Settling in? Or... maybe not.

<Heavens, but it is good to be back among kin and kind folk,> the Seraph sighs to himself, finally rising from his meditative position in the chapel, his loose, long white robes swirling about his feet as he does so.

The chapel, it seems, is not a place frequented by the human colonists. In fact, few other than Naitachel and Mircea appear to ever enter the place, unless someone is looking for the Seraph (who had to spend the majority of the past day or two there, to finish healing). As a result, Naitachel has not had much chance to actually officially meet the colonists, other than KC. Nor anyone, for that matter, other than those who helped rescue him (and those were all family, except KC and Darryl, but Darryl had left). He had glimpsed many of the humans when he traveled between here and Radu's rooms, and offered passing greetings, but he had usually had an escort from the Family, and the colonists had always been in a hurry towards something or other, for all he could feel their suspicion and curiosity regarding himself.

Well, loose white robes, trailing luxuriantly behind him, was hardly the fashion for the past 500 years... nor is it considered practical in this day and age. And little seems to want to stay white or even clean here--greyish dust likes to cling to everything... except a Seraph and his garments. So he must be a strange sight for them...

Heading back out of the chapel, the Seraph starts to follow the route he has been taught for returning to the Family's private section, and Radu's rooms in particular. His strides seem to glide, graceful as a heron's stalk and as agile as a dancer's steps.

But a couple turns later, Naitachel looks perplexed, and stops in his tracks, feeling lost. "Heavens," he sighs softly to himself. "They shall never allow me to live this down..."

This hallway is not familiar. He must have gone wrong somewhere... again. For a heaven-sent wonder... Naitachel is notoriously terrible about directions, and has a talent for becoming lost (a talent, the others laugh, he shares equally with Soraya).

Tucking his hands in his wide, loose sleeves, Naitachel glances around his surroundings, not certain about all these unknown doors. Yet even as he takes it all in, people emerge from one door, a group of roughly five men in a variety of different clothes... They almost run into him, before one starts and nudges another, and they stop in their tracks...

"Ah, hello," Naitachel greets brightly in his musical voice, a bit embarrassed.

"Hey there," one murmurs. The others frown a bit, leaving the one spokesman to do the talking and seeming willing to follow the fellow's lead. "Hey... you're that kinda new girl--not the newest, but you just got here, right?"

"Pardon?" Naitachel blinks. "I just arrived, yes, but--"

"You shouldn't waste the water, looking like that," one of the others grumbles disgruntledly. "Good, clean water's damn hard to come by."

"Yeah," the spokesman agrees, still frowning. Then he smirks, though it is almost more of a leer. "You're a really pretty gal... Maybe I can... help you... try a few water-saving alternatives."

"She's with them, though, Hugh," one fellow in the back murmurs hesitantly, warily. "If they let her get away with it... not for us to decide, you know."

"I really do not use--" Naitachel tries to interject.

"--Much, yeah yeah," Hugh finishes, snorting and grinning slyly. "But you don't want to be a 'princess' over the rest of us dirt-dwellers, do you?"

That notion sets the Seraph back on his heels a bit, and their air of resentment is enough to make him retreat a step. He hadn't thought that their suspicion might be due to the idea that he was flaunting resources over them like some spoiled brat. There is no way they could know that his ability to Purify leaves him virtually unable to get dirty at all, or even camoflage. "Pardon, but I... cannot help--"

The resentment flares further from the group, and they close that step. "Listen here, girl," their spokesman interrupts. "You're not going to win any friends this way." He glances over his shoulder at the others, and seems to sense he has a united front, before turning back to the Seraph and suggesting with a sly grin, "Maybe we can... help you... change your mind."

The nausea felt as though it had actually gotten /worse/, and Soraya found herself leaning against a nearby wall a moment trying to ride out this most recent wave of it. She had set out to find Nari and check on the girl, as well as on Everett, but she had been detoured by yet another trip to the lavatories. Now she was trying to work her way to their rooms, but she feared she would have to retrace her steps back yet again. It was rather a losing battle.

As the wave of sickness began to abate, the redhead's ears picked up voices and broken words from not too far off... and among them she believed she heard Naitachel's.

"Maybe we can... help you... change your mind," one of the voices seemed to threaten. Pushing away her discomfort, Soraya made her way for the direction of the voice, finding herself in a hallway she had almost never been down. How in the world had Naitachel managed to end up /here/? Then again, this /was/ Nait, the only one who rivaled her own desperately broken sense of direction.

