Ghoul Break, With Family and friends:
An Evening out With The Family
"Back! Back, vile beast!" Eda screamed dramatically. "And take those torture tools with you!"
"Honestly dear, quit being so dramatic" Gwen said tiredly, holding a potion in her right hand and a comb in the other. "It's just a style potion, you have put far worse in your hair."
Eda looked at the blueish potion and tried to make a run for it. She didn't get very far, because her mother had taken both of her arms and legs and had them hanging from the ceiling. Gwen had also summoned a big beast to keep her daughter still as she finished helping the youngest (by birth) Clawthorne get ready.
"No. NO! NNNNOOOOO!" Eda screamed as her mother loomed closer to her.
Down in the living room, Dell looked up from the Spanish-to-English book he found in his daughter's collection. A soft smile crossed his lips as fond memories filled his head. He saw a moment from the corner of his eye and looked to his right.
"Dear, that's the third time you searched her," Dell said softly. "I think she's clean."
Lilith just huffed in annoyance as she looked at her father. "I'm just ensuring she doesn't have any means to do magic. The restaurant we're going to is the finest in all of Bonesborough. I just don't want to cause a scene if possible."
Dell's smile grew ever so slightly and he looked at his adopted granddaughter. Luz was wearing an evening dress of fine silk, was mostly purple and was wearing white leggings with black dress shoes.
Finally, Luz's hair had been taken out of the style Lilith put it in at the start of the week. It has been combed back and a white headband has been put on the "knocked-down" human's head to keep her hair out of her eyes. On the right of the headband was a small ribbon with a star-shaped onyx gem in the center.
Dell could also see a faint hint of child-friendly make-up on his granddaughter's face; mainly just a hint of blush to give her already rosy cheeks a bit of a glow.
Next to Luz was King, who was fidgeting as they waited for the others to finish. He would reach for the bowtie that replaced his new collar, and Lilith would lightly smack his paw away. Lilith had also used some polish on King's horn, to reduce the discoloration at the area where the horn broke years ago.
Feeling satisfied that Luz didn't have any glyphs on her, Lilith then turned her attention to her own outfit, to ensure nothing was out of place. The former head was wearing an outfit just like the one she wore doing her time in the Emperor's Coven. The only difference that Dell could see was that the outfit had a little extra padding around the shoulders, no doubt due to the colder weather.
Dell looked down at his own outfit and frowned slightly at it. He was wearing a very simple and plain yellow ceremonial robe and a slash with a wave pattern waren into it. Next to his family, the retired crafter felt a little underdressed, but his wife had insisted he wear it, as she was wearing the matching robe that night.
Another crash brought everyone's attention to the right, and two other members of the Noceda-Clawthorne family came into the room. Eda was wearing a dress similar in design to her older sister, but just flying her colors.
Thanks to the style potion Gwen had used, Eda's hair was slicked back and had a glow to it. All and all, she might have looked stunning, if the scowl on her face wasn't ruining it.
"Let's get this over with, before this junk bleeds into my head" The owl lady grumbled, as she went up and picked up Luz and Lilith picked up King.
"Pwetty," Luz said adorably.
Eda just smiled motherly as she began to walk to the door. "I'm starting to think you're messing up those words just to be cute," she retorted, her mood slightly improved.
She set the "knocked-down" human down once they were outside and waited for the rest of her family. The wild witch, with her daughter's hand in her, frowned as she watched her mother and sister help Dell out of the house.
Because her attention was elsewhere, she didn't see Luz grab something from "thin-air" and slipped it around her waist.
Once the entire family was outdoors, Roca came up to them and leaned down. Next, Lilith used a plant glyph to create a platform and lift the entire family onto a large saddle that sat comfortably on the stone sleeper's back.
Gwen helped her husband into his seat as Eda and Lilith strapped the current kids into their safety seats. Once the two "wild" witches were done and in their own seat, Lilith gave a small command and the sleeper was off.
"Now, be on your best behavior," Lilith had said halfway to the restaurant.
"You hear that," Eda said, grinning at her children, "You little gremlins need to be on your best behavior."
"I was referring to you, Edalyn," Lilith retorted calmly, then looked at the current children. "But, yes, that goes for you two as well. Understood?"
"Yes, Antie Wu," Lu replied with a nod and King just "Weh".
The former head smiled slightly at the cute scene. She wouldn't lie, a part of her would miss this when Luz was to turn back to normal in the next two days. But, she wasn't selfish enough to keep the human at her current age, nor did she have the potion to do so.
