Post by Emily on Sept 23, 2015 12:31:57 GMT -8
CAST: Nero Dollarhyde (hatecuiture@aol.com), Nika Godwin (ripherskin@aol.com) (guest), Hannah Fein (scalesenpointe@aol.com)
SUMMARY: Nika, littlest sister of Nero and the only surviving Godwin for whom he has any affection after having been disowned years prior, visits London with news from Durham. Nero's mother has died and his father is incapacitated, leaving meek Nika the head of the family. As she prefers her family together rather than scattered to the winds, she extends an olive branch to Nero and asks him to consider ending his exile. Hannah sits there like a piece of tea-drinking furniture and listens quietly.
TW: violence
[Nika] sightseeing was boring, the shops were all filled with things that didn't dare catch her attention and the hustle and bustle of london's busy streets were never truly her cup of tea. no the little bird often preffered the comfort of small places and less awkward faces. they all seemed awkward these days, even the ones she once loved on video were less lovable in a way. so odd to see the girl in london then, tucked away in a flat that had been rented out for her, for the time. a large thing, open spaced and large windowed with long wooden planks that made up the floors. there had been no time for personal touches, besides she probably wouldn't stay long, just a mess of vials all filled with pretty colors and floating odds and ends settled on a large black table. candles suspended from wrought iron in the middle and a mess of white and black blankets off to one side, at one point it might have been a bed. somewhere there was a tea kettle going off and a red headed girl fussing over it. the messages had been sent along with a car, if needed, to where she had heard from a little bird that her brother might be. door open, all welcome, don't mind if you walk in while she's carefully trying to carry tray, tea, cups and cakes and all over to that messy table. balance was never her strong point, no waitress job in her future. pity.
[Nero] Nero had been right in the middle of conducting some important business with some powerful movers and shakers when he felt his mobile vibrating against his hip. Unfortunately, the kind of business he had been in the middle of conducting prevented him from checking to see who it was directly. Mainly because his hands were practically stained crimson from the business—or in this instance altercation. He had done well in the prevention of any spraying onto his clothing. The evidence laid in the form of a blackjack no further than a couple of meters from the victims head. Which had been split wide open like a melon in the process. "It seems our associate here has just lost his mind for business. Shame really." Nero didn't sound overly concerned. "Liberate him of his clothes, and introduce him to the special grinder. I'm sure he will appeal to a more specific clientele." He directed his secondhand in handling the cleanup process. Afterwards, Nero excused himself to the kitchen sink so he could probably the wash and rinse his hands. Taking all the proper precautions while in a culinary surrounding. His entire staff was well-versed in the policy reinforced by the health administration—that included him as well. Fortunately he had contained his business to the confines of one of the walk-in freezers not currently being used. Which made for an easier cleanup job considering it was contained in a smaller area. Stepping through the employees only door of the Cat before he reached for his mobile. Thumbing from screen to screen until reaching his text messages. So it seems a particular Little Birdie was in town, and sending him an invitation for tea it would seem. Naturally he would collect Hannah who he had left temporarily in the companionship of one of the old tomes he had come across during previous events. Such a bookworm that one was—a girl after his own heart. Leaving the Cat, it wouldn't take them very long to speed across London in his Rolls-Royce. Pulling up out front of the address—assuming she had texted him one—of the place Nika was staying at. Like any gentleman he assisted Hannah from the vehicle and escorted her all the way to the front door. Where they were expected? It didn't take Nero long watching his sister struggle with the serving tray before he intervened. Rushing over in what can only be described as a blur, to slide his hand under the tray and therefore take over carrying it altogether. Nero would set it down on the table his sister intended it for. All before reaching out to gently placed his hand atop her head for brief physical contact. They weren't exactly the most cuddly of families, after all.
[Hannah] She'd given herself away months ago, when Nero had traded favors to get his hands on a few books that were old enough and obscure enough to shed some light on a troubling Hellhound infestation in South Bank, spending hours and hours curled up in his wingback chair at the Cat with one tome and then the next while he worked financials and took meetings. Old, obscure books were a very easy way to a) lure her into his company and b) distract her from aspects of his business that she would almost certainly object to, like the skull-splitting that had gone on two heavy doors and many feet down a hallway only moments before a spotless werewolf collected the dragon from where he'd left her. Oh, Nika was in the city, again! Hannah's studiousness became a slow, pleased smile on coral-pink lips, and then she was up onto flat-shoed feet to accept an invitation, hand curled around Nero's forearm just under the crook of his elbow for most of the trip. Nervous fingertips -- nervous, because the last time she'd seen Nika, she'd asked her for a thing that had wound up causing quite a bit of trouble -- smoothed over the expensive fabric of his jacket's sleeve just prior to arrival and the saving of the wibbly-wobbly tray. The display of brotherly guardianship and subtle affection warmed her. As usual, Hannah was quiet, crossing her arms over a cable-knit sweatered belly. Didn't she look just cozy enough for tea?
[Nika] tea was a thing everyone looked cozy enough for. always. even the usually well put together nero was suited to sit and sip from those silver lipped tea cups of her's. a master piece in fine print upon white ceramic, the edges dipped in silver paints while body boasted a string of small roses held together by branches of thorns, pricked in red here and there. one of many sets she owned, most of them kept tucked away in various homes. the school, a small home in durham, romania, scattered about like most of her beloved friends and family. thrown simply to the wind. for all the cold weather outside nika tried her best to keep the open flat as cozy as possible. heating being piped in from vents hung from metal tubing that rounded the whole area. at one point, she was told, the building had belong to a man who dyed fabrics, ran sewing machines and dressed fancy ladies in the lower levels. though this was probably a fact the broker had told many of the young girls who waltzed through his doors, a seller's gimmick, though what it had been before was no care of her's. with the warmth little nika had peeled off her own sweater a bit ago leaving pale arms exposed, scars and all. the dress she wore, black of course, was a thing made up of lace and cotton and could have easily been purchased a hundred years ago. if given one more moment the tray could have easily been dropped, a smashed mess on the floor, or maybe safe in it's home upon the table? lost among the vials, much like the one she had given hannah. when nero came to the rescue nika simply stepped back, chin up to watch the older boy and red lips curled into a smile. "Thank you... I don't have a broom yet... Would have been hard to clean without one." soft spoken, tilt of that accent that barely clung to life. "Glad you guys could come, please sit down. Early Grey mixed with a hint of lavender." meaning the tea of course.