As she rounded the corner, the woman was faced with the sight of Naitachel being cornered by several men. None of their demeanors was very welcoming, and Soraya picked up rather strong resentment from them, as well as fear coming from the seraph. Barely a few days here and already he was getting himself into trouble.

"Is everything all right?" she asked.

..

Radu, ever monitoring his loved ones, got the sense from Naitachel that he was lost and almost laughed. Of course he was. He debated for a moment letting him find his own way, suspecting that it would be good for him to learn his way through the tunnels, when disturbing images began making their way to him. Five men...

His anger stirred quickly and he set out, still monitoring the situation. He was aware, then, when Soraya and Nari arrived. Somehow, though five against three didn't comfort him any further.

Vlad, keeping similar watch on Soraya, felt it as well.

All at once, both vampires were there, standing between the five and the three, fangs bared at the offending men.

"You dare accost another in this, our sanctuary?" Radu growled. "We welcome you here...feed and shelter you... and in return...you threaten MY MATE?"

Naitachel had backed a second step, a touch fearful when faced with these five strangers. Oh, they weren't malicious so much as radiating a dark sort of mischief, but that kind of mischief could easily turn to something more cruel without even trying. And the leering comment did not reassure him at all that this would not turn towards the worse...

Soraya wrote:

"Is everything all right?" Soraya asked.

Hugh's grin falters when she comes up behind Naitachel, but he doesn't back down... much. "We were just going to show the new gal how the fancy septic system works," he chuckles. "Nothing big."

But in his mind's eye is a flash of his intent--a quick push into one of the shallow pools to see pristine robes turn to a new set of less bright colors.

The Seraph brightens as Soraya arrives, and smiles sheepishly at her. "I should hope so." Well, he's the only one to mean that so literally...

Nari wrote:

Drawing her knife out of her pocket, she stalked forward then jumped out behind them, swallowing back the surprise of seeing more than one man standing there in front of a tall woman in white robes, and Soraya approaching from the other side. "Leave her alone, you pig-headed crap for brains no-balled jerks!"

The five men jerk back in surprise--especially at the sight of this new girl's knife! The one nearest Nari spreads his hands, eyes wide, and says, "Hey--hey! What the heck? Jeese, put that damn thing away! We haven't done anything! I sure as heck haven't!!!"

"Ah hell, this new one had to be another wildcat," grumbles another dispiritedly. "Whatever happened to a decent, practical girl in this damn world...?"

Hugh actually frowns at the sight of Nari and her blade. "Hey, are you with this one?" he asks, a thumb gesturing at Naitachel.

Yet by the time Hugh's head can turn to look back at the Seraph... the vampires are on the scene.

And he's staring right into one pissed-off vampire Prince's eyes.

Radu wrote:

"You dare accost another in this, our sanctuary?" Radu growled. "We welcome you here...feed and shelter you... and in return...you threaten MY MATE?"

The five men actually cringe.

The one nearest Nari almost backs up into her blade, mouth agape in terror. He, at least, knew the Family are vampires (that's why he was the voice of reason earlier), but even he hadn't seen any of them mad like this before. "Holy...! Jeeze, I don't even have anything to do with this!" he mumbles.

Hugh's white as a sheet, mouth hanging open for a long moment, before he musters his earlier resentment into anger of his own, weak as it is. This is the bark of a smaller dog who is unwilling to whimper as it retreats, more bravado than heart. "Hey! We're not threatening anyone! We just happened to run into her!"

"We weren't going to do more than just get those whites a bit less white," another, with less bravado, whimpers. "Didn't mean anything by it..."

"Didn't know she was yours," another whispers weakly.

Naitachel rests a slender hand on Radu's shoulder, concerned. Though it is an unfanthomable relief to have his mate here, guarding him--the Seraph hopes to ease the vampire's anger. <Please, do not be upset with them on my behalf. Nothing has come of this... They simply made some wrong assumptions regarding myself.> "Radu... please... I am fine, and no harm is done."

.

Radu growled, then slowly retracted his fangs. Approaching Hugh, he looks straight into his eyes and says, his deep baritone taking on a dangerous edge, "It is not for you to teach any lessons in this abode. You've still enough to learn. Consider this your first." His eyes narrow as he concludes, "Those who start problems with my kin, will be ending them with me."

Soraya's anger rose in her as the men dismissed her approach and instead shared their intentions to inflict some manner of harm on Naitachel. Not physical, perhaps, but harm nonetheless. Her retort was cut short, however, by Nari's appearance with a knife. Things may have just taken a turn for the worse, considering true violence had now been injected into the situation.

