Aberrant: Children of Quantum Fire - Rainbow Room

[Quantum Fire]

Norman drew the beautiful, elated and scared girl, now even more beautiful then before into his arms and held her close, his manner tender and reassuring, as he responded to her words. "Relax, beautiful, everything is going to be alright, I will make certain of it... and it was wonderful for me too, you are a truly amazing dancer." His tone suggested he was somewhat aware of what had just happened with her, but then, with the close contact he had to have felt the transformation that had moved though her as quantum forces expanded in her personal vicinity. "I think the others could have been distracted by the music some... or might be persuaded to think this was part of Harmonic's act.." His response's were quite and almost whispered.

[Butch_Cole]

The rest of the room didn't interest Butch nearly as much as watching Maia move to the music. Her body swayed and shimmied in an incredibly enticing manner, but Butch could tell that she was holding back as much as possible. When it came to Maia, if she didn't, well, the Rainbow Room would be getting a free show that she probably didn't want to be giving.

Occasionally, Butch found himself keeping an eye on Cora and Norman as they danced around the zero-g room flowing with Harmonic's music. He smiled when he caught the end of Cora and Norman's kiss. It made him happy that Cora was having a good time. Not long ago, she had asked him to keep her balanced, to keep her human. What was it she had said? She wanted her Apotheosis to mean something. That's what it was.

Butch smiled at Maia and said, "Glad we agree on our new friend, Jason, and his annoying nature."

He placed one hand on her shoulder and one on her hip. Then, he spun her around in midair, caught her when she was right-side up, kept one hand on her hip and took her hand with his other. They continued to dance.

And then he felt it. Having been near Pip when her Apotheosis happened, Butch recognized the quantum pulse that emanated from Cora. Closing his eyes, Butch looked up again...not at the ceiling, but just up. Another one. Another one of the group had reached Apotheosis, and here was Butch...still the same ol' Butch.

No, now wasn't the time for this. Now was probably the time for damage control.

Pulling her in a bit closer, Butch said "You felt that, too, Maia? I think we should make our way over to Cora and see if we need to do anything."

He sent a quick mental message to Cora: Well, if what just happened is what I think just happened, first, congrats. Second, I hope everything's cool. Do we need to bail or what? Harmonic invited me and Maia to meet her after the show if you think you can stick around. Maybe celebrate a bit.

[Karren Gaunt]

The mental message hit a wall of churning emotional static much akin to an old-school fax number ringing directly in Butch's brain, tinged with flashes of unfiltered sensory input and emotions barely now spiralling down into control as she soaked up reassurance from Norman enough to form whole thoughts. Her blue on black eyes, blinked once, twice, thrice, staring into his like a hunted child's before the young metamorph was mostly herself again. At least enough to answer either hail.

"Really? You would do that for me, help me?" she asked softly, searchingly, hoping against bad experience to not find the deceit she was afraid of finding, to not find her 'Perfect Moment' an illusion born of overstimulation.

'Yeah... yeah. I'm okay. I'm... This is really, really intense, you know?' Coraline mentally sent in belayed reply to her older sister and younger brother, thoughts turning guilty, 'I... I'm looking into something. Give me a minute, please? I'll fix this. Won't ruin it for us.'

[Butch_Cole]

Butch's eye twitched slightly as he tried to deal with Cora's wall of emotional static. Once her mind quieted down a moment, Butch was able to hear her thoughts. Then he added.

No worries, Cora. I trust you. Doesn't look like anyone else has caught on, but we'll keep our eyes peeled for ya. You don't worry about it. Do what you gotta do!

He spun Maia once around and pulled her in close again, smiling.

"She's good, Maia," Butch said, into her ear. "We'll be eyes and ears if necessary. Take a peek around if you get a chance."

He scanned the dancing crowd to see if anyone was staring at Cora...

[Maia]

Maia nodded once and allowed Butch to lead. "Of course she is." Maia allowed her eyes to wander taking in the scene, and who was looking at who.

She looked to Butch and smiled. "Nothing too out of the ordinary. So where did you learn to dance?"

