Toxic Past: 1
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The word was foreign and rolled out of his mouth like gravel grinding together startling a human passerby.
Peregrine ignored the surprised look it gave him and continued down the sidewalk at a pensive pace, hands in the pockets of his thin black jeans. He only work dark clothing, the more fitting, the better. He didn't like the bulky items but was unsettled by the pale pink flesh even more. The word he had spoke had been a curse, having seen the humans breeding on a park bench. Their blatant displays of perceived superiority made his stomach churn and he sighed, forcing his glamored skin to stop crawling. Glass vials in his fitted vest clinked together, one less than he had left his home with. Humans, always buying. Always consuming. He smiled to himself, remembering how they cowered when he visited their dreams. He was a consumer too. Of fear. Oh how he missed those days... He tilted his head back, letting the dim rays of the sun strike his face, his eyes closed and his dreamy smile still playing with his lips. He supposed they weren't so different.
Human passions, human pursuits, human dreams.
Pax actually made a face at that thought. "Be a model for our company, girls
dream of the opportunity we're giving you!" Pax had gone to the company in hopes they would lead her to one of her sisters or brothers. Instead it had been a waste of time. She had been tempted to shift to her true form just for spite, but was sure that would backfire. So instead Pax fled through the park, her hood up, headed for her tiny one room flat. She would cross off this venture and chalk it up to greedy humans. What Pax would give for just a day at full strength. She would level the city with never ending nightmares. Whatever bit of compassion she had for humans was gone.
"Ah, the only stench an oneiroi could give off..." purred a voice not unlike the growl of a panther as a man in dark clothing had passed by Pax.
Peregrine stopped his walk, having taken a deep breath of the small woman, opened his eyes and turned just enough to look back at her, smiling toothlessly. His eyes filled with the tar colored blackness, seeming to be reflective empty sockets. He saw it, her human form, like a haze over the stunning tall white creature his heart jumped to see. One of his own. His eyes filled with color again, seeming almost human once more, if not for the tinge of red he could never get out of them. "When you wish for nightmares," he told her calmly, chuckling.
Pausing at the name of her kind,
Pax turned abruptly and came face to face with a creature she was sure wasn't what he seemed. Inwardly she cursed the wretches who had cost her the ability to see his true form, to know him. He wasn't an Oneiroi, she knew that, and he couldn't be one of the lesser beings. Her human face paled, but not as a sign of fear bug rather excitement. Here, after a great disappointment
, was a dream creature, and one of nightmare if she guessed correctly. "My apologies, lord, but I do not see you." She figured he would know what she meant. The limitations of this form was destroying her weak patience even further.
Peregrine only smiled fondly, stepping up to the small woman and touching a finger to her forehead. A third eye sort of spot. "I know," he replied, his warm voice kind. He let his hand fall. "I suppose it is like a city wide game of.. hide and seek, is it?" He looked around them at the park scattered with various beings, all humans to the untrained eye. He seemed curious, but then smiled again, looking at Pax. "What has you troubled? I thought you were to smell of sweets, or pastries, or flowers... Something of that sort. You usually do." Something about the way he said 'you' indicated he was not speaking of Pax specifically, but of the oneiroi as a whole. At least, the dream ones. The ones that worked directly to him had rather different characteristics.
"I was told once that I smelled of fresh spring rain," Pax commented dryly. She had been good once upon a time. Now she could barely imagine what sour smells she was exuding. Not that the humans noticed at all. Her eyes darkened at the thought. She was named for peace, but now sought a different path. "I want nothing more than to clear this world of the pestilence that keeps me from locating my brothers and sisters still with those abilities." Any of her kind left with power would be suffering as they were drained for the drugs their blood could produce. Drugs of instant bliss, euphoria, and other good feelings. It sickened her that they were used in such a way.
The prince wasn't surprised by such anger. He himself had once had a lot of it. He leaned down a bit, so he could look her in the eye and gave her a little smile, almost sad. "We must not lose ourselves, or else when we have our Lands back, it is not us who will have it," he told her softly before he stood right again. He hated how this body was like a log, so straight and constrained. Putting aside his discomfort, he tilted his head curiously at Pax. "Where are you headed......? I'm sorry, I don't believe I know your name."
