Brave New World

[cptdragon9]

(I think you board ate one of my posts…. I’ll try this again. Most of what Tim is picking up is posted in your general background for your charries. Just the peripherals. Nothing in-depth)

Tim would have continued admiring the girl’s backside had not the aroma of food drifted across the room, reminding him that he’d just gone through a minor battle, a teleportational jump, and a casual walk in the woods; and that he was now running on empty. His mentality shifted away from sex to food, the latter a bit more necessary, at least for the moment. Besides he could always ingratiate himself with her later.

As it was he could barely keep from drooling as he was introduced to the old codger of a cook that called himself Connor. Seemed amiable enough. Tim plastered on that charming smile of his and easily shook Steele’s hand, even as he lightly skimmed over el Jefe’s brain: Nothing too in-depth, just a cursory peek into who he was dealing with. This older Steele fella seemed more about plain business, and cared for the sanctity and safety of his holding , but one never knew. Everyone had their secrets. Tim always made it a point to figure them out and use them to his advantage.

There was One big difference that he finally pegged when he walked into the room. These were not normal folk. Once he shook hands with Steele, and he could feel how cool the gentleman’s hand was, and with Tim’s heightened sensibilities the lack of a pulse of any sort; he was now convinced that these lovely folks were dead. Or more like un-dead. Probably accounted for their lair being within the confines of a cemetery. This realization might have freaked out regular human folk, but Tim wasn’t normal. Not even close. And he wasn’t prejudice. Heck his own daughter was dating one, last time he buzzed by the homefront to check on things. Nice fella. Real pale. Vicious in a barfight though.

He’d already figured out that Lucien was trouble; sneaky behind-the –back trouble(especially for as heavy-handed as he was when he couched his shoulder. Probably would leave a bruise, though not for long. Not with Tim’s metabolism). In fact Tim might well have been jealous that somebody already cornered his spot in the social registrar; so it behooved the mutant to be… well… poignant; and see who blinked first. He took the offered plate of food, early fishing out the links of sizzling sausage and wolfing them down despite the hot grease burning both his fingers and his throat.


Only after he gobbled most of the plate down did he lick his fingers as he cased the room while he formulated his opening bid, keeping his mind open and ready to read the reactions. “Interesting little place youse guys have here. Real quiet. Out of the heavy traffic areas. And the graveyard theme park’s original, unless ya’ll celebrate Hallow’s Eve like every Sabbath or sumptin. Either way it kind of makes turning a profit difficult to do…” And he rolled those bright mischievous blue eyes towards Steele. “You must really like your privacy.”

Let the games begin, he smiled to himself

[Krepta]

Despite the twinge of annoyance Krepta felt at the over-eager Irishman's antics, she couldn't help but be amused at the same time. It was hard to feel anger towards such an innocent seeming individual. It truly seemed like he only wanted to help. The warm, savory smelling sausages and the fluffy waffles didn't do anything to worsen her mood, though.

She accepted the plate eagerly, and her stomach piped up again with it's own eager voice, growling it's need unabashedly. She paused a moment, a frown set on her face briefly as she listened to the newcomer, before turning her attention to her food again with a murmur of thanks to Conner. She carried it to a far corner where she figured she would be safe enough from the attentions of the three, but still close enough to easedrop on their conversation.

After a few mouthfuls of waffle and a sip of orange juice, she decided to add her two cents at last, raising her voice just loud enough to be heard across the short distance.

"Actually," she commented groggily, "I think that big rock out there used to be part of a standing stone, not a graveyard. I don't think there's anyone buried here." Krepta had a good nose for that kind of thing. She had been around a lot of well, dead things in her life, and even in the befuddled state she was in last night, she was sure she would have smelled something if it had been a graveyard. The smell of rotting flesh was a fairly noticeable scent after all.

Interestingly enough, she had smelled something strange, now that she thought about it. It had been an odd scent, like what she shed skin of a snake smelled like, long after it had left it. Stale, dry, and just a little bit reptilian. The only reptile she had seen about though, was her. It was truly a mystery. One, though, that could be contemplated after breakfast.

For now, Krepta turned her attention back to her meal and decided to let the boys to themselves. She was starving!

