I do not own Everyday Life with Monster Girls.
Chapter 27: Interview with a Centaur. part one.
Verandys kept a hand on the overhead handle to steady herself. Her long light brown braid swayed with each bump and jostle the van produced on its route. Its end tickled her back where her humanoid upper back joined with her equine lower back. She lightly stamped her hooves, which clicked on the metal floor. Her other hand hovered near the safety strap, ready to release it and allow her to sprint out the back of the vehicle. Just in case.
She thought that picking out an appropriate outfit and meeting her host for the first time was going to make her the most nervous today.
Not the three alpha predators currently occupying the middle seat between her and the driver.
The three golden scaled monsters jabbered to each other in a dialect she couldn't quite identify. She could pick up some terms here and there, but any context on their conversation was lost on her.
Not that she was eavesdropping. They were just loud.
Fortunately the tanned male human in the forward passenger seat would occasionally look back at the three and ,presumably, instruct them to keep their voices low. That usually deterred them for a few minutes. But then one of them would spot something interesting out the window and another 'discussion' would break out and eventually gain volume as each of them tried to out-speak the others and make their point.
That cycle repeated a few times until one of them looked back straight at her.
Verandys stared back and tried her best to keep her expression stoic.
The little monster with deep green hair and slit pupils asked her something, quiet and serious. But Verandys didn't know the language well enough to understand what she was saying.
The other two predators stopped and stared back over the seat toward her.
Oh goddess...
Her front hooves stilled and she leaned back, trying to keep eye contact with all three of them.
The one on her left with bright red hair pointed a clawed finger over the seat. She demanded something in that same language. Verandys involuntarily stepped back and released the overhead handle to ward off the irate monster. Her ears twitched and tilted upward.
The middle one with blue hair grimaced and slapped her companion's hand away and chastised her. The red head retorted and the green one started in from her side of the seat- and Verandys just wanted to leap out of the van and run away as fast as she could.
"GIRLS!"
The three monsters gasped, tensed up and then immediately resumed their seats. They each faced forward quietly but nervously. Maybe even a bit guiltily.
The tanned man who yelled in English was eyeing them with disappointment.
"What were the rules about speaking to strangers?" His voice was smooth, he spoke slowly. He also rolled his 'r's a bit.
The green haired one turned her face away. The other two dipped their heads.
"Priscilla?" He asked in a soft but expectant tone. "What were the rules?"
Her tailed curled up and around her stomach. She winced and pressed her lips together, like she wanted to be anywhere else.
Kinda like I just was.
Verandys heart went out to the sorry creature.
"Priscilla?" The man repeated.
Her face scrunched a bit more but she opened her mouth to reply. "Start with English, French or Spanish while in North America." She cracked open her eyes and glanced down. "Don't assume just any language would be understood."
The tanned man nodded. "Very good." He looked right at the red haired one. "Maria, the next rule please."
The redhead frowned. "If they don't want to talk, leave them alone." She twiddled her clawed thumbs anxiously.
"Correct." He nodded and eyed the middle one. "And what rule did you break Lissa?"
She sucked in a breath and snapped her head up. "I didn't-" The man scowled. "I,I..." He made a slapping gesture with one of his hands.
She paused. Then let out a breath and shut her eyes. "Don't hit your sisters." She intoned sullenly.
"Good." He inclined his head. "This is your only warning." He held up a finger. "I don't want to have to tell your mother about the bad behavior you've displayed before we even see her."
Mother? They're visiting their mother here?
Smythe did mention a lamia was already staying at the residence she was (finally) assigned to. But lamias didn't have claws. Or at least, not the ones she's met at any rate. One of the rarer subspecies perhaps?
"Now, what do you say girls?"
The three lamia sisters glanced up at their father(?) "Sorry Papa." They chorused.
Yep, definitely their father...wait a minute...
Verandys inspected the man critically. Did he escape? Why isn't an adult lamia watching him? Does he actually care about the children he's provided to whatever tribe grabbed him? Is it Stockholm Syndrome?
A dozen more related questions flew through her mind as she observed the dynamic between the four passengers.
"And what do you say to the person you offended?" He asked.