"My lands are forfeit to ones not as jaded as I," she responded with a tiny sigh. She truly did miss the time when she was naive to human flaws, when she only saw the good. Now, she could never go back to what she had been. "My name is Pax, and currently I was headed back to my hovel to hide for another uneventful evening." In truth, Pax was going to use the privacy offered by the flat to revert back to her natural form. How mortals could stand the itchy skin was beyond her.
"I see..." Peregrine looked down the path in the direction Pax was headed. After a moment, he smiled at her again. "I'm on to you, you know," he said. She didn't look anymore comfortable than he did, but luckily, or sadly, he had much more training in self control than most creatures and so he could hold this form much better, and longer. He would probably be shot on sight if the humans were to see what he truly was, and really, those bits of metal stung. He nodded his chin to Pax, as if ushering her on her way. "Off you go then. I wish you a pleasant evening, fair oneiroi." He waved and turned away, humming a dark tune as he continued down the path the way Pax had come.
Pax glanced in the direction of her flat and frowned for a moment before hurrying after Peregrine. "My lord, apologies for the suddenness of this, but I failed to get your name." It wasn't unheard of for her kind to skip introductions altogether, but Pax was curious as to the person who could read her so well. Her flat could wait, and if all else failed, she could shift somewhere else private. "I do not mean to be rude, I am simply curious to know who I am addressing." Clearly he outranked her, but by how much remained to be seen.
He chuckled at her, still walking, but it was slow and leisurely, completely letting her keep up. "I... am known as Peregrine." His voice growled out the name like the foreign language again, sounding much more dangerous than his purr of a human voice. He didn't seem to acknowledge that that name alone let anyone know he out-ranked just about everyone else. "You may call me such." He continued to smile easily, continuing his humming as he walked along.
It took Pax only the span if hearing the name to know. And the moment she figured it out, her eyes darkened and skin lost most of its pink hue. He wasn't just a lord. Didn't just outrank her. He outstripped her far enough to put her on edge at the same time as become excited at having found such as him. Every creature of dreams knew him. And Pax knew her great fortune at having met him. "My prince, you do me a great honor." She smiled at him, wondering if the protection placed for the dream Oneiroi was still in place. It was a vague thought, but after meeting a being such as the prince in this realm, it would be useful to know.
Peregrine shook his head. "Ah, Pax... I am only sorry you can not see me at my best," he apologized with a sigh. He glanced at her, just as an assurance they were still walking together, then looked ahead again. "But honestly, there is no need to seem so impressed. Loneliness affects us all, I think. It is always wonderful to see another creature." He smiled, reaching up with a hand to briefly touch her chin before letting go.
Internally her heart soared that he continued to speak with her. It wasn't often that a dream nymph met one of the royal family, and Pax wasn't going to take this meeting lightly. Surely it was a sign. Maybe she wouldn't be alone anymore. Keeping pace with him, Pax watched the ground. "If I may be so bold, my prince, how is it you managed to stay so well concealed for so long?" Her question was spoken quietly, for his ears only.
A beautiful woman walked out of a grove of trees and looked around curiously. She seemed to be in what would be a park. As she walked along a trail of flowers and leaves followed behind her. The smell of pine and freshness surround her and anyone who walked back faltered in there step to stare at her beauty. Terre found a wooden bench and sat down on it so that she could see everything around her. Taking it all in she smiled softly, and as she smiled is was as if the sun itself shone brighter. Placing her delicate hands on her lap she fiddled with her nails. They were red, as was her hair at the moment, matching the season. Autumn was a wonderful time of year for this Mother Earth. She loved the way it smelled and the way her are feet felt against the crumbling leaves. A young man was about to walk past her but the strong scent of pine drew him to a stop and he turned to stare at her. Terre blushed slightly and turned away from him, slightly uncomfortable by the intensity of his gaze.
"Peregrine," the prince corrected Pax absently, but gently. "And it is simply something I have practiced most of my life: Control." His gaze settled on a very distinct woman on a bench in front of them and the stunned manned standing before her. "Excuse me," he said to Pax politely before he quickened his pace, striding up to the two. "Oh THERE you are darling," he stepped between them, purposely blocking the man's view and pretending for all the world as if he wasn't there. The prince half bowed, holding his hand out to the creature on the bench. "Where have you been? I've been looking everywhere." His eyes flashed and he smirked at her in a 'I know' sort of way. It made his spines metaphorically stand on end to see those sickening humans look at his people as if they were some pretty bobble for them to claim and use for their own.
