2020-03-07 - House Very Warming

You know the adage. Beware giants bringing gifts. Well, alright, maybe something was lost in translation there, but there he is; found the place and all without the help of Google maps or anything. Maybe. It takes him one trip too, with two 24 cases of Corona under an arm of both a blue and gold color, if that means anything to you. If not, he brought Extra and Light. In his other had a brown wrapping paper picture frame (or the world's largest book), and a box, some kind of puzzle, maybe.

This is why guys develop muscles. To carry other people's stuff. It's the only reason, and its how females select mates -- how much of my stuff can he carry. Fumbling at the stoop for the second time that day, Everett frees a hand so he can rap on the door.

Kim and Grace probably should have waited a little longer before the party, they just wanted to share their excitement with their friends. Moving in was a little rushed and there are still boxes everyone in the living room and presumably the other rooms as well. Fortunately there was enough time to set up the large comfy sectional couch, a nice 80' TV screen, some console systems, and tables. On the mentioned tables are laid out enough liquor to start their own bar and snacks. Mostly chips and finger foods, again a lot of those as well. Not that they expected a lot of people, but Kim likes to be prepared. Maybe too much. Grace and Faith off getting other things set up or resting a little before the party.

Kim hearing the doorbell comes over to the door to open it. Oh my Everett brought a lot of stuff, she did just ask for beer not that much though. "Can I grab some of that for you?" she offers to him "I'd offer a hug but...anyway come in. Grace and Faith should be down soon. Winston is off in the backyard." helping him with whatever he needs or at least wants to. She'd never try to wound his ego by taking away from how much junk he could carry. Well probably not.

"This?" Everett asks nonchalantly, "It's not heavy or anything. Here," he offers the puzle and the wrapped frame on his left hand, "just a little encumbersome. Thanks," There's a show of rubbing his boots out on the stoop before he follows in, and looks around. "Nice digs," and then his eyes fall on the television. "Sweet," then his tone turns teasing when he casts his head down to Kim, "I knew it. It is all about size with women. What is that, a billion inches? Do you have to get into a car and park across the street to see anything?" He shrugs his left shoulder, with the beers, "Where's the fridge?" And then it's back to the television, "Do you have to go out to the concession stand during commercials, or hire someone to take the three train rides back to your house to get snacks." In case she missed it, "I'm saying it's big."

It still hurts to breathe. It hurts just to exist.

But Stephanie said she would be there for her family, her Circle of Trust. And Kim was the one who had been there for her more than anyone, the one in the Circle of Trust who knows more about her, who knows some of the things she hides from the world. So when she got the text about the housewarming, some time between her Hypothermia and her chest trauma, she agreed to be there to support Kim and celeb rate with her. That is what friends do after all.

Dressed in a pair of jeans and a Navy hoodie, and her sneakers, Steph hesitates before ringing the doorbell. She could just leave and make an excuse, she literally just recovered from having her chest nearly torn apart. But after three times, she finally just rings the doorbell.

Hera had received the invitation and is beyond excited for the experience. In she comes with a fruit basket holding two bottles of wine and surrounding the bottles are little envelopes. She knocks from the outside to be let in. Her face is glowing at the excitement as she patiently waits. While she's tempted to just barge on in, she tries to keep her manners about her.

Kim takes the offered puzzle and wrapped frame "Anything to help out at least a little. And thanks." she snickers a little "What that old thing. That's just from my apartment back in Portland. I want to get a 120' inch one. I need to properly see all the nooblets I frag. And being to taste their characters sweet tears. And in this case bigger is so much better." adding her own teasing tone. Pointing to the kitchen when asked about the fridge "Or just set them down at the table. And no we walk because we need the exercise." how could anyone miss him saying it's big.

The ring of the doorbell she sets the gifts down by one of the table. Heading back to the door to open it up "Stepie! I'm so glad you could make it." reaching to give her a careful hug. Knowing that she is still recovering and truly wishing she could something for her friend other than offer support. "Come in, come in. Take a seat and get comfortable. Can I get you anything?"

Then there is of course Hera coming up to knock as well. "You two get your booty in here. Oh very nice gift basket. I am so glad you both can make it. The thing came in and I can't wait to show to it you both. Oh Hera Everett is here, be nice to him please? For me?"

