A cavern to stretch one's wings?

.

The redhead gave an indignant gasp, though of course amusement was at the forefront in her mood. It seemed she would get to spend the next few months torturing Vlad by coming up with the most atrocious girls' names she could think of. She wouldn't put it past him to go so far as to join in the fun to try and top her. She was sure he had plenty of horrific suggestions himself.

"What is wrong with the name /Gertrude?/" she asked, sticking her tongue out at him. "It is a proud and noble name... perhaps a little dated and it tends to bring an old prudish crazy cat woman to mind, but other than that, I think it is a fine choice!"

She scooted to the edge of the sofa, then, nausea and fatigue forgotten during the banter with her husband. Taking his face in her hands gently, Soraya kissed him in earnest this time, with conviction and passion and love before pulling away and smiling at him impishly. "Besides," she informed him matter-of-factly, "Men are the ones who determine the gender of a baby, not women. If we have a girl to name, /you/ will be the culprit, not me."

Of course, she knew full-well that they would be both as excited to have a girl as they would to have a boy, so long as it was healthy and happy.

Everett was walking along the tunnels, heading to the place where Eric was at. Soraya had told him he would need to get a bracelet and that he should talk to Eric about maybe doing some work with engineering. He heard some voices up around a corner and recognized Nari, Nait, and Radu's voices. He rounded the corner and saw them talking to Nari--she looked upset. "Hey guys, everything okay? I was just headed to go see Eric. Y'all going the same way?" he asked the group.

<I'll make discuss that with her,> Radu assures Naitachel. Aloud, he answers Nari, "It gives you access to all common areas, and any additional areas programmed, such as food storage areas. They also include an emergency signal. Once triggered, it reads your vital signs, relays them to us, and activates a homing signal so that our medics can find and assist you. "

Naitachel flashes Radu a warm smile of gratitude as they draw Nari onward, and waves for Everett to join them with his free hand. "From what I gather, Mister Everett, that is our destination. No, nothing wrong, though Miss Nari here is overtired... Radu was just telling us of these fancy bracelets. I admit, this is all amazing to me. I would never have thought such possible, though I imagine it is quite handy if one should get hurt. Immediate assistance is certain to save lives. This 'Eric' came up with this creation? If so, he must be a genius..."

The Seraph glances upward, at the stone of the hewn tunnel they are walking through, and gives himself a slight shake. While he is not claustrophobic, he can just imagine how much rock and soil lies above and around, constricting movement here. What is most disconcerting, however... is he cannot stretch his wings here much. The tunnels are too cramped, and most rooms too small for his wingspan unless he opens only one at a time. And his feathers are showing the signs of too frequent indoor life, his tail especially becoming frayed on the feather-ends from brushing against stone so much.

Ah well. Better within, and with friends and loved ones, than out in the dangerous open...

But by then, Radu stops, drawing Nari and Natachel to a halt as well...

They have arrived at Eric's lair.

.

.

Naitachel, ever friendly and polite, nods to the massive man, and offers a quick introduction with a cheerful, bright smile. "That is Nari, who you are seating so kindly, and this is Everett, and I am Naitachel," he clarifies, glancing at Radu. "It is very kind of you to accomodate us when you appear to have so many projects to see to... An interesting thing came to light yesterday--Everett has some skill with mechanics, and some training before this war, so perhaps he might be of aid to you as well? You did state some interest in such, Everett," the Seraph adds hopefully.

<Everett stated that he invents things and has had some training in engineering before this,> Naitachel tells Radu, showing the vampire his memory of his and Soraya's discussion with Nari and Everett and Michael over a meal that one day...

Everett looked around the place amazed and excitied at what he saw; he never really got to test his knowledge of engineering and mechanics out yet. "I'll go first. I'm anxious to see how all this works," Everett said. He extended a hand to Eric. "Hi, I'm Everett. I'm a bit of a engineer and mechanic myself."

.

.

Naitachel peers over Everett's shoulder at the computer, fascinated, then watches the bracelet being worked on by the device... So very interesting, and he has the cheerful curiosity of a bird.

Thank heaven he knows better than to get too close or touch anything. Who knows what his purifying abilities might do to electronics! After all, he as some measure of such energy running through him at all times, or he wouldn't always be so pristine...

.

.

.

"I'm not sure what areas I am supposed to have access to," he told Eric. "Any ideas, Radu?" he asked the man.

Moving to Eric's side, Radu requested quietly, "If you would be so kind as to amend Nari's bracelet from here, I should like her to have family access. It is has come to my attention that my nephew, Michael, has earned her trust, at least to a point, and I should prefer she had access to him, wherever his is, should she feel the need to talk to one she trusts. She has been through a great deal. I would see her given her every opportunity for healing." He smiled as he concluded, "and she may provide a settling influence for him, as well. One can but hope."

