packmates would laugh at him.

Innokenti made his way to her studio apartment carrying various bags of supplies that Gracia asked him to pick up. He had spent enough time at her apartment for Gracia to give him his own key, much to Lucien's amusement. Innokenti sometimes wondered why he kept telling Lucien everything that was happening between Gracia and himself, but today his thoughts were interrupted by the storm brewing in Gracia's apartment.

There were a pair of voices coming from the kitchen when he walked in. His ingrained training to gather information kicked in and he closed the door silently, gathering the bag of supplies closer to his hand and moved slowly toward the kitchen. Gracia's voice was slightly panicked and was accompanied by the banging of pots and pans. "Don't worry, Mom. I have everything under control. Just sit down and I will get you a glass of wine."

Her mother's voice was exasperated. "Gracia, move aside and let me help you before you fall over! Every dish doesn't have to be finished at exactly the same time."

Innokenti moved into the room swiftly. "She does have a point Gracia." Both of the women turned to him, but he was only focused on his girlfriend. Gracia's hair was an absolute mess, her shirt splattered with some kind of sauce that was bubbling on the stove. She turned to him, looking frantic as she opened her mouth to probably tell him off. He didn't give her a chance, laying the bag on the ground, pulling Gracia close and kissing her hard. After a few moments, he broke it off and smiled at her. "Enough, Gracia. I am going to help you. Please sit down."

Gracia allowed herself to be sat down, evidently tired, and Innokenti turned to the many different pots on the stove with a slightly smile. His ingrained problem-solving skills allowed him to fix a majority of the problem with the dinner, allowing Gracia's mother to sit down beside her and calm her down. After a few moments of food triage, Innokenti turned back to see a much calmer Gracia holding a glass of wine and smiling at him. "Thank you, Kenti. I may have been going a little crazy there for a moment." Her mother scoffed to the side and Gracia shot her a hard look before turning back to Innokenti. "This is my mother, Gula. Mom, this is my boyfriend, Innokenti Blackmont."

Innokenti turned to regard the older woman at last, extending him hand while his skilled eyes looked her over for weapons, like they always did. "Good to meet you, Mrs. Romani."

Gula smiled and shook his hand firmly. "So, you are the boy who stole my daughter's heart? You are certainly polite enough, but don't expect me to approve right away. I will be watching you." Innokenti nodded while Gracia squawked at her mother about being old enough to choose her own lovers. Gula was slightly more muscled then her daughter and her eyes were blue-grey, instead of her daughter's gold. Other than those slight changes they looked very similar. Innokenit knew that Gula was a Garou because Wendigo said so and he had wondered why she wasn't at Cougar's Vigil. The fact was that Gula had 'retired' due to injury. Her long blond hair failed to hide the long claw scar on the side of her head, but the biggest clue was the fact that she was missing her left leg from the knee down. It was not unusual for Garou who had lost a limb in the war to keep fighting, but a leg is much worse than an arm in terms of fighting the Wyrm. Garou were crafted to be shock troops and the lack of a leg greatly reduced their mobility. Innokenti suspected that there might be a secondary injury that led to her leaving the Sept as opposed to becoming a support member of it.

Innokenti decided to not enquire on the subject and started setting out the food for dinner. Gula turned to look at her daughter once they had all sat down. "Well, Gracia I'm certainly impressed. He can cook, is polite, and clearly cares a great deal for you." Innokenti felt slightly uncomfortable, his face heating up. Gracia looked down at her food with a red face. Gula's smirk grew wider. "So, when am I getting grandchildren?" Innokenti coughed on his wine as Gracia rose to her feet in an attempt to rage at her mother while red-faced and stuttering.

Anastasia Velona

Lucien's childhood home is a single-floor three-bedroom house with a majority of it's property consisting of a heavily wooded back yard. He was easily lived the farthest distance from their communal home, leading to a very uncomfortable car ride where neither Lucien nor Ana spoke to each other. Anastasia had been surprised when Lucien had gone along with her plan to leave Innokenti alone with Gracia for Thanksgiving and equally surprised when he had arrived at her door to ask why she wasn't ready to go to his family's home as they discussed. Ana had thought the invitation was a ruse but decided to tag along with Lucien and Leena to keep her eye on the Shadow Lord as she had promised.

When they all arrive, Lucien gives her his standard sarcastic mask and waves over Leena and Bella who pulled in directly behind them. Ana almost laughs at Lucien when he lets his mask crack to show a warm smile to his father at the door. Lucien was sure to dutifully introduce his father Rubair, his mother Xavina, and his elder sister Veronica. They were all very cordial to Bella, Leena, and herself which just made her dislike Lucien all the more for the sarcastic and joking façade he put on with their pack.

Ana spent most of the dinner eating and observing Lucien's actions. He was finally showing them how he really is when not hidden behind his Shadow Lord faux-pomp. He held a small smile on his face and was very kind and deferential to his family. His family was very welcoming, asking questions of Bella about her life outside of the Sept. They didn't ask many questions about Garou society, though if Lucien's lineage is to be believed, his family likely knows as much as Ana does, if not more. Anastasia was having a great time, until the meal began coming to the end and Lucien's elder sister Veronica leaned over to her and placed a hand up her thigh. "So, you're a Fury right?"

Ana looked down at the shorter girl, who was looking at her through eyes clouded by alcohol. Ana wasn't too familiar with drunk people, her mother never drank enough to affect her negatively. "Yes, I am a Black Fury. Why do you ask?"

Veronica squeezed Ana's thigh speaking softly in her ear. "I am wondering if you would like the spend the night."