The three girls turned their heads back to her. "We're sorry miss." They chorused again.
Verandys blinked. "Um.." She placed a hand near her chest. "My name is Verandys."
A beat. "Sorry Miss Verandys." They faced forward in unison as well.
Agent Smythe chuckled from the driver's seat. "Well done." He commented.
The man produced a wry smirk. "Yeah well, it doesn't take much effort," He raised his voice a few decibels. "When you've got the best behaved kids from Snake Island."
The trio somehow looked even more chastened than before.
Oh that is some master level emotional manipulation there.
Verandys smirked knowingly, having been on the receiving end of that kind of treatment for years. Maybe it was a pan-species technique among parents?
The van pulled up and parked along the curb. She looked out the window and observed the biggest house she'd ever seen in her life. She nodded approvingly.
Smythe did say there would be plenty of room. She swiveled her head at the driver's seat. Can't say he didn't follow through on that.
"Whoooooa." The trio pressed their little noses on the glass. Their long bodies allowed even the farthest one to join her sisters and still be buckled in. Verandys couldn't help but chuckle at the sight.
"Mama lives there?" "No wonder she left." "I wanna house like that!"
The father unbuckled and hopped out the passenger side. He strode around and opened the sliding door his daughters were at and squatted down. She noted that he was quite muscular and very fit. Not bulky but definitely had a lengthy work-out history behind him.
"Now remember girls, just like with agent Smythe, Mr. Keysman is your host for our stay here. You will treat him with the same respect as you would any of your fathers and mothers. Understood?"
Verandys blinked. Fathers and mothers?
"Yes papa." They chorused.
He smiled. "Good. Also," He held up a finger. "This is a surprise for your mama." The trio all grinned and a bit of predator pride shined in their golden eyes. "So get in position, just like we practiced with mama Yanmei."
They unbuckled themselves and flowed out of the van one by one like a river of gold. The sunlight reflecting off their scales sparkled in the late morning summer. The effect was almost hypnotic.
"Miss Verandys."
She started up. Agent Smythe had already opened the back of the van, lowered the ramp and offered his hand to assist her exit.
"Oh. Right. Sorry." She muttered haltingly.
Verandys unbuckled herself and turned around. Her hooves clicked and clopped against the metal surface. She was fortunate that her slimmer body allowed for such a maneuver in the confines of the vehicle. She doubted a main-line centaur would be able to do the same.
She took a few seconds to adjust the light blue blouse and full length off-white skirt that covered her lower half from waist to just above the ankles. She much preferred her racing tights but agent Smythe insisted on some decorum, at least for the first day.
She blinked and sighed. Plus there was that one thing I need to say before I get officially accepted here.
She put her obligations out of her mind and accepted the agent's hand as she trotted out. This time she sighed in relief. The drive hadn't been too long, but she found the experience of being in motion while not physically moving herself to be...unsettling. Hopefully she wouldn't have to get too acquainted with automobiles as much in the future.
Verandys and the agent paced around and took up a position just inside the lawn.
"So, their mother lives here?" The centaur asked.
Smythe nodded. "Yes. Mrs. Sula Peri currently resides at this location. You'll meet her." He craned his chin up. "In case you're wondering...your assignment date was delayed due to... unforeseen circumstances."
Her ears drooped. She'd heard about the host that was kidnapped by a liminal around the office. Even the local news had picked it up. Fortunately or unfortunately it hadn't gone national. Yet.
Understandably though, most of the Exchange staff didn't like to talk about it.
"Their visit just happened to coincide with your adjusted date, so.." He waved casually at the incomplete family. "Five birds, one stone."
Verandys nodded. Although she hadn't known all the details, she approved the efficiency of the solution.
The trio of lamias arrayed themselves behind their father and were putting on some sort of light padded gloves over their hands. The father patted each on the head and then turned back to the large double doors and pressed the doorbell.
The trio arced their tails and held out their arms like they were about to receive gifts.
Verandys lowered one eyebrow and frowned. "Why are they doing that?"
Agent Smythe released a long sigh. "You'll see..."
The reptoid female dove and tumbled behind the conveniently chest high cover in one smooth motion. She unsheathed her laser pistol with one hand and pointed straight at the currently unidentified hulking beast just across the street.