[Nero] "Of course." Nero nodded his head before turning his attention towards seating Hannah properly. Then he was smoothing out his purple and black striped tie while taking a seat for himself. "Thank you for inviting us." Ever the gentleman, he exercised politeness whenever the occasion warranted such behavior. Pressed and dressed in his finest custom-made suit had been his chosen formalwear. Nero had his own tailor who produced quality over quantity. Which is exactly why someone of Nero's stature would never be caught dead wearing a suit from an outlet store. Having his own personal tailor actually brought to life in him a newfound confidence. That, and his hand-picked tailor also dealt in fabrics that protected his clientele from gunfire or potential stab wounds. With all the goings-on that revolved around the University, he had taken certain precautions in protecting himself—for the sake of everyone else he both loved and cared about. No pinstripes, just solid charcoal colored fabric made up his suit jacket. Beneath he wore a tweed waistcoat, where the gilded chain of his pocket watch was seemingly attached. He wasn't without matching slacks so as to pull his entire ensemble together. Nero hiked his left leg comfortably over the right, more dominant of the two. Revealing those dress shoes with the pronounced heel. Nero had long enough arms for him to reach across the distance and secured a teacup for himself. "Earl Grey—my favorite." He remarked, holding the saucer just beneath the fragile vessel.
[Hannah] There was nothing nearly as important as all that about what Hannah was wearing. They were just clothes; nothing fancy. Nothing fancy. That was what she called her usual at Joe's, too. Maybe her everything was nothing fancy. Her head had ticked to the left so that she could admire the floral pattern on Nika's tea cups as she reached out to lift one from where Nero had seen to her comfort. Red roses and thorns, because one should never be without the other, not in this world. The left corner of her mouth rose into a distracted, wistful smile and the tip of her idle thumb traced a silver lip halfway around its circumference. Exchanged pleasantries pulled her attention up from the cup. "It's good to see you again so soon," she offered with a quiet nod meant to punctuate Nero's gratitude.
[Nika] so soon. was it really not that long ago? though it seemed like centuries past between days, minutes were stretching further and further each time she glanced at a clock. another smile, quick, was awarded towards her brother when he spoke. "It is a good mixing base or for breakfast I think." talking such small talk as she poured her own cup, one hand tilted while the other slid a small plate of pastries towards the other two. small cakes really, most topped with white fluffy swirls, one green and garnished with a small sprig of basil. sweets were never really nika's thing but the idea of having them with company seemed a rather common occurance. formal, all formal. "Hannah... I hope you're well." browns eyes, as wide as a deer caught in headlights, fixed on the other redhead, one brow carefully raising on a pale forehead. questioning, from concerns for the girl from a rather odd little bird who, of course, graced her with a smile as well. all smiles. though the road ahead may be a bit rough she would attempt to pave it well. her own seat was taken, legs crossed beneath a slim body that perched oh so carefully on the edge. ready to fly at any given moment. "Dollarhyde is it now? Such a weird name... A name with currency in it, is that suppose to be some good luck charm?" because the dear girl did not read many books containing murderers, excuse her please. the same eyes that stared at hannah now turned towards the wolf boy. only teasing, a small laugh, like a drizzle at night, laced through words. "So, not meaning to rush... But I have some news from home."
[Nero] Before long he reached over to grab a small pastry to accompany his tea. Nero sat back in his seat while lightly snacking on his cake. "Hannah is much better now. I made certain to nurse her back to good health." There was honestly no harm no foul. After all, he had gotten to her in time to purge whatever concoction she had taken from her system. Once he had done that, she came right out of it. Nero turned his attention from Hannah back to his sister just as soon as she remarked on his last name. "Well, it served its purpose. If memory serves correctly I was forced to surrender my given surname when I was expelled from not only Saint Brigids but our family as well." Nero replied, his words weren't necessary sharp as they were matter-of-factly. "But, it has generated a certain amount of luck I suppose. If you believe in such nonsense as luck." Another sip of his tea taken, raising the opulent teacup to his pale lips. Overhearing Nika's admission that she brought news from home, his interest piqued somewhat—it was near impossible to tell with him sometimes. "Do you know? And, just what kind of news do you come bearing pray tell?" Naturally he was curious, despite not really giving a good goddamn in the first place. But, given it was coming from Nika he would swallow his pride and listen with a genuine smile on his face.
[Hannah] Hannah's eyes widened slightly as Nero answered for her, firstly because she had a voice and could answer for herself as she liked, secondly because... well, how do you include something like 'by the way, you were right about the dosing instructions on that little purple vial you gave me, and if your older brother hadn't come along when he did I wouldn't be writing this' in a letter? She hadn't told Nika what happened after they'd met at Joe's. Not about the overdose, or about the time she'd been spending with Nero, or... anything. Not a lick of it. She thought she'd throughly protected the little bird from the entire disaster. Of course, little birds have little birds, so who is to say she hadn't found out on her own? The words he chose were innocuous enough. Maybe they'd pass muster. An exhalation created ripples over the top of her cup of tea. "I'm..." And a glance passed between one Godwin and one former Godwin, then back again. "He's been very attentive." She went silent so that Nika could share news from Durham, which had never really felt like home, to her. It was where what she knew of home had gone to die.
