RP:That Work We Do

Summary: It’s a full house at Treehouse D’Chath tonight and Magik is making everyone breakfast in the morning.

Treehouse D’Chath

Magik is at the bar on the serving side. There's a bottle of whiskey and a glass for Meri and a cup of juice for the cute one. Magik had just gotten done wiping down the bar top. He celebrates by cracking open a cold beer.

Meri has managed to make it up a tree, and she managed to do it with the mini-version of herself. Okay, fine. It wasn't that hard. She is a psion. She also presumably knows what it is that silhouette of a phoenix wants? Maybe a high-five. If not, Magik. Send help. Meri's blonde and this door is complicated. Once she's inside, she'll wander until she manages to find the bar area, trying to process the décor at the same time. This is not what she imagined when Magik was saying treehouse. The Lyastri is located at the bar and Meri points Fleur, "The cute one has the first question of the day for you." Ready? "Can I play with Oat?" Give the kid time, she'll get the name right eventually.

Magik thinks that the high five is acceptable as well. The key was going to be sushi but..Anyways. Magik smiles as the two make their way over to the bar. A question? "Oh? What's that?" Magik beams even brighter as he nods, "Of course you can play with Oat!" A quick whistle summons the massive black wolf from the fireplace area. Meri is given a quick sniff before his tail goes into overdrive when sniffing Fleur. Ohtar immediately drops into a friendly stalking position then runs off to the center room hoping Fleur will give chase. Magik looks to Meri, "He's great with kids.."

Meri :: The juice Magik got Fleur doesn't go to waste, Meri manages to get her to drink some of it...and then she's off. The races are on. "I remember. So does she. He made quite the impression." That whiskey gets Meri's attention, now that the spawn has been addressed and then her gaze turns to the pool. The blonde notes the shape, and lifts a brow. "A phoenix shaped pool." Don't worry, Mag. Meri hasn't gotten any crazy ideas yet. "Pretty clever lock you got too. Good way to keep people from breaking and entering. Anyway, how's your day been treating you?"

Magik rolls up his left sleeve to reveal a phoenix tattoo on his forearm. It's very well done for it being just black outlines and such. "Yeah, it's a thing with me.." He rubs his forearm after placing it on the bar top for Meri to check out, causing it to put off a little bit of odorless smoke. "My day has been quite something honestly..Training my students and a quick recon of the mage's tower. I have a feeling something big is about to go down soon.." He gets lost in deep thought for just a quick moment before smiling at Meri, "What about you two? Just on a stroll through Sage?"

Meri's tattoos might be colored, but it'll be quickly obvious the blonde appreciates almost all tattoos. Let's be real. There are some really bad ones. This is not the first phoenix tattoo Meri has seen in her years, but this one is slightly more curious. There is almost a question launched at Magik! But instead Meri opts to find out first hand. She's going to reach out and rub Magik's arm in the same way that he just did. She's trying to figure out if it's the tattoo, or if Magik is pulling a fast one on her. Will there be smoke?! Mention of the Mage's guild is given a lift of a brow, it was no secret that they have been out of a tower. "Well be careful. And if you need help...As for Fleur and I? We make our way through the area regularly. There is a museum not far from here and I guess it's my responsibility to make sure it doesn't end up in disarray."

Magik's tattoo does indeed smoke again as he watches curiosity get the best of Meri. The smoke swirls about Meri's hand then up her arm. That last part was definitely his doing, "Yep. It's a thing..Bloodline and such." The elf smirks then takes a sip of his beer at the mention of the MG. It's definitely something he wouldn't want Meri getting involved with at this point. Especially with her having Fleur to take care of. "Museum?" Meri might have to give him a refresher or maybe it's something new to Magik..

Meri grins as she watches the smoke slide up her arm. The black smoke against the kraken dragging a ship down into the deeps gave the already grim tattoo a more menacing feel. Meri wasn't even lowkey jealous of this, she makes a point of sharing her jealousy with Magik. How? She's rubbing the skin of her own arm. "Shooooot, could you imagine?" Meri can and is. There is no smoke, of course. At least not of Meri's doing. Magik does not seem to know where the museum is and the artist begins to rummage through her bag, looking for her sketchbook and something to draw with. "No? You don't know?" She'll try directions first, sketching a map will be a last resort. "Well it's like if you're going to go to go toward Xalious? But don't keep west, head north."