Grace will most likely come down soon enough. Faith should be around somewhere. For people's sake they probably have different colored clothing on. Winston will move to sit down somewhere. A new placce and a lot of people, so he keeps to himself. He will greet the ones he knows as the yorkshire terrier is trying to enjoy himself. Seeing Hera will make him go to greet her and look for Hans.

Grace will move to greet people. Wearing a cute dark green top with some black, along with jeans, Moving to hug Hera before greeting anyone else. Seem he jst missed Everett again, somehow. Going to Kim's side to say hi to Steph as well.

She almost instinctively recoils from Kim’s attempts at hugging but manages to catch herself on time to let the hug happen. Stephanie smiles tentatively as Kim greets her, and she sits down on the couch as she says quietly, “Just a glass of water is fine.”

She scans the room and gives Grace a polite wave.

Hera is quite, shocked. First of all Everett is here and, he's going to be nice? However, she is getting better and better at keeping her emotions under control. With what may be a bit of a strange smile, she looks over at Everett and says, "Hi, glad you could make it. This is important for Kim and Grace, I'm very happy for them. Showing your support for Grace, it really does mean a lot." Well that part is true and she puts the basket down. "I am very proud of you Kim, and Grace, you look amazing, you always do." However, she's surprised to see Stephanie doing as well as she is. "Are things, ok for you? I know Devlin was doing everything he could to get you back on the right road. I really hope you are feeling better. You've definitely had to deal with many things lately. Please take care of yourself." It still surprises her that Stephanie is doing so well, but it does seem to make her happy.

Nooblets. Frag.
Everett nods his head slowly, with clear not understanding her nerd-speak. But the tone, the tone he understands. With a soft smirk, Everett rolls his green eyes and heads into the kitchen where he can stock the fridge with a fifty/fifty mix of some of the bottles of beer, leaving the remainder out. Because this is America, and in America, beer is drank cold. Research!

At the exclimation, Everett looks over his shoulder, and then returns to his task, only coming out of the kitchen with a golden beer twitsting the cap off and tossing it into the sink. Already made himself at home. Might have peed in the corner too. Leaning at the kitchen threshold, he watches the goes in from the safety of being out of the way, for the most part, his leather jacket crinkling with the occasional movement to steal a sip of beer. A flash of redheadedness, and Everett can't help but grin predatorily. Yeah, be nice, Hera. To Hera's greeting, Everett lifts up his beer and salutes her with it, then thinks to add, "Get you a beer? Some just starting to get cold. Why wouldn't I show my support for Grace?" He leans forward a bit, and looks in her, or her sister's direction. No clue which is which yet. He drags his eyes back to Hera. Stephanie's given a once over, before he brushes his hair back.

Kim gets a worried look on her face when Stephanie has that instinctive "Sorry I would guess you still hurt." she watches as Stephanie moves to the couch ready to go help her reach it if needed. "Water right I have that." luckily she did put some water on the tables, just in case.

She of course slides her hand into Grace's and gives her a kiss on the cheek. "I need to quickly talk to Grace and Hera if that's okay. I'll be right back."

Smiling at Hera "Thank you so much. As said it means so much to me and us that you are here. Yay first house ever! And I get to share with the woman I love. So double yay me!" going to give Stephanie the water and beckoning Hera over. Pulling out a small box that she flashes to them both of them. Careful not to let Grace see it yet. See might be able to get a look if she cares to. Speaking quietly to the two.

“I owe Devlin my life,” is all she says to Hera, her voice calm and cool, almost sounding a bit detached. Three days in intensive care was all she needed, and four days in recovery, thanks to Devlin’s efforts. Stephanie is grateful for her partner having her back, even when she hadn’t expected him to.

Everett’s gaze is met with a quiet, polite nod, Stephanie maintaining her usual level headed poise, something quiet the opposite from the way Hera tends to be.

When Kim returns with the glass of water and shows off the contents of the box, Stephanie sighs softly. She is unsure how much of how is feels is jealousy and how much of it is actual concern over how quickly everything is moving. When Kim whispers, Stephanie can only push herself to smile through the pain.