In her humble opinion, someone must have taken the concept of a ill-tempered snapping turtle and said 'you know what would be cool? A elephant sized one with spines coming out of its shell'.
"Get 'em!" She barked. Her really cute ,and magical, black beret boosted her allies mobility as they scrambled for position.
The Drow assassin-for-hire, who marvelously passed her acrobatics check, back flipped gracefully five meters into the air and landed on the lip of the roof of the general supplies store their party just exited. She unslung her Zero rifle, dropped prone and sighted the creature.
"Oh come on!" The reptoid whined. "You can't jump that high!"
The drow smirked. "I have jump jets modded into my armor, little miss rules lawyer." She raised a dusky skinned finger. "That move was perfectly legal."
"Hmmph." The reptoid ship captain grunted. She resolved to go back and browse for armor mods in the store they just left. After this combat of course. Mama needs loot to sell.
"Um..." The eleven foot tall four-armed quarter-ton pound not-a-mutant-ogre daintily lifted an upper hand. "It's my turn right?"
"Yes." A disembodied male voice intoned over the street.
"Okay." The third teammate, who's species was known as Shobhad, hefted a street-sign-sized energy ax in two of her hands. "I ready my weapon and Stellar Rush!"
"Attack or bull rush?" The male voice asked.
"Uh. Attack." The giant rolled her eyes and waved a lower hand like it was obvious.
"Okay, roll it."
A streak of light flashed between between the giant's former position and the beast. Her angry red energy ax smacked into the creature's hide and it bellowed its displeasure.
"Hit. Roll damage."
"Yes." The giant pumped a fist. "Twelve fire damage." She reported.
The beast retaliated and chomped on one of the giant's arms.
"Oww." She complained.
"That's nine piercing. Please make a fortitude save as well."
Her expression fell. "Ooo, ugh. Low roll. Um... eleven?"
A beat. "You take one Constitution damage."
"CONSTITUTION DAMAGE!" The whole team exclaimed.
"What the heck is that thing?" The reptoid whined.
Smirking silence meet her query.
"Oh duh." The drow face-palmed. "We forgot to identify it."
"I can do that." A waifish cat-girl that sported a cheetah-like head stepped up. "I can do that right? On my turn."
"Yes." The voice confirmed. "Roll Mysticism please."
"Unnatural twenty." She reported.
"This is a Crest-Eater." The voice explained. "A magical beast originally from Kasath but emigrated to several worlds the Kasathans have explored or settled, including the Pact Worlds."
The drow assassin hummed. "We are on Akiton, makes sense." A beat. "But in the city?" She mused.
"What was that thing that hurt Syleris' Con?" The cat-girl, known as a Pahtra, asked.
"This creature is venomous." The male voice informed. "You also know that it can spit its venom at short range."
"That's nasty." The reptoid commented with dismay. "And I know nasty venom. Better put it down fast."
The cat-girl nodded and ran over to a building corner. She held one arm out and flexed her fingers in a rapid series of much practiced gestures. "I cast Mind Thrust!"
"Hit." The voice announced and each girl cheered. "Roll damage."
"Twenty-seven." The mage stated.
The alien beast screeched as its mind was mystically assaulted directly.
"It failed its will save, so full damage." A pause. "Top of the order. Sula?"
The reptoid sighted her laser pistol on the beast. "Get 'em!" She squeezed the trigger.
"Hit. Roll damage."
The beast grunted as a small bolt of energy scored on its hind leg.
"My turn." The drow asserted from the roof. "Full Attack!"
Tetra picked up two d20's from her pile next to her character sheet and dropped them in the felt tray she and Dawn shared. One die came up as '17' and the other...
"Crit!" She cheered with predatory elation.
Jack nodded appreciably behind his brand spanking new GM screen. "Well done." He checked the math of her first roll. "Both are hits. Roll damage thrice."
The arachne grinned and picked up three d8's.
"Pretty sure you overkilled it there." Syleris commented dryly from across the table. "Hey Jack. Can my Con damage be healed?"
Dawn raised a hand before he could answer. "I think I learned a spell for that." She flipped her copy of the core book to the spells section and reviewed its contents. "Or I can get a spell gem if we need."
