Topic: Tigre Verte Distillery (part 2)

Merrick

Date: 2007-12-06 21:55 EST
"Merrick, wait. No one could have foreseen this. Please stay. Please stay and let the younger ones get used to your presence, Merrick.? He wanted to stay and be with Miha, but he was really feeling like a third wheel in a completely different country.

Even with Miha?s request Merrick was about to leave. Then he heard, ?You can't go and leave a naked tree?!? and Akiko?s, "It's ok Lucas, this is your home, you can speak your mind when ever you feel like it."

Merrick turned and smiled to the lad. ?She?s right, Lucas. This is your home and not mine, and you have every right to speak up. Besides, you are correct. It would just not be polite of me to wander off and leave a naked tree. I don?t know what I was thinking.?

Before Merrick could walk to the tree, yet another young man entered the home and handed him a bag. It reminded Merrick that he had come with a backpack with some special presents in it.

?Okay, I say we start getting this tree decorated. Anyone with me??

Shadowdancer

Date: 2007-12-07 07:35 EST
She went with Lucas to the Parlor where everything was happening. She was curious about everything going on, even though she was kinda scared. Mr Wolf was nice looking and she liked the fact he brought the tree. As they were walking, she picked up the little stuffed kitty and claimed it as her own.

She was pouting as Mr. Wolf was heading out to leave. Lucas then surprised her by saying, "You can't go and leave a naked tree?!"

She hugged him when he got nervous for speaking up. They both were unsure how to act around the new people, especially cute werewolf alphas. Both of them had been hurt bad by the old alpha and it showed by how skittish they were.

She smiled a bit more when Tycet came into the house and handed Mr. Wolf his bag of goodies. She was still giggling when he claimed a seat to watch everything with a grin. "Nice!"

Still she was smiling even bigger when Mr. Wolf changed his mind. He really was nice. ?Okay, I say we start getting this tree decorated. Anyone with me??

She couldn't help but cheering when he said that. The holiday was infectious and she had her family around, and it look like a new friend and stuffie.

Mihaela

Date: 2007-12-07 11:25 EST
She couldn't resist walking to his side and placing a gentle kiss on his cheek with a smile. It appeared the pard was accepting him, for the most part. The rest would take time and that was to be expected. It boded well for an hopes of alliance between their groups, among other things.

Well, there was no further putting it off. She had to deal with the Garal situation before he managed to get Damon too pissed off. Though at this rate she was tempted to allow her second to have fun.

She went into her office and closed her door. She nodded to Damon and sat down in her chair. She made no motion to dismiss Damon. In fact she wanted him there. Her eyes had bled to cat and that hard edge gaze bore into him.

"Well, Garal, it has certainly been a long time. To what do I owe the *pleasure.*" He could tell by her tone, she was anything but pleased.

Mihaela

Date: 2007-12-09 08:23 EST
Garal cocked his head. "I'd heard that someone had brought about Gregory's early demise. I came to confirm the veracity of that rumor, and offer what help I might to the Pard if that were indeed the case."

Damon's arms folded across his chest. Thinks it took Professor FuzzyButt long enough to weasel his way back.

She regarded him from behind steepled fingers. "Not a rumor."

The owlish man adjusted his glasses. "So I see. But you know how it is with the things you hear in passing. I daresay that you being in charge here Mihaela is not unexpected. Damon has the strength and desire, but I think not as much of the ability as it would take to do the job." He turned to Damon. "No offense."

"Sure there was." Damon replied.

She arched a slender brow, "If it was not unexpected then why run?"

"Gregory and I didn't see eye to eye, as you may know... He was selling my work to those who would use the power to create a great deal of pain and suffering. My pain and suffering notwithstanding, it was better to escape at my nearest opportunity."

"And what work was that?" She asked plainly.

"He ran so he wouldn't get caught in the crossfire." Damon commented.

"I was making weapons, Mihaela. Not swords or bows, but explosives and guns. He sold those to whoever could afford to pay, without concern to what they would be used for." Garal replied.

