Topic: Knock Knock! Who's dere!?

Alex Ravenlock

Date: 2006-12-30 04:48 EST
It took him a day to get things under control, but he finally managed to get some things put together in well enough light for him to manage what he wanted.. a look that wouldn't absolutely set the kids ablaze with fear. And while he figured that they would actually only ask a question or two about it, or assume daddy was wearing a costume.. he couldn't face them any better than he could face Jewell with that image.

He mentioned to her about that issue, and that he'd be sure to see them within the next day, or so. Hopefully, she'd understand that it took a little longer. .. he prayed. At least he showed up, this time! That was, to him, the most important part of this. He showed up, showing that he was being honest and true to the promise that he made to her, and the children alike. The only thing that needed to happen now was answer a few questions as to where he's been, and maybe simply enjoy spending time with them as if life itself hadn't go on.

Surely, he'd act as though he hadn't even left, after they got settled. It was the only way to really make it a smooth transaction.

..he also recalled Amanda's issue. He would make certain to talk to her about Skyler. For her, and for Jewell. Maybe for Skyler, too. After all, he seemed to make her happy. And he was alright with it, for as long as someone was able to do it.

Lavender locks were tugged away from his eyes as he approached the home, lifting a hand to the door and quietly providing a knock to the wood. He quickly took a step or two back, adjusting the shirt that he wore, a hand smoothing it over in the off-chance that it had become wrinkled. His hands lifted to part the lavender locks a bit more, before he was looking himself over from his own perspective. "Okay... not bad!" He smiled as he lifted his gaze to the door, tilting his head to one side as he noted no one had come to answer. He bit his lip as he lifted his hand to knock, this time actually doing so. He was sure to not overdo it and bust the door apart, and it came off as what a traditional knock of the door would sound like.

He'd take a breath.. here we go.

JewellRavenlock

Date: 2006-12-30 13:08 EST
Maybe, if he listened closely, he could hear the screaming going on inside the house.

"Amanda Ravenlock, I will ask you one more time--get the door!" Jewell had already requested this of her daughter twice, knowing very well who was at the door; she thought it would be a pleasant surprise for her daughter.

Unfortunately, Amanda refused to cooperate.

"NO!" She poked her head outside of her bedroom, it had become her sanctuary this past week, "It's your house! You get to decide who lives here and you can answer the door!" Slam! Her bedroom door was slammed shut just as Jewell stepped out of her bedroom, tugging her t-shirt firmly on.

She scowled at her daughter's bedroom door before she hurried down the stairs to the front door. She tried to calm herself down before throwing the door open to greet Alex, the last thing they needed was for her to take her anger out on him instead of Amanda.

Even if she hadn't been angry, nothing could have prepared her for the sight waiting on her doorstep. If she had been shocked seeing him when he had returned, fused with the demon, she was having a sensory (and memory) overload moment having him stand there, looking as he used to. Did she feel weak in the knees for a moment? If so, she was the Empress and certainly knew how to cover that up. Still, it took her at least a minute to stop gaping and move aside and gesture for him to come inside.

Another minute before she actually started talking, "Ah..Alex, um...this is a surprise." No, stupid, you invited him over. Her face turned red, "I mean, not you coming over was a surprise because I knew you'd come but..." You're babbling. She took a deep breath, just shutting up for a moment.

When she opened her mouth again she was completely composed and flashing a bright smile at him, "Come on inside, I don't think you've been in the new house before." Gesturing him further into the foyer. "The kids are in the Great Room," nodding to the two closed doors that were on either side of the large staircase, "except for Amanda, who is upstairs hiding away in her bedroom from me. Why don't you go on in and say hi to them and I'll go upstairs and get Manda before making myself scarce? You're welcome to stay here and hang out with them for as long as you want, take them out in the yard and play...wherever. Just let me know if you're going to leave with them? I'll probably be in my study down the hall..." waving her hand towards it.

Alex Ravenlock

Date: 2006-12-30 18:04 EST
His eyes squinted at the door as he heard the yelling going on just beyond it. Wasn't he supposed to be the surprise? Why was he so uncertain, just then, that he was going to be the one in store for one? He frowned lightly at that thought before the door was flung on open. Turn that frown upside down! He flashed her a bright grin as she flung that door open. "Heeey!" Jewell's reaction was exactly what he was hoping for, emeralds looking her over a moment as she stood there. He slowly stepped into the home as Jewell stepped aside, his eyes lifting from her to examine the new home that had been done up.

