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"What can I say, LK? Not all of us are cut out to be rangers....and I don't have the advantage of having wolf senses," she added with a grin. "Now if you didn't think it was cheating to use air elementals to track you...."A large, dark gray wolf lopes nonchalantly out of the forest and follows the smell of mountain air to the pool.
I'm supposed to be having lessons, you know, getting out of the house, learning how to track someone from LK, but so far I mostly learned how to wander around in circles totally lost for hours." ^.^He shifts into a tall, lean young man, that wraps an arm around Arielle's shoulder. He smiles as she struggles to stay balanced.
"You make it sound like it's your fault you can't find a catapult in a hay stack." He pauses for a moment. "Oh wait, it is!"
"Hi everyone!" He says with a wave.
"Arielle, I literally hid a catapult in a haystack. Seriously, learn how to catch scent on the wind or something! I mean, come on! Is't wind your specialty or something?" He grins wolfishyly as he says this.She shrugged. "I'm a storm elemental. More in the realm of destruction than detection."
She grabs a Dark and Stormy off a passing tray and chugs it. "So, lessons over? I'm thinking it's time for dancing," she says starting to sway in time to the music. "Hey, Dev, keep an eye on my hammer, 'kay? I wouldn't want anyone to hurt themselves trying to pick it up." ;)
"Why don't you drop it off here behind the bar - that should keep everybody safe, neh?" ;)
Devlyn just stifles a chuckle as LK comes loping up.
"I was beginning to wonder when your nose was going to kick in, LK."
Gruumash gives a good nod back and a wave to Devlyn and wave to Arielle.
then to Devlyn."Oi there friend, (his scottish accent coming out) I"m Gruumash a sea faring traveller good to meet you. So it seems you have been here a few times. I heard from a friend this is the sort of place to come and unwind and I can't say he was wrong. I noticed another person of there Irv as well whom I have seen before. But I am new to here myself. " Seeing the tray of Dark and Stormy's he grabs two downing one with a quick gulp wiping the foam from his mouth he sips the other.
"A tasty beverage no doubt. So when does everyone begin to show up usually?"
Gruumash gives a good nod back and a wave to Devlyn and wave to Arielle.
then to Devlyn."Oi there friend, (his scottish accent coming out) I"m Gruumash a sea faring traveller good to meet you. So it seems you have been here a few times. I heard from a friend this is the sort of place to come and unwind and I can't say he was wrong. I noticed another person of there Irv as well whom I have seen before. But I am new to here myself. " Seeing the tray of Dark and Stormy's he grabs two downing one with a quick gulp wiping the foam from his mouth he sips the other.
"A tasty beverage no doubt. So when does everyone begin to show up usually?"
"Well, Gruumash, that depends on what the Club plans to do," Devlyn replies with a chuckle as he leans back from checking out the new bar.
"I have a feeling that things will really start to pick closer to sundown. If past experience is any indicator, that is. Until then, you've got all manner of beach sports to keep entertained with (the volleyball court is always popular), and the beach is just over that rise there. Chairs and pavilions should be getting set up down there shortly."
"The dance floor will go until nobody's left standing, but it will definitely be at its peak tonight," he says with a wicked grin.
"And I imagine the kitchens will fire up in a few minutes, so we can start getting some eats to go with all the Dark & Stormys," as he finishes off his drink.
"Hmmm. Now what details have I missed..."
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Gruumash gives a good nod back and a wave to Devlyn and wave to Arielle.
then to Devlyn."Oi there friend, (his scottish accent coming out) I"m Gruumash a sea faring traveller good to meet you. So it seems you have been here a few times. I heard from a friend this is the sort of place to come and unwind and I can't say he was wrong. I noticed another person of there Irv as well whom I have seen before. But I am new to here myself. " Seeing the tray of Dark and Stormy's he grabs two downing one with a quick gulp wiping the foam from his mouth he sips the other.
"A tasty beverage no doubt. So when does everyone begin to show up usually?"
"Well, Gruumash, that depends on what the Club plans to do," Devlyn replies with a chuckle as he leans back from checking out the new bar.
"I have a feeling that things will really start to pick closer to sundown. If past experience is any indicator, that is. Until then, you've got all manner of beach sports to keep entertained with (the volleyball court is always popular), and the beach is just over that rise there. Chairs and pavilions should be getting set up down there shortly."
"The dance floor will go until nobody's left standing, but it will definitely be at its peak tonight," he says with a wicked grin.
"And I imagine the kitchens will fire up in a few minutes, so we can start getting some eats to go with all the Dark & Stormys," as he finishes off his drink.
"Hmmm. Now what details have I missed..."
Gruumash laughs and says "Well I would say that covers most of it. Though I am curious about the comment about the Club making its own decisions I gather I'll figure that out on my own. Thank you much friend. I could use some food can't remember the last time I ate." he says as his stomach grumbles.