Magik thinks that living tattoos should be a thing now. But back to the museum, "Oh! North then a bit to the east, yeah? Maybe I have been there but not actually took the time to look around. More like getting a lay of the land to see what's going on where..Or something like that."

Meri :: Magik's answer has Meri nodding her head. No sketching maps required today, and so the book remains in her bag. "Well maybe next time you are in the area you will have more of a reason to stop in and say hello." Meri winks to Magik before turning her attention back to her whiskey and emptying the glass. She then turns her gaze to the center room, realizing she has not heard the sound of a child in a bit...and why becomes very apparent. In the time Meri and Magik have been talking, Fleur has gone from toddler to wolf. Two wolves, one much smaller than the other, are now chasing each other around Magik's place. "I promise she is mostly housebroken," she comments to Magik.

Magik nods, "I will definitely do that." Magik wasn't the least bit concerned about Fleur and Ohtar. Meri's housebroken comment gets a chuckle out of him, "I'm worried about those students of mine over Fleur." Teenagers, am I right? And for the two new guests..Meri and Magik are at the bar. Magik is behind it ready to get some drinks for any thirsty folks.

Quintessa || The sound of Quintessa’s boots clicking against the wooden ladder leading up to the treehouse announces her arrival before she even opens the door, the sticky sweet scent of clove cigarettes following her inside as she exhales the final drag from her last smoke. As the tall, gangly woman steps inside she raises a brow, catching the last bit of Magik’s comment about teenagers as she crosses the home to meet them. “Oh, come now. The students are much more well behaved than I ever was at their age.” A slight smile tugs at the corner of her mouth as she turns to lean her elbows on the bar. “Meri,” Quintessa nods in her adoptive aunt’s direction, a simple enough greeting. “Happy to see you. Been hanging out in the Sage lately?”

Rumiko left the Rebel Room with a frown. She'd been told to meet the lycan there so Meri might show her the way to her brothers house, but it appeared the owner hadn't been there in a bit. Fingers pushed into the crimson locks in her face as she rethought her plans for the evening, though there wasn't much else she wanted. 'Look up.' Magik had said, and Meri had mentioned something about the forest too, hadn't she? The walk from Cenril to the Sage forest was quiet, if only because verdant eyes offered weary glances to any that she passed on the path, thus warding off even the smallest of greetings she might have received. Heeled boots carried her further into the lush greenery, pointed ears listening for sounds of life more than the skittering of vermin and the chirping of birds. 'Look up' she repeated in her mind, and it didn't take too terribly long to find what she hoped was the correct place. Rumi took a minute more to listen before her eye catches Quintessa entering one of the huts. The opening of the door is enough to allow her to hear a familiar voice, even from the distance, and that was when she started up the same ladder the other had used. Rather than walking in as Tessa had, the nymph reaches out to knock on the door firmly.

Meri flashes a warm smile toward Magik, one that widens considerably as that familiar smell of cloves reaches her nose. The voice confirms it and Meri is soon angling herself so that Tessa can see that fond grin that is on Meri's red lips. Meri is not ready to think about Fleur as a teenager. She's far cuter as a wolf pup. "Well if it isn't my favorite niece." Also Meri's only niece. Meri's answer to Quintessa's question is a coy, "Yes, no, and maybe." Meri opens her mouth and it looks like she's probably about to say something...typically Meri, but Tessa and Magik are saved by someone knocking to get in. "On it," she says to Magik and Tessa. Meri would have felt bad had she known Rumiko had gone all the way out to Cenril in search of Meri. Hopefully the nymph at least got to enjoy some nice art work during her visit? The door opens and Meri declares a bit loudly, loud enough that Magik and Tessa should be able to hear even though they are back at the bar, "Hey! Look! I found Magik's favorite sister!" Meri didn't know that, Magik probably didn't play favorites. Rumi would be lead back to where everyone is at the bar area.