Considering Everette, Radu answered, "Give him an engineers access and show him the ropes, please, Eric." After a moment's contemplation, he added, "Weapons areas as well. He's skilled enough at defense. I'll have Chapman alerted to his presence. No doubt he'll want to speak with him at some point." He glances toward Everett. "Have you any other skills or interests you would share?"

He mentally suggested to Michael that he might like to catch up to Nari and escort her to her room to rest, and to Vlad, suggesting Soraya might talk to Melanie about being a touch gentler with the young woman, suspecting it might be better received from her, though he left the possibility open that he might discuss it with her personally if Soraya thought it a better choice. Finally, he informed Min of Maria's antics, asking that he look into a way to reign her in, if at all possible.

.

"Well, I lived in a small town outside of L.A. and I went to college for engineering and mechanics. Halfway through my forth year of school, the bombs fell and I had to hide," Everett explained. "I waited and came to the surface and everything was dead. I heard rumors of an underground society so I decided to go looking for it. Eventually I found this place and knew it was where I needed to be," he said, and paused for a moment, remembering the way things used to be. "I would really like to learn more about making and maintaining things. I didn't get to finish school or even get any experience in the field I studied. I hope to learn something from you, if that's okay," Everett finished, watching as the bracelet was programed, amazed at the technology.

Vlad laughed at Soraya. "If I'm to have another daughter, she should have a name to be proud of. Perhaps Illeana, or Celestina?" He stopped laughing then, sobering quickly as he received Radu's message. "Beloved, I am sorry, but I must ask you to speak to Melanie." Quickly, he explained the situation with Nari to Soraya. "The poor child is so skittish and frightened. Do you think you can help with Melanie?"

"Celestina?" Soraya asked, grimacing and shaking her head. "How did we ever find any name to agree on before this," she laughed, though she was startled to see the sudden change in expression on Vlad's face. She avoided eavesdropping on his and Radu's conversation, thinking it might be something more private, though he quickly began telling her what was happening. She listened intently, sighing inwardly as he explained the necessity for her to intervene. It seemed her moment of respite was over and it was back to the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Since they had formed the colony, Soraya, it seemed, had fallen into the role of ambassador between the family and the colonists. She wasn't quite sure how that had happened, though she supposed it had something to do with the fact that she was human, as the other colonists were. Even those who didn't outright /know/ what her family was, she thought, still sensed that there was something different about the Princes. Human instinct was powerful, if sometimes overlooked.

She nodded somberly in response to Vlad's request, standing slowly as her momentarily forgotten nausea and fatigue returned. "I'll talk to her," she agreed, "though Melanie runs her kitchen as Melanie wills," she said, in a warning that even her request for leniency might not do all that much good. "In fact, I will be lucky to get out of there without having to listen to one of Melanie's tirades about finding someone else if we don't like how she runs her ship," she sighed with a tight smile. The idea of dealing with /that/ this morning was less than appealing. Of course, she would still oblige.

"Well, then, let's get on with it," she said, kissing Vlad gently before moving to make her way to the kitchens. "I will see you tonight," she said, referring to their planned event.

"Nari went through some cruel times, even before the war, and more as she worked her way from New York to here, I am certain," Naitachel supplies softly from where he lithely perches on the back of a sawhorse, intent on staying away from the warm hum of electronics lest he adversely effect them. "Though I fear most everyone who survived has terrible stories of pain and loss to tell. I am sorry you do, as well, Everett."

Yes, he can feel as much with his empathy. It's saddening. His own story is far less painful than those he feels all around... or that's his opinion, anyway. Hanging on a wall for a few hundred years is nothing compared to the murder, rape, torment, and destruction that went on outside.

But he shared Nari's story with Radu a day or so ago, after she told him and Soraya...

"At least here, in this sanctuary, lives may rebuild and grow... even blossom to something beautiful once again. And, perhaps, with some luck... it may spread beyond as well. Who knows how far a little kindness and love may go?" The Seraph flashes Radu a warm smile, proud of what his mate and family has wrought here and saved despite the chaos and destruction outside... and still optimistic.

Well, he IS a Seraph.

.

Naitachel glances at Radu briefly, and can't help a mischievous smirk, golden eyes lighting up playfully.

With one hand, he indicates Radu with his thumb, and grins broadly at Eric. "I will have what he is having?" he suggests brightly, referring to the vampire.

<Well, you did say you wish for me to be able to go anywhere you are... I suppose that means everywhere... unless there is somewhere even you are not allowed?> the Seraph chuckles.

Radu laughed, a deep almost musical sound rarely heard. "Indeed he shall," he confirms to Eric. "Let there be no place barred to my beloved. I would have him able to join me wherever I may be."