Placing her hand into that of the stranger who appeared to be helping her, Terre smiled and attempted to play along. "I'm sorry, I just got so distracted. Its a beautiful day out." The boy who had been staring at her snapped out of it, gasped at the sight of Peregrine and hurried away. Terre looked up into Peregrine's eyes with her strikingly beautiful green emeralds and smiled. "Thank you so much. That was very kind of you." Looking down at her clothing made of leaves and such she frowned. "I guess I should have thought better before stepping out of the trees. I don't look normal." Sighing gently she shook her head. She didn't blend in at all, unless she stood next to a great oak tree!
The woman was undoubtedly the most beautiful creature Pax had ever seen. She stood to the side, studying the tree being. As the man hurried off, he walked right by Pax without pausing to look at her, a fact that the Oneiroi was greatful for. Humans were weak willed. Pax approached slowly, her arms wrapped over her chest in a protective manner. She had met Peregrine, and now this fae creature, in a very short span of time. It amazed her that after months of being alone, she found that she was virtually surrounded.
Peregrine nodded to Terre, having her stand up. "I think you look exactly how you should," he told her with a grin. Still holding her hand, he motioned to his other companion, glad to see she had come along. "This is Pax, and I myself am Peregrine. What name have they given you?" He knew all of her type were called different things, even if they were all the same, and he didn't want to assume he could guess it. Besides, meeting people was probably the best part of a relationship, in some ways.
"Terre." She smiled softly as she looked over at Pax and nodded her head. Wiggling her toes in the grass she giggled. A butterfly had landed on her big toe and was just fluttering there. "Oh dear. They don't seem to leave me even when I'm not in the forest." Looking up at Peregrine she frowned. "I've never been around anyone but my family, are you sure I will be okay like this?" She wasn't sure who this man was but she instantly liked him and knew he would be kind to her.
Finally Pax came up to them. She tilted her head at the tree being and smiled. "You will be safe if no humans approach." The way she said human made it sound like a curse. "They do not appreciate beauty properly, they only wish to..." Pax trailed off, looking away. She did her best not to think about her siblings locked away and being used. But it was inevitable that she would remember.
Giving Pax a lightly disapproving frown, Peregrine stepped up to Terre. After a quick look around to make sure no humans were near, he moved his hands as if removing a cloak from himself and wrapping it around Terre, halfway through the movement he seemed to pull a dark black piece of cloth out of thin air and left Terre with a black cover, hood down, and clasped the silver piece in the front to keep it in place. "There. It will attract less attention. Sadly, as Pax warns, the humans to have a rather... personal interest in so many of you.." He was looking between the girls with a concerned frown, but in the end settled on Terre. "Why have you come here?" he asked curiously.
Terre's body shivered slightly as the cloak settled against her skin. "Pure cotton." Smiling she pulled it tighter around her approvingly. Looking up at Peregrine she frowned deeply. "I'm a creature of peace and I was wondering early and over heard something about war. Us Mother Earths' are greatly against harming each other and I came to try and stop the war. My family disapproved greatly." Looking down she noticed that Peregrine and Pax were both wearing shoes. I'll have to get me some, leaves won't work in a world like this. But it'll have to be something pure, like this cotton but it'll have to withstand much.
Pax didn't catch the frown shot her way. She was too busy trying to control her anger and pain at the careless mentioning of war, peace, and family. Pax had been the same as this woman. Once upon a time she had been a creature of peace. So much so that her sisters had named her for it. But that had been violently ripped from her. She looked up at Terre, knowing that the woman had no idea how her words could affect those around her.
"I am afraid.... You are a little late," Peregrine told Terre sadly. "But even though it is over-" For now... "It is best not to speak of it. Humans rile easily." He chuckled, as if talking about a small child. He thought of the little creature he had left at home in the rare occurrence she became upset. It was rather amusing. He didn't give in so easily to humans however. He happened to glance at Pax and nearly saw the steam coming from her ears. Metaphorically of course. "Ah.. and some creatures." He frowned at Pax, concerned. "Be calm, little oneiroi. Anger makes you swing blind."