[themascura]

Connor watched skeptically as the strange new man swallowed hot sausages whole, gave them all a calculating look, and then started dropping strange lines about graveyards. He paused, an alarmed look crossing his expressive face, lighting his green eyes. Steele caught his look and frowned. There was something this 'Tim' knew, and Steele wasn't certain he wanted him to know it. It was probably paranoia, but the read he was getting on this guy's intentions were anything but pure. Perhaps not downright bad, but certainly selfish.

"I don't know what your talking about." He stated coldly, picking his hat up and putting it on. His eyes glinted from beneath the brim, radiating ice.

"Since Lucien's the one who brought you in, I doubt he filled you in on the rules here." It wasn't the first time they'd had a trouble maker. Rules were, ask first, shoot later in this sort of situation. There was no cause to act on his mistrust... yet.

Lucien, on the other hand, looked giddy with pleasure. He was practically cackling. This had worked so much better than he had even anticipated! He didn't bother to mask the dark glee bubbling up in his mind. The more trouble Timothy Rex gave Steele the better! Well, within reason. He didn't want his new playmate getting locked up, kicked out or... knocked down... permnant-like.

Connor's expression of alarm did not fade as he turned back to the fluffy eggs he was currently scrambling and frying. What if the man knew they were vampires? Already! What if he told other people? They didn't know what his stance on the undead was yet. For all they knew about the fellow, he could be a slayer! He tried to sooth his troubled mind by offering Krepta a pan-full of his latest dish, fairly twitching in agitation as he did so.

"Did ye sleep well, miss?" He asked politely. Lucien, in the mean time, was doing his best not to giggle.

[cptdragon9]

(I must have misread. From the description posted of “The Dregs” it said the place was “sequestered within the walls of the Manor’s stone monument… resembling a stone coffin” which I read to mean a mausoleum.))


“Oooo-kay,” the mutant responded to Steele’s clipped answer. Timothy felt the whole 4 car-alarm klaxon of panic radiate from the head honcho and the scruffy old chef. Oh! Hot potato! A Very hot potato at that. Clearly they had wanted their little secret to be secret. Still if he came out and said he knew what they were, that would just bring the whole event up to the surface, and Tim might well find himself locked up, or worse; if just to keep that secret secret. He wasn’t sure if that luscious little lady was in on the act, but she seemed eager enough to add her own two cents, mentioning that the stone was not a grave marker at all.


And with his inquiry he was able to see some of the dynamics of the group. Lucien was chuckling as Steele squirmed. Clearly they were diametrically opposed, possibly vying for command. That was always useful, especially if he should get into a pinch… well into More of a pinch than he was currently.


Well, maybe he should start by smoothing over ruffled feathers. “My mistake. From where I come from we often use big rocks and stone to mark where our bravest (and most foolhardy, he thought to himself) had fallen. It was such a prominent piece that I thought it had the same intent. My fault.”

He then turned to regard the broody Steele, pursing his lips a moment as he debated on how to amend his status and to reassure the fear(less?) leader that he wasn’t going to spill the beans about their little clan in the wood. At least not right now, not when his own tight little tush might well be examined a little too closely should he bring whatever served as law and order around here. He wasn’t particularly fond of either law or order in the first place as it didn’t leave him much wiggle room. “I suppose learning the law of the land would be prudent. If your man Lucien is willing, I shall be quite eager to get the guidelines straight. Don’t wanna step on anyone’s toes by accident after all, nor do I want to be any trouble, especially since yer willing enough to feed the lost and confused much like myself.” The mischievous glint never left his dancing blue eyes; it would have been a hard-pressed trick if he could ever see the world much more than an amusing trip through life, thus finding humor even in the direst of situations. All he could do was cock his head slightly and smile in an appeasing bemusement, giving the impression that he was indeed sorry if he’d frightened anyone. Nobody can truly take offense to a hapless schmuck, a role he was happy to fill for now if it help cover his true nature.