"Nari," Soraya cautioned, though she appreciated the girl's attempt to help. Still, the face-off with a knife would probably have been better for the aggressors than what followed next. Before she knew it, Vlad was standing in front of her. Anger flowed off both himself and Radu as Radu growled at the group of men.

The men back-pedaled, some more gracefully than others, at the sight of the vampires, and Soraya took ahold of Vlad's hand to still him, at least, as Radu put the men in their place. Rarely had she ever seen him this angry, and though she knew he was protecting Naitachel and partially herself, still the sight gave her shivers.

"Perhaps you should simply go. Quickly," she suggested, before noting that Nari was already making to do as much.

As Hugh is currently the target of Radu's interest, the other four men take Soraya's advice--and hasten out of there, fast, some even making excuses as they split up in all directions (mostly the excuse to find the nearest bathroom, which may be less of an excuse than reality in some cases).

The man nearest Nari takes the chance to also escape Radu and Vlad's wrath. He scurries after her, uttering a sigh of relief once out of sight of the rest... then picks up his pace to catch up to her.

"Hey, look... we weren't going to do anything terrible, really. Just we've all seen that girl pal of yours running around like that, and you know how water's at a premium... How it takes more to bleach anything that clean." The fellow runs a hand through short-cropped sandy air. "Hugh said it'd be funny and maybe teach her something if she fell into one of the shallow cess-pools, while we were cleaning the darn thing earlier... so when we came across her, well... You know."

After a moment of keeping up with her, he adds, "I'm Bob, by the way... Yeah, well--as you can see, it wasn't the best idea. Never knew it might piss Radu off, though, of all people. He's good at keeping his cool normally, and only an idiot pisses off the boss-man, the head honcho."

---------------------

"Yeah, well, it's your show," Hugh grumbles, though he can't help but gulp with Radu so very close and threatening. "And it's not like she's got a lable saying she's your family..." It's a weak protest, not as much bravado as before.

"Radu," Naitachel murmurs, a faintly pleading note to his voice. "It was all a misunderstanding. They know nothing about me..."

A thought tickles the Seraph's mind, however, and he has to ask it. Then again, he is still uncertain of how this world's society is now, if enough of such exists to bother hiding what he is... and if there are other dangers out there besides the Dark Wanderer that he should hide from. <Is it my misperception, however... none of you wish for them to know what I am? Or of my abilities? That you are trying to protect me in this manner?>

.

"Hey!" Bob yells, again spreading his hands and backing off before her knife. "Nobody, and I mean nobody here would go that far with anyone--trust me on it! Or better yet, trust them! The Family would kill anyone that stupid! It's a death wish to just try. They take that whole honor crap seriously, you know. And they just... know, somehow, if someone's even making a go for it. I don't know how they know, and I don't want to know how they know... but I guess it's good they do."

As Nari runs off, he adds sheepishly, to himself, "The girl probably would've just burst into tears over her ruined clothes and run off, after... At least, most girls I know would've..."

Soraya watched as all but one of the men scattered; truly, some were stupider than others. Naitachel's question, however, brought her attention back to her old friend.

<Have you any idea how dangerous it would be for you if anyone found out that you are able to purify the earth?> Soraya retorted, fearful for a moment that Naitachel might reveal himself. <People are desperate. If they knew about you, they would likely do everything they could to hold your powers for themselves.>

They had been looking for Naitachel nearly 500 years and had only just gotten him back. The idea of him being put in the line of danger again was quite distressing for Soraya, and the mere thought brought tears to her eyes.

--------------------

"Men," Michael's voice came from around a nearby corner. "It takes one or five of them to do something stupid and make the rest of us look bad," he grinned, likely taking Nari off-guard. "They're lucky Uncle Radu and my dad didn't tear them to pieces. Neither would have any qualms about taking down anyone who threatened Naitachel and my mother." He stood from his leaning stance, then, and approached Nari with concern on his face. "And you? Are you okay?" he asked her more gently.

.

"It is safe," Michael promised, now standing close enough to Nari that he could feel her breath on him as he looked down at her. "Nothing bad /actually/ happened, did it? We got here in time," he smiled, daring to put a hand on her shoulder in an attempt to soothe her.

"Like I said... it only takes a few to cause trouble," he said, feeling her trembling. "Hey now, you're alright. I'll go give them all a kick in the rear-end, if you like," he quipped, his impish grin returning.

.

Everett lounged about the room as a few of the vampire family passed through. They seemed to be in a rush.