Magik didn't miss a beat when Tessa makes herself known. He starts making a Rynvale Iced Tea for her with a black twirling straw. "If that was the case, I would have had some Unseen ship them to Vailkrin. They really aren't so bad.." The knock on the door interrupts his drink making. Magik stops, suddenly fiery eyes dart up to Meri but her declaring 'On it' cools him down pretty quick. After all, he has a few weapons stashed for a just in case situation. Given the people gathered, he might not even have time to reach before the intruder is dealt with. But, it's Rumi. The Lyastri pulls out another glass from under the bar and calls out, "Drink Rumi?"

Quintessa ‘s mismatched eyes flicker up to gaze at the door from under black lashes, her smirk fading away to nothing. Had someone tracked her? The changeling certainly didn’t detect anyone following her, but that didn’t mean anything. Instinctively her left hand touches the hilt of her sword, a comforting motion when faced with the unknown. Then Meri announces that it’s Magik’s sister at the door and the warlock moves her hand away from her weapon to brush the overgrown strands of her bangs from her face, relaxing a bit. When Quintessa finally lays eyes on Rumiko she quirks a brow in surprise, looking to Magik for an explanation. “That’s not Aarika,” she states flatly, pointing out what is obvious. “Just how many sisters do you have?” The changeling’s tone is accusing but the smirk that grows on her pale features proves that it’s in jest as she turns and reaches for her drink. “Rumi?” Quintessa throws her blue and hazel gaze over her shoulder at the new arrival, slowly sizing her up. “Yes, please, join us.” She gestures next to herself at the bar. “My name is Quintessa, it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

Rumiko 's grin appeared only after Meri had the door opened fully, though the mention of her being the favorite was enough to cause the expression to falter. "Oh, that isn't... I mean... I don't think..." But whatever she said next was mumbled as she was lead through the entrance and into the bar area where her brother and the woman she'd followed up the tree were stationed. Her gaze wandered the whole walk back, lingering on the small statues resting upon the hearth; Laeli specifically. It was because of her that Rumi was here now, and the nymph missed the other Lyastri dearly. It was the call of her name that finally drew her attention back to those gathered, and a sheepish smile is offered as she dips her head just slightly, "Sure, what do you have?" The changling was addressed then, and a dip of her head came in lue of an offered hand, "Well met, Quintessa. I am... well," She motioned towards Magik, "Rumiko, or Rumi." She crossed the rest of the way to claim a seat near the warlock, her nails coming to tap along the bar as green moved to find black, "You don't make it easy to find you."

Meri :: Now that the crowd was growing, Meri doesn't settle back into the bar. Instead she stands in the behind the bar area, but the drink making is left to Magik. Meri just wanted to be able to chat and see all of the faces she was talking within without having to lean forward across the bar to see them. The name Aarika has Meri lifting a brow, based on her reaction she has either heard this name or they might have met. She doesn't comment though, instead leveling a smug look on Magik when Quintessa inquires about how many sister's he has. Smug, because she is not the one doing the asking this time. "We have also got Ohtar and Fleur running around somewhere." The two wolves, occasionally seen bolting in and out of view.

Magik laughs as he starts making Rumiko's drink, another Rynvale Iced Tea, "Anything you want but everything is already out for this so.." It's made from the finest liquors in the lands, red twirly straw included, and it seems to be a SoS favorite so that's what she's getting. Replying to Tessa he says, "Three.. Rumi, Aarika, Laeli, and I have a brother, Fynor." The elf also adds, "And no, I don't pick favorites but it's probably Rumiko anyways." He slides the finished drink to his long lost but now found sister, "Enjoy.." Magik then takes a sip of his own beer. Before his next sip, he shifts his eyes to each guest. Rumi first, just to make sure this isn't some drunken illusion. It doesn't take him long to convince himself that she's actually here. His next words are to the other women, "Before things get carried away, as they tend to do sometimes..Any new whispers amoung the Unseen?"

Quintessa lifts her glass closer to her face to sip her drink through her straw as Rumiko speaks, shifting to dodge the two wolves as they bound behind her before disappearing back down into the halls. “You can call me Tessa,” she adds after swallowing, her gaze shifting over to her aunt. “Wait, that’s Fleur?” Quintessa cranes her neck to spy down the hallway after the pair. “I… shouldn’t be surprised honestly.” The changeling moves forward again to rest against the bar, her demeanor changing as Magik speaks of the Unseen. Expressionless, she glances at Rumiko once again before she parts her black painted lips to speak. “Whispers, yes, and more. I never gave you my report on Maggie the Magpie did I?”