[Krepta]

Krepta watched the exchange with no little curiosity, and a sense of growing alarm. She could quite shake the niggling sense of danger that had remained with her ever since her first meeting with Lucien in the bar last night. There was something very strange about the place, something beyond the portal and the increasingly strange guests it graced the place with that she just couldn't put her finger on. Steele's suddenly an oddly vehement reaction to the newcomer's words didn't much help to assuage her fears either. She felt the sudden urge to step in and help diffuse the sudden tension growing in the air. It looked like her chances of a peaceful breakfast had been successfully dashed.
"Eh, I can kinda see how it might look like a big creepy gravestone," she told Tim. "Especially in the right light. Nothing's been buried here though, at least not in the last fifty years." She tapped the side of her nose with her finger. "Death's got a distinctive smell, even old death. I would have picked up on it last night." Pausing suddenly, she realized that the man probably had no idea what she had meant, and so she went on to reluctantly clarify. "I'm a shapeshifter. Most of my forms have a pretty sharp nose." And beyond that, she had come to know the scent of death all too well after the island.
Her bashfulness at revealing her abilities wasn't out of shame of them, or of fear of discovery... After all, any such being who had come tumbling out of the same portal that she had had no doubt seen stranger! She had a wariness though, of speaking directly about her abilities; such things tended to bring on questions. These questions were often questions she didn't care for, and answers she didn't want to think about. Questions about how she had gained such abilities, questions about her past. Her's was a past best left dead, at least until she was strong enough to face it.
Suddenly sullen and once again disinterested in the conversation, the scarred woman scowled down at her plate to stir her eggs listlessly with the tines of her fork. She wasn't feeling very hungry anymore.

[themascura]

((OOC No biggy, it happens to us all.))

"Oh, I don't think Lucien's the best person to be teaching anyone the rules." Steele responded, his cold gaze rising from Tim to Lucien. Lucien's eyes narrowed a little as he felt the unspoken rebuke from Steele. His shoulders squared and his back straightened, bringing him to his full height.

Connor watched the three men, then Krepta, and then the two larger men again. The tension was rising, despite Krepta's attempt to diffuse the situation. Actually, she seemed to have made herself feel worse in the process. He watched her face fall slowly, and her appetite dissipate. His chest felt tight all of a sudden. All he wanted to do was hold and protect this poor woman! He looked around searching for something, anything, to cheer her up.

"Here, 'ave s'm maple syrup, lass. It's warm!" He assured her, a smile painted across his pale face, warming his green eyes.

"Mmm. What smells so good?" A brunette woman swept into the room, blue eyes bright with far too much morning cheer. She paused, looking between all of the men, the one woman, and then the food on the counter. After a second of silence she frowned a little, smoothing the long-sleeved short-skirted dress she was wearing as she thought.

"Did you cook, Connor?" She questioned after a moment. Connor nodded with a pleased smile. He had outdone himself this time, he thought. Sandra looked at the waffles again, taking in the tension in the room and the way the new young woman was morosely stirring her breakfast.

"Are those...potato waffles, Connor?" Sandra inquired delicately, an air of deep concern around her.

"No!" Connor protested quickly, his eyebrows tightening.

[cptdragon9]

Tim couldn’t help but smile when the lovely young lady admitted to being a shapeshifter. His perverted little mind was already envisioning what the mesomorph might shift into and how delectable it would feel to be caught up in compromising positions with her when she did. Of course her admission in no way moved him to confess or otherwise impart any likeminded information. He was not about to advertize what he was and what he was capable of until it suited him.

Still he might be persuaded to show her on the sly. She seemed to slip into a funk as she fiddled around with what remained of her breakfast. Poor thing; there was so much milling about in her mind. He didn’t dare delve to deep, but he could easily gleam her discomfort and remorse just by dancing along the edges. Yes, she needed some consoling. Later. When nobody was looking or around to interrupt them.

Besides he already had a plateful steaming drama on his plate. Steele clearly was still steaming, so much like Tim’s old “boss” that he couldn’t help but smile. He hadn’t really even tried to push buttons, but it seemed he’d inadvertently done so by “jiggling the handle” and calling them out on their obvious hiding spot. He definitely was going to have to diffuse this somehow or somebody was likely to spontaneous combust (and that couldn’t be very healthy for any vampire). He looked for a means to an end, and when the second young lady swept into the kitchen to eat; he had his vehicle. “Waffles? Oh I must try some!”