[Quantum Fire]

Norman smiled at Cora looking into her eyes and nodded. "Harmonic is actually a friend of mine, I think I can make sure she goes along with it, and most of the others were deep in the dance, but I'll have a talk with them." He glanced over at her two foster siblings then back at her again, even as he considered the possibility of hypnotic suggestions to the others to forget this event. "I think I'm not the only one looking out for you though, beautiful."

[Karren Gaunt]

She trusted him. She shouldn't but she did, and when Norman glanced at Maia and Butch, Coraline did too. A smile peeked into existence on her lips, soft and sincere and happy, "No, you aren't. My family will always have my back in a crisis. And one more person it seems, too."

Something he'd said twice now, jogged her memory and she gently extracted herself from his embrace to get a better look at her reflection, mouth forming a small 'o' of surprise at her transformed apperance, almost losing her gathering mental equilibrium at just what it meant for her other big family comitment. This could be... complicated. Very complicated. Probably not entirely bad, she conceded, she hoped, but...

"I should probably go," her chorus very reluctantly hummed, clearly torn between what she wanted to do and what she felt she needed to do, "But... Next week same time? Meet in the main room and then go somewhere private we can... talk? Share? Dance more?"

[Butch_Cole]

"I learned to dance from a babysitter," Butch said. "I guess I was about nine or so. It was one of the few times we hung around with other novas. There was this this girl, Sophie. She was probably about 15 or 16. Early erupter and on the run from the law like the rest of us. She could make herself into anything she touched. Anyway, my dad ran with this crew, three other novas and Sophie was one of their cousins. They would go off and do stuff. Dad never talked about it, but sometimes he'd come back looking like they stirred up some trouble."

He spun Maia around, brought her back, dipped her in mid air, and brought her back up. Then he added, "And Sophie watched me. Out on some farm in Western New York. Not much to do there and she liked to dance. So I learned how to dance."

Butch moved around some more, surprisingly well considering he didn't look the type.

"She lost her mind a couple months later. I didn't really know why. Just one day she lost it. She killed her cousin, and Dad and I split. I think she wound up on the wrong side of some public defender in Pittsburgh shortly after that, didn't survive. Never knew how she made it that far."

Butch took a quick look over at Cora and saw her talking with Norman. She seemed to look as if she were ready to go.

"I think Cora's ready to go," Butch said to Maia. "Let's make our way a little closer perhaps. Maybe we could convince her to stick around a bit longer. Get to meet Harmonic and all."

[Maia]

"I see." She smiled and nodded. If she's ready to go we won't keep her, even to meet Harmonic. I'd personally like to see her stay, but you know she's not that comfortable exposed, and likely is even less so now. Still You go home with her if she needs to go. I'll remain here if only to be polite to Harmonic. She did extend an invitation to meet personally with us, and as a public figure, it's A) wise to cultivate good ties with her, and it would be very rude to leave suddenly. You go with her, I can handle myself i need to.

Still she allowed her to lead them closer to Cora finally close enough to be heard at a whisper. "Do you need to go, Cora?" She looked to Norman, who only Pip's talents could erase what happened from his mind and nodded. "Or would you like to stay a bit longer and meet Harmonic with Butch and I?" She was supportive as with Epiphany, but also knew she was a little less fragile.

[Karren Gaunt]

Coraline met her siblings' gaze for a fleeting second of contact that had more to do with years of knowing the young metamorph than the link that still sparked with unfiltered emotion and input from thought to thought. 'I'd like to stay, but I don't want to accidentally make things worse for us. I shouldn't stay.'

The young metamorph added with a renewal of a smile she wasn't quite consious of making and indicated Norman with a quick, graceful brush of her fingers tips over his cheek from one hand, marveling inside at how much more real everything felt as the music began to soothe her more frayed nerves, voice soft, "Norman's agreed to help us, and I don't want to get in the way of his work."