She arched a slender brow and looked over her shoulder to Damon. Damon shrugs, He still thinks the doc ran to save his own hide.

"One of those things that Gregory neglected to tell you?" She asked of Damon.

"I didn't get all the details on his pet projects. I know we had certain deliveries to make." Damon replied.

"It unfortunately runs along the lines of the evidence we had on him when I was a cop. He was a total sleaze." She said thoughtfully.

"He sure as hell wasn't a saint." Damon replied.

"No sh*t, Sherlock." She grinned at him briefly and turned back to Garal. "So you want to come back. How are you willing to earn your keep around here?

"I'm not sure I would use the word 'Sleaze' when describing Gregory. I prefer the word 'Sadist'." Garal interjected.

"Now you're splitting hairs, fuzzybutt."

"What does the pard need? I'm sure there are a number of things I could do, beyond teaching." Garal asked directing his attention to Mihaela.

"You are the one that offered, Garal. What did you have in mind?"

"Teaching was and will always be my first love, Mihaela. However, it occurs to me that you may need someone that can keep the household's devices in working order. Never mind making new ones as necessary."

"Perhaps."

"Just no weapons, if you please."

"What sort of devices?"

Garal cocked an eyebrow at Damon. "Nearly anything in the area that is capable of work. Including the people, to a more limited degree."

"Sounds like you want to be chief dishwasher to me." Damon quipped.

?I wonder if the one I frightened, however unintentionally, found the stuffed kitten I left out."

"If I give you another chance, I want your word that you won't bail on us at the first sign of trouble." She asked.

"So long as I have your word that you will not create the sort of Misery Gregory did in the name of profit."

Mihaela

Date: 2007-12-09 08:24 EST
She snarled at him, "I think you can see there is already changes around here, Garal."

"Agreed. If I thought you would do such a thing, I would not have returned. Therefore, you have my word that I will not simply abandon you all here."

A snarl escaped Damon. "Seems to me that you aren't in any position to be making demands of anyone, Professor."

Garal turned again to Damon. "Perhaps not, but then I'm not making demands beyond the inclinations of our leader. A former police officer would be disinclined to such things."

"Awfully presumptuous for the Lynx on my territory scaring my people..." She said carefully.

"I did not intend to scare the young lady, Mihaela. If I had known you had one quite that fragile, I would have been substantially more circumspect. It also took me perhaps more time than it should have to sense the nature of Master Merrick, as well. I apologize."

He wanted to backhand the professor. "Vannie was never 'stable. She was always on the edge of breakdown."

"We can all thank Gregory for that."

"Dearest Damon, I understand you care what happens to the young lady, but she was not here when I went into hiding."

Low growl. "I am not your dearest anything, Professor."

"So far as her condition, it has the earmarks of Gregory's loving touch."

"Enough" She stated quite simply.

Any further comments on what went on outside the little workshop that the professor liked to stay inside of .. but he held his tongue.

There was something in that one word stated very eloquently that she was not amused. "Lose the presumptuous attitude, Garal. I'll let you back in, but you will remember who is Nimir-Ra.

Garal nods. "Of course. Thank you, Mihaela."

"Pecking order is as follows... Me, Damon, Akiko."

Garal nods, giving a glance to Damon as his name is mentioned.

Damon?s eyes have shifted from human to feline. A faint growl can be heard on each slow exhale.

"Once things calm down around here, we'll discuss what you can do. Until then, don't piss off Damon." She said with a smile.

"Yeah, good luck with that."

Garal gives Mihaela a formal bow, and another, not quite as formal, to Damon. "If I may withdraw now? I brought a project with me that is sure to entertain."

She nodded, "Be aware, Baron Du Lac is an ally and a friend."

"I will keep that in mind."

"But he is also the Ulfric of his own people. Tread lightly."

He nods thoughtfully. "I shall."

She nodded at this point, "Go enjoy."

"Thank you," he replies, and slowly backs out the door, pausing to close the door before turning and heading out towards the steel crate he'd left in the main room.

She leans back and rubs her eyes, "Some days..."

His eyes slowly shift back to human form, then they roll after the professor has left. "You love it."