"If you don't mind me asking Devlyn you seen to know the place well you come here often then? What is your story or do you have one you want to tell?"
Gruumash laughs and says "Well I would say that covers most of it. Though I am curious about the comment about the Club making its own decisions I gather I'll figure that out on my own. Thank you much friend. I could use some food can't remember the last time I ate." he says as his stomach grumbles.
"If you don't mind me asking Devlyn you seen to know the place well you come here often then? What is your story or do you have one you want to tell?"
He shrugs.
"I guess I'm a 'regular' here, though there were folks here more often than I was before....well, before. Better to dwell on the present - we sure as hell earned it," as he grabs another drink and holds it up in salute before slamming it back.
"As to my story - I'm just your typical friendly neighborhood Dalesman. You know - help the helpless, defend the defenseless, defeat the...defeatless? Yeah..." he says with a chuckle. "Nothing too complicated."
"And yours?"
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[He shrugs.
"I guess I'm a 'regular' here, though there were folks here more often than I was before....well, before. Better to dwell on the present - we sure as hell earned it," as he grabs another drink and holds it up in salute before slamming it back.
"As to my story - I'm just your typical friendly neighborhood Dalesman. You know - help the helpless, defend the defenseless, defeat the...defeatless? Yeah..." he says with a chuckle. "Nothing too complicated."
"And yours?"
"Ah me ... well I am seafaring gent now. After many years of other activities once I had one eye. Now well let us say my vision got better and I changed some of me ideas on things. The sea and your connection to it can change ye that is for certian. I am alot happier and with a better disposition than I used to have. Life can be so much simplier when you cast away some of your responsibility."
A simpler like may be less interesting, but a lot more worthwhile. I wish I'd realized that before I got old. I am however content to enjoy as much as I can, as best I can.
A simpler like may be less interesting, but a lot more worthwhile. I wish I'd realized that before I got old. I am however content to enjoy as much as I can, as best I can.
"A very nice philosphy, I must say," she said, smiling as she looked around. "Well, it hasn't changed much. I visited once a long time ago, but never really spent much time, so I guess I wouldn't notice if it had changed much," she added with a chuckle.
Yeah, I know what you mean, I was in a place just like this, once, only it was different.
Yeah, I know what you mean, I was in a place just like this, once, only it was different.
She laughed. "Aren't they all? Especially after you've been to enough places."
"So.. who thinks some of the other couples from the good ol' days are going to be showing up?"
"So.. who thinks some of the other couples from the good ol' days are going to be showing up?"
"Couples?" she asks with a raised eyebrow, as she takes a brief break from the dance floor to down yet another drink.
She waved and smiled to the young man holding the horn cup. "Hey, do we know him?"
"Couples?" she asks with a raised eyebrow, as she takes a brief break from the dance floor to down yet another drink.
She waved and smiled to the young man holding the horn cup. "Hey, do we know him?"
"Well, yeah, couples usually come to clubs. Didn't your mom and dad use to come here? You know you're not the only babysitter they can get to watch your brothers."
He turns to look at the new arrival, then breaths in deeply.
"The scent does seem familiar... Wait a minute.. I know who that is!"
He slips away into the crowd.
Kiba gets closer, and the dry avain scent of starhawk greets his nostrils
The young man raises his horn cup in greeting
"Merry met, Kiba! It has been many years since our paths crossed."
She laughed. "Aren't they all? Especially after you've been to enough places."Yeah, I know what you mean, I was in a place just like this, once, only it was different.
Alaina laughs as she approaches the two. She has changed into a black dress with several pieces of gold jewelry as accents. A thin jeweled belt drapes her hip with a stylized golden sunburst as a buckle
"This place is different than before as well. Something called it back into being from the chaotic frothing bits and bytes of the Interthereal Sea. I don't know why, but there is usually a purpose in such things."
Arielle followed LK through the crowd, slipping through the crowd with ease. She got there just in time to hear Keehaar's greeting. Before LK even had a chance to reply she slipped past him.
"Keehaar!" she exclaimed, hugging him tightly. "It's been too long!"
She laughed. "Aren't they all? Especially after you've been to enough places."Yeah, I know what you mean, I was in a place just like this, once, only it was different.
Alaina laughs as she approaches the two. She has changed into a black dress with several pieces of gold jewelry as accents. A thin jeweled belt drapes her hip with a stylized golden sunburst as a buckle
"This place is different than before as well. Something called it back into being from the chaotic frothing bits and bytes of the Interthereal Sea. I don't know why, but there is usually a purpose in such things."
"Well, all I can say is that I'm glad that that purpose includes a relaxing place to get a drink and meet old friends, and new ones too for that matter."
"I don't know that we've met. Or at least if we did, it was a long time ago. I'm Rowan."