"I wonder what's going on down there?" he questioned himself. He was bored, so he decided to go check out the tunnel the noises were coming from.

When he got there he saw the scene unfold before him. "Wow, those vampire guys sure look pissed off," he said quietly to himself.

Everett approached, putting on his brass knuckles. "Is everything okay here, Radu?" he asked the vampire.

Everett's arrival, and armed with brass knuckles at that, makes the Seraph offer first the young man, then his family, an apologetic look. "I fear I caused a misunderstanding, but Radu has all in hand... I am truly sorry for disturbing everyone."

Feeling Soraya's distress and concern, Naitachel acquiesces to keeping his identity and abilities secret, and moves to wrap her in his arms, in a gentle and reassurring hug (though to any non-telepath, it may look like he's the one seeking solace). He hadn't thought it a great concern in such times of crisis, especially when he could be of great aid to the human population. But if it would place him in such danger and thus distress his family so, he would find more subtle ways with them to be of service.

Contritely, Naitachel offers, <Saa, saa, I apologize. I had not realized I could be such a magnet for trouble then, and burden you all with concern. I had thought I might merely be informed of how others may need such assistance as my skills may offer, and provide it to those who asked; that what I am may be reassurring and heartening in itself...> Yes well, he usually thinks the best of others, at times to the point of being too kind for his own good. <I promise to try to be less noteable in regards to my... differences and skills, then, as best I can.>

Yet... as he holds Soraya, the Seraph notices something a bit... odd. She did not feel... alone? A spark, if just that, of another life within? White-gold eyebrows knit slightly, and he gazes at Soraya with surprise--and a slow but growing smile.

<Soraya... Another one?> he laughs brightly. <When did this happen? Congratulations!>

Soraya felt rather foolish as Naitachel comforted her. Here she was crying when he was the one who had just been cornered and accosted. Hormones...

A smile answering Naitachel's reached her own lips and the seraph could probably to feel some of the expecting mother's own joy bubbling through. <Thank you. A little over a month ago, I suspect though it is difficult to pinpoint /exactly/ when> she quipped as she leaned her head against the seraph and welcomed his soothing influence. The redhead kept forgetting that Naitachel could tell such things merely by touch, and he had stolen the secret out from under her twice now. <You keep finding out before you are supposed to> she teased. <Pray, give us time to tell Radu and the others. Though I admit I am glad to have your calming influence this time> she added, referring to the fact that he had missed Brianna's arrival. <You come in handy when it comes to dealing with nausea and mood swings> she nudged, though it was likely Nait knew just how much truth there was in that particular jest. The strange food cravings, unfortunately, he could do nothing about.

Having composed herself, she finally lifted her head in Everett's direction. "We are alright Everett. There is no need." She hated that this young man might be forced to resort to violence against fellow colonists for something so silly as some men's hurt pride.

—-----------------

Michael sighed as he crouched next to Nari, his back to the wall. "Yeah, you'd think people would be worried about more important things," he concurred. Again, he placed a hand on her shoulder to offer her some sort of solid comfort. "But there's always the one. Most of the people here are good though and would help rather than hurt each other. I mean, look. That guy is even willing to jump in to protect you," he told her with a nod in Everett's direction. "Don't judge them all so harshly based on the few."

The vampire removed his hand from her arm then. "Besides, if there is one promise I can make, it's that i'll always get here on time. Just think of me and I'll be there. This'll be the safest place on Earth if you remember that. Just don't run off on us," he said with a slight plea in his tone, as though he thought perhaps this incident was enough to send Nari running off.

He hated the idea of another helpless soul out their on their own.

---------------------------


<I hate to interrupt> Tommen's voice interceded in his uncle Radu's and his father's minds, <but there's something you need to see. Upper Eastern tunnels>. The call gave the impression that Tommen was uneasy about something, the effect compounded by the fact the he was calling from an area near one of the more obscure exits into the world above.

Everett stood there waiting for everyone to head back. He kept his knuckles on just in case though. "So is there anything I can do to help around the place, or some chores you need done?" He turned to the red-haired woman as he asked the question.

Nari looked up at Michael, and gave him a slight smile. "Thanks." She pulled herself back up, picking up her knife and sliding it back into her ever-present backpack. Nari glanced back to where the others were, hoping that Soraya wouldn't come looking for her. She knew that the woman wanted to talk to her, to find out what brought her all the way from New York to California, but Nari wasn't ready yet to talk about everything that she'd been through. She hadn't quite made up her mind if she could trust them yet, but she was getting there.