After noticing Pax's reaction,Terre frowned. "I'm sorry. I did not mean to upset you." Growing nervous, Terre stepped away from Peregrine as her frown deepened. "Maybe it is best that I return to where I came from." Her eyes saddened greatly. She had always wanted to get away and experience new things and the first time she does, she messes it up! Looking at Peregrine she sighed, "I am terribly sorry." Taking off his cloak she placed it on the bench before turning and started back towards the trees with her head low.
Pax's lithe form was still quick. She hurried forward, snagging the cloak as she went, and caught up to Terre, wrapping it around the woman. "You are yet naive to the world. As I was...once." She glanced back at Peregrine, uncertain that stopping this woman was the right thing to do. "If you charish your innocence, then I would not encourage you to stay. However, if you truly wish to learn more of humanity and the rest, then stay."
Looking back and forth between the two, Terre nodded. "You'll think I'm stupid, but I'd like to stay. I've been kept quiet and private all my life. I want to live for once." Placing a gentle hand on Pax's she smiled softly. "I truly am sorry for however I upset you." Meeting the womans eyes she smiled encouragingly. Hopefully they would be able to be friends.
"It is truly nothing you are responsible for," Pax said. She gave Terre a weak smile. "Until you learn all there is, you can expect some mistakes to be made." She had made her own share of mistakes when she had landed in the mortal realm as well. But that was now in the past, and Pax was becoming a creature who lived more for the future than anything else.
Terre headed back in the direction of Peregrine and smiled. "Well...I guess I'm staying." Shrugging her shoulders she thought for a moment. "Thought, Im not sure where I'll be staying." Her eyebrows furrowed slightly as she thought this over. "I guess I could go home and stay there every night, but its quite a ways. I've no money, so I cant very well stay in the city."
"You may stay with me if you wish," Peregrine offered almost absently. "At least, until you figure the city out and find your own niche." He stared down a human as the man walked by, making the shorter male squirm uncomfortably and the prince made sure to watch him until he was out of sight to turn back to the two girls. His mind wandered slightly, thinking about the time of evening and where to find the next buyer.
Having been about to offer her own flat, Pax heard Peregrine beat her to it. It would be a great honor to stay with the prince, and she hoped that Terre appreciated it properly. Pax rubbed the back of her hand absently, relieving the itchy feeling momentarily. She looked down at her hand and froze. It had lost all coloration. She was sure her face had done the same. Pax pulled her hood lower and jammed her hands into her pockets, stifling the groan she was about to let out.
Terre looked at Peregrine in surprise. "That is very generous of you. Thank you." Terre wasn't sure why this man she had just met was offering his home to her, but she was deeply grateful. She was astounded by how nice he was to some strange creature he'd never met before, and someone who was likely to stick out like a sore thumb around him. But she trusted him and knew she could learn a great deal from him.
"I have some more work to do, but if you like, I could take you there now, so you could find it later, or rest," Peregrine told her, smiling until he noticed Pax's shifting. Then her hands. He frowned, looking up at her face, half hidden under her hood. "You look like you should use a rest too. Come. I need to check in anyway." He motioned for them to follow and started quickly down the path toward home, a modern loft far above downtown.
Pax followed at a reasonable pace. What she wouldn't give for the ability to go invisible. It was a god power, though, and something she had lost. Her vision was becoming clearer as they walked, which meant her eyes were reverting as well. Making sure her hair was in her face, Pax let herself catch up with Peregrine, looking strange because she was walking with her hands tucked away.
Terre followed closely beside Peregrine as they walked along. Glancing around she frowns at all the stares. Sighing she pulled her hood up and clasped the cloak. One woman even got bold enough to run into and bump her with her shoulder. "Ow..." Terre whispered and rubbed her shoulder, a bit confused.
