Colin)
Colin sighed as he realized he had made things worse for his sister when he was trying to make things better. "I apologize. Thought I could help. I do not know, I followed you up here." He crossed the room and placed his hand on her cheek. "Tori, you know that I would do anything for you. I don't like to see you with pain in your eyes, dear sister." His hand moved to her neck and he pulled her into a warm embrace. "You want company on your run?" He asked her before ending the hug.

?

?Tori
Victoria watched him as he approached her. When he caressed her cheek, she made a point of keeping her emotions to herself. “Thank you brother.” she reply to his words. “I’m fine, I promise.” She said, even though she was not fine. “I understand. You know I love our parents. They have given us both so much and I will do anything to protect them anything. This must be done.” She said meaning every word… that didn’t mean it wasn’t hard.

She had grown up, knowing that being a werewolf should never be accepted by vampire society. how many parties that she attended but she when she was disparaged behind her back. Through it all, Colin had and always been there that I have her twin.”

She rested her head on his chest as he hugged her. “ No but thank you. Go to Father help him find an in adequate substitute sister.” she said with a smirk.

Colin)

"Now hold on right there, Victoria. You know you are not a pet project of theirs. We were both orphans and we are true siblings. Born of the same mother and father. So, that was a little bit harsh of a statement. They love us equally, you are just as much their daughter as I am their son." Colin took a breath and then continued.

"Father explained that it is more than just a betrothal between our family and another. Mother and father could be murdered if they do not fill this contract. It is a contract that they made in order to secure their positions in vampire society. If they don't fill it by the appointed date, then they are to be killed and everything they have worked to reach will be stripped from them, including our inheritance." He remembered walking in on their father and another vampire lord one time and the lord asked if they had a vampire daughter as well. His father said that no, they didn't and the Lord had said something about hoping there would be when the time came. "Remember all those hushed conversations that we had tried to over hear or walked into and they suddenly ended with other lords? I think that is what they were discussing. Mother did seem uncomfortable around certain lords when they came to visit or came for the balls."

He looked to Tori, "wonder what else we don't know about?" He asked suddenly wondering what other secrets had been kept from them. "They never really have told us what happened to our real parents."

Tori

Leave it to her big brother to make her feel worse. That was Colin, for you. He came all the way up here to explain…nice.

“Harsh. Forgive me. As I said. I understand. I’m not the right species to fulfill a betrothal contract. You didn’t need to explain it to me. I got when father said it.”?

She leaned against her door. “Did they find someone who they found worthy enough?”

hugs, peace ?and blessings?

Colin)

Colin stepped inside her room and shut the door. "Well, I am glad, however, I know how upset that information made you. Father explained, would you like to know what he told me?" He asked her as he took a seat on the chair near her window.

He wouldn't push the matter if she didn't want to know, but felt that she should know the circumstances behind the reason.

(Tori)

hugs, peace ?and blessings?

(Khadashee)
“A big sister again.” Khadashee said to the young woman “Forever is a very long time.” She said with a smile to the young girl.

Khadashee she was sure that Draven would rather simply leave her here and be off to the sea so she couldn’t truthfully answer the question.? “and marriage is such. A big word. Can I ask, what you know of marriage.” Khadashee asked intrigued.

(Bridget)