Looking back at Michael, she asked. "Is there something I can be doing here? You've let me stay, but surely there's some task that I can be doing." Though she had been wandering through the tunnels, mapping them as she went. She'd discovered the first day that the tunnels were a labyrinth, with several levels, which surprised her, considering that they were in Los Angeles. Anyways, she was drawing herself a map, and it was turning out quite well.

"It's fine," Radu sighs, regaining his composure. "I thank you for your willingness to help, but we've managed it this time."

Vlad places a hand on Everett's shoulder. "You've done your fighting for the week, my friend. Rest and heal now."

Radu glanced at Vlad curiously as they received Tommen's message. <On our way,> he answered quickly, his movements a blur as he exited the tunnel, Vlad a mere half-step behind him.

Hugh eyes Everett warily, those brass knuckles and all, and sighs in relief once the vampires dash off. Turning to the younger man, he grumbles, "Don't tell me this girl's your sister or something," he sighs, gesturing at Naitachel with a hand. "I got the point already. Leave her alone. Fine--so I'll leave..."

Truth be told, he's just glad to get away without soiling his pants. Last thing he wants is a split lip on top of it.

So, Hugh does just that--walks off down the hall...

----------------------------

Naitachel chuckles and releases Soraya from his embrace, straightening. <Very well, I shall keep it as quiet as I may. But you know how Radu reads me, better than I do myself at times--so perhaps you two had best break the news fairly soon... As for the mood swings... well, you know I shall be there for you, but please, do not insist I part-take on your wild food combinations--please? I am not the one in this family who boasts a stomach of steel...>

Watching Radu and Vlad abruptly depart at the call of one of Soraya's children, the Seraph then turns to Soraya in surprise. "What is that about? A new crisis--so soon? I should hope this is not commonplace... lest you never find rest here."

He smiles warmly at Everett--a familiar face from his own rescue. "It is good to see you again--and once again you come to my aid, it seems!" he laughs softly. "How are you faring? Are you hungry, perhaps?"

<Soraya, do you know where we might help him find refreshment? I am at a loss still, this place so unfamiliar to me.>

Soraya smiled at Naitachel as she shook her head defeatedly. <I have never claimed to have a stomach of steel. I am merely required to give in to whatever demands the child makes,> she replied with amusement. <Even if those choices sound rather unappealing to most. I blame Vlad's side of the family for any particular choice in diet.>

Radu and Vlad's sudden departure at the call from Tommen left Soraya concerned, though she worked to compose her features to hide that fact. Surely it was nothing.

"Rest /is/ hard to come by around here," she informed Naitachel wryly. "This is hardly the life of leisure, with the state of the world, but we do what we can with it," she smiled, placing a hand lightly on Everett's arm. "If you are hungry, we can go have a meal together," she suggested. "We can talk about what sort of work you would like to take up. There are always things to be done."

She smiled at Naitachel, questioning whether he would indeed be joining them as she indicated the direction in which the dining area was... she thought.

------------------------------------------

"You mean, work other than wandering up and down these hallways and acting as a vigilante whenever you find trouble?" Michael laughed. "I don't know that any other work I have to offer could be as exciting."

He gestured for Nari to lead ahead of him back toward the main areas. He walked silently for a moment, as though he were in thought. What the girl next to him probably didn't realize was that he was taking the time to search a little into her thoughts, to find something that might match her skill-set without being objectionable to her. He didn't really want to /insult/ the girl, after all, by doing something such as suggesting she clean out the cesspools.

"How about working in the kitchen?" he finally settled. "I know they always need people to wash dishes, and you could learn to help with the cooking, if you like."

((ooc: The vamps can find Tommen in "Something to worry about?"))

"That sounds pretty good to me," Everett replied to the woman's question. "Lead the way," Everett said, re-adjusting his knuckle weapon in case they ran into any other "pranksters".

He may not have wanted to insult her, but she still bristled some at the suggestion. Nari tried to keep it off of her face though, plastering a smile to her face. "That sounds great. Perhaps one of these days, if I learn how to cook, I can fix something for you." She readjusted her backpack on her shoulder, squashing the feeling of resentment that she had. After all, it was her own fault for not letting Soraya or Radu talk to her, to learn of just how bad it was up on the surface in some areas.

Nari gave a deep sigh and looked up at Michael. "I know your mother and Radu both have been wanting me to talk to them. Think they'd have time tonight?" If she was going to trust these people, she had to start somewhere...especially if she wanted their trust in return. "If I'm not tied down doing the dishes for however many people actually live down here?"