[Nika] "glad to hear that then. attentive." of course little birds had little birds. though nika did not make it habit to stick her nose where it did not belong. that vial was exactly where it belonged though. there was no blame passed to hannah, no hate for misuse, only sadness in the fact that there was a cause for it. maybe she wasn't so good at jokes. generally this was the case. teacup was brought up, pale fingers curled around it, silver tipped nails tapped against the ceramic before it was finally brought to lips. no stain, no smudge left behind by painted lips, just a sigh that parked them as the liquid settled in her belly. "I hope that you understand I had no say in that matter, I mean what could I have done?" words that caused a shoulder to rise and fall. "Sa nu va meu." and it was simply that, it had always been simply that. nothing one small child could do against a brute force. teacup was down, though fingers still wrapped themselves safely around it. the warmth sinking into her flesh and eyes now down, watching the sway of the tea left inside of it. "Mother is dead. Mister Carrington as well. Father is..." such a casual tone, even if it took a toll to not let words crack. a stopping, a pausing for another sip from her cup. that safety net between words. "He's taken quite a liking to my wolfsbane garden."
[Nero] "There wasn't anything you could do. It was beyond your control, and so I hold no ill will. It was of my own doing, after all." Given the rumors, they both could attest to that fact. It was of his own doing and he accepted it like a man would. Even though he had his own side of the story. Which didn't matter in the least, it was neither here nor there. Then she spilled the beans concerning the news she brought from home. Mother was dead? "That's too bad, I was rather looking forward to wearing her head as a hat when I finally returned to Durham." His words were unnerving, but more disturbing than that was the coldness in his voice when he spoke. It should prove enough to send chills down the spines of those of a weaker constitution. "Ah, Edward is no longer with us—what an injustice. I suppose Kain was thankful for the loss. Otherwise he might still be resigned to that dungeon, or wherever the bloody hell Edward kept his children. To think everyone was so frightened of him in life. I guess he was mortal, after all." What's that? Some semblance of a smile curled at the right corner of his mouth. Nero was amused both by the news as well as his small quip at Mister Carrington's expense. Only had he ever met the man a handful of times, but even that was more than enough to satiate Nero's tastes. Last but not least, news of his father. "Wolfsbane? Hm. Is the ol' geezer alive still? I have yet to hear you specifically say whether he still draws breath or not." Oh, his curiosity continued to grow by leaps and bounds. Until finally his attention was fully on his sister by this point. That normal shade of whiskey gold gradually shifted to the haunting pale blue. It creating an otherworldly glow that radiated brilliantly. A far cry away from the bright red of their former self, when he was still attending Saint Brigid's.
[Nika] after awhile the sway of the tea lost it's appeal. spinning, coming close to the edge yet never close enough to spill out. wasn't life just like that stupid tea cup. while nero spoke the little ceramic thing had finally made it's way back home, cozy on a little saucer that matched. half gone, starting to chill a little already. had she sucked all the warmth away from it? possibly. eyes stayed down though. "Kain is in a coma... The Carrington's are all flesh and blood easy enough to snuff out, I suppose, for the right person." these sorts of conversations were never her cup of tea, pun intended, but she had a while to go over them in her head. over and over and over. after the fact it had even taken a long time for her to come to terms with what exactly happened, all details still seemed like they were from some movie and not her own memory. "Still alive." eyes moved now, settling on nero one brow raised delicately. "If you call what the plant does to you... A life. O coajă nu trăiește."
[Nero] "Wolfsbane does have its way of lessening the quality of life of his and my ilk. It's almost inspiring how even as we speak he still clings to life." Nero feigned the authenticity of his words. That man had been the very source of their fears growing up. For him, it was merely a case of good riddance in the grand scheme. "You do me proud, dear sister. But, I can't for the life of me seem to understand why. Ever since I can remember, ever since before you were brought into this world—these men were tyrants over their own households. The demands of these despots were final say in all facets of our young lives. I mean, I do understand that their fates were sealed in a long time ago. I just seem to have difficulty understanding your motives for such actions taken; especially from a typically demure, docile creature such as yourself." Question is, did he believe in his little sisters ability to commit atrocities against their own parents? He did, and he couldn't possibly be any more proud of her. Just see how he beamed with pride there sitting across from her. Nero was just curious as to the motives that drove her to such. "If our father is still alive, I do have one request. May I take his fangs? Both sets." He said, throwing up right hand with both his middle and forefinger extended to further accentuate his point. It was a rather outlandish request, but this was Nero we're dealing with here. Where nothing was conventional. Not even the conventional.
[Nika] wolfsbane was a tricky thing, not easy to grow really... given the circumstances of her beloved family. locked tight, far away, she had a small garden growing. what had started as a hobby blossomed into something much more deadly. only for one man though, kept hidden the secrets that lie within her garden walls were only shared between two minds. a godwin and a carrington. "It's possible to keep blood flowing, brain activity working, if the Wolfsbane is countered with something." her gaze moved, shifted, fall back, nervous little bird. such things were, again, not her cup of tea. a hand reached out, a finger tracing along the side of a violet vial, small twigs shot through and dotted with flowers. suspended in time. "Motive?" she knows the word, of course, but the word itself snapped her attention back to nero, back to the tea she had waiting for her. "Do you remember when I was ten and I jumped from the highest tower back home? I suppose... In some ways I wanted to die when I did I didn't jump. When I was thirteen and I burned myself in that pot of water?" fingers that had once played across that vial moved now, falling against the oddly colored skin of her forearm. "Six months ago when I stabbed my hand with a knife, you weren't there for that. I didn't do those things on my own, Nero, our mother was sick. She deserved to die." much like nika deserved to fly. the tea cup was brought up again, set against lips for a moment before it was tipped back for a drink. too much talking for one small thing, her head left a little off. "Mister Carrington enjoyed my company. Things needed to change... Noah had me over for tea. That one was simply a favor done for a friend... Father he couldn't stay..." no mention to the fangs nero, sorry... she would have to think that one over.