Rumiko had never had a Rynvale Iced Tea, though then again she hadn't spent much time in Rynvale either. The beverage was taken when it was offered, first brought to her nose for a sniff before the twirly straw was captured by unpainted lips. The first sip was taken hesitantly, the liquid swished around her mouth so she could savor the taste fully before she nods in approval and sets the glass before her, "Not bad." Magik's comment earns a snort, "You only say that because I'm the one here." As Meri moved behind the bar she became the subject of the nymph's attention, "Your gallery is beautiful." She almost wished she'd brought the package with her today; though she couldn't be sure, the art style seemed close enough. Lips parted again, though the cryptic words spoken between the others has a single brow inching upward- had she heard them correctly? Lashes flutter a time or two as she falls quiet, her attention and that confused expression turned Magik's way.

Meri :: Ohtar and Fleur have done a pretty good job of not playing in the same room where the adults have been conversing, but the apple does not fall far from the tree and curiosity gets the better of the wolf pup. There are new adults and thus new smells. She's runs into check them out, only to be promptly scooped up by her mother. Meri deposits the wolf pup right into Quintessa's lap. "Yup, this is Fleur" Meri declares to her niece. Fleur is excited and she promptly tries to lick Quintessa's face. All of the kisses for Tessa. If Tessa doesn't put Fleur back onto the floor, then the pup will walk on the bar to try and visit Rumi next. And then after a quick hello, she's trying to jump down to resume her playing with the best babysitter ever. Ohtar. Meri addresses the easy stuff first, a sheepish smile is given to Rumi, "You went out? I missed you, I'm sorry. I hope you like the picture I sent you." Magik speaking so freely about the Unseen causes Meri to freely blurt out a question, "Is your sister going to start running with us...?"

Magik shakes his head at Tessa, "I don't believe so, no but that name has me all kinds of curious.." Magik can tell Rumi would be all kinds of confused. Before he can explain Meri's comment as well, he actually gives her a very slight hip check as he leans to her side, "I knew that drawing was from you. Thank you." Everyone has drinks? Good. Another fill of Meri's glass before he finds himself in his own stool. -Is- Rumiko going to run with them? "Hmm.." The Lyastri looks to his favorite sister enjoying her drink, "I'm not sure, Meri..Having another set of eyes in the world would be highly beneficial.." He tilts his head then looks to his right hand lady, "Care to explain, Tessa?" Fleur would not be ignored, of course. There was a quick refill for the pup as well should she feel the need for it.

Quintessa squeeks with surprise when the lycan pup is plopped in her lap, but she is immediately won over by Fleur’s puppy dog eyes. “Ah!” The changeling’s pointed fingernails rake behind the pup’s ears until she starts licking her face and then the woman reels back and protects herself as best as she can, giving her the opening she needs to escape to the bar and down to Rumiko. “We’ll have to introduce her to Berrentam, I’m sure they’ll get along.” When Meri blurts out something about her running with them, Quintessa leans forward to take her straw into her mouth so she wasn’t expected to give an answer, at least not immediately. “Well,” the Raven begins slowly, pushing her Rynvale Island Iced Tea away from herself across the bar. “I’ll not deny that our organization could use another set of eyes, depending on where they are looking.” She turns in her seat to meet Rumiko’s gaze, her dark brows furrowing as she contemplates what to say next. “Where do you hail from, Rumiko? Or rather a better question would be: Are you or have you ever been associated with a specific region or government? I ask because that is what we do,” Quintessa gestures to those gathered with her, Meri and Magik, when she says ‘we’. “We watch them. We keep an eye on the nobles and the monarchs and the militant republics and we make sure that they don’t get away with abusing their power. We are always there, always watching from the shadows… Now I ask you, would you be willing to risk your life and freedom to ensure the life and freedom of others? Are you willing to get your hands dirty and do what the conventional ‘heroes’ won’t? Magik seems to think you have what it takes or he would never even be talking about it now.”