Jack the GM raised a hand. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves ladies. It's possible the creature is still alive."
"Not likely." Tetra quipped. "Twenty-two cold damage."
Jack nodded affirmatively. "With a sharp bellow that's cut off almost as soon as it began, the Crest-Eater lurches to the side and collapses."
"Woot." Sula hooted. "Let's loot."
Jack smirked behind his screen and double checked his personal notes for this encounter. Yes, this will do nicely.
He raised his head. "Perception checks from all of you please." He prodded his forehead toward the arachne. "Yours is auditory if you have a bonus to that."
The girls excitement was replaced with confusion but no one visibly protested. Yet. Tetra narrowed her eyes but picked up an appropriate die nonetheless.
"I know that look." Isaac remarked. He sat next to Syleris and would assist the girls with rules clarification and build ideas when Jack was too busy during character creation. And since this was his last day in the house, he didn't bother rolling up a character of his own.
"What look?" Dawn asked innocently.
"The 'I'm about to screw you all over' look." He expounded.
The players looked at Jack warily. He suppressed a snicker.
The girls reported their results and Jack placed two more Crest-Eater standees. One on each end of the street.
"Oh that's bad." Sula evaluated. "They're going to flank us."
Syleris nodded grimly. "I'll hold off one and the rest of you take the other?"
"Yeah." Dawn agreed. "I can probably-"
"Hold up." Tetra announced and raised a claw. "I think I failed my perception check." She'd kept one of her eyes on Jack the whole game, reading all his tells. From the creeping smirk on his face she was pretty darn sure her drow Soldier was in trouble.
"Tetra." Jack acknowledged. "While your three companions almost couldn't possibly fail to spot the two beasts that just showed up, you thought you heard footsteps behind you. But when you turned to look, no one was there."
She squinted all her eyes. "There's enough cover on the roof for someone to easily hide from my position?"
"Yes."
Tetra considered her options while trying not to 'meta-game'.
"Initiative order doesn't change." Jack said. "Top of the order. Sula?"
"I'll put Get 'em on this one and fire." She pointed at the beast closest to her reptoid Envoy and picked up her d20 with her other hand. She rolled and got a '6'.
"Oh, that's a miss." She said glumly.
"Yep." The GM confirmed. "Tetra." He grinned internally in anticipation.
His arachne girlfriend gave him an even look. "How long has it been since the first Crest-Eater died?"
Jack swiveled his head side to side in thought. "Only a couple seconds."
"Did I hear the footsteps before or after the new ones showed up?"
He paused a moment. "Before."
She calculated her action economy and come up with an idea. "My paranoia (that's most definitely not paranoia) kicks in." Jack and Isaac chuckled knowingly. "I'd like to arm and drop a smoke grenade right at my position and then roll off of the roof." Syleris blinked at her from across the table and sucked in a short breath. "And use my jump jets to slow my fall." She added while eyeing the concerned harpy.
The GM raised his eyes a moment and considered. "I'll allow it." He righted his face at her. "But give me an acrobatics check for the fall."
A second later she winced as her die displayed a one. "Not a critical failure since it's a skill right?"
"Yep." Jack nodded. "But it gives me an excuse to make it worse." He failed to keep a streak of sadism out of his inflection. "You succeeded at covering your tumble off the roof with the smoke bomb, but." He held up a finger. "You fired your jump jets too early."
Dawn sucked a breath in through her teeth. "Ouch."
"As a result, you essentially belly flopped onto the pavement at a higher speed than typical gravity would have done." He picked up a few d6's and rolled them. "That's twelve damage and..." He stood up and moved her Widowmaker figure one space up and three spaces over toward one of the beasts. "And you're prone."
Tetra's piercing gaze failed to exfoliate the man gleefully abusing her meticulously crafted avatar that she spent hours of a precious evening and following morning researching and studying. Laying out her backstory and how she acquired the very specific set of skills she possessed.
"Well, now I have to hold one of them off." Syleris resolved. Drawing attention to the fact that Tetra's character was actually closer to a Crest-Eater than hers was. "I Stellar Rush to here and-"
"Hold on." Jack interrupted as he resumed his seat.
