Topic: Calls and Chronicles

Blend Within

Date: 2014-03-24 00:13 EST
Smokin?. Smokin?. We?re cookin? tonight, just keep on tokin?.

The hit from Boston fluttered from the cell phone in the man?s pocket before a hand sank into a jacket pocket to produce the object, while light grey eyes searched the screen before answering. ? ?s John.?

?Hey man, it?s J. Listen, about the book you got?? James trailed off as his palm smeared over his face, still lingering in shock.

?Yeah?? Smoke trailed from John?s mouth and fingers, ashes from the cigarette scattered on the ground.

?Did you read any of it? Do you know anything that?s in there? What about--,? he hesitated a half a beat, ?What does Philip know??

?Hey man, Phil doesn?t know anything. He?d get in a lot of trouble if any of this was traced back to him. He was sent out here to keep an eye on the Guiscard's archives after I took it. He just said that there were some books out here that we?d probably not want anyone else to have. I didn?t ask how they got them. I just went looking for them.? It was a skilled balancing act to be best friends with two fae from opposite sides with you in the middle. Defending it was one of the few things that could get John to speak at length.

James frowned, silent as he considered his next statement.

?I just opened it long enough to see Grandpa Denny?s handwriting.? Assuming his cousin?s silence was due to not answering the first question. John might have been older, James might have been the youngest cousin of them all, but he was the future of the family. Respect was paid in the quiet response.

?Yeah, its a journal from the 40s. His journal.? James wasn?t known for this much silence unless he was assessing a situation. Or in shock. It was hard to say which was the current case.

?Is there something wrong with it?? There was a lot John did not understand, the concern in James? voice was one of them.

?I?..I don?t know honestly.? Admitting with a nervous laugh that tripped out. ?I don?t think anyone else in the family knows about this. They never mentioned that a journal of his was stolen, and this definitely would have come up in my lessons.?

?Hnn.? Curious, but John voiced nothing further.

?I?m telling you because you?re the only one who knows about the book. It may need to remain that no one beyond you and myself knows what?s in it. Though I?m certain the Guiscards have already read it, memorized it and have passed the information on amongst themselves. But for now, it is just you and I. Do I make myself clear??

?James, you do not need to tell me what is in the journal if it is information you do not wish to share. I am not next in line. Trey is.? John in fact, was the last in line. And it suddenly sounded as though James was going to give him information that he did not wish to know.

?I know who is next in line just?.? A sound of frustration echoed the walls of the room he was in before his fist slammed into the table. ?Listen to me.? A moment taken to calm himself and he stepped away from the open book on the table in front of him. ?Did you know he had a brother??

?I did not.? John frowned at the sounds of the other end of the line before his brow knotted at the question issued.

?A twin brother.?

?......?

?Named Paul.?

Losing the cigarette from his mouth, John was soon crushing it out with the toe of his work boot.

The staccato explanation from James soon shifted to a wealth of information as he could tell the silence from John was not disinterest, but quiet observation.

?He was an elemental as well, but not water like Grandpa Denny. He was earth. Earthquakes, sinkholes, that kind of thing. There?s still a lot that I don?t know, but this is what I?ve pieced together from this one journal. I?m telling you this because I have to ask you to see if the Guiscards have anything else where you found this one. I?ve never seen anything with Paul?s name. More pointedly, I?ve never seen anything that Paul has written. Do you see what I?m getting at??

?Yes. This may take me longer to find.?

?I understand. I know that what I am asking for will not be easy to find, but lucky for us that is right up your alley. I?ll see if I can pick out anything more helpful in this journal and pass it along. I just?..? A rough exhale followed. ?We need to know more about him.?

John, who wasn?t known for pressing for information did just that in his own quiet way.
?There is something that you are not telling me.?

?Paul drowned.?

Blend Within

Date: 2014-04-10 16:43 EST
At the sudden blast of the sea shanty ?Irish Rover? James broke out of his stare off his hotel room?s balcony and soon traded the beer in hand for his phone to answer it. Glancing at the screen first and then exhaling smoke as he removed the cigarette from his mouth and spoke. ?Hey John, what?s going on??

?I think you should come out here early.? Simple and direct as he jumped into a conversation.

?What? Why?s that??

?You have some things to discuss with your sister.?

?What is it?? Turning away from his view over Helsinki and trapping ashes in the nearby ashtray.

His sigh was inaudible at the other end of the line, silent for a few moments.

?John? What do you know?? Concern grew clear in his tone, soon sliding the glass door to the balcony open to escape back into the warm room. Cigarette left in the tray and beer brought along with him.

