?

Greyson blushed a bit at Miss Margaret’s perceptiveness. “I am find Miss Margaret. My apologies for worrying you. It is just that my weekend romp to the other side of the globe must come to an end. It would appear I am needed at work. And I have to fly out tomorrow.” Greyson said

?

“Yeah, Me too.” Marcellus said.

?

Alex sighed. “That would make three of us. But I feel bad about leaving Sammy here alone. Its just so much.”

?

(Margaret)

"Ye need na worry yerselves, good sirs and lady," Margaret said as she brought in a platter of braised turnips and set it on the table.? "Duncan and ah will be seeing to Mistress Sam's care and needs. And ah suspect Wee Jaimie will as well. The lad seems quite smitten with yer Sam." The housekeeper frowned slightly as she returned to the kitchen, wondering if the young ghost's attachment to the new mistress of the castle had something to do with his unseemly and uncharacteristic tantrum earlier.

?

- Scheherazade -

?

Colonies…she didn’t think she had everyone heard anyone called the US colonies except in books. Sam offered a warm smile. “Callum it is. But only if you will please drop the Mistress and called me Sam. Noone ever calls me ?Scheherazade,” she said with a smile even is he did rather liked how he said her full name.

?

“And I think I would like to hear it about it all. This place is so grand and there are so many knooks and crannies someone can get lost in. I think I am going to like exploring here. I have always been a rather curious sort. So tell me Callum, How did you come to live and work here at the castle. Have your family been here long? Miss Margaret said her family has served here for generation I fact that I find ?fascinating. To me its incredible to be able to trace your roots back that far. I actually had no idea I was apart of the Connery Family tree until the lawyer sent me the papers saying that my great uncle had died and the castle now belonged to me. I am sorry. I am babbling.” She blushed. “please forgive me.”

?

?

? Callie took a step toward Etienne, but thought twice about backhanding the mouthy woman. Chase, though, stepped in and talked to the woman about "quieting down" and went on to speak of an undead woman and of needing this Etienne's help

?

? ?"Wait," Callie muttered. "Let's get this straight, this guy kidnapped you. Right sheriff?"

?

?Sheriff Miller was at his desk, drinking from a flask he'd pulled out of a drawer there. He looked at the redhead, eyes bewildered, "I...reckon so."

?

? ?"And you," she looked to Chase. "What's this about an undead woman? Can you both just tell us straight up what is going on? It may help all of us get out of here alive...please."

?

The door rattled hard again and the wind's howling roared outside the windows. Callie was afraid the walls of the sheriff's office would not hold the demons off for much longer.

?

(Flynn)

?

Between the howling of the storm, the hammering of the demonic mob on the doors and walls and the back-and-forth going on between the others inside the sheriff's office, it was getting difficult for Flynn to maintain his reverie. Also, there was the matter that they were clearly running out of time. ?

?

"I don't mean to rush things," the pookah said without lifting his head or opening his eyes, "but I think we got maybe one minute before that mob out there busts in here and starts tearing into us. Now I can stop some of 'em, and I know some of you can stop some more, but unless you're ready and able to kill every last person in this town, we need to get out of here before that happens."

?

Flynn paused a moment to let that sink in before continuing.? "Now I can get us out of here, but only to one place and only one time.? I'd rather we use that to get to Miller's Crossing, but I've never been there and so I cain't do it by myself. So if any of you folks have been there and have a really clear memory of some place there with a door, now's the time to say so.? Otherwise, the best I can do is get us to the train station in Cullenville, which is sixty miles in the other direction." The pookah lifted the edge of his hat just slightly and nodded at the door being pounded by the mob outside. "And in case there's any doubt, this ain't up for debate. The moment I hear that door start to splinter or come off its hinges, I'm gone."

?

[Sicilien]

?

Just as things started to get more heated between Callie and the Sleeping Beauty, Sicilien couldn't help but feel his mouth twist into an almost sadistic grin, one hand going up to slide his hat down just enough to reveal the top half of his face, hiding the rest behind the wide brim.? Callie looked like she was about to deck the woman who seemed to be able to give as much as she received, and had it not been for the efforts of the white knight Chase, who rushed to put a lid over that boiling pot, the bounty hunter was dead sure that the two would go at it like two rabid cats.? Alas, t'was not to be.? Having been denied a bit of a show, he couldn't help but add in his own two cents, albeit as unwanted as they may have been.