"Oh, what now?!" Sula exclaimed.
"It's not all bad news actually." He tilted his chin up. "Each of you hear a loud gun shot from over head."
Tetra folded her arms. "Not paranoid."
The GM chuckled. "Correct." He selected a standee from behind his screen and placed it at a spot on the corner of the roof. It resembled a male drow in dark, angular, spiky armor hefting a futuristic rifle.
"He looks down at you and says:" Jack faced Tetra directly while attempting a Sicilian accent. "Ah mia ragazza, you should not run from Mercutio." He waved a finger in a no-no gesture. "Don Rizzuto has cordially invited you to his gallery."
Tetra attempted ocular murder on Jack again. "...fat bastard."
He chuckled darkly in response. The rest of the players looked between them, trying to read the byplay.
"Wait." Syleris lifted an arm. "He just referred to himself in the third person, didn't he?"
"I believe so." Isaac shook his head begrudgingly.
"Well that just earned him a death sentence." Sula quipped.
The arachne darted her eyes at the lamia. "He's mine." Sula raised her hands in measured shock, offering no resistance on that front.
Jack smirked and nodded toward the harpy. "It's your turn now, Syleris."
"Alright." She studied the table. "That doesn't change my play. I Stellar Rush to here-"
The door bell rang.
All six blinked and backed their heads.
Jack looked toward his brother. "Your Uber driver?"
Isaac whipped out his phone. "Two hours early if he is...nope. Still on schedule."
Jack glanced at his own phone. "It can't be the...ugh Smythe. Why don't you ever call ahead?" He griped.
Sula squinted at him. "Wait, how do you know it's agent Smythe?"
Jack hunched his shoulders sheepishly as he got up. "Ah I...probably shouldn't have said that." He coughed. "Sula, Syleris. You wanna come with me?"
He strolled out of the dining room to the front room. The two girls he named exchanged curious looks and then followed. The other three shuffled out as well.
Jack hunched and peered through the outer door's peephole. He smiled and side stepped away while keeping a hand on the handle.
"Sula I believe this is yours." She frowned in confusion. Jack unbolted the door and swung it inward, revealing a smoky-skinned man with a shaggy mane of jet black hair. Pale blue eyes set over a firm nose and lightly smiling lips. He wore a light brown blown-open-by-the-wind button-up and tight dark blue jeans with dark leather loafers.
He lifted a hand. "Hello Sulie."
The lamia's golden eyes sparkled brilliantly and she held in a unbelieving breath for all of one second. And then: "JOEY!" She threw out her arms.
One moment there was a man at the door. Then a slash of golden light blasted through with a loud *whump*. And then there was nothing.
Jack and the other housemates recoiled and winced. "Oof. Now that's a glomp."
Multiple sources of laughter and smooches drafted in from the lawn.
"What?! Lissa! Maria! And Priscilla!" Sula screeched with joy again. "How are you here?"
"Hi mama." Three child voices chorused. Then more smooches and laughing.
Jack smiled and stepped out and to one side of the porch. To his right, Agent Smythe was also smiling and observing the surprise family gathering in the middle of the lawn.
Just in front of him was a squirming pile of sinuous golden bodies embracing a fortunate, or unfortunate, man. Sula's larger and longer tail had wrapped three smaller and slimmer golden scaled lamias in a massive hug centered around 'Joey'. Her head darted to the faces of each one and laid on kisses like a waterfall over rocks.
And adjacent Smythe's position stood a shocked and somewhat unsettled centaur.
Her large wary sea-blue eyes kept the pile of alpha predators in view and her large furry ears twitched about. A light blue blouse was tucked into a large off-white skirt that covered the rest of her body. Her hooves were lightly stamping in place. Like she was getting ready to gallop off.
Jack turned back and waved the approaching harpy forward. "Syleris. I believe this one's yours."
The centaur blinked and gazed over at Jack.
Syleris padded out onto the porch and took in the sight. Her eyes glittered like Sula's had moments ago.
"Vera!" She exploded out of the house and attempted to glomp her friend. But considering the centaur likely outweighed her by the same factor that Sula outweighed her husband, all Syleris did was nudge her an inch.