[Nero] "You are correct. Father couldn't stay, but imagine if you would—the look on his face in knowing he failed Mister Carrington. It would be priceless. But, somehow I think he already knows given his dire circumstances." Again, he cracked a crooked smile. That is until Nika finally revealed the deterioration of their mother. Nero was practically floored by the news, and already he could feel his fingernails digging into the soft interior of his clenched fists. "Are you saying that every time we assumed you were depressed," that's his word for suicide in this instance, because he had never liked using it in pertaining to his sister. ".. it was actually our mother who was at the root of the blame? Or, was this a recent development only? Forgive me for asking but I want to ensure that I'm hearing you correctly. Because I for one didn't believe our mother capable of harming us." Whichever the truth may be, it didn't stop him from rising out of his chair all slow and ominous. But, he made his intentions quite clear by crossing the distance between him and his sister. Considering he was so much taller than she, he decided to take a knee by her side. Then he leaned in with his arms outstretched, Nero had every intention of pulling her into a big bear hug from the burly Romanian boy whether she liked it or not. Both arms closing around her and fully encompassing her frail little frame. "I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you. Forgive me, please?"
[Nika] "Not all of it. You must understand that having to deal with such things, such awful awful things, takes a toll." a drastic toll. the ghost of a girl that haunted the hallways, that rarely spoke to people outside of her kin, that fought her way to tall towers, carved her skin and tested all those pretty little vials herself... was depressed. for many reasons. more then she could put into words while down for tea time with a brother she hadn't seen in what seemed like ages and a redheaded girl who was probably feeling rather akward right now. "You understand the things that happen to the males born to our name... Of course you do. In ways I never could but you don't understand what happens to the girls. Think to be married into a curse like mother was, like many girls are. They become depressed.." making excuses now are we nika dear? hands were leaving things behind, setting aside teacups to paw at her face for a moment, fingers pressing into eyes, rubbing. "We work countless hours, nights, gathering, learning, bleeding, stressing over every little detail of every little thing. Everyone who dies by our hands... We see the blood clinging to our own skin. Sickness, madness, mental illness whatever you want to call it is the girl's curse." it may seem small, like nothing at all. nero's hug was just fine, though her own arms did not extend to meet him, body just allowed the contact. "It's not as cool as the boy's... At least you get fur for the cold... And neat fangs." it wasn't a laugh that parted lips, a shake of her head, it was a mixture of trying to just shake all those words off. "You didn't know. I didn't say. She wanted me dead. I understand why but it's time to change."
[Nero] "Tell me. What was it the Cheshire Cat said to Alice on her first trip through the looking glass?" He asked, his hand came to rest on the back of the girls head. Nero slightly tilted his head to the side as he studied his sisters face. "We're all mad here." It was his best brotherly attempt at shedding some light on the situation. Nero would do his very best to steal away some of those awful thoughts pertaining to their family. "I can assure you. The male side of our family is not ideal. It has left me with a sophisticated palate." Again, his way of saying he had acquired a taste for vital organs from humans. It just made sense for him to have opened a culinary hotspot within the entertainment district of South Bank. Many cases of lycanthropy were said to include the ingesting of human flesh, among other things. Nero had first been appalled by the very idea, but over time developed an understanding as well a taste for it. "You never asked if we went around sniffing each other's arises. Or, whether we have to concern ourselves with creepy crawlies shawshanking their way up our arses. We don't—just so you know. Just the occasional tick." Okay so, he packed several canine puns into that last sentence. Maybe to at least try and bring a smile to his sisters lips. "Oh, and how is Noah? You will have to send him my warmest regards upon your return."
[Nika] "Suntem cu toții nebuni." why was it many people seemed keen on that movie, an acid trip gone bad it seemed. the flowers that talked, all the odd colors, though nika had always loved the animation of such disney films but never cared for the book in which it came from. odd bird rather read older things, learn a new spell, practice a new potion or grow a new plant herself. "I have no doubt you have sniffed a few people's behinds Nero." easy enough, she offered that little bit of a smile from red lips. was that good enough? her mood, always changing, was rather alright at that particular moment. even with the foul news. "Noah is busy, as usual. He has closed down the school of course, worries over Kain. He doesn't tell me all his plans but I will tell him you send your regards." of course. redhead nodded for a moment. "So... I'm renting this flat out for as long as I want too. I have a home in Durham set up as well as a few other things. And..." trying to trudge up everything that she needed to say was becoming a bit tiring, she was sure she had never said so much in one sitting before. "Take your name back Nero those who took are gone and I would like to give it back to you. Besides Dollarhyde is silly."
[Nero] That certainly shocked the hell out of him. Here Nero thought never in his wildest imagination would he ever be reinstated to his former station within his bloodline. "If I were to take back my given surname, I would still hold onto Dollarhyde. It's the foundation I built my reputation upon, it's what everybody knows me by, and it's the name you see plastered on the side of my businesses." He wasn't about to turn down her offer. If it had been anyone else, he most likely would've said no. But, it warmed his heart to hear that his sister wanted him again a Godwin. "If you wish me back, I will take the proper steps in reclaiming my former glory. Perhaps together we can direct our families path on to a more favorable one. You must tolerate Dollarhyde within the city limits of London, but privately..." Hesitantly, he did accept.