The lithe young man swept across the room and slid into the empty chair right next to Krepta, giving her that whole “used car salesman” charm. Yes is was a cheesy approach, but he’d found that being overly pleasant moved others to a better frame of mind; as if his over- the- top- flair made his seem foppish and harmless. Of course his performance was far from the truth and there would always be an undercurrent of predatory tension, but it would be easily overlooked with enough charming lubrication. He even tucked the sloth napkin into his collar, letting the checkerboard pattern of the fabric cascade down the front of his shirt like a bib as he smiled up at Connor. “It’s been ages since I’d had a real cooked meal. And those sausages. Definitely not mass produced… er … store bought. Way too flavorful with an excellent bouquet of herbs.” He brought his fingers to his lips, giving an appreciative kiss as he tossed up his hand. “Excellemente’! My complements to the butcher and his craft; such as a dying art at it has become. I might well have to help in the kitchen and see if I can weasel your secret.” That sly smile danced on his lips and he almost fluttered his eyes at Connor but the mutant thought better of it.

Instead he turned towards Krepta, unsure of how to approach her next. He figured to wait for an opening (if she didn’t run for it) and bide his time. Besides half of his attention was settled on Steele and Lucien. He was also waiting to see what their reaction to him would be as well. From there he could fine tune his performance to finagle his way into their good graces and show that he was not a threat, or at least not one to expose them for what there are as he was in a like-minded boat. Once he had his bearing, he could plan his next steps.

[Krepta]

Krepta almost heaved sigh of relief when the new woman entered the room and the tension seemed to ease a little. Who ever she was, she owed her one. Though Krepta had regained much strength from last night, she wasn't sure she was up to breaking up a fist fight just yet, and for a moment, that's what it had looked like it was building up into.

When Conner offered her more maple syrup, she found herself suddenly grateful that at least one person in the room wasn't chock full of testosterone. She offered him a bedraggled smile in response, but shook her head. "Thanks," she told him, sounding almost mournful, "But I'm not feeling too grand. I think it's probably just from dimension hopping. It always makes me a bit queasy for a little while." She was a little worried that she had insulted his cooking though, which really was quite good, so she quickly amended by taking a small bite of her scrambled eggs. "I think I'll stick to the eggs for now. It really was all very delicious though, thank you."

But then the new guy was coming her way and Krepta suddenly felt a building sense of anxiety, though she didn't know why. She hunched her shoulders a bit when Tim plopped himself down next to her, her features tightening slightly. She didn't introduce herself, but fixed him with a wary stare. Now that he was closer, she could feel a sort of... wrongness about him too, like she had felt about Lucien last night, but somehow different. She couldn't quite place her finger on it, but there was a sort of itching about the inside of her skull that set off warning bells, something on the tip of her tongue that she couldn't quite spit out yet. What was more, she hadn't felt that way about him until he had gotten closer, and she didn't know why. It was maddeningly frustrating.

Gut or not, though, she had no proof that he was a danger to her, and while she wasn't going to ignore the instinct, she wasn't going to act on it just yet either, not until she knew more. Until then, there was no need to be rude. At last she spoke, though when she did it was forced, nearly a growl. The area around her eyes was tense, and her evergreen gaze was full of suspicion.

"I'm Krepta."

[themascura]

Connor shot Sandra a 'see what you did' look. Now Krepta wouldn't eat her waffles! He tried not to sigh, and managed a smile instead, even for the strange guy who was going on about how wonderful the sausage was. It was nice to see someone so enthusiastic about his food! He grabbed a plate and shoveled more waffles and sausages onto his plate, beaming the entire time.

Steele, in the mean time, looked away from Lucien and stared at Sandra. A small smile curled its way onto his face. Sandra WAS supposed to be in charge of helping newcomers get settled... and it would drive Lucien wild if Sandra was leading around, chatting with and teaching this particular new male.

"I think it would be best if Sandra showed Tim around and educated him about our rules." He announced with a ring of finality. Lucien whirled, his eyes locking on Steele, taking in the smug little smirk, and finally recognizing the futility of causing a scene. He subsided, a sullen look rising on his formerly friendly face. Sandra looked up from her waffles and nodded, chewing and swallowing the bite.