?

"Sure you are "kidnapped," and I s'pose those are your "knights in shining armor" so desperately trying to rescue their fair maiden?" he retorted, pointing at the door which, to its testament of strength, was somehow able to withstand the storm of claws outside, though it was starting to look like it was bending inwards.? As much as he wanted to upkeep that conversation however, Flynn was right.? They didn't have time for chit chat, and every second they wasted was a second they got closer to being dog food.? The sheriff was no help either, taking to the bottle as he stayed quiet, hoping that they and the rest of the world would forget about his presence.? Letting the chair tip forward, Sicilien placed both elbows atop his knees once his feet felt solid ground and pleated his hand upon which he rested his chin, darkly looking over the ragtag team of hardy adventurers.

?

"Kerfluffery aside, we need to get the hell out of dodge, and fast.? Don't know anything 'bout Miller's Crossing, and it seems no one in this hellhole does either" he said, turning to Flynn.? "But anywhere's better than here.? Flynn, what'd it take for you to spirit us out and how long would you need?"? He reached for his coat and sniper rifle, racking in a bullet just in case he'd have to use it.

?

Etienne

?

When the redhead step forward, Etienne sat up. Her feet touching the floor. Her hand curled into a fist. Waiting. Ready. When the woman back down, her eyes turned and narrowed on the ass who had followed her from Vulture City. “I never asked to be apart of any of this and I will thank you kindly if you would let me go.” Etienne said.

?

When the other two men chime in, she stood and turned to walk to the window. She frowned as she looked out. She didn’t see anything but dust and wind. Howling wind. “There doesn’t seem to be anyone out there,” she said looking out the window through the bars.

?

?Chase

Chase was not in the mood for a catfight even though a part of him wanted to see it himself.? They needed one another and not all battered and bruised.? He breathed as he looked at them.? “No, I did not kidnap her!? I am not a monster!”? He said leaving out the word completely, part of him was though.? Chase wanted to be diplomatic seems everyone thought he was some knight to the damsel…but he was far from it and the woman thought the other man was her night and wanted nothing to do with Chase from what he reckoned.

He deep down just wanted her safe and he wanted his life back and that rested in Miller’s Crossing where they all needed to go to get free…him most of all!

?

?“She called herself homunculi…some nonsense like that and wanted to detain us….however, she could. Some more easily than others.”

He said thinking that his loneliness nearly got the better of him.

“Get everyone out then, I can hold them off should they get in.? Ten minutes do or you need longer?”? He asked as he would take off his shirt leaving on only his vest for his top, the pants didn’t rip but he would like to keep the hat so he put that on his lanyard and waited for them to move as he moved to bar the door a bit more to have a little more time.

?

“Can you all get a move on already?”? He asked rolling his back as he prepared for the slight pain that he knew was bound to come with his change.? If Etienne didn’t like him before…she damn sure wasn’t going to like him now.? She might very well not let him touch her again.

?

But it wasn’t something he wasn’t used too.

?

“They are demons…their form is loose so they can hide in the wind but they have to be solid to attack.

?

Now go!”? He said holding of his change for as long as possible.

?

? Callie took a step toward Etienne, but thought twice about backhanding the mouthy woman. Chase, though, stepped in and talked to the woman about "quieting down" and went on to speak of an undead woman and of needing this Etienne's help

?

? ?"Wait," Callie muttered. "Let's get this straight, this guy kidnapped you. Right sheriff?"

?

?Sheriff Miller was at his desk, drinking from a flask he'd pulled out of a drawer there. He looked at the redhead, eyes bewildered, "I...reckon so."

?

? ?"And you," she looked to Chase. "What's this about an undead woman? Can you both just tell us straight up what is going on? It may help all of us get out of here alive...please."

?

The door rattled hard again and the wind's howling roared outside the windows. Callie was afraid the walls of the sheriff's office would not hold the demons off for much longer.

?

(Flynn)

?

Between the howling of the storm, the hammering of the demonic mob on the doors and walls and the back-and-forth going on between the others inside the sheriff's office, it was getting difficult for Flynn to maintain his reverie. Also, there was the matter that they were clearly running out of time. ?

?

"I don't mean to rush things," the pookah said without lifting his head or opening his eyes, "but I think we got maybe one minute before that mob out there busts in here and starts tearing into us. Now I can stop some of 'em, and I know some of you can stop some more, but unless you're ready and able to kill every last person in this town, we need to get out of here before that happens."