SUMMARY: Nika, littlest sister of Nero and the only surviving Godwin for whom he has any affection after having been disowned years prior, visits London with news from Durham. Nero's mother has died and his father is incapacitated, leaving meek Nika the head of the family. As she prefers her family together rather than scattered to the winds, she extends an olive branch to Nero and asks him to consider ending his exile. Hannah sits there like a piece of tea-drinking furniture and listens quietly.
TW: violence
[Nika] sightseeing was boring, the shops were all filled with things that didn't dare catch her attention and the hustle and bustle of london's busy streets were never truly her cup of tea. no the little bird often preffered the comfort of small places and less awkward faces. they all seemed awkward these days, even the ones she once loved on video were less lovable in a way. so odd to see the girl in london then, tucked away in a flat that had been rented out for her, for the time. a large thing, open spaced and large windowed with long wooden planks that made up the floors. there had been no time for personal touches, besides she probably wouldn't stay long, just a mess of vials all filled with pretty colors and floating odds and ends settled on a large black table. candles suspended from wrought iron in the middle and a mess of white and black blankets off to one side, at one point it might have been a bed. somewhere there was a tea kettle going off and a red headed girl fussing over it. the messages had been sent along with a car, if needed, to where she had heard from a little bird that her brother might be. door open, all welcome, don't mind if you walk in while she's carefully trying to carry tray, tea, cups and cakes and all over to that messy table. balance was never her strong point, no waitress job in her future. pity.
[Nero] Nero had been right in the middle of conducting some important business with some powerful movers and shakers when he felt his mobile vibrating against his hip. Unfortunately, the kind of business he had been in the middle of conducting prevented him from checking to see who it was directly. Mainly because his hands were practically stained crimson from the business—or in this instance altercation. He had done well in the prevention of any spraying onto his clothing. The evidence laid in the form of a blackjack no further than a couple of meters from the victims head. Which had been split wide open like a melon in the process. "It seems our associate here has just lost his mind for business. Shame really." Nero didn't sound overly concerned. "Liberate him of his clothes, and introduce him to the special grinder. I'm sure he will appeal to a more specific clientele." He directed his secondhand in handling the cleanup process. Afterwards, Nero excused himself to the kitchen sink so he could probably the wash and rinse his hands. Taking all the proper precautions while in a culinary surrounding. His entire staff was well-versed in the policy reinforced by the health administration—that included him as well. Fortunately he had contained his business to the confines of one of the walk-in freezers not currently being used. Which made for an easier cleanup job considering it was contained in a smaller area. Stepping through the employees only door of the Cat before he reached for his mobile. Thumbing from screen to screen until reaching his text messages. So it seems a particular Little Birdie was in town, and sending him an invitation for tea it would seem. Naturally he would collect Hannah who he had left temporarily in the companionship of one of the old tomes he had come across during previous events. Such a bookworm that one was—a girl after his own heart. Leaving the Cat, it wouldn't take them very long to speed across London in his Rolls-Royce. Pulling up out front of the address—assuming she had texted him one—of the place Nika was staying at. Like any gentleman he assisted Hannah from the vehicle and escorted her all the way to the front door. Where they were expected? It didn't take Nero long watching his sister struggle with the serving tray before he intervened. Rushing over in what can only be described as a blur, to slide his hand under the tray and therefore take over carrying it altogether. Nero would set it down on the table his sister intended it for. All before reaching out to gently placed his hand atop her head for brief physical contact. They weren't exactly the most cuddly of families, after all.
[Hannah] She'd given herself away months ago, when Nero had traded favors to get his hands on a few books that were old enough and obscure enough to shed some light on a troubling Hellhound infestation in South Bank, spending hours and hours curled up in his wingback chair at the Cat with one tome and then the next while he worked financials and took meetings. Old, obscure books were a very easy way to a) lure her into his company and b) distract her from aspects of his business that she would almost certainly object to, like the skull-splitting that had gone on two heavy doors and many feet down a hallway only moments before a spotless werewolf collected the dragon from where he'd left her. Oh, Nika was in the city, again! Hannah's studiousness became a slow, pleased smile on coral-pink lips, and then she was up onto flat-shoed feet to accept an invitation, hand curled around Nero's forearm just under the crook of his elbow for most of the trip. Nervous fingertips -- nervous, because the last time she'd seen Nika, she'd asked her for a thing that had wound up causing quite a bit of trouble -- smoothed over the expensive fabric of his jacket's sleeve just prior to arrival and the saving of the wibbly-wobbly tray. The display of brotherly guardianship and subtle affection warmed her. As usual, Hannah was quiet, crossing her arms over a cable-knit sweatered belly. Didn't she look just cozy enough for tea?
[Nika] tea was a thing everyone looked cozy enough for. always. even the usually well put together nero was suited to sit and sip from those silver lipped tea cups of her's. a master piece in fine print upon white ceramic, the edges dipped in silver paints while body boasted a string of small roses held together by branches of thorns, pricked in red here and there. one of many sets she owned, most of them kept tucked away in various homes. the school, a small home in durham, romania, scattered about like most of her beloved friends and family. thrown simply to the wind. for all the cold weather outside nika tried her best to keep the open flat as cozy as possible. heating being piped in from vents hung from metal tubing that rounded the whole area. at one point, she was told, the building had belong to a man who dyed fabrics, ran sewing machines and dressed fancy ladies in the lower levels. though this was probably a fact the broker had told many of the young girls who waltzed through his doors, a seller's gimmick, though what it had been before was no care of her's. with the warmth little nika had peeled off her own sweater a bit ago leaving pale arms exposed, scars and all. the dress she wore, black of course, was a thing made up of lace and cotton and could have easily been purchased a hundred years ago. if given one more moment the tray could have easily been dropped, a smashed mess on the floor, or maybe safe in it's home upon the table? lost among the vials, much like the one she had given hannah. when nero came to the rescue nika simply stepped back, chin up to watch the older boy and red lips curled into a smile. "Thank you... I don't have a broom yet... Would have been hard to clean without one." soft spoken, tilt of that accent that barely clung to life. "Glad you guys could come, please sit down. Early Grey mixed with a hint of lavender." meaning the tea of course.