"Sylly?" The centaur embraced her friend. "I didn't know you would be here." She darted an accusing glance at Agent Smythe. "You didn't say she was staying here."
He hid a smirk. "I did mention a harpy was at this residence."
"Never mind him." Syleris insisted and stepped back. "Come on. I gotta show you the house." She grasped one of the centaurs hands and tugged her forward. "You're gonna love the gym."
'Vera' stumbled forward a foot or two and then planted all four legs. "No wait. Sylly, I have to do something first."
The harpy turned back in confusion. "What? What's wrong?"
Vera twisted her arm free and composed herself. "I have to at least speak to my new host." She trotted up to Jack and offered her hand. "I assume you are Mr. Keysman."
He took her hand and shook. "I am. Call me Jack."
The centaur blinked once. "I see." She let go and placed one hand over her chest. "I must apologize for my behavior almost a month past. I promise I won't be so reckless during my stay." She bowed her head.
Syleris gasped. "Oh right. I'm sorry too Jack."
He lifted a hand and chortled. "It's alright. I already accepted your apology Syleris." He nodded at the centaur. "And I accept yours as well miss..."
"Verandys." She supplied while lifting her head. "My name is Verandys." She smiled.
Jack noted that she, like every other female he was living with, had a very pretty face. There was a distinct softness to her frame that she could probably pass for a sister of Jordana Brewster. At least from the waist up.
A clawed hand settled onto Jack's shoulder. "Well," Tetra announced from just above him. "Here's hoping I won't have to lasso him out of the way again."
Verandys glanced up into the arachne's many eyes. "Yes. You're Tetra. Agent Smythe told me I should thank you for keeping him safe." She offered her hand. "So...thank you."
Tetra smiled appreciably. "Accepted." And she shook the centaur's hand as well.
"Okay. Meetings and apologies done." Syleris hurriedly stated. "You gotta see the gym." She darted inside. "Come on."
"Uh..um." Verandys swiveled her head between her friend and her host.
"Go on." He offered. "But no running in the halls." He added volume to the last words and hoped Syleris was still in earshot.
The centaur trotted after the harpy. "Sylly! Where do I go?"
"Down this hall come on!" She called back.
Jack watched her go with a wry grin and then turned back to the still raucous family reunion on his lawn.
Well, not so raucous as before. Sula looked the happiest he's ever seen her and the kids had huge dumb grins on their faces. Joey just leaned back with a serene smirk and watched as mother and daughters caught up.
"I guess the game's on hold for a while huh?" Dawn mentioned glumly.
"Yeah." Jack chuckled. "It's fine." He turned back to the house. "I was going to break for lunch soon enough anyways."
"Oh no you don't!" Something grasped Jack around his arms and chest. He had maybe a second to stare at Isaac with a completely confused expression when he felt himself getting forcibly tugged out to the lawn.
Sula's tail lifted his whole body, sailed through the air and dumped him into the impromptu snake pit. "Wha?" He glanced around at the five faces staring back at him.
"You've got to meet my family Jack." Sula planted her fists at her waist.
He weakly waved one hand while trying to balance himself with the other. "Uh hi."
Joey shook his head, leaned forward and laid an arm on Jack's shoulder. "Just relax into it. They'll let go when they're good and ready to let you go."
He blinked several times at the other man. "I, I don't-" Jack noticed the green haired daughter had a kind of pained expression and she was staring at the hand he was trying to prop himself on. The hand that was currently pressing hard on the golden scaled tail of one of the lamias.
He shifted and lifted his arm up. "S-sorry." He slumped into the pit.
She let out a small gasp. "It's alright Mr. Keysman" She glared at her mother a second. "Mama's just really excited and playing kinda rough."
Sula opened her mouth to retort, but a certain arachne loomed over her suddenly. "Yes. She is."
Agent Smythe stepped in at her side. "Another 'enthusiastic hug' Mr. Keysman?" He didn't look toward the host at all. Sula shrunk down guiltily.
Jack sighed. "Yes, just another hug agent Smythe. I am unharmed." He smirked up at him. "Thank you for your concern."
"I see my wife has been a bit of a trouble maker." Joey commented.