?

Flynn paused a moment to let that sink in before continuing.? "Now I can get us out of here, but only to one place and only one time.? I'd rather we use that to get to Miller's Crossing, but I've never been there and so I cain't do it by myself. So if any of you folks have been there and have a really clear memory of some place there with a door, now's the time to say so.? Otherwise, the best I can do is get us to the train station in Cullenville, which is sixty miles in the other direction." The pookah lifted the edge of his hat just slightly and nodded at the door being pounded by the mob outside. "And in case there's any doubt, this ain't up for debate. The moment I hear that door start to splinter or come off its hinges, I'm gone."

?

[Sicilien]

?

Just as things started to get more heated between Callie and the Sleeping Beauty, Sicilien couldn't help but feel his mouth twist into an almost sadistic grin, one hand going up to slide his hat down just enough to reveal the top half of his face, hiding the rest behind the wide brim.? Callie looked like she was about to deck the woman who seemed to be able to give as much as she received, and had it not been for the efforts of the white knight Chase, who rushed to put a lid over that boiling pot, the bounty hunter was dead sure that the two would go at it like two rabid cats.? Alas, t'was not to be.? Having been denied a bit of a show, he couldn't help but add in his own two cents, albeit as unwanted as they may have been.

?

"Sure you are "kidnapped," and I s'pose those are your "knights in shining armor" so desperately trying to rescue their fair maiden?" he retorted, pointing at the door which, to its testament of strength, was somehow able to withstand the storm of claws outside, though it was starting to look like it was bending inwards.? As much as he wanted to upkeep that conversation however, Flynn was right.? They didn't have time for chit chat, and every second they wasted was a second they got closer to being dog food.? The sheriff was no help either, taking to the bottle as he stayed quiet, hoping that they and the rest of the world would forget about his presence.? Letting the chair tip forward, Sicilien placed both elbows atop his knees once his feet felt solid ground and pleated his hand upon which he rested his chin, darkly looking over the ragtag team of hardy adventurers.

?

"Kerfluffery aside, we need to get the hell out of dodge, and fast.? Don't know anything 'bout Miller's Crossing, and it seems no one in this hellhole does either" he said, turning to Flynn.? "But anywhere's better than here.? Flynn, what'd it take for you to spirit us out and how long would you need?"? He reached for his coat and sniper rifle, racking in a bullet just in case he'd have to use it.

?

?

Etienne

?

When the redhead step forward, Etienne sat up. Her feet touching the floor. Her hand curled into a fist. Waiting. Ready. When the woman back down, her eyes turned and narrowed on the ass who had followed her from Vulture City. “I never asked to be apart of any of this and I will thank you kindly if you would let me go.” Etienne said.

?

When the other two men chime in, she stood and turned to walk to the window. She frowned as she looked out. She didn’t see anything but dust and wind. Howling wind. “There doesn’t seem to be anyone out there,” she said looking out the window through the bars.

?

?

?Chase

Chase was not in the mood for a catfight even though a part of him wanted to see it himself.? They needed one another and not all battered and bruised.? He breathed as he looked at them.? “No, I did not kidnap her!? I am not a monster!”? He said leaving out the word completely, part of him was though.? Chase wanted to be diplomatic seems everyone thought he was some knight to the damsel…but he was far from it and the woman thought the other man was her night and wanted nothing to do with Chase from what he reckoned.

He deep down just wanted her safe and he wanted his life back and that rested in Miller’s Crossing where they all needed to go to get free…him most of all!

?

?“She called herself homunculi…some nonsense like that and wanted to detain us….however, she could. Some more easily than others.”

He said thinking that his loneliness nearly got the better of him.

“Get everyone out then, I can hold them off should they get in.? Ten minutes do or you need longer?”? He asked as he would take off his shirt leaving on only his vest for his top, the pants didn’t rip but he would like to keep the hat so he put that on his lanyard and waited for them to move as he moved to bar the door a bit more to have a little more time.

?

“Can you all get a move on already?”? He asked rolling his back as he prepared for the slight pain that he knew was bound to come with his change.? If Etienne didn’t like him before…she damn sure wasn’t going to like him now.? She might very well not let him touch her again.

?

But it wasn’t something he wasn’t used too.

?

“They are demons…their form is loose so they can hide in the wind but they have to be solid to attack.

?