[Maia]

"Alright. I'll contact Warren then, and you can go. I am going to remain here, if only for the sake of appearances. I'll be along after speaking with Harmonic. I think that since she is such a public figure, it would be bad form to snub her invitation. Besides, Butch is more than able to see you home, should you need it, and it's not like reaching out for warren is particularly difficult."

In another section of her mind she smiled. "Warren, Cora's going to need a ride home, and you may want to contact Uncle. She's joined the rest of you."

[Quantum Fire]

"I would love to meet with you again, next week, Cora, to talk or dance, I am sure we can have fun again, I believe you enjoyed yourself this night." He leaned forward to give her a bit of information she would find interesting, whispering very quietly. "I am of the second generation also, I am quite familiar with what just happened." Implying somewhat that he had an similar experance at some point on his own. "In any case, perhaps I should see you off?"

[Karren Gaunt]

The young metamorph tilted her head amusedly, finding nothing to doubt in his words and trusting her ability to read him, allowing herself a soft little chuckle at the wonderful improbability of it all. She'd worry about that... Later. Yes, later.

"I would like nothing more until I see you again next week. That way Butch and Maia can continue enjoying themselves instead of worrying over me," she answered back just loud enough for Norman and the slibings to hear with a happy nod and starting to tug herself and the self-proclaimed second generation nova towards the exit in invisible quantum wings, "Today was... amazing. In far more than just the obvious. Thank you."

'Thank you, too. Enjoy the rest of this afternoon while I get a grip on this, please,' she echoed into the link for Butch and Maia's benefit, listening for where Warren wanted to plop the return gate this time.

[Butch_Cole]

Butch watched the goodbye shared by Cora and Norman and smiled. It was nice to see Cora experiencing some sort-of-but-not-really normal teenage experiences like first romance. Still, there was need for some caution, and the protective brother in Butch started to come out a little.

"Maia," Butch said, quietly enough for his sibling to hear him. "Cora's fine on her own. I think she'll want some alone time anyway given how she reacted when Pip popped."

He gestured with his head towards Norman.

"But I'd like to get to know Norman a little better. Let's see what he's all about."

To Cora, he sent a mental message: If you're good on your own, then Maia and I are gonna stick around. We're gonna extend an invite to Norman to hang out with us. I'd like to get to know your new friend a bit. Don't worry. I'll go easy on him. We'll catch up later. Sound good?

Butch waited for a moment for Norman and Cora to finish their goodbyes, Then, he made his way over to the young nova, who had taken an interest in the metamorph in the family.

"Hey again, Norman," Butch said. "We got an invite to hang out with Harmonic later on, so we're gonna stick around and catch up with Cora later. How'd you like to join us? I think it'd be good for us to talk, don't you think?"

[Maia]

Maia smiled and nodded. "Take Care Cora." To Butch she sent I know, still I don't think that's quite the same situation here. She looked to Norman and gave an approving nod. "You definitely seem to have piqued Cora's interest."

[Quantum Fire]

"Fair well, then, until next time, beautiful maiden." Norman leaned forward, not quite willing to let Cora leave without a goodbye, and lovely one at that, he then kissed her lips in the same soft gentle manner he had a moment before, before sliding back and reluctantly releasing her hand. As Butch and Maia approached him, he turned his gaze on the other nova a moment, then smiled slightly, and responded. "Am I going to hear from the protective siblings now, or be grilled by them? As to Harmonic, I would love to join you, and talk..."

[Karren Gaunt]

Still torn between duty and desire as she flitted for the exit in a graceful flow, Coraline shot Maia a mock-upset glare of embarassment at that latest little crack. 'You'd better be gentle. I trust him. And try not interfere as he cleans up part of my mess, okay?' The 'I trust him' was underlined with all sorts of complicated emotional harmonics even beyond the stormfront of her Apothesis.

And that was the last they heard from the young metamorph before she closed the door behind her. She started working her way up and out of the club, masking a slight but growing feeling of discomfort as her quantumly-super charged good looks drew not only first but second and third glances from those she passed, a steady ping-ping-ping of attention on her sixth sense like rain on a tin roof. Attention she couldn't help but hope was just from her looks and not from any aura of raw power she might have been giving off. Her thoughts danced under the agitation, making her wish that having Butch or Maia or Norman escort her to the warp would do anything besides paint them as Novas of interest, too.

