blood ties

RONIN

the white knight

light is easy to love.

Ronin had been the one to send the letter to Flora in the end, leaving his husband with the much easier task of reaching out to Mateo up at Stormbreak, whether on paper or in person. It's just dinner, he'd tried to reiterate to Remi on more than one occasion, despite knowing that the reassurance is more for himself than for the Bastion. Just dinner with their children. One of whom kicked their door of its hinges the last time she was here and who is just as likely right now to stab them in the back as say hello.

Which is why, delicately and reluctantly though the words had been written, the Taliesins have invited Flora's new boyfriend along as well. Whether either of them will actually attend is up for debate, and since Ronin (unlike the boyfriend in question) is not a mind-reader, he's left to simply simmer in his anxiety about it all.

Still, as the sun dips towards the horizon, staining the ocean in shades of gold and crimson, the Northaven seems merry enough. The interior of the houseboat is small and modest at best, which is why the tables and chairs have been set up on the beach just beside it, large parasols providing shade while it matters and torches and lanterns lit for when darkness does start to fall.

For Ronin's part, the Knight is busy doing the doing in the Northaven's little kitchen, having found it useful, unsurprisingly, to have something to occupy his mind while they wait for their daughter (and Jack, potentially) to arrive (or not).

show me your darkness.

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

Mateo

Should'a seen what I wore
I had a cane and a party hat

His fathers have invited him down for a family dinner, alongside his sister and someone else, apparently, but let's be honest: they had Mateo at hello. Having abandoned whatever plans he'd made for the evening, the botanist exchanges one houseboat for another, and however this pans out for Remi and Ronin when it comes to Flora, at least they can rest easy in knowing that Mateo is having a great time.

He'd spent a good while - after showering his fathers in greetings and affections - inspecting the plantlife on The Northaven, only settling into his role as guest when he deems their welfare to be satisfactory. Dressed in a billowing shirt of sheer blue, his curls left loose around his shoulders and his hands and neck heavily bejewelled in gold and sapphires, he's currently sitting out beneath a parasol, sandalled feet propped on the (empty, currently) table and with a cocktail in hand made with waterfall gin.

It's his third, truth be told, and the booze along with the bump of snapdragon he's recently taken make him remarkably charismatic - and affectionate, as both Taliesins will be able to attest.

I was the king of this hologram
where there's no such thing as getting out of hand

honey, you're familiar like my mirror years ago

While Remi had recently developed quite an interest in cooking, Ronin had politely kicked him out of the kitchen when he'd noticed the Bastion cutting up vegetables using his claws rather than a knife. Remi, who hadn't even noticed, considered protesting before submitting to the Knight's quiet insistence that he just play bartender for the evening (a role that Mateo seems quite content to help him fill).

"And they've been growing well under normal conditions?" Remi asks as Mateo fills him in on his recent experimentation growing void-flora. Sipping at his own cocktail, the Bastion had made it extraordinarily strong, knowing that whatever buzz he'd have from it wouldn't last more than an hour or so, but needing the mental comfort of a diluted mind. Of course, had he known about Jack's abilities, alcohol was the last thing he'd be reaching for.

Ahh, well, if nothing else, it was good to see his son looking so happy, and Remi made sure to say as much before the evening was swept away by potential theatrics.

idealism sits in prison, chivalry fell on its sword

Flora

Never fear dads, the anxious churning of your stomachs will soon be replaced by the feet you're going to inevitably shove into your mouths, and with any luck, you'll choke on them.

Very much not over the behaviour of the Taliesins (not u Mateo), Flora's thoughts had been a maelstrom all that afternoon, giving Jack a front-row seat into the mind of a woman scorned. Her thoughts knew no bounds when it came to pettiness, her imagination never more active than when considering the various things that might be said to her that evening and how she'd respond. Of course, it was all largely hypothetical, this all being a mental exercise to release some of her pent up frustration, and by the time Flora and Jack began to wander down the beach toward the Northaven, the queen's mind had calmed considerably.

Dressed in a cream coloured sundress with a subtle chevron pattern she thought her brother would approve of and her curls piled atop her head to try and compensate for the heat, Flora had sent Spice on ahead to reunite with Sugar. "Remi and Mateo speak something called the travelling tongue, though I doubt you'll have any trouble understanding what they're saying." Flora explains.

I don't like slow motion double vision in rose blush
I don't like that falling feels like flying 'til the bone crush

Code stolen from Queen Sky

JACK

This, believe it or not (it's the former - believe it) is Jack's very first family dinner, and he's only even family-adjacent at best. Granted, given the cacophony of thought that has been whirling around Flora's mind all afternoon, he gets the impression that as far as these sorts of get togethers go, this is probably going to be something of an anomaly. Either way, having given himself a headache before finally resorting to blocking the Doubletake out until her thoughts have calmed, now that they are headed down the beach towards The Northaven, the good captain is about as relaxed as it gets.