We haven't I'm fairly new here, at one time I was a surveyor for the good, King's Highway, then it's wham all of a sudden I'm just this old guy with nothing to do but drink Irish highballs all day. If I get to meet new friends, then
I guess all's the better, though.
LK laughs as Arielle passes him to get to their childhood friend.
"Well, at least you can still stand one of Ariell'e Crush Hugs. How you been, Kee?"
Arielle followed LK through the crowd, slipping through the crowd with ease. She got there just in time to hear Keehaar's greeting. Before LK even had a chance to reply she slipped past him.
"Keehaar!" she exclaimed, hugging him tightly. "It's been too long!"
Keehar hugs her back, oofing a little as Arielle creaks his ribs
"It's good to see you 'Elle." He says, stepping back and taking a look at her. "It really has been too long."
Keehar has grown into a lean and tanned young man. His blonde hair is shag-cut short, except for a few small braids along the side interspersed with a few gems and bright-colored feathers. A faint white scar traces around his left jaw.
He turns to Kiba
"Aye, 'Elle can still hug with the best of them! I have been good. I have been roaming since I last saw you all. I joined the Archer Guards for a time, but after the Dissolution Wars and the Great Conjunction, the starhawks have been scattered to many different realms. I have been earning my bread as a scout for an outfit of planar explorers. I cashiered out recently, and I am taking a few months off before I decide what next to do."
He looks at his two friends
"It seems that you both have been busy as well. What have you been doing these past years?"
We haven't I'm fairly new here, at one time I was a surveyor for the good, King's Highway, then it's wham all of a sudden I'm just this old guy with nothing to do but drink Irish highballs all day. If I get to meet new friends, then
I guess all's the better, though.
Alaina smiles
"Well, this is a refuge for those who wish it to be so. You are welcome to sip highballs by the pool or as long as you like Irv."
He looks at his two friends
"It seems that you both have been busy as well. What have you been doing these past years?"
She shrugged. "Mostly traveling the world ash. I had my powers bound. I'm just not ready for that kind of responsibility. I'm not sure if I ever will be," she said with a slight shudder. "And of course watching my brothers while my parents go off to save the multiverse...again. Although grandpa is really a lot better than me at that. The twins are a bit of a handful. Helm has an unerring direction sense for trouble and always seems to drag Hastur along with him. I haven't seen many people from the old days in quite a while. Except LK. I see him every time we end up back at the grove. And sometimes he even comes along on the field trips," she added grinning.
"Well, after Dad left to go help the Firebug get his world in order, there wasn't much to do. Everything just seemed to calm down, you know? Recently though, I've been trying to teach some survival skills to our little air-head here. Wolves bless her, she tries so hard..." He shakes his head as he steps out of reach of Arielle. "You'd think it be easy to fill an air-head, but alas, you'd be wrong. At least the trips break up the times of frustration I must endure as a teacher.."
There is a slight whiff of ozone as she glares at LK.
A small rain cloud forms above LK's head and starts drizzling on him.
"You are so gonna pay for that later, dog-breath."
LK feigns innocence.
"Oh my, what for? I was merely explaining that you are a difficult student! And an insulting one too, to use words in such a way as to cut to the bone like a chill wind!"
He can only keep up the facade for so long before he grins from ear to ear.
"A little rain don't bother Arielle, especially since there's a pool nearby. Speaking of which..."
He glances at the pool and seems to wave someone over. Moments later, what looks like a bunch of wolf cubs made out of water jump out. LK points toward Arielle.
"Get her boys!"
The water pups runs straight for Arielle, a few even stumbling in their eagerness to play...
Keehar looks on in bemusement as the two friends bicker
"Elemental wolves! How fascinating!"
Arielle grinned. "Oh, really, dog-breath, you think I'm gonna mind getting wet? I'm as much water as I am wind...speaking of which...."
A small vortex of water rises from the pool and, carefully avoiding the elemental wolves, crashes into LK.
"Hmmmph. And that's better than you deserve," she said, arms crossed, but the twinkle in her eyes gave away that she wasn't really angry.
"Don't mind us, Keehaar. We're always like this."
"Don't mind us, Keehaar. We're always like this."
Keehar laughs
"I mind it not at all! I have spent too much time in lonely places with only myself for company. Some good-natured fun would do me well."
Keehar helps the sputtering Kiba up.
"I should check into my room and change for the evening's festivities. Would you two like to have a drink when I return?"
"Don't mind us, Keehaar. We're always like this."Keehar laughs
"I mind it not at all! I have spent too much time in lonely places with only myself for company. Some good-natured fun would do me well."
Keehar helps the sputtering Kiba up.
"I should check into my room and change for the evening's festivities. Would you two like to have a drink when I return?"
"Sounds good to me. Make sure to bring your dancing shoes," she added with a grin.