With a shrug, Bridget said, "nothing really. Just that when two people love each other they tend to get married...at least that's what I have seen. Like Mamma and stepfather." She said with a smile. Then, "but maybe you don't want to be married. Just love my pappa anyway."

~~~~~~~~~~

(Draven/Damon)

The two headed to the pub to have a drink. Once seated and mugs in hand, Draven spoke. "Khadashee said I should try and talk to you. So, this is me trying." He took a sighing breath before continuing. "Where did you get onto my ship?"

Damon was glad for a woman's influence at this time. "When you were docked in Port Vega a couple of weeks ago."

"You managed to stay hidden for two weeks." Draven made a mental note that he would have a word with his deck hands.?

"Yes, it wasn't an easy task. I think your first mate suspected long before I was discovered. You should think about stowing your smaller boats in a different manner." Damon said as he took a drink.

Draven thought about that before continuing. "Well regardless if we are related or not, I have had time to consider you. I am willing to offer you a spot on the crew, let you prove yourself. Are you willing to work hard and show you are loyal? Are you willing to accept and take orders?"

Damon, "I too have had time to think on things. We are related, but I know that I must earn your trust. I am willing to accept all that you are offering, Captain."

With a nod and a raised mug, Ammon, "Good. Welcome aboard the Serenity." They both finished their mugs of ale and asked for a refill.

(Tag: Khadashee)

(Tori)

Why couldn’t he leave well enough alone, she thought as she dressed. In this moment she was so happy none of that vampire stuff that her brother and father could do worked on her.

When she opened the door,Tori was dressed in black leotard and a black cropped jean jacket. “See I’m fine. Nothing to be concerned about.”

(Colin)

Colin stepped inside her room and shut the door. "Well, I am glad, however, I know how upset that information made you. Father explained, would you like to know what he told me?" He asked her as he took a seat on the chair near her window.

He wouldn't push the matter if she didn't want to know, but felt that she should know the circumstances behind the reason.

(Tag: Tori)

Hollywood)
"It's actually Hollywood now. What...where...what are you doing here? I thought you to be dead? Is Elisiana here as well?" Hollywood had stepped up to Ari and actually reached out to touch his arm to make sure she wasn't seeing things. She could hear the Prince pacing in his office and heard him say, "where is she?"

"Hold on, hold that answer. I must see what the Prince needs before he comes looking for me. Head down the hall, take the next right. Follow that until you come to a T, then go left. This will lead you to the armory. Wait for me there. Just tell who ever may ask, that I sent you." She blinked again then turned to head into the office. She glanced at him one more time before closing the door.

?

Once inside she listened to the Prince tell her to get the very vampire she had just ran into out of the building and out of the compound. She gave him a hardy, aye, aye and then left the office.

?

She returned to the armory, quickly to find Ari waiting for her. "He wants me to remove you. But for now, what are you doing here? How are you here? Where is Eli?"

?

Ari

”Hollywood?” He repeated. When she took his arm he placed his hand over hers. “I should ask you that. Is it really you?”

At her instructions he nodded. “Okay.” He said then following her directions to the armory. As he waited her paced. Lina…he couldn’t believe it. He had never stopped trying to find her. Even when Eli told him he was a fool.

When she came in he smiled. “I’m not surprised. Your prince ?is stubborn to a fault.”

When she asked her question she smirked. “You mean he didn’t tell you, it’s a long story. I am Praetor in the Archon now Hollywood. and I came to pay my respects to your newly awaken Prince. While here there was an attempt on his life. That attempt was made by Eli. I know there is something more going on, but he will not hear. We had words and now he wants me gone. Hmm…I guess it wasn’t that long.”

Hollywood)

The Prince simply shook his head and chuckled as the young whip walked away and out clearly not knowing who he was dealing with. Once the door closed he returned to his desk and pushed a button, summoning his head of security, Hollywood. He wanted her to remove this Ariein from the building and then the compound.

?

Hollywood was in the armory doing inventory and making sure the security team was abreast of recent events. Then she saw the red light flash three times on the wall. "Seems I am being summoned. I will return shortly." She knew to not keep any Prince waiting when called. She increased her speed and was rounding the corner to the Prince's office when she ran, literally, into Ariein. The impact sent them both flying in opposite directions and it took a great effort for her to remain on her feet.

?

Once she was stable, she looked up to see who she had ran into to. Who she saw brought her pause. She had to blink her eyes a couple of times to make sure she was truly seeing him. Then in a whisper in case it wasn't real, "Ariein?"

Ariein mind was already formulating a plan as he left the office of the stubborn prince. He had no intention of letting his sister rot in a cell by some ego driven Prince that didn’t see reason. If Eli let him live it was for a reason and it would be smarter to find out who was after him rather than punish her.

He was just turning a corner when he heard his name from a voice he hadn’t heard from in years. “Lina?” He said equally shocked.?

?

Bridget)
"I am already a big sister, but yes, a big sister again." She paused and thought about how she had helped her mamma with her baby brother. At times she liked to, but other times she would rather be off playing. "Are you and pappa going to be married?" She asked out of curiosity. "Are you going to be staying here, forever?"

?

Khadashee

“A big sister again.” Khadashee said to the young woman “Forever is a very long time.” She said with a smile to the young girl.

Khadashee she was sure that Draven would rather simply leave her here and be off to the sea so she couldn’t truthfully answer the question.?

“and marriage is such. A big word. Can I ask, what you know of marriage.” Khadashee asked intrigued.

Carmen gave Rhemy a smile, "but I have found that ladies who like being with men, tend to not enjoy being with women. I want to make sure that you are really wanting to try before we go further." She paused and looked around. The other two had headed down the beach a little bit and were sitting on the sand watching the waves.

?

Carmen turned Rhemy to face her. She placed a hand on her chin, "perhaps we should try an experiment." She then leaned in and guided Rhemy into a gentle kiss.

Rhemy

“What about women who are bi or gender neutral or sexually fluid?” She teased. She was going to say more but when Carmen reached in to kiss her it shocked her.

Rhemy leaned into the kiss, her hand going up into ?Carmen’s hair, enjoying the feel of the woman’s mouth and hands on hers. The kiss went on for a bit and when it stopped, ?Rhemy smiled stroked Carmen’s cheek as she said. “So What are the results of your experiment.”