"I'll let you know what they have to say later," he tells her smoothly, though having never heard the travelling tongue up close and personal, his curiosity is automatically piqued.

Dressed as Flora's shadow, the captain's shirt is a blue so dark so as to almost seem black, the colour only showing in a soft sheen when the light falls upon it. With his hair swept back out of his face and his eyes still shaded for now by his sunglasses, he's the picture of giving-no-fucks, and that doesn't change even when the parasols, tables and chairs come into view - including the two Taliesins already seated. 

"You ready to make some people deeply uncomfortable?" he asks, angling his head towards Flora as if they're sharing a secret, before reaching out to slip his hand into hers for good measure.

you're the last of a dying breed; write our names in the wet concrete
I wonder if your therapist knows everything about me

Code stolen from Queen Sky

Mateo

Should'a seen what I wore
I had a cane and a party hat

"Mmhm. It is as though they do not know they are infected with the void at all," Mateo is explaining to his father, his free hand punctuating his words with gestures that are far more pronounced thanks to the combination of alcohol and being around Remi. "Though I suppose that is to be expected, no? I imagine it is how they are able to spread so quickly across the regions." If anything, he has had to work to contain them to his laboratory, though he doesn't see the need so much to mention that to the Bastion.

In the perfect position to see two figures appear in the distance across the beach, Mateo lifts a hand to shade his eyes before he lights up, smiling hard enough to show off his dimples and offering a carefree wave to Flora as she approaches with Mister Dressed-To-Kill. "Ciao, bella!" he trills. "I was expecting you here sooner. I have been the entertainment for far too long." Grinning at Remi, he offers him a playful wink; oblivious as he is to any ongoing bad blood, Mateo is clearly in for a treat.

I was the king of this hologram
where there's no such thing as getting out of hand

honey, you're familiar like my mirror years ago

"And there have been no ill-effects? Nothing in the air?" Remi's gesticulating has increased for being around his son as well, to the point where anyone walking down the beach might think the pair were having an argument for the theatrics of their hands. "Well, I hope you are keeping your spirits up. I know some of those plants have a tendency to cause..." Frowning, the Bastion squints vaguely at Mateo as he searches for the word, his fingers pressed against his thumb. "Cattivi sentimenti, mm?"

As Mateo turns, Remi feels his stomach plummet before turning to ice. The delight on his son's face could only mean one thing, and though the Bastion thought he'd braced himself well ahead of time, as he turned to spy Flora hand in hand with Jack, it was all he could do to keep feathers from shivering down his arms.

Forcing a smile for Mateo, as Remi rises he sends a desperate pulse through the attuned bond, thankful for once that only he and Ronin presently shared it; little did he know that Jack was able to more or less hitchhike his way along said bond, of course. "Flora." Offering his daughter a smile he's sure won't be returned, Remi pulls in a breath before extending a hand toward the captain. "Jack."

idealism sits in prison, chivalry fell on its sword

Flora

"Yes." Flora agrees, bouncing onto her toes in order to press a kiss against Jack's cheek while he is too close to do anything about it. After the stunt they pulled at her bar and then again at the houseboat, being uncomfortable was only half of what they deserved. Luckily, knowing Mateo, he'd just consider whatever theatrics were to come dinner theatre.

"Ciao Mateo!" The travelling tongue didn't sound nearly as musical from Flora's lips as it did her brother's, but she'd heard it often enough growing up for it to roll from her tongue just the same. "Oh hush, you love being the entertainment." She scolds playfully, wrinkling her nose affectionately in his direction before turning her aqua stare to Remi. "Sorry we didn't bring anything. Hope that isn't too childish of us." Flora trills breezily.

Quite liking the feeling of Jack's hand in hers—for all the places those hands had been, pressed against her own was a rarity—the queen is a touch reluctant to let it go (gods knew when he'd be in a position to do it again), but she does, after giving it a quick squeeze, in order to wrap her arms around Mateo in a proper hug.

I don't like slow motion double vision in rose blush
I don't like that falling feels like flying 'til the bone crush

Code stolen from Queen Sky

JACK

Squeezing Flora's fingers in return and offering her a devilish smile for her trouble as she departs to say hello to her brother, Jack hopes at this point that he doesn't need to verbally agree with the Doubletake for her to know he's on board. Whatever shenanigans occur tonight, accidental, vindictive or otherwise, the good captain also has a bone to pick with the Taliesins - with the one right in front of him in particular.

"He's your father - I'm sure he's just happy that you brought yourself," he tells Flora, glancing at Remi over his sunglasses before reaching out to shake the offered hand. Callouses meet callouses, though Jack's fingers are more heavily clad in rings, it's true, and just before he releases the Bastion, a hard spark of electricity crackles against their palms. "Sorry," he drawls, sounding anything but. "It's a new magic. Still getting to grips with it."

you're the last of a dying breed; write our names in the wet concrete
I wonder if your therapist knows everything about me

Code stolen from Queen Sky

Mateo

Should'a seen what I wore
I had a cane and a party hat

"Nothing that I have noticed," Mateo is telling his father, "e non essere sciocco. I am immune to any cattivi sentimenti, void flora or no." Alas, their conversation about his ongoing experiments will have to continue later, because the botanist is already on his feet to greet his sister. "Guilty as charged," he admits with a flash of teeth, his arms opening so he might draw the Doubletake into a hug. "It is good to see you, sorellina," he trills, kissing each of her cheeks in turn before stepping back.