Not far up the street, a tall woman with flowing long black hair stood leaning casually against the side of a building, a small frown on her face as she watched people pass her by. Her eyes were hidden behind a large pair of dark sunglasses so no one knew who exactly she was watching. Lavinia rolled her eyes at the sudden sound of a loud whistle aimed at her from an arrogant looking man a few steps away. She pushed herself off from the wall and slowly approached him removing her glasses as she did. "Try that again..." she hissed dangerously staring at him with her golden eyes when she stood in front of him causing him to falter and quickly turn and hurry off. She turned to move back to where she was pulling a small compact mirror from her pocket and clicking it open. "There goes another pair..." she whispered with a sigh as she looked into the mirror to see the golden contacts slowly disintegrating to reveal her poisonous green eyes below. She quickly slipped her sunglasses back on then popped the mirror back in her pocket as she resumed her position of leaning against the wall.
Peregrine's face darkened more and more as they went, annoyed at how the humans were treating his companions, and concerned at how uncomfortable Pax was getting. When they reached downtown, he turned, grabbed Terre's waist, and gave her a reassuring smile. "Until you get shoes," he explained before he lifted her, turned her, and promptly sat her on his shoulder, holding her in place with one arm. At least she was light. He continued walking, the occasional crunch of broken liquor bottles under his black leather boots. "It's not much further-" he was assuring his companions before he frowned, curious at the woman ahead of him. Something about her made his spines tingle under his skin with interest. Then he grinned. They were dropping in front of him like flies. "Well greetings..." he said to her as they approached. "Something the matter?"
Lavinia frowned at the sound of Peregrine's voice and prepared herself to send what she thought was another human male scuttling away to safety. She looked up and her frown quickly vanished turning to an expression of curiosity. She looked between the three people before her, taking in their strange attire and the fact that Terre was perched upon Peregrine's shoulders. Then finally she picked up a scent that she knew could only come from the nightmare world. She grinned suddenly as she straightened up, her large sunglasses still shielding her eyes. "Just a little wardrobe malfunction..." she hissed in as casual a tone as she could manage.
Terre placed her hand on his other shoulder to keep herself steady. "Oh my goodness, are you insane?" She asked in a slightly joking tone. Sighing she looked around her and noticed the woman leaning against the wall. What was with the hoods, and the black? Terre sighed and shook her head. She wished she had a bigger wardrobe, it would be full of color and flowing skirts, and gorgeous scarves! But how would she pay for these such things? It was completely different living in this world compared to the one she had come from.
"Yes, a little bit," Peregrine chirped the reply to Terre before he returned his attention to Lavinia with a charming smile. "Well I am quite glad your glasses are not... malfunctioning." He shifted Terre by hopping her slightly on his shoulder. "I was just about to make my friends here some tea, would you care to join us? I'd like to have some words with you, in any case..."
"Tea?" Lavinia repeated as she allowed herself to think about it for a few seconds before smiling and giving a small nod. "Alright then. I shall join you but more for the intrigue of what words you wish to share with me. The name's Lavinia and its a pleasure to meet you all." she finished with another smile then waited for Peregrine to take charge and lead the way.
Peregrine's nodded and hummed his dark tune as he started up the street again. He chuckled, noting the three women. "Seems I'm gathering quite the harem," he joked. It took another few minutes of walking but they eventually arrived at what looked like an unremarkable building like so many others around it. He punched in a code at the door and it clicked, allowing him entrance. The inside was decorated in rich colors and well lit and the prince set Terre down now that the floor was carpeted and clean. He waved off the man at the front desk and went to the elevator, pushing the top floor button. It only took a couple of minutes before they were on the top floor, 24th to be exact, and no where near the top of the city but leaving the streets far below. There were only a handful of dark oak doors on this floor and he slid his key into the third door down, opened it with a click, and stepped aside to allow them in.
The apartment itself was stunning. It opened into a small foyer with plush white carpet and white walls. To the right was a simple closet for coats, to the left was a stainless, spotless modern kitchen, and before them, an outstanding living room. The far wall was a solid window made of door sized panes of glass and extended up two stories toward the distant open ceiling, extending up past the ceiling of the foyer and the kitchen. There were a few white leather couches on the plush carpet, and some tasteful black furniture. No television. A few bunches of flowers sat here and there in modern style vases on various tables and the mantle over the fireplace to the right in the living room. Two shallow steps separated the living room from their current position and, on the other side, a hallway. For a prince of nightmares, he had a very bright and open, cheery home.