Rumiko finds herself torn between two completely different conversations. To Meri she nods, her glass sipped via the straw without her having to lift it from the counter, "Ah, yes. It was the first I was able to make it out that way." Cenril wasn't a place she was terribly fond of for reasons she doesn't much speak of, but the trip was worth it to see the beautifully crafted images. If there was one thing the nymph was a fan of, it was art. The admission that Meri was indeed the artist behind the gift earns her another smile, small but genuine, "Thank you for that, it is quite lovely." And a memory she was glad to have saved in more than just her mind. Whenever Fleur made her way over she too would receive a smile, though there would be no attempt to reach out to touch the pup. Rumiko's other half was a wolf too, and she knew well enough that some liked to have their fur stroked, and some did not. In this moment, she would choose the side of caution. A tilt of her head sent crimson hair sliding back into her face, and the hand not clutching her too smooth drink rose to push the fringe back as she looked between Magik and Tessa for an explanation. When it finally came, the nymph took a long moment of silence before answering. Nails tapped along the counter once more before fingers laced together and settled in her lap. Teeth pinched the skin of her bottom lips as she looks first to Magik, whom she is not sure knows her full story. "I am not from here." She didn't know the other well enough to get into where she -was- from. "I did live here years ago, which was when I came into the family." A hand rose indicate the space between herself and the other Lyastri. "While here, I held the crown of Enchantment." It hadn't been a terribly long reign, but it was one that ended on her terms. "That was right before I moved away. I passed the crown to a pixie I thought worthy of it." She had no idea how that hard turned out. The rest of Tessa's words are met with quiet contemplation, and she reached for her glass once more to moisten her suddenly dry throat. A glance to Magik came with the tilt of her head; had he meant for all of this? "My hands are always dirty." It was whispered, though she wasn't sure why. It was to her brother she would speak then, "Does he now?"

Meri wasn’t expecting that hip check but it was a slight one, so not enough to take the werewolf off balance. The thank you that is spoken to her is given a soft smile and when her drink is topped off, Magik is given a wink. Talk of Fleur meeting Berrentam is met with an enthusiastic nod. While Meri is normally very good at rambling, she also has enough common sense to know when to curb her commentary. Not that she thinks Quintessa and Magik would mind in the slightest if she kept on, but some moments are for fun and others are for business. Blue eyes were on Rumi while Magik and Quintessa delivered the SoS sales pitch. Meri was quite curious to hear what Rumiko had to say. As Meri listens, the blonde’s expression reveals that at least one person in the room is impressed with her answer, specifically the part where Rumi admitted that her hands were always dirty. Meri smirks. It seemed promising, but that did not mean Rumi was in. So she waited, watched, and listened.

Magik finished his beer off while listening to Tessa and Rumiko's. His eyes set on Meri for just a moment before continuing on, "There's obviously no pressure here and I didn't mean to back you into a corner. It's just the way the conversation went. But, now it's out there.." He focuses on Fleur and Ohtar then looks down the hall where his daughter's room is. "We have an expansive network with all walks and forms of life. We are everywhere and nowhere. And more importantly, we all look out for one another. We aren't necessarily the good guys and we aren't the bad guys. We do what needs to be done to protect those who have no voice. Like Tessa said, we also do our best to keep any tyrants at bay.." Those fiery black eyes study his sister with a slight smile, "And when there aren't Kings to keep from killing innocents students or orcs taking villagers hostage, we do this. We hang out, donate extra food and gold to poorer communities, and just try to keep the world right."

Quintessa nods her head, echoing Magik’s sentiment. “Yes, there’s never any kind of obligation to our cause, except maybe information and the understanding that in order for our organization to work we have to be kept secret. If we give the elites something tangible to target they’ll try to stop us- it’s in their nature. But as Magik stated we are people from every walk of life. We are artists, inventors, doctors, and scholars forming a powerful network in which we can rely on each other. A complex organism with information as our life-blood.” Quintessa pauses to take a sip of her drink, chuckling at her own overzealousness when discussing the clan. “Forgive me if I’m coming on a little too strong- I’m perhaps one of the more idealistic members of our little family.” The warlock stands slowly, allowing her pale fingers to dust her cloak off idly. “I’m forgetting why I came here…” Mismatched eyes flicker up to Magik, a frown tugging at the corner of her mouth. “Is Karasu here?” She glances in the direction of the guest rooms. “I’m trying to monitor her recovery.” The warlock begins to step in the direction of the room she and her partner shared whenever they stopped here, turning back to grant Rumiko one last glance. “Don’t feel pressured to answer right away- in fact, it’s better you think about it first. Make sure it’s really what you want to do. We’ve had people back out before…” Quintessa saunters away from the group, drink in her hands as she rounds the corner. Popping her head back around the threshold she gives everyone a slight smile. “If there is nothing more you’d like me to add I’d like to turn in early. Goodnight. It was lovely meeting you, Rumiko. And you two, don’t get into a drinking contest again- Magik isn’t a vampire anymore and it could literally kill him trying to keep up.”