Conveniently just in time to see the initial greeting take place between Jack and Remi, and by the amusement he's trying very hard to keep off his face, it looks as though he isn't going to be the entertainment for very much longer. "I am sensing some tension," he says to Flora, quiet enough to keep the words just between the two of them (and Jack, of course, but he isn't to know that). "Are you going to introduce me, or shall I just wait for the fight to break out?"

I was the king of this hologram
where there's no such thing as getting out of hand

RONIN

the white knight

light is easy to love.

Remi's call through the Attuned bond is the equivalent of a bat-signal to Ronin, and luckily enough he's already about on his way down to the shore anyway. Two Knights emerge from the houseboat, of course, food in hand, and though the smile he levels at the captain is polite enough, it softens immediately as he glances towards Flora, a mixture of relief that she had come and apology for the way things had gone when they'd last spoken.

Setting the food down on the table - a selection of pinwheel sandwiches, a pot of alfredo pasta with chicken and spinach, and a large salad with lemon, mint and crab meat - it's an indicator of stress more than anything that Ronin doesn't instantly sit down to eat. Instead, sidling up beside Remi and slipping an arm around his waist as much for comfort as to keep him grounded, he leans in towards his husband. "Drinks?" he suggests gently, as if to give him an out.

show me your darkness.

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

honey, you're familiar like my mirror years ago

Sighing softly at the barbs levelled his way, Remi merely offers his daughter a patient smile as she swans by to warmly greet her brother. Remi's grip is precisely as strong as you'd expect it to be, and though he doesn't break the captain's fingers, he's fantasizing about the other man's bones crunching between his just the same. If nothing else, the confidence that he loves Flora in a way that Jack doesn't and never will, has the Bastion's smile turning a touch smug as he feels the sizzle of electricity against his palm, and as the captain makes his apologies, Remi is quick to absolve him of any wrongdoings with a chuckle. "I hardly felt it." Not only was Jack insignificant, his abilities were as well.

Glancing over his shoulder as his husband(s) appeared, Remi sighed inwardly as tendrils of affection slid out from his mind toward the Knight. Gods I love you Wrapping an arm around Ronin in turn, his fingers slide beneath the Knight's shirt that the unhappy tide of his emotions might have somewhere new to flow. "Mmm. Flora, Jack? What can I get you to drink?"

idealism sits in prison, chivalry fell on its sword

Flora

"Mwwwwwwwwwwah!" Flora trills in response, the force of her smile rendering her cheeks wonderfully plump for her brother to kiss. Pulling back just enough for him to see the way her eyes widen theatrically, the Doubletake huffs softly. 'They ambushed us in my bar.' She explains as her fingers fuss with the shoulders of his shirt before moving to adjust the various necklaces he'd chosen to wear. "And said all sorts of shitty things about us, so now we're fighting." Shrugging her shoulders, the queen's eyes narrow suspiciously as she taps a finger against a golden chain inlaid with pearls. "I have been looking for this everywhere." She hisses before twisting to face Jack.

"Jack, this is mio fratello, Mateo. Mateo, this is Jack." Rather proudly said, the smile on her lips sours somewhat as Ronin(s) appear. Looking him up and down with the sort of mean-girl stare that could make the best of them uncomfortable, she shifts to stand by Jack. "That's a lot of food." She notes distantly, not quite as upset with the Knight as she was with the Bastion, but by no means willing to let him off the hook.

As for something to drink? With a slight sniff of disdain, Flora nods. "Waterfall gin."

I don't like slow motion double vision in rose blush
I don't like that falling feels like flying 'til the bone crush

Code stolen from Queen Sky

Mateo

Should'a seen what I wore
I had a cane and a party hat

"They did not," Mateo hisses back to his sister, invested in the gossip regardless of the subject - especially when it happens to be their parents, in fact. "And what gives them the right?" he wonders, raising an eyebrow back at the good captain as he exchanges barbs and handshakes with Remi. "Did he fuck with them in a past life or something?" Having straightened up enough to accept the fuss, Mateo admires the chevron pattern on Flora's dress (as she had always known he would), glancing up only as she fingers the pearl necklace he's adorned.

"Mm... no," he sings (and it's in the exact tone you think it is), tucking the necklace away with the others and turning his attention instead towards Jack. "Piacere," he trills, inclining his head to the other man, only for Remi's voice to draw his attention - more specifically, the way he has not offered him another drink. Letting his jaw drop in outrage and gesturing to his mostly empty glass, he lets that stand for itself.

I was the king of this hologram
where there's no such thing as getting out of hand