Now go!”? He said holding of his change for as long as possible.

?

tag?Chase, Callie, Flynn, Sicilien, Etienne, Charity (jumping in))

Mia had listened to Brandon’s apology then the other’s input of yesterday not being fair and what not.? She understood what Mr. Chord and Ms. Harrison were doing.? It seemed like it was her turn and she stood.??“Well, Mr. Chord and Ms. Harrison, I understood for the most part what you were trying to do yesterday.? We,” she gestured around the table, “did not seem to understand as a whole what was going on.? The first part with working through the different obstacles, that was understood and everyone worked as they were supposed to.? Individually at first, then as a team.? The second part with the robots just seemed a bit, too much at that time.? Granted, Brandon tried to tell us what to do and informed us of what he knew about the bots.? But then everyone tried to take things into their own hands more or less.? I did follow what Kat suggested, but until I became covered in wet mud, I didn’t realize the bots could read heat signatures.??As soon as I realized it was a losing battle and the one couldn’t find me, I decided the best course of action was to retreat.? Then Gen decided to send off some kind of screeching that was not conducive and more or less almost deafened us all.??All in all, yes, I understand that you all,” she looked at the team around the table, “felt it was overkill and too much.? So, did I, however, the team efforts that we had put in on the obstacle course was suddenly gone and everyone seemed to panic.? And that is what Mr. Chord and Ms. Harrison were doing.? They wanted to see what we would do in a sudden attack.? And well, we failed miserably.”?? With that she sat back down.

(Ireland, Chord, Harrison)

?When Mia was done speaking she wanted to clap and shout yes! Finally someone who got it. But even though that was her character, even though that’s how she felt saying that would have been totally out of line. So she remained quiet.?

?She also didn’t take her turn to speak “I was not in the room during the exercise so I don’t think it would add to the conversation for me to speak my thoughts on yesterday” she said softly.

?Which was true. She didn’t think anyone wanted to hear how she thought they were all sexed crazed teenagers who were squandering a mass opportunity.

?She wondered if Kat and Kites realized just how telling their behavior and innuendos were as they sat. It was a small conference room and they were all sitting at the same table. You would have to deaf and blind not see what was going on with them.

?Even Brandon. Did he really just send her a text while sitting there. Really dude? She was a bit surprised when she saw him looking down at something under the table and realized it was his phone when her phone vibrated against her back side.

God...this guy.

It made her wonder just how old everyone was. They all seemed so young and a bit immature...everyone but Mia. She actually seemed to be the most mature out of all of them...even her.. even more so than Brandon and he was older than all of them and had been with Chord the longest.

When everyone was finish speaking Chord’s deep thoughtful brown eyes meet Harrison’s across the table. Although the look the two shared was unreadable, it would be obvious in the room that the two shared a moment.?

After a beat, he nodded his head. And steepled his hands. “I just want you all to know that I appreciate what all of you have said here today.??Really I do. We asked you to speak up because we wanted to hear your thoughts on the matter. Find out where all of your heads are. Thank you all for sharing so freely. ?

“Mia is right.??In everything she said. I explained that very same sentiment after Gen’s expressed her feelings yesterday. Thank you Mia, for not just hearing me but for taking the time to understand me through whatever hurt feelings my unfiltered honesty may have caused.”?He nodded a soft smile to Mia.?

“With that being said, After yesterday and last night and today, Harrison and I have come to a decision.” He paused?

“We have decided to disband this program effective immediately.??We realize that what we want for this program, what we want to accomplish is not properly lining up with the thoughts, ideas, goals, values and interest in the way we would like.?Knowing this, having a full understanding of the current and potential conflict this clash would cause if we continued would not be conducive to the necessary team growth needed to form strong long lasting bonds of trust, camaraderie and confidence between you and I and Ms Harrison and that would just be unfair and cruel to all of you. Contrary to what some of you may think. Cruel is never what I aspire to be... with anyone.

?“Thank you all for the time that you have given. I truly appreciate it. It was a pleasure to meet all of you. My door is always open if you should need anything.?

Please stay and have your fill of breakfast. Whatever is left you are welcome to take with you. The clothing that has been provided for you for this week is yours to keep if you want it. so is the food in the mini bars. A car will be provided to you within the hour to take you anywhere in the city you would like to go.?