Hera bites her bottom lip for a minute and exhales. She then shakes her head to Everett and says, "No, but thank you." At the mention of Devlin, that makes her smile, "He's a trooper, literally. I'm glad he was able to help you. Let's just hope you don't need that help again soon." At the whisper she immediately brightens up and she giggles. She feels nothing but joy for Grace and Kim but, with a slight blush, she suddenly goes quiet.

Grace is a bit quiet. Occasionally disappearing to where her sister is. Drawing some strength and help from her but soon returning. Staying near Kim and listening to the conversations. A raised brows at Hera's blsuh.

Kim puts the box away quickly and does notice Stephanie's sigh "Something wrong Stepie?" seeing the smile at her quiet comments relaxes her a little "I have pain killers, not exactly oxy strength but they should help take the edge off. Really anything you need just ask." she is being very sincere in her offer. Wanting her friend to be as comfortable as she can make her.

Worry aside she smiles at the happier Hera and the giggle. "I have something to ask you later. For now though what can I get you. Something to eat, something to drink? Both?" before she realizes something "Where is Jessica? Is she off on a story?" yes it took her this long to realize because her mind was on other things.

With Grace back near she gets up and puts her hand around her waist. "This is our home. Isn't it a great feeling? I've never...eh it's so good to share this with you." maybe more excited then she should be about a simple housewarming party.

“I have the good stuff,” Steph whispers with a smirk, “I just wait until the very last mintute when it gets unbearable...” Nodding, she adds, “I’ll let you know if I need anything, I...I should be okay.”

She sits back and watches Kim and Hera interact quietly.

Hera nods to Kim's question, "Oh yes, it's a pretty important story so, she really wants to be here but, sometimes you just can't be free all the time you know?" Even though she misses her girl, she seems to be quite understanding, "It is perfect!" Hera could well be a bit of a cheerleader as she's quite happy for the couple. "Just...perfect." She does look over at Stephanie though and just tries to offer some words of encouragement, "Each day, I'm sure it will get better."

Grace smiles and lean some against Kim. However she does nod a bit at the words. "Should be nice. Thanks for letting Faith come as well." Grace most likely needing her twin around, for the time being at least. Shifting some. Listening and nodding. "Hope that it get better fast though." Offered to Stephanie with a small smile. Knowing pain well enough, if not quite as severe. Glancing to Hera as well as she seem quite worked up over the housewarming as well. "Work can take up a lot of time. She is welcome to come by some other time." Grace suggests.

It wasn't under he spotted Kim slipping her hand into Grace's and giving her a kiss, that Everett gets a clue as to which twin is which, and tries to conceal his embarrassment over checking either of them out with a long tug of his beer, eyes sheepishly cast to the side. Spying Kim with Stephanie, whispering, and a box, Everett smiles a knowing smile but says nothing.

He cants his head at Hera, and then shakes it softly, tsking. At the mention of pain killers, Everett opens his mouth, thinks about it, and then closes his trap before rethinking his policy of not saying anything, "I'm sure someone could drum up something stronger," he says into the mouth of his beer bottle. Then to Kim he asks with a smile, "So, uh. When do you open the housewarming presents. Before or after?"

Kim nods to Stephanie "Alright just I worry about you Stepie." and her brows do crease in concern. "Alright. Just like I said anything. I'm not going to stop worrying." again words she means.

"Ah. I should have known. Yeah I know poor Grace-kanojo has to put up with that from me so much. I get lost in my work as well. Blushing a bit at the comments "Thank you...I mean for it to be."

She offers a kiss to Grace "How could I separate you two? I know what she means to you. And we don't hate each other so there is that." she giggles a bit. And suddenly she needs a drink going to a bottle for some liquid courage. Not a huge shot by anyone's standards but more than enough for her tiny form.

Blinks at the smile and words of Everett "After the party. That is what you mean right? But yeah soon for the gifts..." cheeks going redder. "Everett thank you for being here as well." other's don't know they came to understand, but why else would she want him here. She could have skimmed on some of the details as previous teasing aside she seems to have a affection or at least isn't hostile to him anymore.