?She?s moving in with Cardinal. That?s all she?s told me. I?ve been helping her pack and move all week.? Finally answering, though he was just easing James into what troubled him.

?Oh, is that it?? Any tension tracking its way into the muscles of his back instantly faded as he slid the door shut behind him and lifted the beer for a swift swallow. ?She mentioned he asked a while back, but I thought she decided against it. No matter, that?s fine. I can start renting out the other apartments then if she?s out. Do you or Asa want one of them? I?ll ask Jon if he?s interested too if the ?bots can stay out of trouble. Heck, I bet they could manage any repairs if necessary and he can manage any issues for the other tenants on the floor in exchange for rent ?? Rattling on, he was opening up a small netbook on a desk and tapped a key to turn it back on.

?James there is more.? Interrupting his cousin?s continuous flow of words and pausing once he knew he held his attention. He didn?t require confirmation to know he was listening, and continued on. ?Something happened at her apartment. Outside the building, along the street I mean. The sidewalk was awash with blood and there were craters in the cobble stone street out front. Street lamps were busted, some glass and rubble were still there when I went out there. ?

?She didn?t tell you what happened??

?Not a word, but I believe whatever it was caused her to change her mind. Everything was still fresh and we were packing by Monday evening. I figured you weren?t aware of it when she was handling the details concerning the move.?

?And you didn?t think to question her when you saw blood outside of her apartment? Damn it John, you?re in RhyDin to be keeping watch over her. Why weren?t you there?? Resting his knuckles against the wood of the desk as he leaned against it.

?I don?t follow her when she?s with him, with Cardinal. They had a date or something, he showed up in a tuxedo and so I left.? Explaining easily as the anger showed in his cousin?s voice.

?Well go find her. We?re going to have a little conference call. I want to talk to the both of you.? His tone was clipped before he was shifting out of his lean to pick up the beer and drain the rest of the bottle.

After another moment of silence, John spoke up again. ?There?s something else.?

?What is it?? Asking after the crash of glass sounded off in the waste bin of the hotel room.

?It struck me as odd at first, as I thought perhaps it was just me.? He was unsure how to explain the rest and soon John appeared to be rambling of a sort. ?But she asked me to find a friend of hers and deliver a book to her. And with Lenore I had no issue.?

?What are you talking about John??

?I can no longer track Constance. I cannot sense her.?

?****.?

?Hence why I think you should come early and talk to her.?

?I?ll be there tomorrow.?

John Cole

Date: 2014-05-17 15:50 EST
His elbows pressed into the brickwork of the building?s ledge while silver shine eyes stared off into the neighboring ocean in the distance. Stars above speckled throughout the midnight sky were shrouded in a light veil of smoke that stemmed from John and the joint in his hand. His other palm shifted to rub the features of his stubble covered face as though it would wipe the thoughts swirling in his mind. It failed in that, but succeeded in bolstering enough courage to pull in his phone out.

As he was thumbing through the contact list, he hesitated when he reached that name and gave the screen a faint frown before pressing call. While the phone began the process of dialing out and ringing, John lifted the joint to take a final hit and deep inhale into his lungs.

Just as he was sure the voicemail would begin to start, just so he could hear that voice, the line picked up.

?Hello??

Startled by her voice, it sent John into an unexpected coughing fit, sending a series of thick clouds of smoke from his mouth instead of the polite and expected response.

?John??

Pulling the phone from his ear, he stared at the screen and nearly dropped both the end of the joint and cell phone off the roof of his apartment building.

?I know that it?s you. Caller ID and all that.?

Still hearing her voice on the other end, he hung his head and finally gave in. Lifting the phone back to his ear and speaking once the surprise had left his voice.

?Hi Pixie.?

?See, now was that so hard? You sound so far away. I heard you left DC, but didn?t catch where. That extra crackle sounds like you?re overseas or something.?

?Yeah, I left DC.? Distracted with her voice, only the sound of it, John could barely follow the course of conversation for a moment. Most people would never notice, but Pixie? Pixie would know better.

?Where?d you go??

?Somewhere to get a fresh start.? He only partially meant to be evasive in answering her, so after another moment of silence, John offered up more information. ?Taking care of some family stuff out of town.?

?Cool.?

?So?.How are you??

Laughter traveled through the phone line. ?After six months of you calling my voice mail and never leaving a message, I finally answer and that?s all you ask me??

His sigh would only be recognized by the silence he gave in response to that.

?I?m great actually. New place, new job, new hair. In fact, I ?Oh sh*t.?

?What??

?The color is running. I?ve got like this teal shade all over my hands.?

?No more pink.?

?No, no more pink. That was then. This is now. I?m moving on and up in the world. What are you doing with your life??