She gives him a look, "Maybe.. Jury's still out. What I love is this pard..."

Lucas

Date: 2007-12-20 14:33 EST
Decorating the tree was a very important task of the Yule and he who brought the tree must, by virtue of the act of kindness, place the first decoration upon naked boughs. He smiled when the man who'd brought the tree indicated he would indeed stay and decorate. Lucas kissed Van's cheek in a rare show of affection and then darted off to find the decorations to be used. He'd bought a bunch.

He dragged them into the room and opens boxes and bags to show what he had for them to use. He picked up a silver ball with etched snowflakes on it and shyly held it out for the man. Perhaps he would consider using that one as the very first? If he didn't want to, there were plenty of others to choose from.

Merrick

Date: 2007-12-20 15:34 EST
Merrick looked to Lucas and gave him a nod. ?Good choice,? he said as he took the silver ball from Lucas? hand. ?My name is Merrick,? he added as he turned toward the tree and examined it carefully to see the best place to place the ornament.

?Hmmm,? he sighed putting the knuckles of one large hand upon his hip. ?There is a science to this, you know. Tree decorating should never be haphazard. There is always just the right place for each ornament so that they hang perfectly. Our job is to find that right place.?

He examined the tree for a few more moments, then, ?Ah! I?ve found it!? Merrick moved close to the tree and chose a place a little more than half-way up. ?The first ornament goes to the tree?s heart that it might come to life in celebration.? He hung the silver ball in a place where it hung freely, perfectly filling a small gap in the branches. Merrick took a few steps back, folded his arms across his chest and inspected his handiwork. He began to nod, ?Yes, that?s perfect."

"Okay . . . let?s decorate!?

Lucas

Date: 2007-12-20 15:50 EST
Lucas ducked his chin and looked away with a shy smile once he let go of the ornament to the care of the man. Merrick. He would never be able to use his name surely. But a name given required something in return. His eyes danced along the floor was the man sought out the perfect place for the first ornament. Finally a quiet whisper. "Lucas."

The name might have gotten lost as the man talked about needing to find the home of the first ornament. Maybe. He didn't expect any sort of acknowledgment. He smiled in Van's direction.

"Okay . . . Let's decorate!"

Lucas grinned bigger and set about getting the other goodies ready to be put on the tree. It was a warm feeling to have everyone around and happy.

Shadowdancer

Date: 2007-12-21 10:53 EST
She blushed and smiled when Lucas placed the kiss on her cheek. She liked him lots and liked it when he kissed her. She listened to Mr. W... Merrick as he looked for the perfect place for the ornament.

?The first ornament goes to the tree?s heart that it might come to life in celebration.?

She was excited about this. She felt normal for once, like the past months did not happen. She smiled beautifully at Merrick as Lucas gave his name. She was a little more animated even holding that stuffie. "I'm Vanessa, but you can call me Van or Vannie."

She was definitely past the scare from Mr. Fuzzy Butt.

"Okay . . . Let's decorate!"

She dug into the box and smiled at Merrick. She liked him, even if he was a wolf.

Merrick

Date: 2007-12-21 16:20 EST
Merrick got right into the boxes with Lucas and Van. He hadn?t done anything like this in years and it made him feel like a kid again. He put a hand on Lucas? shoulder and gave him a serious nod, ?You?re tall, Lucas. I think you should be in charge of the top half of the tree.? He made a point of using his name, letting Lucas know that he heard and cared.

Then he turned to Vanessa, ?You?re going to have to help us guys out, Van. We?re going to need that artistic flair that you women have so that we don?t mess it up. Okay??

He smiled and gave a wink to Lucas when Van wasn?t looking.

Lucas

Date: 2007-12-21 19:26 EST
He looked surprised that Merrick had not only heard his name but that Mihalea's special guest actually *used* his name. A smile flickered and he decided not to point out that Merrick was actually a good deal taller than himself. Instead he just took out decorations and started placing them on the tree, grinning and watching Vannie through the boughs as he did. Merrick got the occasional glance, as did the Teasing Tycet.