And she wasn't selfish enough to demand that of them if it could be avoided.

[Butch_Cole]

The smile that Norman managed seemed genuine enough. Plus, Cora seemed to genuinely enjoy the young nova's company, so Butch would try not to go too hard on him.

He smiled back and said, "Don't worry about us, Norman. We'll go easy on ya. You'll have to forgive us for being a bit cautious, but, y'know, in this world, it pays for people like us to tread lightly. Plus, I don't want Cora gettin' all mad at me, so that'll definitely save you from a bit of interrogation. Why don't we just treat it like a regular ol' conversation. Just me, you, and Maia having a nice friendly chat."

Looking around for a moment, it didn't seem as if Cora's departure had caused any great commotion, which made Butch sigh a silent breath of relief. He continued:

"So, where ya from, Norman? What do you do with yourself other than hang out at the Rainbow Room and dance with pretty young thangs like Cora?"

[Courier]

In another section of her mind she smiled. "Warren, Cora's going to need a ride home, and you may want to contact Uncle. She's joined the rest of you."

Maia got the impression Warren had been meditating. He did that a lot since he'd 'become', something about 'the moment of now' or something like that.

Clearly distracted but willing to help, Warren sent back, No problem. Rides are my specialty... and then what she'd said sank in. Joined the rest as in 'Big-A', not as in 'coming home'.

Warren sent to Maia and Cora, Oh my. At Rainbow Room...

Warren got up and started walking to Uncle Shen while he chose the phrasing his next statement carefully, ...in a private back room with some lucky guy?

The Rainbow Room had a reputation. Warren sent, Cora, give me an image of your location and I'll open the gate.

[Karren Gaunt]

Heh. Okay. Gonna go out on a limb and assume Warren opens the gate when asked for the sake of plot and that said gate needs to be near his assumed location on the submarine. Will edit if those are issues.

There is a quiet mental 'Thank you' spurted over the link to Warren accompanied by mental image of an Iblizza alleyway of a causally-saturated depth and clarity in detail he could not have gotten from his oldest younger sister without something exceptional having happened to her. The warp opens and Coraline steps through hurriedly, quantumly magnified features and eufiber bleaching white to match the walls of the submarine as something like very, very under-control guilt and confusion and dread danced in her startlingly-contrasting blue-on-black eyes. Another subject of Apothesis obviously, her body and movements changed beyond anything her wildest bodyshifts could have managed before, but strangely enough, with the quantum facets of her being blurred and masked enough to force Warren to squint if he wanted to learn more.

"And for the record. I was dancing with a Nova named Norman listening to Harmonic and had a...," Coraline exhaled with a sidelong glance, gulping air to calm herself and revert to more normal coloration, searching for a word, "perfect moment. Changed in front of everyone there, but he's going to take care of it. Make so I don't ruin everything for all the 2nd Gens we haven't found yet. He promised me. He promised me, and I trust him."

[Courier]

Warren focussed hard on Coraline, gave her the full sensory array examination and said, "Hmm..."

After a moment he smiled and, echoing his words from years ago, he said, "Welcome, Sister."

Warren said, "You're this huge quantum furnace. As to doing it there, what happens in the Rainbow room stays in the Rainbow room. Mind altering drugs. Mind altering music. Mind altering novas. Shapeshifting and what not. There's lots of explanations for what they saw and many of them would be embarrassing for the people involved. If you didn't sit down and actually spell out what happened to some nova reporters I think we'll be fine."

Underneath his words of assurance was concern. There were actual nova reporters and they did hang out at the Rainbow room sometimes.