"Ah..Alex, um...this is a surprise.. I mean, not you coming over was a surprise because I knew you'd come but..."

He glanced to the redness factor that her face revealed, and let out a soft chuckle. His hands moved away into his pockets as he moved to face her. His head bobbed several times, "It's good to see you, too, Jewell." His grin could only grow further from ear to ear, his attention shifting to the mess of kids that didn't plow straight into him.

"The kids are in the Great Room, except for Amanda, who is upstairs hiding away in her bedroom from me. Why don't you go on in and say hi to them and I'll go upstairs and get Manda before making myself scarce? You're welcome to stay here and hang out with them for as long as you want, take them out in the yard and play...wherever. Just let me know if you're going to leave with them? I'll probably be in my study down the hall..."

Oh, that'd explain it. His eyes casted towards the two doors where Jewell nodded, before looking back to her. "If you wanted," He started. "I could talk to Amanda, now? I mean, if she's really that upset with you.. we can get that part out of the way. I don't know how it would settle if she was asking all sorts of questions around everyone else.." He looked to Jewell expectedly, content that he found the urge to bring forth asking a question. He felt like he was helping this case, already. It was relief that he felt tingle at the nape of his neck, then.

JewellRavenlock

Date: 2006-12-30 20:59 EST
Eyes widened a little bit at the idea set-forth by Alex, it made a lot of sense. Not that Alex making sense was so wholly unusual, it was just that Jewell usually owned in the whole parenting arena; Creation had given her maternal instincts somehow knowing she would need them even if she didn't want them.

She flashed Alex another bright smile, "Actually, that would be great. Um...we were just fighting now." Realizing he probably heard and turning a little red again, ashamed she couldn't handle her own daughter. "I can show you up to her room...like you said, that way you can talk without everyone else being around?"

She gave a little nod and started up the staircase to the next floor. She heard herself starting to give an explanation that was not really required by any means; must be part of their whole new work on communication to be better parents things, "I was trying to get her to answer the door, I figured she'd like the surprise waiting on the other side, you know?" Looking back to him as she walked up the stairs, "But she absolutely refused to. She got so wrapped up in being angry at me she didn't even try to sense who was at the door...it would only have taken a little concentration for her to do."

From the top of the stairs she led him to the first door on the right; in this new house Jewell had changed the setup to allow Amanda and Moradin to have rooms opposite one another and a little away from the younger kids. She paused before the door and just stared at it a moment before turning to face Alex completely, "Uh...maybe you should try knocking? I get the feeling that if I do we won't be getting a positive response and I know the door is probably locked."

She stepped aside to allow him to do so but didn't completely leave--back up and all...against an eleven year old.

Alex Ravenlock

Date: 2007-01-07 21:11 EST
"I can show you up to her room...like you said, that way you can talk without everyone else being around?"

He'd nod a single time to her as she asked, glancing towards the stairs as she made off for them. He peered towards the doors where the kids were at, and decided to keep quiet and to himself, moving off after Jewell to ascend to the second floor. It felt awkward, to him, to be roaming within the house more as a guest, than anything else. It felt out of place, and almost entirely as though he was treading on forbidden territory. As though if he continued on any further, he'd be hit with the hammer. Granted, he didn't let this emotion show, for it wasn't the place nor time to prove that this was almost too much for him to understand, nor believe. Thankfully, Jewell continued on with the communication, and allowed him to place those thoughts and feelings behind him.

"It's probably really hard for her to understand. And I'm doubting it's fully resting on your shoulders. I haven't been here, so I'm guessing she instantly assumes you're to blame. .. this'll just be more for me to discuss with her, is all." He'd say, softly now, as they continued up. He still didn't want to spoil his presence. Other than Jewell, he knew only Amanda having the ability to sense his presence. And she was the one he was concerned for, most, at the moment.

They approached the door, and he was fully intent on doing the work for her. Amanda had been so angry with her, he knew, and figured if she tried anything further, it'd only dig that wound deeper. She was thinking exactly what he was, too, apparently. ".. yeah, I'll give it a go." He gave her a slight side-long glance before he stepped up to the door, and proceeded to knock. Quietly, at first. He hoped it'd be his voice, and his presence, that'd trigger her wanting to answer. "Amanda?" He'd call. Another knock came. "Amanda, honey, guess who's here?"