Another person joined their group and Pax had practically stopped paying attention. Anyone watching her would notice that she had grown a good two inches during the span of tve conversation. When the elevator reached Peregrine's loft, Pax was nearly two more inches taller. Her skin was shocking white, her eyes already the complete black. She stayed hidden in her hoodie, though, unsure of the effect her appearance would have on the others.
Stepping into the loft, the poorly dressed fae wandered into the living room to look around. Terre practically moaned at the feeling of her feet on the carpet. "This stuff is better than grass. What is it?" Wiggling her tanned toes she grinned happily and twirled around the living room, happy as can be.
Lavinia slowly entered the apartment, her eyes carefully travelling over her extravagent surroundings. Moving to sit on one of the comfortable looking chairs she finally removed her sunglasses, the golden contacts having fully disintegrated now revealing her green snakelike eyes. Oh well... she thought as she crossed one of her long slender legs over the other. If one of these poor creatures turns out to be human this apartment will gain a nice new statue.
A hand landed on Pax's shoulder and Peregrine stood there, giving her a soft smile. "You are among friends here. It is ok to let go." He looked at all three girls, chuckling at Terre's antics. "I'll put on the tea. Please, make yourselves at home." He stepped into the kitchen and readied a pot of water on the stove. "I'll be right back," he excused himself before carefully heading down the hall and entering a room near the end.
Taking in his words, Pax slid out of her hoodie, leaving her in a tank top that revealed the startling whiteness of her skin. She had finally reached her full height, and she silently prayed that none of these people passed out. Seeing an Oneiroi's true form was a dangerous thing, even for some creatures. Her beauty, she thought, didn't come near the tree woman, but she knew that in her true form, she reflected the perfect form of the gods.
Terre watched Pax carefully and smiled. "Oh my stars, you are beautiful. Like the surface of the bright Northern Star. And I should know, I've been there." Looking around she frowned. "Peregrine, I don't think I should sit down on your couches seeing as I'm dressed in leaves..." Frowning slightly she looked down at herself and cringed. Whos idea had it been to make such clothing? Sure she was a Mother Earth, but cloth would have been just as good, its comes from the Earth!
Lavinia raised an eyebrow as she watched Terre and Pax. "Well I think its safe to say neither of you are humans..." she hissed with a smirk as she twirled a strand of her hair around her fingers, her snake eyes still on the pair.
"None of you are." Peregrine strode back through the living room to the kitchen. He smiled fondly at all three of them as he leaned forward on the counter separating the two rooms. "None of you would be here if you were." He chuckled softly before looking at Terre. "Really, it's fine. Sit, get comfortable. It is only furniture." He looked at all three women." And if there is anything you need, please, don't hesitate to ask." It felt wonderful to have creatures again to take care of. Well, besides his sister. He glanced at the door at the end of the hall fondly before he regarded the earth mother again. "Your room will be the first on the left down the hall, should you wish to stay. It really isn't an imposition." He looked at Pax. "First on the right, if ever you need it." He looked at Lavinia. "And I don't know if you need a place.. but you are welcome as well, any time."
This home was so much bigger than her tiny loft. Pax sat down on the nearest chair, stretching her long frame out. She smiled at Terre, her expression much more relaxed now that she wasn't so itchy. "Thank you," she replied. When Peregrin offered her a room, her attention went to him, her obsidian eyes calm. "You are very generous." Pax inclined her head gracefully to him.
Lavinia pretended to look thoughtful for a few seconds before nodding at Peregrine. "Why not. We could be like big happy family." she replied as she smiled and tilted her head slightly. She hadn't really had her own place to stay but had been breaking into vacant houses and apartments and staying their until someone got suspicious and reported it to the police. It would be nice for once to not have to worry about being caught trespassing.
Terre was curious to see what an actual bedroom looked like so she walked down the hallway and opened the door her had indicated for her. She gasped rather loudly and cupped a hand over her mouth. She was used to living in an Earth home on a bed of leaves, this...this was incredible. An actually bed, with covers, not that she need them, her body temperature went with what was around her. A closet, and a small dresser finished off the room. She longed to fill them with beautiful sun dresses and skirts and such. Swallowing she smiled and shrugged her delicate shoulders, maybe some day. Coming back out to the group she walked straight over to Peregrine and kissed him softly on the cheek. "I've no idea who you are or why you've helped me, but myself and all the other Mother Earths are eternally grateful."