Soon, the family reached the Oily Garden restaurant, and dismounted from the sleeper. After Gwen gave a small warning to the valet about the family's beast, they entered the place. Ed groaned loudly when she saw the place, and how fancy everything was.
"Edalyn, remember," Lilith reminded her sister with a quick jab to the ribcage.
Eda just waved off her sister's warning but offered a crooked smile. "If this place is so fancy-shmancy, how did you get us in here so quickly?"
Lilith just gave her younger sister a grin that basically said "I might not be a coven head anymore, but I still command some respect".
"GWENDOLYN PIERCINGHORN! It's been ages!" A witch with graying sea-foam green hair and a small horn in the center of his head shouted as he meant the group.
Gwen giggled as the two embraced in a friendly hug. "Oh Francis, I haven't gone by that name in over 40 year."
"Hey, to me, you will be a Piercinghorn," the head of the restaurant replied with an affectionate smile, which turned competitive when he looked at Dell. "And Dell Clawthorne, if it wasn't that injury I would challenge you to a game right now."
"It's good to see you too, captain," the retired crafter said warmly, as the family was led into the place. "How has the family been?"
"They're just great!" Francis gashed proudly. "little Lisa just said her first word and Bria is considering joining the Grudgby team at her school."
The two elder Clawthornes smiled fondly at their old schoolmate as he led them to a table in the center.
"Thank you for doing this for us," Gwen said gratefully as she took her seat. "And on such short notice too."
Those no one saw, (or probably cared), Eda jabbed Lilith in the ribcage to get her attention. Lilith watched as her younger sister wet her finger and pressed it against her butt before she took her seat. Lilith just grumbled silently as she took her seat.
"Anything for the girl I went to Grom with," Francis replied nostalgically. "Besides, this time of year is slow for us. I guess people just want to be with their families."
Gwen looked at the current children in their mix-and-match family and couldn't help but feel a warmth swallowing in her chest.
"Oh, that remains me," the elder witch stated, looking at her old friend as she took a spice jar from her hair. "Whatever my granddaughter ordered, you could add this to it? She has some tummy issues."
Francis blinked as he took the jar and slowly looked at the "knocked-down" human. He mentally shrugged after a second and went to the kitchen.
Soon, a waiter came and gave everyone menus and got their drink orders. It wasn't long before the entire family was settling into the place's relaxing atmosphere, and just enjoying each other's company.
That wasn't going to last, as awe gasps suddenly sounded out and the family looked towards the entrance.
A heavy-set gorgon woman walked into the Oily Garden with an air of superior about her. The demon was dressed in a blue, strapless evening gown of fine spider-silk and white gloves. The lights danced off the many jeweled accessories she wore.
Funny, the snakes that made up her hair were rainbow colored. Eda zeroed in on the stone in the woman's necklace, and saw how it shined brighter than the rest of the demon's accessories.
Eda suddenly heard her sister groan and looked at Lilith. The former head witch had a look of disgust on her face, and she was knocking back the last of her kid-friendly apple-blood.
"I take it, you know that tool?" Eda whispered to her sister.
"I know of her," Lilith replied, in a hash whisper, and leveled a piercing glare at the demon. "That's Chloe Babblerstone. She's the star of Witches Against the Wilds."
Eda scowled as she thought about that play. It was a well-liked play in Latissa which was given the highest score each year. The wild witch knew better; it was just more of the Emperor's slander of "wild" magic.
One question, however, reached the front of Eda's thoughts.
"So how do you know about her?"
Lilith just groaned silently as she flagged a waiter for a refill. "To answer your question, the Emperor himself endorsed the play, and usually sent a coven head as a public gesture each year."
Lilith left her answer as that, but Eda didn't need to know more.
"Just ignore her and let's get back to our family," Dell said, just loud enough for his daughters to hear him.
The Clawthorne sisters shot their father a surprise look, but quickly agreed to the suggestion, as the waiter came back with Lilith's refill, and took the family's orders.
Fate or the titan, apparently wasn't going to be kind to the Noceda-Clawthorne family that night, as Chloe took a seat at the table next to the mix-and-match family. Immediately, they were assaulted by the actress's overwhelming perfume, and Luz and King began to gag.
Gwen acted quick; she spun a spell and half-a-dozen beetles emerged from the circle. With a silent commanded from their summoner, the beetles got in between the Noceda-Clawthorne family and the play actress. Soon, the smell was replaced with a sweet aroma and the family relaxed.