"Oh sure, hit me with water. All I did was create full grown, ferocious wolves to bite you! Oh no ma'am, don't trust your eyes, they only look like cute puppies!" He bends down to pick up a water pup and holds it so it can look at Arielle with big, blue, watery eyes. "This is the muzzle of a man-eater I tell you!"
"Keehar, I think once I'm dry I'll take you up on that offer. Maybe we can get a dance contest started..."
As Keehar walks off, the puppies decide that since Arielle doesn't seem to want to play, they'll all gang up on LK instead.
"Ack! No.. you're supposed to.. get her!"
Arielle laughed so hard she had to sit down at which point she too was mobbed by watery wolf puppies. She giggled as they licked her face.
Keehar returns shortly. He has showered and changed into a loose-fitting set of linen pants and a tight teeshirt. He looks more youthful without the travelling gear on. An intricate tattoo peeps out from his left sleeve, tracing along his bicep and tricep muscles
"Well, lets get some drinks and hit the floor!"
Keehar returns shortly. He has showered and changed into a loose-fitting set of linen pants and a tight teeshirt. He looks more youthful without the travelling gear on. An intricate tattoo peeps out from his left sleeve, tracing along his bicep and tricep muscles
"Well, lets get some drinks and hit the floor!"
"Wow! Now I feel underdressed. Well, at least we can get cleaned up," she said, laughing as she summoned a breeze to whisk away the water from both her and LK.
She grabbed a drink off a passing tray and drained it, already starting to move in time to the music.
LK motions to the DJ and signs for him change the music to something that will get everyone dancing.
She laughed. "Aren't they all? Especially after you've been to enough places."Yeah, I know what you mean, I was in a place just like this, once, only it was different.
Alaina laughs as she approaches the two. She has changed into a black dress with several pieces of gold jewelry as accents. A thin jeweled belt drapes her hip with a stylized golden sunburst as a buckle
"This place is different than before as well. Something called it back into being from the chaotic frothing bits and bytes of the Interthereal Sea. I don't know why, but there is usually a purpose in such things."
"Well, all I can say is that I'm glad that that purpose includes a relaxing place to get a drink and meet old friends, and new ones too for that matter."
"I don't know that we've met. Or at least if we did, it was a long time ago. I'm Rowan."
Devlyn cranes his neck around from the bar at the sound of another familiar voice. When he sees Rowan talking to Alaina, he chuckles and then starts wandering amongst the new crowd.
He pauses for a moment when he sees the 'weather event' by the pool, but when he realizes everything's under control he just smiles to himself and checks out the jacuzzi and the dance floor as he continues to mingle.
Arielle dances with abandon, switching partners often, totally wrapped up in the music.
The crowd sweats as the music purrs into the late evening. Malice quaffs drink after drink as he spins the discs.
Keehar dances with Arielle, his hair plastering to his long skull. They take a break and Keehar escorts her back to the table where Devlyn and LK sit.
"Thanks for dancing with me 'Elle, it was very fun to move like that."
She laughed. Though she had been in constant motion for hours she wasn't sweating at all,and the air immediately next to her is surprisingly cool.
"Thank you. I don't get to do that often. LK thanks you too. Poor boy has two left feet and absolutely hates to be dragged onto a dance floor," she said, grabbing a pitcher of something off a passing tray and draining it. She made a face. "Yuck. Beer. Not really my drink of choice."
The crowd sweats as the music purrs into the late evening. Malice quaffs drink after drink as he spins the discs.
Keehar dances with Arielle, his hair plastering to his long skull. They take a break and Keehar escorts her back to the table where Devlyn and LK sit.
"Thanks for dancing with me 'Elle, it was very fun to move like that."
She laughed. Though she had been in constant motion for hours she wasn't sweating at all,and the air immediately next to her is surprisingly cool.
"Thank you. I don't get to do that often. LK thanks you too. Poor boy has two left feet and absolutely hates to be dragged onto a dance floor," she said, grabbing a pitcher of something off a passing tray and draining it.
"Tell me about it - I couldn't teach him to dance to save his life," Devlyn says, shaking his head as he kicks out some chairs for them to sit down. "And gods know, Allura and I tried," he laughs. ;D
She made a face.[/i] "Yuck. Beer. Not really my drink of choice."
"Right...be right back."
He easily navigates the throng of guests to get to the bar, and brings her back a Dark & Stormy.
"There - that should cleanse your palette. And we'll both forget that you drank inferior brew - I definitely don't want to explain that to your father," he says with mock concern as he winks at her.
"Now, so as not to kill the mood I'll let you three have the table so you can catch up. Besides, I really should check out the dance floor before everything shuts down. Have fun!"
He leaves them to their fun and makes his way to Malice's booth and surveys the dance floor.
A hand taps Devlyn's shoulder.
"This dance taken?"