Peregrine chuckled, his eyes softening at the kiss. "You are most welcome. And I suppose who I am isn't terribly important...." His voice trailed off as he looked at Pax, his smile becoming more of a grin. He relaxed, however, looking at Lavinia. "Yes. A big family. On that note though, I only have 4 rooms, so if all three of you are going to stay at the same time, one will have to take the couch, or share with one of us." He looked at the three of them with a little frown. Every room, besides the master bedroom, had full sized beds, so it wouldn't be a space issue. He didn't want anyone to be imposed though. Then again, he wasn't ready to give up his own room. He had spent a lot of time getting it suited to himself.
Pax found herself wondering why Peregrin was so much different than what she had imagined. He was kinder, and much more easy going. She blinked as she watched him and the tree woman. No Oneiroi would wish to stay in the same house as the royal family, mainly out of self preservation. She and half of her siblings were creatures of happy dreams, and more often than not, the creatures of nightmares (other than her own kind) disliked them greatly. But here, she actually felt safe. "It is no problem for me to sleep out here." She had spent the last month on a hard wooden floor with nothing more than a few blankets tossed down. Even a couch would be a step up.
"I don't mind staying out here...I would most likely make myself a little nest on the floor from the cushions, if thats alright?" Lavinia asked watching Peregrine. In her true form she didn't find beds very comfortable and preferred creating herself a little nest that she could curl up in. "I just don't find those human beds very comfortable, so please feel free to take the last bedroom." she added with a smile at Pax.
Peregrine nodded along as they spoke. When the kettle behind him started to whistle, he took it off the stove, turned the appliance off, and started pouring cups of chamomile tea for everyone. "I suppose it makes the most sense for Lavinia to stay out here then. I will get you some pillows and things while I'm out tomorrow. Tonight, I'm afraid you'll only have the furniture pillows," he told the gorgon with an apologetic frown. When the tea was done, he scooted the cups to each person in offering as he took to nursing his own. He shifted his eyes to address Pax over his cup. "It would be best for you to take one of the beds anyway, given your size." He nodded to her body before taking another sip.
Resisting the urge to roll her eyes Pax just nodded. "Okay. I will take the room." She was actually short by Oneiroi standards, still not at her full height. It was disconcerting to think that she would be another foot taller by the time she was another century old. She still hadn't fully adjusted to her current size. Pax still had the tendency to nail herself with the upper part of doors when she was in this form and not being careful.
Terre came and sat down on one of the couches and picked up her glass of tea. Tucking her feet under her legs she sat indian style, making sure her skirt covered any areas that shouldn't be seen. She sat back in silence and listened to her new group of friends talk for a few moments before she started to uncomfortable. Situating herself she continued to listen.
"I'm sure i'll manage just fine with the furniture pillows." Lavinia replied then carefully picked up her own cup and took a small sip of the tea before setting it back down with a contented sigh. Her skin was showing a slightly green hue now and was taking on a scaled appearance as she began to relax. She slowly ran her hands over her hair and as she removed them she revealed that her long black hair was gone and was replaced now with a head full of hissing venomous snakes. "Thats better..." she said as she ran a finger along the head and body of one of the snakes.
Peregrine chuckled, looking at his three new... friends, would it be? Acquaintances at this point he supposed, and took a seat on the couch next to Terre. "So.. I suppose I know how Terre got here, as I witnessed it. But what about you two? How did you come to find yourselves in Totocin?"
Pax's content looks vanished as Peregrine asked his question. She sat up from her comfortable position and studied her tea. "The Oneiroi were overrun and thrown out of our home, scattered around the world. I woke in an alley with some dirty human body. I have since regained my form." She shuddered as she remembered that first moment of panic as some homeless person was about to do some unspeakable human thing to her body.
Lavinia frowned slightly at Peregrine's question and then as she listened to Pax's response. "It was the same for me and my kind..." she hissed angrily. "Chased and hunted like a wild animals and then all of a sudden I found myself here, looking like one of them." The snakes on her head hissing and rattling their tails ferociously. "It took time for me to regain my true form but I still feel like theres something missing from me...and I want it back."
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