"Okay, I'd love to!" Sandra smiled brightly at the man, "You can come too, Krepta, if you want." She offered sweetly, pouring some extra syrup onto her waffles. The strawberries in it were really good. Shed' have to remember to thank Connor later, and apologize for the potato waffle crack.

[cptdragon9]

"I'm Krepta."



Tim’s eyes opened so wide it was like watching a child on Christmas morning. The smile locked right into place and he held out a hand to offer a proper greeting. A handshake seemed to be the most accepted form of welcome, no matter what planet he’d crash-landed on. Oh he could go on about how it had originated to show that the lead hand held no weapons, but that would have been moot. His particular weapon of choice had no handle nor blade.


Still he was as gentle and warm and charming as any snake-oil salesman could be. “Ah, Miss Krepta. I’m Timothy. Timothy Rex. Apparent fellow traveler, much like yourself. It is a great pleasure to meet you.” The hand lingered, waiting to see if she’d reply in kind. He knew he was nudging that envelope a bit, but he was curious to see just how much social intervention this creature would partake in.


He followed with some helpful advice, if just to push the conversation along. “If I might say, these waffles might do the trick. You’re body goes through quite a strain when jumping from place to place. Most folks don’t take it too well. All that starch ‘n sugar’ll go a long way to rebuild yer constitution. Trust me, you finish that plate and you’ll be right as rain in no time.” He then turned to see that his own plate had been replenished by the cook and he again beamed that smile. “Thank yea, Mr. Connor. Tis a wonderful service you do here,” and he dug once more into the strawberry-covered confection, seemingly on the border of culinary orgasm with every bite.



If nothing else, Tim knew how to ham it up big time.



I think it would be best if Sandra showed Tim around and educated him about our rules."


"Okay, I'd love to!" Sandra smiled brightly at the man.



Well now poor Tim was at the crossroads of a dilemma, because he now had Two women to contend with. Oh he was still keen on the reptile, but when Sandra smiled at him… well other parts of Tim now were tugging him in the other direction. What was a horny mutant telepath to do?


Play the field!


“I’d love to too!” he echoed back with great enthusiasm, smiling blissfully towards Sandra. “I’m all for learning new things, don’tcha know.” He wriggled in his seat, still playing into the haplessly happy clueless stranger in town. Inside, however; he was keeping tabs on the room, especially the reactions between Number 1 and Number 2. The tables had been turned, and Lucien seemed to be the one pouting now. That was good. This way the mischievous miscreant would be more receptive if and when Tim offered his services to help #2 in his machinations.


Again that would all be worked out later. Right now he had two lovely ladies to entertain.

[Krepta]

Krepta seemed to withdraw even more. The morning's current events had served as a stark reminded that socializing really wasn't her cup of tea, and then... then there was this guy here, jibbering to her about waffles and winking and grinning, and it screamed 'scam' to her. Apparently a little too used car salesmen, it seemed. What the hell did he want from her anyhow? She eyed him with a mixture of disdain and distress as he continued to talk at her, flashing a grimace at 'Sarah', the new woman on the scene, when she offered to give her a tour as well.

"Um, not thank you," she managed to grumble shyly. "I think, er..." What was his name again? She glanced over at Tim, though she was careful not to make eye contact with him. He seemed to be encourage himself enough as it was, she didn't need to help. Had he even introduced himself? She couldn't remember. "...I think I'll try and eat some of these waffles like he said. Might help. I got my share of fresh air for the day." The week, the month, her lifetime! She had come so close to death during that storm, too close. She needed some time with some nice, sturdy walls between her and Mother Nature for a while.

"But, uh, you two have fun." And stuff. God, she was stumbling again. Already she could feel the flush of embarrassment creeping up her neck and into her cheeks. Quickly, she forced herself to straightened and redoubled her previously neglected efforts in vacuuming up her breakfast. If she wasn't looking at them, they probably wouldn't notice. Maybe they would even leave her alone? Maybe?