Ana stared at her for a moment. Was she asking about sex? She assumed that Anastasia was a lesbian because she was a Black Fury? Even Lucien hadn't said something like that to her. Ana turned to stare at the woman next to her who was still running her mouth. Ana thought that she was over-assuming what Veronica was saying until she kept talking. Ana heard every stereotype being touched on by the drunk woman as she continued her tirade. Bella and Leena were looking worried at her, Bella was wrapping an arm around Veronica's waist and pulling her away from Ana, and Xavina was laughing lightly at her daughter's antics.

Anastasia felt her rage building as the slights against her tribe continued. She tried to reign it in, knowing the stereotypes were not outlandish or worth getting angry over, but her pack wasn't joining in on her side. She could understand Leena, who couldn't actually speak, but Lucien hadn't said a single word.

As the rage continued to build to a crescendo, Lucien finally spoke up. "Anastasia, I brought you here and offered you my hospitality. I expect you to act appropriately at this table. If you need to leave, leave." His small smile was still present, but his voice was hard.

Ana almost leapt across the table at Lucien, but her mother's training in etiquette told her that Lucien was right. She pushed back the chair, offered a curt affirmative to Lucien, and exited out the back door, slamming it behind her. She took two steps toward the woods before leaning next to the door, trying to calm down. She could still here Veronica talking inside about her, but she was distracted when Lucien's voice arose again.

"Leena, go after her." Leena was out the door in an instant, locking eyes with her and smiling for a moment before adopting a worried face and closing the door. She gestured for Ana to stay where she was before running into the woods. Ana stared after her a moment but did as she was asked and stayed by the door. Nothing seemed to be changing inside that she could tell.

"Your bitches can't take criticism Lu?" Veronica slurred. There was a growl and a slamming of fist to table making Ana jump in surprise.

"Oh, shut your filthy cock socket, V." Lucien sounded like he usually did when he had his mask on. Or was the small smile the mask? "Do you understand in your tiny, insignificant mind how close you came to death just now? How close you are to death right now?"

Xavina began to reprimand but was drowned out by Veronica. "Oh, so you don't like me hitting on your pretty girls, Lucien. For a virgin, you sure get possessive of what's 'yours' don't you?"

There was the sound of moving furniture and general exclamations of alarm as Lucien spoke again. It was harsh, deep, and contained a barely restrained growl, making Ana's blood freeze in her veins. Lucien had just assumed Crinos form. "Ana is my friend and packmate. She may not like me very much, but understand that if she asked me too, I would tear you limb from limb. You are nothing to me, Veronica. Never have been."

Bella and Penny were growling at Lucien while Xavina was hysterical. "How dare you say that to your sister! We are your family. We-"

"Are useless Dreamers who are barely worth breeding stock." Lucien growled. Ana was lost. She should probably go in to help hold Lucien down if he goes into a frenzy, but she couldn't move. It didn't make any sense. 'Honey-Trap' never got angry. The only time Ana heard of him being angry outside his First Change was when Leena had mentioned him becoming angry, but that was for protecting Leena and Ana didn't trust him to not harbor feelings for the Metis. Ana was knocked out of her thoughts after a procession of growling and snarling between Lucien and Penny. Lucien's voice held no anger when he spoke again, just his usual aloof nature with a definite edge to it. "Do you really think just because you are older and higher ranked that I am afraid of you, Penelope? I don't care if my sister has shown you the wonderful things human hands can do. If I want to tear her throat out, you won't stop me."

Bella growled at Lucien to stand down. The closeness of their voices indicated that Bella was likely holding Lucien back. Veronica was crying, Xavina was hyperventilating, and Penelope was growling when the constant noise was pierced by the sound of a shell racking into the chamber of a shotgun.

Lucien's father's voice shook only slightly. "G-get out of my house, Lucien!" Ana felt a cold chill run through her body. Lucien's father had a shotgun pointed at his own son. Ana started to move to the door when she heard Lucien laugh, now in his usual Homid voice.

"Aw, that's adorable Dad. I always thought you were a bit of a coward for letting Mom walk all over you."

Bella growled at Lucien before addressing his father. "Lucien stop it. Sir, please put down the gun."

"Get out of my house!"

Lucien chuckled again. "You aren't going to shoot me, because it will result in the death of the rest of your family, Dad. Ana may not like me, but Leena seems fond enough of me. They will kill you for killing me, unless Bella and Penny stop them. In which case, Grampy will probably kill you himself for killing his only Garou grandchild." Ana heard Lucien move closer Bella growling for him to stop. "So, are we ending our relationship here, Dad or do you want to put the gun down?" Ana's hand shook as it hovered over the doorknob. She didn't dare open the door until she knew the gun wasn't possibly pointed at Lucien's head. She strained her ears for information, trying to listen past Xavina and Veronica's weeping. There was a clatter that just about made Ana shoot out of her skin. "That's a good boy, Dad. Lovely to see you. Well I think that is my que to leave. Bella, I am sincerely sorry for inviting you to this shit-show. I will make it up to you with a lovely dinner at my expense, with or without me there. For now, I believe we should leave."

Ana didn't have time to move before he opened the door with his usual mask, no not a mask, on. The smirk faltered as surprise covered his face. Lucien didn't know she was there. That meant he didn't have anyone to put up a front with. Ana fought to put her face into a frown. "Are you done with your temper tantrum 'Honey-Trap'?"

Lucien gave her a smile so warm, it actually made her frown falter. "Sorry about that. Just the usual LeBlank holiday discussion. Apologies for making you wait, 'Spiral-Cutter'."

"What are friends for?" The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them, but she found she didn't regret them. After the return of that brief smile before returning to his usual smirk made her happy she said them.