Said echidna immediately gave him a death-glare.
The red-haired daughter eyed her sisters. "Mama's been baaad." The other two placed hands at their lips and gasped in mock-astonishment. "OoooOOOoooo."
The senior echidna's death glare passed over the trio but failed to cow any of them. She reached into her pocket and retrieved her leather-tipped silk gloves.
The blue haired one cocked her head. "Wait, what's that, mama?"
Sula snapped her gloves in place and grinned toothily. "I'll show you who's in trouble!" And she tackled the green haired one in the middle.
The other two laughed in excitement. "Get her!" One squealed. "She can't take all of us!" They dove on top of their mother.
Except she dodged to the side and slapped her longer tail over their backs. "The hell I can't." She crowed. "You're mine!
Jack took advantage of the distraction and crab walked away from the confrontation. Joey managed to kip up and back pedal from the fracas.
The non-lamias on the lawn gave them a wide berth as they play wrestled for domination. Well, play wrestled by lamia standards at any rate. The four laughed and hooted in excitement.
Isaac stepped up and helped Jack onto his feet. He smirked nostalgically. "'Member when we used to do that? With dad."
Jack grinned as he recalled. "Before we realized how much of a prick he was?" He sighed deeply. "Yeah."
Smythe cleared his throat. "Well." He faced the rest of them. "If I could get some assistance unloading Verandys' and the other's luggage, I need to be back at the office soon."
"Right." Jack answered. "We're on it."
The process of transferring luggage from van to house took longer than it probably should have as the daughters changed tactics on their mother minute to minute. This forced everyone else to be constantly aware of the brawl on the lawn and take extra steps (literally) to avoid it.
Once, two of the daughters tried to hold down each of Sula's arms and wrapped their tails around hers while the third backed off for a charge attack.
Except their mother was much too strong to be held still. She pivoted her right side to intercept the bull rush. One lamia child crashed into and tackled the other accidentally. Her arm free, Sula leaned over and briefly pinned the third.
Joey stopped near them and called out. "Girls, girls." The three of them stopped and turned toward their father. His eyes were full of dismay.
"What's wrong papa?" "Did we do something bad?" "I'm sorry papa, what did we do?"
He smiled sadly. "I am...disappointed. You are better than this."
All three cast their eyes down. Sula scrutinized him intensely, curiously.
"The way to best your mother..." He flashed a malicious grin. "Is to tickle her, remember?"
Sula's eyes widened in furious betrayed shock. "Oh you little- AAACK!"
Three grinning demons closed in and pawed at her belly. They waggled their mitten covered fingers relentlessly and she fell to the ground. Their victim's shriek shook the neighborhood.
Joey kept his grin as he picked up another item from the van. "I am sooo going to pay for that. Hehehe." He quickly jogged around and escaped into the house, leaving his wife to uncontrollable laughing peril.
Most of the rest of the gear was unloaded and stored in an orderly fashion...until one of the echidna's tails struck the van, rocking it off its passenger side wheels.
"HEY!" Isaac yelled from inside as it slammed back down.
The four echidnas stopped and stared at the vehicle in guilt-laden horror.
Sula darted around to the back followed closely by her daughters. "Are you alright Isaac? I-I'm so sorry." She glanced back. "We...we got carried away...and ...well..."
Jack's brother glared at them. He let out a breath hotly and handed Sula a suitcase. "Here."
She took it and handed it off to one of her kids. "Right. We can take care of the rest."
"Yeah. Let us do it." Maria exclaimed and held her arms out.
"We're really sorry Mr. Isaac." Lissa stated glumly with her hands clutched to each other nervously."
Priscilla just kept her head down and followed her sisters example.
The four lamias departed with the last of the luggage and Jack came around the van's back door. "You okay man?"
Isaac sat on the edge of the van with his legs on the ramp and looked at him seriously. "I should be asking you that." Jack's face twitched in confusion.
"You're going to be living with even more of them now." He stated. "You sure you're going to be safe?"
Jack glanced down in dismay.
"Don't want to rain on your little parade of friendly freaks here, before I jet out but..." He shrugged and tapped the inside frame of the van. "It doesn't take much."