[Nero] "Of course." Nero nodded his head before turning his attention towards seating Hannah properly. Then he was smoothing out his purple and black striped tie while taking a seat for himself. "Thank you for inviting us." Ever the gentleman, he exercised politeness whenever the occasion warranted such behavior. Pressed and dressed in his finest custom-made suit had been his chosen formalwear. Nero had his own tailor who produced quality over quantity. Which is exactly why someone of Nero's stature would never be caught dead wearing a suit from an outlet store. Having his own personal tailor actually brought to life in him a newfound confidence. That, and his hand-picked tailor also dealt in fabrics that protected his clientele from gunfire or potential stab wounds. With all the goings-on that revolved around the University, he had taken certain precautions in protecting himself—for the sake of everyone else he both loved and cared about. No pinstripes, just solid charcoal colored fabric made up his suit jacket. Beneath he wore a tweed waistcoat, where the gilded chain of his pocket watch was seemingly attached. He wasn't without matching slacks so as to pull his entire ensemble together. Nero hiked his left leg comfortably over the right, more dominant of the two. Revealing those dress shoes with the pronounced heel. Nero had long enough arms for him to reach across the distance and secured a teacup for himself. "Earl Grey—my favorite." He remarked, holding the saucer just beneath the fragile vessel.
[Hannah] There was nothing nearly as important as all that about what Hannah was wearing. They were just clothes; nothing fancy. Nothing fancy. That was what she called her usual at Joe's, too. Maybe her everything was nothing fancy. Her head had ticked to the left so that she could admire the floral pattern on Nika's tea cups as she reached out to lift one from where Nero had seen to her comfort. Red roses and thorns, because one should never be without the other, not in this world. The left corner of her mouth rose into a distracted, wistful smile and the tip of her idle thumb traced a silver lip halfway around its circumference. Exchanged pleasantries pulled her attention up from the cup. "It's good to see you again so soon," she offered with a quiet nod meant to punctuate Nero's gratitude.
[Nika] so soon. was it really not that long ago? though it seemed like centuries past between days, minutes were stretching further and further each time she glanced at a clock. another smile, quick, was awarded towards her brother when he spoke. "It is a good mixing base or for breakfast I think." talking such small talk as she poured her own cup, one hand tilted while the other slid a small plate of pastries towards the other two. small cakes really, most topped with white fluffy swirls, one green and garnished with a small sprig of basil. sweets were never really nika's thing but the idea of having them with company seemed a rather common occurance. formal, all formal. "Hannah... I hope you're well." browns eyes, as wide as a deer caught in headlights, fixed on the other redhead, one brow carefully raising on a pale forehead. questioning, from concerns for the girl from a rather odd little bird who, of course, graced her with a smile as well. all smiles. though the road ahead may be a bit rough she would attempt to pave it well. her own seat was taken, legs crossed beneath a slim body that perched oh so carefully on the edge. ready to fly at any given moment. "Dollarhyde is it now? Such a weird name... A name with currency in it, is that suppose to be some good luck charm?" because the dear girl did not read many books containing murderers, excuse her please. the same eyes that stared at hannah now turned towards the wolf boy. only teasing, a small laugh, like a drizzle at night, laced through words. "So, not meaning to rush... But I have some news from home."
[Nero] Before long he reached over to grab a small pastry to accompany his tea. Nero sat back in his seat while lightly snacking on his cake. "Hannah is much better now. I made certain to nurse her back to good health." There was honestly no harm no foul. After all, he had gotten to her in time to purge whatever concoction she had taken from her system. Once he had done that, she came right out of it. Nero turned his attention from Hannah back to his sister just as soon as she remarked on his last name. "Well, it served its purpose. If memory serves correctly I was forced to surrender my given surname when I was expelled from not only Saint Brigids but our family as well." Nero replied, his words weren't necessary sharp as they were matter-of-factly. "But, it has generated a certain amount of luck I suppose. If you believe in such nonsense as luck." Another sip of his tea taken, raising the opulent teacup to his pale lips. Overhearing Nika's admission that she brought news from home, his interest piqued somewhat—it was near impossible to tell with him sometimes. "Do you know? And, just what kind of news do you come bearing pray tell?" Naturally he was curious, despite not really giving a good goddamn in the first place. But, given it was coming from Nika he would swallow his pride and listen with a genuine smile on his face.
[Hannah] Hannah's eyes widened slightly as Nero answered for her, firstly because she had a voice and could answer for herself as she liked, secondly because... well, how do you include something like 'by the way, you were right about the dosing instructions on that little purple vial you gave me, and if your older brother hadn't come along when he did I wouldn't be writing this' in a letter? She hadn't told Nika what happened after they'd met at Joe's. Not about the overdose, or about the time she'd been spending with Nero, or... anything. Not a lick of it. She thought she'd throughly protected the little bird from the entire disaster. Of course, little birds have little birds, so who is to say she hadn't found out on her own? The words he chose were innocuous enough. Maybe they'd pass muster. An exhalation created ripples over the top of her cup of tea. "I'm..." And a glance passed between one Godwin and one former Godwin, then back again. "He's been very attentive." She went silent so that Nika could share news from Durham, which had never really felt like home, to her. It was where what she knew of home had gone to die.