?Teal is an upgrade from pink??

?Yes ?No. That?s not what I meant Johnny. But I can tell that I?ve upgraded in the past several months. While you? It doesn?t sound like anything has changed for you. Still toking around and doing your secret quote unquote family ****, which I know is just a cover for whatever it is that you?re stealing wherever you are right now. And you know what? It?s cool because I don?t really want to know where you are or what you?re doing.?

?Glad to hear what you really think Pixie.?

?Oh get over it Johnny. You?re high as a kite, you?re probably already halfway through a bottle of cheap whiskey and that?s the only reason you even managed to get the balls to call me after all this time. To say what? What?s up??

?No, I called to tell you something.?

?Yeah, what?s that??

John was silent for a moment as he reached for the bottle of whiskey on the ledge, his hand wrapping around the neck of it with a weighted grip.

?I don?t miss you.?

Lowering the phone and hanging up without a farewell, John lifted the bottle in his other hand to take a drink. The white smoke of his eyes swirled and cut to the side as his phone started ringing shortly afterwards.

He pressed ignore and continued to drink.

Blend Within

Date: 2014-07-27 16:36 EST
June 21, 2014

With a family their size, there was a constant flow of birthdays and events to commemorate but the treasured holidays throughout the year and celebration of the shift in seasons were the ones that always brought the entire clan together for a variety of reasons. A shift in seasons often meant a shift in power, and in particular: those seeking to tip the scales in their favor were often drawn out. The Summer Solstice was no different.

Cynthia O?Connor, the head mistress of the homestead and gifted creature of creation had turned the gardens into a welcoming beacon for friends, family and the fae to greet the pending season of the sun and to enjoy the longest day of the year. Twinkling lights illuminated the trees once the sun had set and for the hours prior to dawn. Though people continued to mill about in the afterglow of the festivities, there were freshly blooming flowers to grace the evening with pleasant scents and fireflies darting about to sparkle with the stars and the glow of fading glamour for the fae that did not have to hide away from the public eye.

It was a common thing for Jimmie O?Connor to move about among the different groups of people to tell nonsensical stories, tease and even flirt with certain guests. It all kept up the appearance that the Patriarch was doing well, and silenced some suspicions that his health might have been on the decline. When he would fall under the fog of confusion, someone was always nearby to provide a false cover of the story that he perhaps had too much to drink and it was perhaps time to call it a night.

The figurehead was still in place as far as most of the family knew. But in truth, the evening?s business was being conducted elsewhere.

Instead of in the gardens, the numerous sons of the O?Connor clan were gathered within the house itself, tucked away in a private game room that was adorned in warm woods and aged leather chairs that had been passed down through family. With great care, Cynthia could take a hand-me-down sofa and turn it into something that looked as though it belonged in an overpriced mansion.

It was in this room where the youngest of them all, James, was leaning against a wooden bar with a beer bottle in one hand as he waited for the last cousin, John to shut the door behind him. The sylph nodded to the shape shifter before heading towards a window seat and taking up residence on it.

?All right, since we are all here then we can get started.? Straightening to allow for him to drain the rest of the beer in hand, the empty bottle was returned to the counter before hazel eyes looked over to his five older cousins around the room.

Luke, who was half sprawled on a couch, lifted a hand to rub against the back of his head and the short strawberry blonde curls there. ?Think this is? what ?the second meeting you?ve ever called, right J? But Coco?s fine with her Suit. Or is this about the wolf that Cathy is dancing around with?? He gave an amused glance to the other end of the couch, where he met Gavin?s gaze who looked just as humored as he did.

Off to the side, Tomas chuffed his disgust at the mention of the wolf, which earned him a sidelong look from John.

Trey grunted, ?Let him speak.? The oldest bristled in the armchair that was truly too small for his oversized form, but the far corner away from the entire lot was where he was often found just watching and waiting.

Luke held up both hands to show that he was conceding and not out to start trouble, while the rest of them turned their attention and eyes to James.

?I?.am not happy about Catherine and,? James cut himself off and shook his head. ?This has nothing to do with any of that.?

?Then why are the girls not present?? A mix of curiosity and concern stemmed from Gavin as he posed the question.

?They may be told in time. But not just yet.? James moved around behind the bar then, but instead of pulling out another beer from the cooler he set an old weathered leather journal on the countertop. ?I don?t want to alert any of them to this yet. I?m not sure that any of our parents know what I?m about to tell you either.?