Hera looks over at Stephanie as if to make sure she really is ok but then her eyes go back to the couple. "This really is a very nice place, a very very nice one. I'm sure it will still take you both some time to get used to it, and I'm so thankful to know Faith too." She then eyes Everett for a moment as if she really doesn't trust him but, he seems to be behaving for now, and so is she. "Thank you for understanding about Jessica. I know she will come by to visit as soon as she can."

Stephanie simply rolls her eyes at Everett’s comments. She does not need anything stronger. She just needs to tough it out until her next dose. Hera gets the same forced smiling through the pain response Kim does as she says, “One day at a time, they always say. That’s how it usually goes.”

Kim is wonderful and It’s lovely to have such a doting friend. She appreciates how much letting Kim into her life has changed it. Both hers and Hera’s concern does not go unnoticed which causes Steph to double down on her efforts to pretend like nothing is wrong.

"Yeah." Pause. Shifty eyes. "After the party." Shifty eyes the other way. "That's what I mean."

Subtle, Everett. Subtle like a brick.

Shrugging, Everett offers to Kim, "You asked and," he gestures with the bottle of beer, "I needed to be the only man in a house full of attractive women. So it's a win-win." He takes a short tug of his beer and then looks at Hera when she speaks. He can't help himself. There's a roll of his eyes, and a small scoff.

Kim really isn't trying to ignore anyone but there is something burning in her mind. And maybe better than anyone Everett understands. "It is...thank you again your presence gives me strength." downing her drink and giving Stephanie a smile.

A small shrug offered to Hera "It is nothing. While I like to have her here...it's better that you are."

Then good old subtle Everett. "Ah you could use more people skills. Really who the hell am I to talk about that, I wish life was like a text and I could just think before I hit enter. Yep with only only three fourths of the women here being with other women. So your odds are 25 percent." she really won't assume about Faith, as she usually just got a head shake when the two past each other in the morning.

It's her moment gathering up all the courage she used to face Obsesi she kneels before Grace. Taking her hand and pulling out the small package. Opening it to reveal the ring underneath "Grace-kanojo. I know it's so soon and when this happens we can talk about. There is a lot I need to tell you about my crazy family." she realizes she is going on and focuses on getting to the point "Will you marry me?" a gulp as she asks.

Grace does look to Kim with a blink. Listening and watching. But suddenly something happens. Seeing the odd creatures showing up. Trying to keep it away from anyone else, if possible. Focusing on that now, despite the touching moment seconds ago.

When Stephanie finally registers what has interrupted Kim's big moment, and while she's had this temptation to burn everything down, she holds that back and instead decides to do something that would minimise the damage done to the environment. She says, "Hey, leave my friends alone!" she says, while focusing her energy towards the one closest to her and she imagines ripping the being's insides apart.

Hera is truly thrilled for Grace and Kim's special moment, and a scene like this is what she has always been waiting for.

Until.....yes, nothing normal happens in this small town so why would the proposal go well? Love is never an easy thing but the monsters who suddenly appear before them put the 'cult' in difficult. "Oh no you didn't." She shoots the master a glare, "How dare you ruin this special moment for my friends!" She's nowhere near as powerful as Jessica or Stephanie, but she isn't going to stand down. Using her knowledge of universal energies, she tries to burn the master as much as she can, her powers may be limited in comparison, but she longs to make a statement.

Kim attention his way earns her just a simple nod and a wink. That's it. Well, and knowing superior smirk because Everett can be a dick sometimes, especially, apparently, when he knows something he's pretty sure nobody else knows. And he's refraining from skipping around the room sing-songing 'I know something you don't know.'

But only barely, judging from that superior smirk he gives the rest of the room from his place between kitchen and living room, leaning on the wall like its his job tonight to be a support beam. Kim's comment, though catches him stammering, and wide-eyed. That's a way to wipe the smirk off his face, "Bu-, wha-, my od-, huh?" Leaving his momentary confusion behind when Kim sinks to a knee, Everett peels himself from the wall, and smiles. His empty hand rising to cover his mouth. It's gunna happen, it's gunna happen. Squee! He, if not the whole room takes a breath and holds it.