[Nika] "glad to hear that then. attentive." of course little birds had little birds. though nika did not make it habit to stick her nose where it did not belong. that vial was exactly where it belonged though. there was no blame passed to hannah, no hate for misuse, only sadness in the fact that there was a cause for it. maybe she wasn't so good at jokes. generally this was the case. teacup was brought up, pale fingers curled around it, silver tipped nails tapped against the ceramic before it was finally brought to lips. no stain, no smudge left behind by painted lips, just a sigh that parked them as the liquid settled in her belly. "I hope that you understand I had no say in that matter, I mean what could I have done?" words that caused a shoulder to rise and fall. "Sa nu va meu." and it was simply that, it had always been simply that. nothing one small child could do against a brute force. teacup was down, though fingers still wrapped themselves safely around it. the warmth sinking into her flesh and eyes now down, watching the sway of the tea left inside of it. "Mother is dead. Mister Carrington as well. Father is..." such a casual tone, even if it took a toll to not let words crack. a stopping, a pausing for another sip from her cup. that safety net between words. "He's taken quite a liking to my wolfsbane garden."
[Nero] "There wasn't anything you could do. It was beyond your control, and so I hold no ill will. It was of my own doing, after all." Given the rumors, they both could attest to that fact. It was of his own doing and he accepted it like a man would. Even though he had his own side of the story. Which didn't matter in the least, it was neither here nor there. Then she spilled the beans concerning the news she brought from home. Mother was dead? "That's too bad, I was rather looking forward to wearing her head as a hat when I finally returned to Durham." His words were unnerving, but more disturbing than that was the coldness in his voice when he spoke. It should prove enough to send chills down the spines of those of a weaker constitution. "Ah, Edward is no longer with us—what an injustice. I suppose Kain was thankful for the loss. Otherwise he might still be resigned to that dungeon, or wherever the bloody hell Edward kept his children. To think everyone was so frightened of him in life. I guess he was mortal, after all." What's that? Some semblance of a smile curled at the right corner of his mouth. Nero was amused both by the news as well as his small quip at Mister Carrington's expense. Only had he ever met the man a handful of times, but even that was more than enough to satiate Nero's tastes. Last but not least, news of his father. "Wolfsbane? Hm. Is the ol' geezer alive still? I have yet to hear you specifically say whether he still draws breath or not." Oh, his curiosity continued to grow by leaps and bounds. Until finally his attention was fully on his sister by this point. That normal shade of whiskey gold gradually shifted to the haunting pale blue. It creating an otherworldly glow that radiated brilliantly. A far cry away from the bright red of their former self, when he was still attending Saint Brigid's.
[Nika] after awhile the sway of the tea lost it's appeal. spinning, coming close to the edge yet never close enough to spill out. wasn't life just like that stupid tea cup. while nero spoke the little ceramic thing had finally made it's way back home, cozy on a little saucer that matched. half gone, starting to chill a little already. had she sucked all the warmth away from it? possibly. eyes stayed down though. "Kain is in a coma... The Carrington's are all flesh and blood easy enough to snuff out, I suppose, for the right person." these sorts of conversations were never her cup of tea, pun intended, but she had a while to go over them in her head. over and over and over. after the fact it had even taken a long time for her to come to terms with what exactly happened, all details still seemed like they were from some movie and not her own memory. "Still alive." eyes moved now, settling on nero one brow raised delicately. "If you call what the plant does to you... A life. O coajă nu trăiește."
[Nero] "Wolfsbane does have its way of lessening the quality of life of his and my ilk. It's almost inspiring how even as we speak he still clings to life." Nero feigned the authenticity of his words. That man had been the very source of their fears growing up. For him, it was merely a case of good riddance in the grand scheme. "You do me proud, dear sister. But, I can't for the life of me seem to understand why. Ever since I can remember, ever since before you were brought into this world—these men were tyrants over their own households. The demands of these despots were final say in all facets of our young lives. I mean, I do understand that their fates were sealed in a long time ago. I just seem to have difficulty understanding your motives for such actions taken; especially from a typically demure, docile creature such as yourself." Question is, did he believe in his little sisters ability to commit atrocities against their own parents? He did, and he couldn't possibly be any more proud of her. Just see how he beamed with pride there sitting across from her. Nero was just curious as to the motives that drove her to such. "If our father is still alive, I do have one request. May I take his fangs? Both sets." He said, throwing up right hand with both his middle and forefinger extended to further accentuate his point. It was a rather outlandish request, but this was Nero we're dealing with here. Where nothing was conventional. Not even the conventional.
[Nika] wolfsbane was a tricky thing, not easy to grow really... given the circumstances of her beloved family. locked tight, far away, she had a small garden growing. what had started as a hobby blossomed into something much more deadly. only for one man though, kept hidden the secrets that lie within her garden walls were only shared between two minds. a godwin and a carrington. "It's possible to keep blood flowing, brain activity working, if the Wolfsbane is countered with something." her gaze moved, shifted, fall back, nervous little bird. such things were, again, not her cup of tea. a hand reached out, a finger tracing along the side of a violet vial, small twigs shot through and dotted with flowers. suspended in time. "Motive?" she knows the word, of course, but the word itself snapped her attention back to nero, back to the tea she had waiting for her. "Do you remember when I was ten and I jumped from the highest tower back home? I suppose... In some ways I wanted to die when I did I didn't jump. When I was thirteen and I burned myself in that pot of water?" fingers that had once played across that vial moved now, falling against the oddly colored skin of her forearm. "Six months ago when I stabbed my hand with a knife, you weren't there for that. I didn't do those things on my own, Nero, our mother was sick. She deserved to die." much like nika deserved to fly. the tea cup was brought up again, set against lips for a moment before it was tipped back for a drink. too much talking for one small thing, her head left a little off. "Mister Carrington enjoyed my company. Things needed to change... Noah had me over for tea. That one was simply a favor done for a friend... Father he couldn't stay..." no mention to the fangs nero, sorry... she would have to think that one over.