****

?You?ve got to be ******* kidding me. Another damn curse we?ve got to watch out for? As if the Anti-Triad curse isn?t enough to keep our kind in its place, now we?ve got to watch out for one that tears us from the inside out?? Tomas exploded as James finished his explanation to the group, his frustration worn on his sleeve while the others looked various degrees of cross and concerned. ?Sowing seeds of discord...Going to start a witch-hunt for the black seed?? Trailing off in the midst of his incoherent and tangled thoughts, Trey placed his hand on his brother?s shoulder to quiet him.

James held his hands up, though the gesture was useless in attempting to quell Tomas as swiftly as Trey had been able to. ?No, that is not what is happening here. There is not going to be a hunt for anyone, I?m not even sure that the curse is something that continues every generation, if it skips, or if it has finally run its course. What we need more information. And John will need some of us to go out to Rhydin and help him.?

?I believe I know where another book is kept, but I cannot retrieve it alone.? Stirring from his stationed post by the window, John nodded as he spoke up.

?I would like to go get it the next time I go down there. Trey, I would like you to join me. Gavin, Luke, I?m going to need you two to be on call in case we need your expertise. I don?t want to alert any of the Guiscards to something if they realize more than half of our Clan is in town, or more importantly, away from guarding our...Patriarch.?

Tomas chuffed again; already aware of what his duty was going to be. ?I have to stay here and keep an eye on that dumb wolf, don?t I??

?Well, you do have a natural hostility towards wolves in general. You will always be the best candidate for that job.? James nodded before both palms were placed on the bar top, arms stretching outwards to opposite sides.

?What is out there that you need help with?? Trey?s question was turned John this time.

?Golems.? A single word answer before a slight smile formed and he continued. ?But at least these won?t be Iron, right??

John Cole

Date: 2015-04-04 18:56 EST
October 3rd, 2014

?I need to speak with you,? Philip?s tone held a more formal air than normal as he stepped up to the game of pool John and Nate were in the middle of. ?Alone.? He gave a sharp and pointed look to Nate.

?If you?re going to ask again for his cousin?s hand in marriage, he?s not in a forthcoming mood. He still won?t let me ask out Asa ?and I just beat the pants off of him in a game of eight ball.? Nate?s grin was one of amusement and mirth as he left John and Phil at the table, passing off his pool cue to Philip as he pointed to the bar in the distance he was heading for. ?I?ll go get us another pitcher.?

John gave a bit of a smirk to Nate?s back as he walked off and then drained the rest of the pint glass in his own hand. ?What is it?? Inquiring after Philip.

The pool cue he was gifted with was given a glance before it was returned to the rack along the wall. Philip was biding his time for Nate to no longer be in immediate earshot and an adjusting tug of the cuffs of his sleeves was taken in the silence between himself and John. ?We had a break in last week.?

He sucked on the backs of his teeth as he watched his best friend and soon set the glass down on a nearby round table. ?Oh?? He had expected this conversation, but had yet to figure out what he was going to tell him.

Philip looked at John, his expression commonly flat and unamused. ?John, come on. I know it was you. Is this how you want to go about it? Acting surprised??

?Do you really want me to answer that??

?Do you have any idea what it is that you stole? If that gets into the wrong hands ? Why didn?t you just ask me for it??

John simply stayed quiet and only glanced off in the distance to pinpoint Nate?s location at the bar before returning a pair of smoke coated eyes onto Philip.

?Fine. Don?t admit to anything. But promise me one thing? That you didn?t give it to Leon. He?s been trying to get his hands on it for as long as I can remember.?

John quirked a brow upwards and continued to remain silent.

In the exchanged look Philip took several steps forward towards him. ?No?No?No tell me you weren?t so ****ing stupid to give a warlock harboring a power hungry Loa in his chest a power boosting magnet crystal?? Backing John up against the wall, the room was already taking on an aura of heat as his temper shot up.

?Philip you need to relax.?

?Why are you helping him? After what he did to her? Do you know what he can do with that?? The words were hissed out as flames sparked to life in his eyes.

?Did you know about the journal??

?What?? The change of subject was just enough to quell the fire in his eyes as Philip blinked and stepped back from John. ?There isn?t a journal missing. Did you find another one??

?Yes and it was incredibly more helpful considering it implicates just who invoked the curse.? His mouth was tightened in a thin line and his look was heavy before John shook his head. ?Listen, I?ve got my eye on him. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer, right??

?John, if he?s feeding that thing that your cousin sewed into him?? Trailing off with a sigh, Philip turned in time to see Nate heading back over with a chilled pitcher of beer and fresh glasses. ?I don?t know that any of us can stop him.?

?You?re just going to have to trust me on this.?

?I hope you know what you?re doing.?

John hoped he did too.

( Scene starring with Philip Guiscard, Nathaniel Angevine, and John Cole.