Rumiko wasn't sure how to feel. On one hand she did feel a bit backed into a corner, but on the other? She trusted Magik more than she would likely admit in present company. Despite the long distance, they had been able to fall right back in stride with one another, just as if she'd never left. If he trusted these two? Why shouldn't she as well? As if reading her mind, the elder Lyastri's words helped to calm the inner worries of the nymph. "What you speak of... sounds similar to what I used to do. Standing up and protecting those that cannot do it themselves, offering asylum to those that had once been under the rule of tyranny." It was curious how similar the two paths seemed to be, almost as if the fates offered her a change in scenery while still wanting her on the same walk of life. "I had wondered what I was going to do with my life here." It wasn't a commitment, but a roundabout promise to think of what they did. what they could accomplish, and what she might could offer to the fold. The last of her drink was sucked down through the straw before the glass was pushed across the bar. "It is a lot to think about." As Quintessa stood up to depart, she watched her walk own the hall and realized she too was tired. A glance towards Magik and back down the hall came next, "Is that offer of a room still standing?" It was a long walk back to Vailkrin, and she'd really rather not.

Meri is working on her whiskey while the conversation presses on. Another round of mostly silence from Meri? Well it isn’t because she is uncomfortable, the blonde is actually more than content with her current company. It was nice to hear both Magik and Quintessa speak so passionately about the cause to Rumiko, Meri got a more watered down version. Magik’s gaze is on her for a moment and both he and Tessa are apologizing to Rumiko for making her feel pressured, which only causes the blonde to smile sheepishly toward the redhead. “Sorry, I have no shame.” I mean, she was the one who just blurted out the initial question about if Rumi was going to join or not. The tattooed woman lets her eyes trail over the faces of her present company, focusing predominantly on Magik, Tessa and Rumiko. That is, until she notices Magik’s gaze fall on Fleur and Ohtar then towards one door in particular. A slight lift of the brow, but Meri doesn’t derail the conversation with random questions. Tessa bids everyone goodnight and Meri lifts her almost emptied glass to her niece. A sly smirk crosses her lips when Tessa speaks of drinking contests.“Please, I could drink both Rumi and Magik under the table. Bet.” A beat. “I’ll drop by with Fleur and pay you a visit soon.” Speaking of Fleur, it seems the toddler has finally played herself into exhaustion. Just a few moments ago there was movement in the pup, and now she is out cold and using Ohtar as a pillow. Which means Meri is going to need to put on her mom hat and head out to get the kid into bed very shortly. “Pup down, I guess that means I’m out too.” She’s already moving away from the group to collect her kid.

Magik thinks for a moment, "Ya know, I really don't know if she's here or not. Pyro classes have been multiple times a day for a while now. This is only the second time I've really stepped away." The first was to have a drink at Meri's gallery recently..Anyways. Magik gives Tessa a nod of approval, not that she needs his permission to slip away from the conversation. Empty glasses are gathered as he listens to Rumiko once more, nodding in agreement. "That's why my pyro students are here..Our guild was taken over by an outside force. The fear of what would happen if I abandoned them led to me opening my doors to my student's. Having said that, you are always welcome here, Rumi. There's a few unclaimed rooms still." As Meri starts to gather Fleur up, he adds, "Same for you, Meri. It's a long walk back to Cenril." Magik's definitely going to have to make breakfast in the morning. As everyone makes their decisions, Magik hangs back in the bar area for just a few minutes more to jot down a few more notes then he's off to bed himself.