"What's that?" Luz asked with an excited finger.
The entire family had warm smiles as Eda (carefully) ruffled her daughter's hair. The witches once again remained of the special kind of magic the human witch has; the magic to make anyone smile.
"Those, sweet flea," Lilith answered warmly, "Are scent beetles. They can absorb odors and make smells that are the opposite of the ones they absorb."
The "knocked-down" human's eyes were exploding with sparkles as she began assaulting Gwen with questions, not just about the scent beetles but beast-keeping in general. Gwen just laughed warmly and answered any question she could make out.
It wasn't long before their meals came, and the family ate while just enjoying their time together. But, once more, the titan had to prove it was a cruel landlord.
"Ms. Babblerstone! Ms. Babblerstone!" a reporter called as it ran up to the actress. "Can you confirm the rumored changes to your play?"
The Necoda-Clawthorne family tried to ignore the actress, but she took this time to make herself known to the entire place.
"While I am legally obliged to keep the finer details from the public until the play starts next month," Chloe said dramatically, "I don't suppose a little peek will harm anything."
Immediately everyone began to turn their attention to the actress as she strolled to the center of the restaurant, right in front of the table the witch/human family were sitting.
"The second act has a massive change, in which a wild witch falls in love with a creature from another realm," Chloe said, addressing the restaurant goers like theater goers.
Now, everyone's attention was on the demon and she was basking in the glory. At the Necoda-Clawthorne table, Dell cast a sideway glance at his daughters. Eda and Lilith were surprisingly taking things well. Though, he did see their hands gripping their spoon and fork tightly.
"But, it wasn't long before the witch realized her mistake, both in her life choices and her partner," Chloe stated, her voice had gained even more dramatic flare than before. "So, she did the only thing possible, and used a death ritual to atone for her sins."
The entire Clawthorne family gasped when the actress went into the details about the ritual and acted quickly. Eda covered Luz's ears and Lilith did the same with King. Finally, Gwen cast a beast-keeping sound muting spell to stop any loud sounds from reaching the current children.
It was three minutes later that Chloe finished, to thunderous applause and she took a bow. Feeling they were in the clear, the Clawthorne family undid everything and tried to get back to their meal.
"Ms. Babblerstone, I know this is more of a personal question," the reporter inquired professionally, "But what are your views on wild witches?"
The play actress got this crooked smile and a glee in her eyes as she addressed the question.
"Well, my dear boy, I'm like any law abiding citizen, and feel that wild witches should be burned at the stake."
From their table, Eda growled quite loud while her sister let out a mute growl. They were holding their utensils so tight they knuckles were turning whiter than normal.
"I mean, have you seen what they do? Performing all sorts of magic and further damaging our already damaged land."
Eda and Lilith's faces darkened to the point that their eyes could barely be seen, and their grip was so tight it was a wonder something hadn't broken yet. Luz looked between her witch mama and witch aunt, and could feel her own temper flaring.
"I mean, the only thing worse than a wild witch is a…human."
Snap!
Snap!
Snap!
In a rhythmic fashion, the head of the fork Eda was holding snapped off and went flying in a random direction, while the spoon Lilith held was bent inward until it snapped in two, and the knife Gwen was using to cut her meat was snapped in half and the blade went flying to the ceiling.
The three Clawthorne women's faces had darkened to where their eyes couldn't be seen and in unified fashion they slammed their hands onto the table and stood up. Before anyone could do something, Dell stood up and addressed the actress.
"Ms., if you are done, could you please return to your seat and let the others here enjoy their meals." though his voice was even and calm there wasn't an ounce of kindness in it.
The play actress was clearly annoyed to be interrupted, and shot him a glare. Her annoyance turned to slight confusion when she saw Dell.
"Do I know you?"
"Dell Clawthorne," the ex-crafter replied calmly. "You commissioned me years ago to help with your child's palisman."
Chloe seemed confused, for about two second before her face shifted back to mild annoyance.
"No, I paid you to make my girl's palisman, and you didn't hold up your end of the deal," she replied with pointy words.
"I never made my methods uncleared before you commissioned me," Dell retorted calmly. "But, in the end, she stopped listening to my instructions midway through and the end result wasn't what she wanted."
Dell looked back at his family and offered his youngest daughter a soft smile. He looked back at Chloe and his smile gained just a hint of pride.
"I heard it found a new owner who is quite taken with its unique appearance."