[Quantum Fire]

Norman raised an eyebrow at butch as he began to ask him all of these questions, but he held up a finger. "First, let us deal with something of greater importance.." He made a gesture in Harmonic's direction, a silent request to a friend, and the music stopped, leaving everyone in a moment of silence, and then he spoke out with a few words, his voice ringing though the room with considerable authority, in fact, the strength of it feels almost as strong as Epiphany's strength of personality. "Ladies and Gentlemen, I trust you enjoyed the performance, and dance, I'm afraid the performance is over, Harmonic is presently done with her song, i trust that you folks will keep everything that happened here today private." The hypnotic suggestion washed though the room with power and strength that left everyone present nodding their heads.

He glances over at Harmonic, and with a nod from her, everyone began to filter out, before turning to face butch once more. "I do any number of things, but like you, I'm not ready to move in the public eye just yet."

[Butch_Cole]

Butch was impressed by Norman's actions, but also a little bit concerned at their implications. The revelers ceased everything and obeyed his words. It was quite creepy to watch them all nod their heads at Norman's command. The young nova had some serious power and, given what he had said, was probably a second generation nova, too...

He sent a quick mental note to Maia, I guess Cora's new beau's like us. Might be good to know more folks like us, y'know? Let's try and feel him out a bit.

Butch said, "Well, the public eye doesn't always see things in a way that's beneficial to folks like us, does it? We tend to keep out of its view, like you said. Don't want any unwanted attention. Time may be coming when that ol' public eye is poked or gets corrective lenses though, which means I'm even more glad to make your acquaintance, Norman. Best to know more folks like us especially if and when that eye catches sight, yeah? Seems like you know Harmonic, which is really cool. Know any other interesting people?"

[Quantum Fire]

"You could say that, I know all sorts of people, and am always willing to meet a new face or two" He moved through the air to settle upon the platform that Harmonic had been playing on, the one woman band that she was and gestured for Maia and Butch to join him, and turned to introduce Butch and Maia. "This is Harmony, known more commonly as Harmonic.. " He looked between her and the two nova's present, and then in a lower tone. "And she's the oldest and the first second generation nova to take a public stance in the world, though I sometimes wonder about her choice's."

Harmonic, or Harmony spoke up at that point, and the beauty of her voice, even when she wasn't singing rang though all of you like the pure tones of a tuning fork. "You say the nicest things Norman.. " She reached out to take Butch and Maia's hand. "I really am sorry about earlier, he wasn't supposed to be so.. direct and invasive about his interjection."

[Karren Gaunt]

Meanwhile, back on the Primus, an extremely complicated expression crossed Coraline's features, a troubled wave of emotion that left Butch's newly-transformed sibling uncertain in it's wake. "I see," her chorus intoned softly, thoughts distracted and introspective, "So we have a few days to come up with a game plan to handle our next DeVries shoot then. That long at least for me to start getting a handle on this, this..."

She sighed and looked away, lost for words adequite to describe the raw *everything different* coursing through her mind and body since her Apothesis. It wasn't so much the scale of her new senses or the sheer unknown potential of her reflexes and powers or even the unfamilar speed to which her thoughts danced in response to both. It was all of it, really, all at once and... Cora didn't want to hide from the world for the good of her family. It was just starting to get interesting.

"So. You and Pip. Is it true?" the young metamorph asked in the hopes of a distraction from her spiraling thoughts, a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes struggling gamely for life on her lips.

[Maia]

"Nothing to apologize for, it wasn't a big deal." Maia's smile was calm and totally guileless, much as she herself tended to be. It's very nice to meet you both. I have to say harmony your music is quite beautiful."

"I can fully understand the desire to stay hidden, but some of us weren't ever given that luxury, not entirely." She herself was known as a second gen nova, by dint of her celebrity parentage. the rest of her upbringing was largely a mystery, except that she was already wealthy, and her finances were handled by a single private party.

[Butch_Cole]

Butch felt mildly self-conscious in front of Harmonic, shirtless as he was. After a second, Butch reached out and took Harmonic's hand.

"Well, I'm glad to meet ya, ma'am," Butch said, smiling, glad he hadn't caused too much of a ruckus. "That was one hell of a show you put on. I'm glad I got to experience it. I remember my dad talking all about you coming on the scene like you did back in '18. I was a kid at the time, but I remember it pretty clearly. He'd be pretty amazed if he knew I was meeting you like this."