Those mismatched eyes flicked up to Conner across the bar, and she sent him a reassuring look. If they were potato waffles, then they were damn good ones and she liked them just fine. Besides, he seemed like one of the few sane individuals in the place, and man did she need some sanity right now. Her mind was still swimming from last night, and images of cloud-beasts and wave-teeth kept rising up behind her eyes, nevermind the horrors of the island before it.

She shuddered. No, she wouldn't think about that. That place was behind her, forever. She would always bear the scars though, that she knew. She would bear them like she bore so many others, but she would survive, and eventually, maybe, she would heal. She just had to keep reminding herself that she would never, ever have to go back.

Speaking of... "Where did you say we were again?"

[themascura]

"Half way between hell and nowhere." Lucien responded dryly to Krepta's question. Sandra shot the large man a quelling look and shook her head. That wasn't nice! Timber Ridge was a perfectly nice little town, even if its occupants were a little strange.

"Timber Ridge Falls, South Dakota." She explained, threading her fingers through her long brown hair and smiling gently. Lucien seemed to be in a foul mood still. Maybe he didn't care for Strawberries? She'd have to ask him later.

Connor, meanwhile, seemed pleased as punch when Krepta resumed eating her waffles. She downed them with almost as much ghusto as she had before she had attempted to break up Lucien and Steele's little...dissagreement. And even better! She had opted out of the tour and decided to stay behind- with him- and eat!

Steele watched Tim wiggle around in his seat, schmoozing with both ladies and generally pretending he hadn't meant anything by his earlier comment. He seemed to be backtracking fast enough, and some of the alarm Steele had felt earlier- namely that Tim knew something he shouldn't and was prepaired to blackmail them all with it- faded. He shoved his hat back on his head and eyed the man repressively. There wasn't going to be any more of that nonesense- he sent Lucien and even more stern glare- would go on this evening. He hadn't even gotten his eggs down yet! He snorted softly and settled back in his seat, turning his back on Lucien and resuming eating his breakfast.

Lucien eyed the back of the other man's head with an almost inhumane, blood-thirsty look for about thirty seconds. The dark look faded from his face within seconds, however, the monster dissapearing from his eyes as fast as it had come. A small smile replaced it instead.

"I think I'll go with Tim and Sandra." He announced genially, dropping into a chair across from Krepta and Tim and snatching himself a large plate of eggs and sausage.

[cptdragon9]

Tim already sensed that his floppish charm of a facade wasn’t going over well with Krepta, and he didn’t need to be a mind reader to see that. The girl clearly was flustered, unsure and out of her depth in this realm. Clearly not as seasoned a traveler as himself. He’d have to rethink his strategy with her later; especially since the Other lovely lady seemed more amiable to his presence. “That’s quite alright, Miss Krepta. Perhaps a day of rest and relaxation would be more suitable. A few more bowls of sweets and a good night’s rest and you’ll be right back on track.” His smile was a bit more natural now; less of a caricature as he eased off the schmooze.


Besides his Other ego was tugging at him, pulling him towards Sandra as she seemed more receptive to his overtures. Begrudgingly the rest of Tim followed suite, all smiles and ‘come hither’ looks....


Until Lucien decided to barge in and invite himself on their outing, crimping Tim’s style and his chances of wooing Sandra to his side, and possibly his bed (he Always kept that option wide open). As much as he wanted to enjoy the great outdoors and what South Dakota had to offer (lots of outdoors from what he could see), he didn’t exactly relish the idea of bucking around with the much larger and clearly blood-thirsty Lucien. He was sure the guy had a taste for carnage, but Tim hadn’t quite narrowed down the parameters of ‘blood-thirsty with these folks yet and he surely didn’t want to put himself in peril attempting to find those parameters; at least not yet. And he definitely didn’t want to start with Lucien.


Perhaps with something softer.


Still it was interesting to note that they did eat real food, or at least appeared to do so. Tim had heard so many different bits of legend and lore about such creatures; and from his travels he found that what applied to one race rarely applied to the next. Still he made an effort to study them. Friend or foe, it didn’t matter to him. Knowledge was power afterall, and who knew when he would have to rely on it.