Jack didn't offer a reply.
"Matt figured that you might have finally lost it and gotten yourself in too much trouble than you could handle. Out here by yourself." Isaac shared. "He wanted to invite you back out to California. We'd find a position with one of the studios for you. Split utilities and such."
Jack sighed. "I can't do that."
"...Because of Tetra?"
He swayed his head. "Because of all of them." He lifted his eyes. "Despite the danger they have changed my life." Jack smiled wanly. "For the better. All of them have." He waved toward the house. "I'm sure Verandys will as well."
Isaac sniffed bemusedly. "You always were the idealist." He shook his head. "Alright man. If you're sure you can handle all this." He waved at the house. "More sure than you were after mom and dad passed at least?"
Jack closed his eyes briefly and frowned. "Yeah...I was probably lying then." He sighed. "I'm sorry about that. I'm sorry I gave the house away without telling you guys."
"Accepted." Isaac answered and cracked a wry grin. "Seems to have worked out nicely though. I'll miss the old place but this is definitely an upgrade."
A metallic knocking prefaced Agent Smythe's return. "Keysmans if you could exit my vehicle, I have pressing business back at the office."
"Right." Jack stepped back and Isaac hopped out.
The agent held out a hand to Isaac. "Thank you for traveling here on short notice."
He took and shook Smythe's hand. "Not a problem. Especially since your office picked up most of the tab."
Smythe smirked. "Indeed. Are you certain I can't arrange another rental car for you? It's really no trouble for us."
Isaac waved a hand dismissively. "Nah, I've been taking advantage of your hospitality enough. Man's gotta pay his own way, once in while right?"
"Very well." Smythe turned to the other. "Mr. Keysman." The agent blinked and inclined his head. "Jack..I'm... very glad you decided to stay."
The host reared back. Smythe never used his first name. "Uh yeah." He reached behind and scratched the back of his scalp. "I guess it'd be kind of a huge headache for you if I didn't." He laughed lightly at his weak joke.
Disappointment creased through the agent's expression before he schooled it to neutrality. "I know I come off as too professional or intense at times Mr. Keysman. And sometimes it...inspires those around me to inject levity into our conversations to offset it." He let out a breath. "But if I may be thoroughly candid... we betrayed you."
Jack and Isaac blinked together in muted shock.
"A long-standing guest under my office's supervision nearly killed you Jack. The Exchange is responsible for the safety of all our hosts and guests and we failed you." Shame dusted over the agent's words.
Jack stared at him a few moments. Then he folded his arms. "I'll tell you what I told Mr. Tucker. She is ultimately responsible for herself. I don't blame anyone else."
The agent closed his eyes and Jack could tell some previously hidden tension had eased within the man.
He needed me to absolve him.
"How is he?" He asked. Smythe snapped his eyes open. "Mr. Tucker. " Jack clarified. "How's he doing?"
The agent frowned. "Not well. The house feels... empty to him." He shook his head. "He knows she can't come back... and I'm not sure he'll stay with the Exchange and host another liminal."
Jack pursed his lips and nodded. "When you see him next, let him know he can visit and talk if he wants." Smythe cocked his head. Jack's eyes flicked downward. "I was kinda rude to him when we met. I'd like to make it up to him."
Smythe grinned. "You're a good man Jack." He nodded. "I'll pass on the offer." He took a step back. "Now if you'll excuse me. Duty calls."
Jack and Isaac waved at the van as it rounded the cul-de-sac and sped out of the neighborhood.
"So." Isaac uttered. "Five more mouths to feed."
Jack raised a hand. "I prepared for that. For today at least." His brother was about to reply when a gray sedan pulled up to the curb. "Ah, speak of the devil."
A young dark-skinned man with a Tommy Tom's (the curiously quick caterers!) cap stepped out and faced them. "Hey you Keysman?"
"Yep." Jack answered.
"Good. Cause I got the mother of all orders in here that I have ever delivered."
Thanks for reading.
For reference the tabletop game they were playing was Starfinder made by Paizo.
And apologies for the delay on this chapter. Been trying other writing ideas out for a few short stories and such but I keep getting distracted..by ...something...
"Toss a coin to your witcher..."