Butch paused for a moment, trying to remember his father's face, voice, mannerisms. It was always a fear nestled deep in the recesses of Butch's mind that one day he might forget. For now, that was not a problem.

He continued, "And it's great to meet more people with, uh, let's say similar concerns. I realize you're pretty famous and all, but I think it'd be great to keep in touch with you. Norman, you also. I think we can help each other out greatly in the future."

[Courier]

"So. You and Pip. Is it true?" the young metamorph asked in the hopes of a distraction from her spiraling thoughts, a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes struggling gamely for life on her lips.

Warren decided to break Cora's potential melancholy and replied with a friendly tease, "Disappointed? I'm not sure Pip is much for sharing if that's what you're asking." "You're much better looking now and you're still a model. You'll be beating guys off by the dozen." Warren had an undertone which said benign the tease he was serious, and happy for her. He added a hair more seriously, "Yeah, I think and/or hope we're serious. It sort of crept up on us."

[Karren Gaunt]

That got the faintest half-chuckle out of the young metamorph and brought her gaze back to Warren's face. "Well, stealing the romantic affections of my brother from my sister isn't exactly on my short list of things to do. Just try not to break one another's hearts in the process, okay?" she answered in the same semi-teasing tone before going serious again, "And I know I look better, my sixth sense was pinging more attention on me leaving the Rainbow Room than it's ever had anywhere before... Not bad attention I think, but I don't want to make our generation's situation worse just by being so obvious as to help provoke the Motherhunters into some kind of overt crusade."

Coraline did smile for a few heartbeats though, saying as much for her own reassurance as Warren's information, "I think Norman likes me. At least enough to help clean up my mess today and agree to meet with me next week same time to dance and talk more."

[Courier]

Warren suppressed the comment that every man would like her now and said, "Sounds like a nice guy, useful too. What do you think about him?"

Her other issue was a lot more serious but... Warren replied, "Pax and Mal are obvious because they invite the media. Unless you start destroying cities or dating the President, I don't think you're making things worse. You can think of yourself as a subtle mousetrap, but a catwalk isn't something Project Pro can put together an angry mob over."

[Karren Gaunt]

Coraline nodded begrudgingly, deciding to hope that Warren was right and not burden him with her worries more on that front.

"I..," her chorus started and then trickled off, biting her bottom lip as she stopped to think and not just blurt out the first thing to come to mind, "I trust him when everything I've been taught tells me I shouldn't. He says he's another second generation nova, and I believe him. He's a really good dancer and I want to ask Marina or Pip to help me so I'm not just a talented amautuer next time I see him. If we decide it's safe for me to see him again. I, I... I like him. Or think I could once I get to know him. I don't know. But I want to see him again and find out."

[Quantum Fire]

Norma responded to Butch's suggestion with a smile. "I'm always willing to develop reasonable connections with fellow second generation novas, we stand out in a crowd that already stands out, even though many of us wish to avoid it. Harmonic here, for example, doesn't let many folks know her parents were nova's, it would bring to many questions to the forefront. And we have enough enemies as it is, without attracting more, don't we?" He spoke, and it was clear that Norman was someone used to being a focus of sorts.

Harmonic smiled at that. "Ive done what I can, in my way to reduce tensions and allow more of us to survive to this point, enough of us pass though what happened to your sister there, and we will be able to move beyond most of our enemies, in several ways." Her voice continued to shiver though the air as she spoke, it was like speaking to someone who sang answers, but without the singing, it was actually quite beautiful.

[Butch_Cole]

Butch smiled back at Harmonic and Norman. With his hands in his pockets, Butch said to Harmonic, "Well, you've done some great work these past few years, and we're thankful for what you've done. Movin' beyond our enemies is gonna take a lot more work though. And some trust. I'll tell y'all that I learned that the hard way on the road as a kid."