Then, like a video game, some villain shows up and crashes the party. What a dick.
Everett doesn't waste time with words. He turns his torso swiftly, with the beer bottle held out and smashes it against the wall he was just leaning on. Smash. Shower of frothy (light) beer. Normally that's something you do with boats. But with the bottle in his hand, he turns and pulls the head of the creature at his legs, making it bare its neck to him before he plunges the bottle into its neck.

One more time, Stephanie focuses on the same target, the one who seems to be directing the others. She continues her attack, trying to keep the house from falling apart around her so she chose the same tactic. Internal injuries meant no external disasters, hopefully.

Hera wouldn't normally consider herself lucky, but maybe in this case she is. "You will get NOTHING!" she shrieks, "Leave! Now!" she tries to focus her abilities to harm it, but for a lot of the moves it seems as if its powers and her powers are easily matched. She's clearly not able to get that much of an upperhand so she does what she knows worked before well, she tries to stomp at the thing.

Seeing as the thing that took a chomp from his leg and has left his denim beginning to redden isn't yet dead, Everett's mask drops, and then returns. A sneer grin, like a predator toying with prey, letting itself get bitten because that means its toy has made the mistake of getting within claw's reach.

Lose a leg; gain a meal.

The truly malevolent grin fashioned on his lips continues as Everett grasp the beer bottle from the creature's neck, pulls it free and then pushes it back in. Back out and in, pulling the jagged glass lines free before he stabs it back inside. Each pull back from his thrust making another splatter line of black ichor with the force of his blows, decorating his sinister smile. His leather clad arm continues to rise and fall quickly with a jerking motion solitary boys are well familiar with.

And when its neck is nearly severed, Everett giggles and climbs over it to leave his gaze to the master, "Get. The fuck out. Or I'm going to cut a hole in you and fuck it." he says through gritted teeth, holding his murder weapon up, covered in the creature's blood that dissolves to nothingness behind him.

The tiny hacker looks to Everett. She can't feel anything and to the display of ultra-violence just gives a grin "More, more!" it's easy to recognize in Kim this isn't her at all. Holding her hand open to the last thing that is quivering in fear. Perhaps taking something wasn't the wisest of ideas. "Stepie crush it! I want to see it's life drain from it's eyes. I need to see it die. Give this to me please?" no reason and no regret in her request. She has been hollowed out and all that is left is anger.

Hera freezes all of her motions when the thing reaches into her. It's enough to shock her into nothingness for at least a few minutes. Something strange happens as if, for a change, the redhead thinks and feels, nothing. There's no emotion in her eyes, no passion in her voice, simply...nothing. Things happen so quickly during the conflict but then she tries to regain her 'normal' self. "What, what the fuck just happened? I, didn't feel a damn thing, I felt...nothing...."

Hera still can't fathom what has happened and certainly her 'emotions' being drained from her didn't provide much serenity. However, the sensations start to overcome her which leads to a weakened state. It's then that she just manages to collapse to the couch, useless for now.

Her heart feels cold and apathetic. The love, the light, the empathy in her heart gives way to the darkness, the anger, the loneliness. Stephanie does not seem to care about her friends in the room, and whatever passion she has had for saving lives or her concern for those who defenceless...all gone. She feels like a shell of her former self and that's terrifying, yet freeing.

Counting it as a win, Everett brings the broken beer bottle to his mouth and tastes the blood of his vanquished enemy as he's left alone in the room with. Well. Women. And one of them is so nice as to land on the sofa, weak. Smile. Fragile. Grin.

Pliable.
LEER.

Green eyes trace over Hera for a moment before he looks over to his cheerleader, flicks his eyes back and what could be a very easy target, and murmurs, "You want. MORE?"

Kim just walks over near Everett. Licking the black ichor from the bottle. At one point she pretended to be psycho. Right now she is, anything Grace says is just ignored. She licks the broken bottle with a shiver "Yeah more! Take something else." offering her neck up to him. She feels nothing and wants to feel at least something. "Come on you little cunt. Choke me!" by now Everett is regaining his normal self. The numbing just fading away. Her eyes go to Stephanie "Get your ass over here. If he isn't man enough to do it maybe you are. Put your hand around my throat!" it isn't quite a command nor is it begging.