[Nero] "You are correct. Father couldn't stay, but imagine if you would—the look on his face in knowing he failed Mister Carrington. It would be priceless. But, somehow I think he already knows given his dire circumstances." Again, he cracked a crooked smile. That is until Nika finally revealed the deterioration of their mother. Nero was practically floored by the news, and already he could feel his fingernails digging into the soft interior of his clenched fists. "Are you saying that every time we assumed you were depressed," that's his word for suicide in this instance, because he had never liked using it in pertaining to his sister. ".. it was actually our mother who was at the root of the blame? Or, was this a recent development only? Forgive me for asking but I want to ensure that I'm hearing you correctly. Because I for one didn't believe our mother capable of harming us." Whichever the truth may be, it didn't stop him from rising out of his chair all slow and ominous. But, he made his intentions quite clear by crossing the distance between him and his sister. Considering he was so much taller than she, he decided to take a knee by her side. Then he leaned in with his arms outstretched, Nero had every intention of pulling her into a big bear hug from the burly Romanian boy whether she liked it or not. Both arms closing around her and fully encompassing her frail little frame. "I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you. Forgive me, please?"
[Nika] "Not all of it. You must understand that having to deal with such things, such awful awful things, takes a toll." a drastic toll. the ghost of a girl that haunted the hallways, that rarely spoke to people outside of her kin, that fought her way to tall towers, carved her skin and tested all those pretty little vials herself... was depressed. for many reasons. more then she could put into words while down for tea time with a brother she hadn't seen in what seemed like ages and a redheaded girl who was probably feeling rather akward right now. "You understand the things that happen to the males born to our name... Of course you do. In ways I never could but you don't understand what happens to the girls. Think to be married into a curse like mother was, like many girls are. They become depressed.." making excuses now are we nika dear? hands were leaving things behind, setting aside teacups to paw at her face for a moment, fingers pressing into eyes, rubbing. "We work countless hours, nights, gathering, learning, bleeding, stressing over every little detail of every little thing. Everyone who dies by our hands... We see the blood clinging to our own skin. Sickness, madness, mental illness whatever you want to call it is the girl's curse." it may seem small, like nothing at all. nero's hug was just fine, though her own arms did not extend to meet him, body just allowed the contact. "It's not as cool as the boy's... At least you get fur for the cold... And neat fangs." it wasn't a laugh that parted lips, a shake of her head, it was a mixture of trying to just shake all those words off. "You didn't know. I didn't say. She wanted me dead. I understand why but it's time to change."
[Nero] "Tell me. What was it the Cheshire Cat said to Alice on her first trip through the looking glass?" He asked, his hand came to rest on the back of the girls head. Nero slightly tilted his head to the side as he studied his sisters face. "We're all mad here." It was his best brotherly attempt at shedding some light on the situation. Nero would do his very best to steal away some of those awful thoughts pertaining to their family. "I can assure you. The male side of our family is not ideal. It has left me with a sophisticated palate." Again, his way of saying he had acquired a taste for vital organs from humans. It just made sense for him to have opened a culinary hotspot within the entertainment district of South Bank. Many cases of lycanthropy were said to include the ingesting of human flesh, among other things. Nero had first been appalled by the very idea, but over time developed an understanding as well a taste for it. "You never asked if we went around sniffing each other's arises. Or, whether we have to concern ourselves with creepy crawlies shawshanking their way up our arses. We don't—just so you know. Just the occasional tick." Okay so, he packed several canine puns into that last sentence. Maybe to at least try and bring a smile to his sisters lips. "Oh, and how is Noah? You will have to send him my warmest regards upon your return."
[Nika] "Suntem cu toții nebuni." why was it many people seemed keen on that movie, an acid trip gone bad it seemed. the flowers that talked, all the odd colors, though nika had always loved the animation of such disney films but never cared for the book in which it came from. odd bird rather read older things, learn a new spell, practice a new potion or grow a new plant herself. "I have no doubt you have sniffed a few people's behinds Nero." easy enough, she offered that little bit of a smile from red lips. was that good enough? her mood, always changing, was rather alright at that particular moment. even with the foul news. "Noah is busy, as usual. He has closed down the school of course, worries over Kain. He doesn't tell me all his plans but I will tell him you send your regards." of course. redhead nodded for a moment. "So... I'm renting this flat out for as long as I want too. I have a home in Durham set up as well as a few other things. And..." trying to trudge up everything that she needed to say was becoming a bit tiring, she was sure she had never said so much in one sitting before. "Take your name back Nero those who took are gone and I would like to give it back to you. Besides Dollarhyde is silly."
[Nero] That certainly shocked the hell out of him. Here Nero thought never in his wildest imagination would he ever be reinstated to his former station within his bloodline. "If I were to take back my given surname, I would still hold onto Dollarhyde. It's the foundation I built my reputation upon, it's what everybody knows me by, and it's the name you see plastered on the side of my businesses." He wasn't about to turn down her offer. If it had been anyone else, he most likely would've said no. But, it warmed his heart to hear that his sister wanted him again a Godwin. "If you wish me back, I will take the proper steps in reclaiming my former glory. Perhaps together we can direct our families path on to a more favorable one. You must tolerate Dollarhyde within the city limits of London, but privately..." Hesitantly, he did accept.