He was soon finished with breakfast and stood up with nearly boundless energy. “Well lets away with the dishes then we can take that little stroll around the grounds. Agreed, Miss Sandra?” He was amping up the schmooze again, his blue eyes nearly twinkling with underlying lighthearted mischief. It was an easy ploy to fall into. He’d sensed that most of the room had relaxed, most deciding that he was not as much of a threat as they’d first thought; a good thing, really. Now that everyone was breathing easy (at least it Looked like they were breathing), Tim was able to make a little wiggle room, playing at the amiable dork of a Joe Schmoe, all the while biding his time and studying his new “friends’.


“So, Mr. Connor. Do ya need some ‘elp in the kitchen? I c’n bust out the pans with th’ best of ‘em. Not afraid of a little hot water.”


Yeah, that was a loaded response alright….

[Krepta]

Krepta looked relieved. South Dakota was a place she knew. At least if she wasn't in her home time, she was in a familiar place, and from what she had seen so far, a familiar history. She could handle that. Although, for once she wished she could get stranded in the future rather than some aspect of the past. Knowing her luck though, it would be a post apocalyptic something or another though. Ah well. At least they had running water and working toilets. After living a few years in what was akin to the dark ages on an island full of insane people and pirates, she wasn't about to look this particular gift horse in the mouth.

"Yeah, I think that sounds like a good idea," she responded to Tim. The shape-shifter was eying Lucien with growing concern. She hadn't missed the dark look he had sent towards the older looking man. It was a look that sent chills running down her spine. She had spent most of her childhood fighting crime in one of the dirtiest cities in the United States and she had seen that very same look on serial killers she had helped to bring down, usually in the moment just before they were about to make a kill. Suddenly, she was very glad she had decided not to go with the trio, but at the same time, she worried for the two with the big man. She hadn't liked Lucien from the moment she first set eyes on him, and her opinion of him was not improving.

"You three have fun," she continued, returning her gaze to Tim. However, her face held a silent warning instead of annoyance this time, and she hoped he was perceptive enough to pick up on it. She didn't like him much either, but she didn't want to find his body in a wall somewhere later. He was annoying and made her uncomfortable, but he didn't seem like a bad guy aside from those facts. She didn't want him to wind up dead, and there was no doubt in her mind that Lucien was fully capable of killing if he though someone was in his way.

[themascura]

Connor's few reservations about this 'Tim' character vanished the moment the other man offered to help with the dishes. No one offered to help with the dishes. Ever. He nodded once, pointing toward the large sink in the back of the kitchen.

"Aye, I could use s'me help." He beamed, raking his copper-blonde hair out of his pretty face and green eyes. Sandra laughed, finishing off her waffles and getting to her feet, oblivious to the look Lucien had just worn. She pushed up the sleeves of her short dress, pushing her long glossy hair over her shoulder and nodding.

"It's the least I could do to make up for the potato waffle comment." She grinned at the Irishman. He scowled at her for a second and then heaved a put-upon sigh. What could he do with such a female? One of those poor, delicate souls that liked their veggies unadorned by meat. There was little he could do with such a temperament. Connor scooped the leftovers into a trio of bowls for later consumption by others and moved to the sink, prepared to do his own part in the cleaning.

Lucien, meanwhile, eased his bulky self and guileless smile up behind Tim. His blue eyes were wide and full of good humor, as if he were enjoying some private joke. He glanced at Krepta out of the corner of his eye, watching her staring at Tim. He too shifted his gaze down, examining his face slowly. What was she looking at with such great concern, he wondered? Tim seemed harmless enough to him! Fun loving, actually. Great guy to be around. So long as he stayed away from HIS Sandra. He let his eyes wander to the brunette, eying the pea-green dress she was wearing with distaste. Why wasn't she wearing one of the dresses he had given her? They suited her coloring and shape much more nicely. Right now she looked like a color-changed Daphne from Scooby-doo.

Sandra looked over her shoulder at the group, smiling brightly. The smile wasn't for him though. It was for either Krepta or Tim. Lucien turned back to the two, attempting to gauge which one of them she was smiling at. After a moment he decided she was smiling at them both. That was safe enough. Better than if she had been smiling just for Tim.