Stephanie doesn't say a word as she walks past Kim and Everett in the disaster zone so to speak. They are having their moment, and she can't find herself to care. She walks out of the house with her purse, and she sits on the front porch, having a moment of her own.

<img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9qS2EzAr2xs/TbtIJjtTE3I/AAAAAAAAAD8/VGJVurB8IY0/s400/Peter+in+Playgirl+crop.jpg" alt="Is he man enough?" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px;" />

Is he man enough? The question wipes the leer off his face and is replaced with a visible wound to his pride. Everett looks down the little woman, glances down at Hera again, and then back over to Kim. The beer bottle in his hand lowered in favor of reach out out and suddenly snatching out to get the little woman's throat, jaw. She's so tiny. He could just, ... squeeze, and watch her eyes bulge. What color do Asians turn when they run our of air, he wonders as he tightens his hold.

He leans his head in, canting it softly as he wets his lips and parts them, glancing down to Kim's lips. A breath is drawn. "..."

The beer bottle in his hand is dropped to the ground, as he loosens his grip and lets go like her tiny neck burnt him. "Uh. ... what the fuck?"

Kim just snorts as Stephanie goes away. Her wish unfilled. But hey there is another. Kim doesn't even try to resist the large man's hand around her throat. Finally she feels at least a little bit. Her face does start to turn purple "Oh yes more...more!" she gasps out. It isn't any sort of pleasure it's just Kim being able to feel something.
She chokes as Everett let's her go "Why did you stop? I need this! Kill me if you must I need to feel!" something deep inside of her is still gone. "Do I need to beg more?" yeah from proposing to someone broken, nothing weird here.

Glancing around, Everett takes a quick look at what remains of the party. A beer stain on the wall, some people missing, others out of it. Some. Thing, showing up and. Frowning, the big brute ignores Kim for the moment, frowning while he's trying to piece together what happened but the little Asian woman's yapping doesn't stop. His frowning gets worse while he looks down to where he had fought something and it isn't there. "Fuckin' Shroud," he murmurs to himself. And then he shouts, whipping his head at Kim, "Jesus Fucking Christ, get a grip," palming her face, knocking her glasses into a disarray and pushing. "The fuck happened, and why'd it want her?" he asks, pointing at Hera, "You guys seemed to know it before."

Right now there is only Kim and Everett. Kim's empty words likely sent Grace running in tears. Kim is so numb. A word spoken and she shrugs "The upside-down." that is the way she looks at things. You know pop-culture and truly for the Veil it fits so much as well as what she can do can. The yelling at her has no effect except for annoyance "Fuck you! You little bitch you are just afraid." No any trace of what she even said to him earlier is just gone. No one who knows Kim in the least can believe it's truly her. She was touched by the creatures and for the time knows more than she would normally. "She defied the Master and needs to be punished. The master will consume all impure thoughts. Those dirty things like love." Kim answers plainly.

Muttering under his breath, Everett's green eyes roll to the ceiling, "I've got your impure thoughts right here." Clearing his throat, he huhs softly after and then sniffs. Hands on his hips he looks down at Kim, "Right. So we have to find this dude. Eat his face. Make sure he doesn't hurt Hera in the process. And make sure whatever his goons did you you is permanent, because you're like, much better this way, by like a million times." He smirks softly at that, takes a breath and then draws a blank. "Fucked if I know how to do any of that," he says, and hets back into her kitchen to take a beer from the fridge, standing in front of it, open, resting his left arm on the open door while he flicks the bottle cap to the sink.

At Everett's mockery Kim narrows her eyes "You don't understand. The master will make you understand, you had a hint when you crushed the things head. Could you not feel the freedom that the master offers. Can you not accept yout role?" his later words are meet with distrust "Hera should be luckly to serve the masters needs, her and Jessica." whatever humor he speaks to Kim isn't taken in that way "Yes I am much better. More free without being tainted by these human feelings." she doesn't response to the smirk, only thinking him serious "The master can only be beaten by a group with impure emotions." she stops as he goes off. Until spoken to she will remain silent as he comes back with a beer.