Godspeed and Good Luck with you for you future endeavors. “

And with that he stood and moved towards where Harrison was sitting. She was about to speak, but Chord shook his head. And with that Harrison sighed softly and also stood.

Harrison nodded to the occupants of the table and moved to fall into step beside Chord. As she moved past Mia, she handed the young woman an envelope. Chord opened the door held it open so that she could pass through and then the two left.

Ireland looked up at Brandon. She was stunned but not at all surprised by what just happened.

"Wow. Wow. The three of you are just something else. And Brandon I am so disappointed in you.”

She said she was going to keep her thoughts to herself. Damn but she failed miserably with that one.

(Brandon)?

Brandon looked at his sister and she seemed to want to go all in.? “Thank you!”? Was all he said as he stood up and left the room.? He made his way to his room.? Seemed his actions had really created more of a problem than anything.? He was not a natural born leader, he had try to put forth more effort.? He didn’t trust himself to lead beyond his head or his inner turmoil or his penis.? Since his father, his sister and Harrison seemed to believe that is where he was leading from.?

He wasn’t but that was neither here nor there, he had caused the rest of the group to lose what could have been a golden opportunity for all of them and he had single handedly messed it up and Ireland was even more disappointed in him.? Which was fine.? He lived in that place recently what was one more person being disappointed with him.? Right now he just felt the need to get away.

Of all of them only Mia got the fact or stated that they had all failed to see the bigger picture.? All he could do was apologize for his part.

He went to see his father, the best or the most he could do was give the rest of the group a chance.? Ireland deserved to be here and she made it pretty clear she was a better leader than him.? He would leave the team if it would give the others a chance to be better without him.

(Kat)

Kat sat for a moment, not sure she heard what she heard. She understood what Chord and them were trying to do. The big picture as Mia had said but in her mind he took it a little to far. There were better ways to get tbe point across than the way Chord had tried. Still to just give up was not something she had thought he would have done.

?So when Chord and Harrison walked out, Kat honestly couldn't believe it. She looked to Brandon, who just stood up and left. This made her even more confused. Not sure what to do she looked to the others. "I'm heading up to my room. I'm going to collect my stuff and head back to my old place. There is room if you all want to crash for a while."?

? ?Kat stood and headed for the door. As she did she stopped and turned around. "I don't want to leave. This is the first time in my life that I have been around someone like me. I don't want to lose my friends."?

(Gen)

Gen nodded to what Kites said, happy to hear that the winged youth's sentiments mirrored his own. He wanted to give Kites a supportive kiss or hug when he sat back down, but contented himself with a smile and a playful shoulder nudge, not wanting to risk even more disapproval from Chord or anyone else.

He then listened to Mia say her piece, then glowered at the water controller as she sat down.? "I said I was sorry," he muttered, digging back into his food and stuffing his face angrily. "We can't _all_ be perfect."

The androgyne wasn't prepared though for what came next, nearly choking on his food when Chord announced that he was disbanding the project and that they were on their own as of this morning. Then Ireland seeming to echo him in blaming everyone but Mia for this.? And then Harrison handing an envelope to Mia as she and Chord left the room.

Gen felt sorry for Brandon as the man gave Ireland an injured look and a quiet "thank you" and then headed for the doors.? "It wasn't your fault!" he called out as the dejected man left the room, adding "Not all of it anyway" quietly to himself.

"Me too," Gen said when Kat announced her intentions. Impulsively, the androgyne got up and went to the cat girl and hugged her tightly.? "I don't want to lose you either," he said holding her close, his voice choking a bit with emotion.? "Not any of you," he went on, glancing back at Kites with longing. His expression glowered a bit when he added "Not even you two" looking at Mia and Ireland.

"The same goes for me too," he said finally, reluctantly releasing Kat and stepping back.? "I'm going back to my old place, and if anyone needs a place to stay, it's got plenty of room." He chewed his lip a bit, looking a little embarrassed.? "It doesn't have electricity or running water.? And you have to fly or swim or have a boat to get there. But it does have a great view of the harbor and the city skyline," he added, grinning weakly.? "Anyway, you're all welcome."

The androgyne hesitated, then walked up to Kites and hugged him impulsively.? "Come with me," he said softly, looking up into the taller youth's eyes.? "I'll take care of you. It won't be as fancy or comfortable as this place, but at least we won't have to worry about pleasing anyone else."

?

Tag: Kat, Gen, Kites, Mia, Ireland, Chord and Harrison, Brandon