Chloe scoffed at this, and took a few steps to her right, allowing her to see the entire Necoda-Clawthorne family. A wicked grin blossomed as she looked at the retired crafter.
"You know, it's actually sad," the actress said in a sickly sweet tone. "Your family was once heralded as the greatest palisman makers of all time. But now look at you."
The three Clawthorne women readied themselves for the fight they felt coming; Eda was ready to go harpy and Lilith was pulling out a fire glyph she kept hidden for emergencies. Finally, Gwen was readying a spell to call out her strongest beast if needed.
If Chloe saw any of this, she didn't act, not accordingly.
"But now look at you…a hack forced into an early retirement because he couldn't control his unruly daughter."
Eda let out a near feral growl as her body shifted and disoriented slightly. Chloe saw this and her grin got a little more venomous.
"Speaking of children…it must be hard to have one of the youngest witches ever to reach coven head, only to have this taken from her and now all she does is grunt work at a lowly museum."
Lilith's face flushed but out of anger not embarrassment. Chloe's smile grew as she was getting the reaction she wanted from the family and knew just a little more pushing was needed.
"And then there's your youngest! I was surprised you showed your face in public with everything she did. And don't get me started on the rumors about your quack of a wife."
Gwen looked away in shame, but a comforting hand from Eda restored her will, and mother and daughter glared at the actress.
"And I'm not even going to justify whatever that thing is," Chloe scoffed, waving off the snarling King. "And is that…a human?! What do you plan to do with that, fatten it up and eat it?"
Well, that was the final straw, no one insulted Luz like that and lived to tell about it. Eda was about to go harpy as Lilith pulled out her fire spell card and Gwen was about to summon a beast.
Everything came to halt when Dell took a sharp intake of air, and everyone watched as he drew himself up to his full height. Gwen, Eda and Lilith grimace when they saw how much pain he was in, but didn't try to stop him.
Despite having one eye, the glare Dell was the actress was enough to cause Chloe's composure to waver.
"You will not talk about my granddaughter in such a manner again," the ex-crafter spoke venomously.
Chloe tried to regain her composure and say something but Dell wouldn't let her get a word out.
"It doesn't matter what you think, or where my little Luzura comes from, she is my family and I am proud to call myself her abuelo!"
With his peace said, Dell relaxed his body and whizzed out a breath as pain shot through it. He didn't regret it though, especially after looking at his granddaughter and seeing the light in her eyes. He gave her a fatherly smile before looking at Francis.
"I'm sorry for this," he spoke sincerely, "We will pay our bill, but can we get the food to go?"
Dell's old friend just nodded awkwardly, and retreated to the kitchen. The rest of the family got the message, and Eda and Lilith took Luz and king from their highchairs. The "Knocked-down" human manages to wiggle herself free and run up to the actress.
"Meanie!" Luz shouted and kicked the gorgon harder than she had kicked everyone all week.
Chloe yelled and began to hop on one leg as she nursed her other leg. Luz took that time to take out a plant glyph, to Lilith's frustration, and slam it on the ground. The end result was the demon actress becoming trapped in a grove of thick vines, and in an awkward position.
Dell chuckled lightly as he walked over to Luz, who gave him a big smile. He returned the smile before childishly flicking the actress on the head. He then leaned down, and opened his free arm. Luz got the message and climbed into her witch grandfather's arm.
It was a little hard but Dell managed to stand up and walk out of the Oily Garden. Gwen took King from Lilith and followed her husband, only stopping to flick the actress on the head. Eda wasn't as kind as the rest of her family; she morphed her arm into her harpy arm and clotheslined the gorgon as she walked out.
Normally Lilith would have felt insulted to be the one left with the bags, but for once, she didn't mind. Instead, she passed the time by using her fire spell to burn away the concealment stone on the actress.
The former head witch just cocked after eyebrow when she saw the gorgon's true appearance; namely that she was wearing a stained shirt, tattered pants and crocs. She also saw that the snakes were a sickly green and one even looked close to death.
"It's true what they said, actresses put way too much on their appearances."
(M Corner)
You know, I think this is the most Luz had talked in this entire story. But more on that reason later, but want to know what bums me out…with the way the show's ending we might never get the interaction between Dell and Luz we went to see. I know that Dell was supposed to be the final part in Eda's story, but it is still sad that we might never see anything between Luz and her surrogate grandfather. Also, I know no one will be wondering about but, when I put something down like Necoda-Clawthorne it means it addresses the entire family, Luz included. And when it reads just Clawthorne, it just involves Eda and her family.