Butch's head went down for a moment, remembering all the people he and his dad had met that tried to screw them over. There were times when he wondered if he'd have to get through his whole life on his own. Then Traveler came along and Butch found people he could trust. He needed more information from Norman. If Cora was interested in knowing Norman more, well, Butch wanted to know more about Norman.

He continued, "My dad was Johnny Hellfire, mostly small-time Elite, and he took real good care of me for as long as he could. Never knew my momma. I've got a good family now though, an Uncle, an Aunt, and some great siblings" he said, nodding at Maia. "What about y'all? Norman, Harmonic, who were your folks? How'd you survive all these years without getting taken out by Motherhunters?"

[Courier]

Warren considered how to reply then said, "I'm really, really glad you're on the other side of A now. If he's another second gen, and you like being with him, then I think you should explore that. By the way I'd love to meet him."

From Warren's tone he was serious, but he was also giving the good news first and there'd be more. Warren let the other shoe drop saying, "The power to get people to trust you even when they've been taught not to is pretty nice, and most people who have it are stand up guys... but our files say the amp-wells sometimes have sterility drugs. Be seriously careful on this one Cora."

Warren added half seriously, "I mean if he hurts you I'll have to string him up or something."

[Karren Gaunt]

Coraline couldn't quite bring herself to maintain the smile at that latest bit, but did nod again at one of her family sticking up for her the way she tried to stick up for them, "I'll be careful, Warren. I think Butch and Maia are giving him the once over I wanted to even as we speak anyway. Promised not to scare him off for next week. They'd better."

An idea came to her then, the young metamorph looking down and away from Warren with a chuckle, "Butch and I have been putting together an hour of downtime everyday since we launched the Primus, keep one another happy and sane so we don't Apothesize from forgetting to take care of ourselves or something silly. No powers, no politics, just being family. I don't think Butch would mind sharing so maybe I should open it up to the rest of the family, too.

[Courier]

Warren said dryly, "Maia and Butch will keep things appropriate I think."

Warren mentally sent Cora a cartoonish image of a man in agony (labeled "Cora's boyfriend") strapped to a rack. Maia turned the chain tightening crank with one hand, held a branding iron with the other, and angrily shouted, 'What do you see in our sister'? Behind her back a bugeyed and drooling Butch looked at the Swimsuit Issue of Sport's Illustrated with Cora as the cover model.

Warren continued, "And I like the idea of family time."

[Quantum Fire]

Norman shook his head slightly. "To much baggage in those names, I'll not endanger my parents, any of them, by revealing names causally.. I may reveal them in the future, but it will be to Coraline before it's to the rest of her family, not privately when she's not even present. As to how I managed to survive the hunters, let's just say that I had help as I grew up, and leave it at that." He looked over at Harmonic a moment, then smiled slightly. "Harmony here, hasn't ever shared her parent's name with me either, but then, I've never asked."

She shook her head also. "I'm also not ready to share, but let's just say my mother was very good at keeping me under the radar until I was ready and capable enough to stand on my own two feet."

[Butch_Cole]

Of course they would play their cards close to their chest, but Butch was looking for any information at all. He could report back to the others at another time and let them chew on what Norman and Harmonic had said.

"Just curious," Butch shrugged. "I can understand you wanting to protect your family, and it's a good thing we all had people looking out for us or none of us would be here right now. But enough of that. Anyone interested in getting a drink? I should probably get my shirt and jacket back, too."

[Maia]

Maia looked at them, and sighed. It was like talking with Pip or darrik, and she was thankful she had practice with it.

"No thanks Butch."

If they expected to be allowed near the family, well her vote was already leaning towards "no."

This wouldn't get them anywhere, that was obvious.

[Butch_Cole]

I don't feel much like hanging around either, Maia, Butch sent to his sister. Figured it was worth a shot. Let's wrap this up then and give Warren a call for a ride. We're gonna have some things to discuss with Cora and the others

"Well," Butch said, looking over at Maia, and shrugging again. "I guess it's time we're going then. It's been a long day for us. Hopefully we'll get a chance to meet up again at some point. It's been a real pleasure to meet the both of you."

Butch shook both of their hands and waited for Maia.