InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "4 sweater vests..."

Acevona Sumner (acevona) wrote in breaking_point,
@ 2009-08-29 13:29:00

Entry tags:

*complete, 2024 08

RP: News, News, and More News
Who: Ace, Mitch, Relic, Lana, Tristan, Landon
Where: Basement potions room, Isaac's house
When: Late afternoon, August 29, 2024
Rating/Warning: Language
Summary: Ace announces her engagement, and some other plans
Status: Private, ongoing

"If I sit on this bench, is something going to burn a hole through my ass?" Tristan inquired as he regarded one of Ace's workbenches curiously.

"Probably," she offered with a slight smile as she stirred her current concoction with a glass rod.

"Right, and why are we all down here?"

"Because I have work to do and it's easier to charm this room than it is to ..." she waved a hand. "Oh, shut up."

Tristan laughed softly as he hopped up onto the bench. He was curious, and wondered a little if this had to do with last night. He'd gone home after the meeting - or rather, to his mum's place - to spend the night there. He hadn't really asked about the fallout from the meeting, but he had a feeling he was about to hear about it.

Lan stepped in quietly as well, grinning as he saw Tristan up on the bench. "You know, there's probably something up there--"

"That'll burn a hole in my ass. Yeah, I know." He grinned to his mate and shook his head to the questioning look. He'd talk to Landon later. "I'm fine," he promised the dark-haired boy.

Landon looked less than convinced, but let it go. He was also harboring some moderate concerns for Isaac, who'd been exceptionally quiet at breakfast, and who had looked a little down. He supposed it stood to reason, after the night before, but ... something felt off to him. "Who else is showing up?" he asked.

"Mitch, Lana, and Relic," Ace said softly. "If Vulture weren't getting reacquainted with the Aurors, he'd be here, too."

Tris and Landon glanced at each other before Lan spoke softly. "What about Isaac? If we're --"

"He knows," Ace said simply. "It ... he knows," she said. It hadn't been the older man's idea, but she'd been granted tacit permission when she'd stumbled across the idea after a few trailed-off sentences and significant looks.

Somewhere along the way, the vision had been lost, things had gone bad, and it was time for a change.

(Post a new comment)

thehuntsman
2009-08-29 10:56 pm UTC (link)

"Found a couple strays outside," Mitch announced as he stepped into the room that had been assigned as their random meeting place with Relic and Lana behind him.

He felt good about this, really. It was sad to see one chapter in his life 'close', but the one they were heading towards felt right. He knew some folks didn't like change, but he welcomed it, especially when that change got him a fiancee.

Once Lana was in the room, Relic glanced briefly around to note that everyone was here, and he pulled the door closed, nodding a greeting to the others.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

acevona
2009-08-29 11:01 pm UTC (link)

Ace flicked her wand toward the door, locking it before she put a silencing charm over the rest of the room. She really didn't expect anyone to drop by, but in the event someone did, she didn't want to start anything before it needed to be started.

"First, I'd like to announce that Mitch proposed last night," she began softly, grinning a little and swatting Tristan's thigh when he started to laugh. "I accepted, of course, though he did have to bribe me fairly heavily."

"Congratulations," Landon said softly, a grin on his lips. That was nice. There should be happy couples, he thought.

Lana glanced up to Relic, a slightly smug grin tugging at her lips. She twined one of her arms around his, pressing against his side. She'd had some very extreme misgivings about coming back to the house at all, let alone in response to a meeting call ... but she noticed a few people weren't present.

And she wondered.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

thehuntsman
2009-08-29 11:31 pm UTC (link)

"Think my future wife is a bit confused. When she says I had to bribe her, what she really means is that she begged me to ask her," he teased with a soft grin.

Relic wrapped an arm around Lana as she pressed against his side. He felt just a tiny bit bittersweet about the marriage announcement, but more than that, he felt happy for them. They both deserved it and he was really very happy with Lana.

He smiled down at her before shifting his gaze to the couple, "I dunno why, but I'm more inclined to believe Ace's story there, but congratulations either way."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

acevona
2009-08-29 11:56 pm UTC (link)

She waggled her brows and stuck out her tongue at Mitch. "See? He knows who can slip poison into his stew," she laughed softly. Reaching out, she took Mitch's hand, lacing their fingers together. "Though that's likely going to be the highlight of this. The rest of it ..."

She shook her head as she sobered somewhat.

Releasing Mitch's hand, she turned back to her potion, removing it from the flame to let it cool. "I'm sure last night ... had something of an impact on all of us." She glanced back to them as she smoothed her hands down her robes. "Something happened, somewhere along the way, and ... something got lost, or something changed, but ... we aren't what we once were. If we've fallen to a point where some of us are demanding veritaserum interviews for our safety ... when it should be plainly obvious..."

Ace glanced to Lana and shook her head slightly. "That it's nothing like that, something's gone wrong."

She bit down on her lower lip. "I ... spoke with Isaac this morning. He's disheartened as well. Disappointed that ... that this element of mistrust is even here. He didn't say anything, but ... he made a few leading statements. Let me work it out on my own, like he does. We trust each other. We're family. I don't think there's one of us here that wouldn't lay down our lives for ... for any of the others. I thought this is what we were about. Trust. Family. Doing good work where we could, cleaning up messes when we couldn't. Something changed and ... this isn't the group I want to be a part of anymore."

Exhaling softly, knowing it was a bit of a risk but meaning what she said about trusting all of them - even Lana - she continued softly. "I say we ... branch out on our own. Mitch and I were talking about moving out, and there's no reason we can't ... build a house specifically designed for a group. A new group." She paused. "Oh, and we're to pretend Vulture's here as well. He had to have a meeting with Harry, otherwise he'd be here. I mentioned it in passing to him on his way out."

She hesitated and tilted her head a little to let the others take that in.

Tris' lips had quirked into a grin when Ace started speaking before a more sober mask had taken over his face when he heard what she was saying. He nodded a little bit and glanced over to Lana.

"So what're we calling ourselves now then?"

Landon laughed a little. "Isaac ... he's really ... okay with this? And what are we doing about ... about the Moonwatchers? Are we ... staying in, or ...?"

"He's really okay with it," Ace said. "Said he'd advise us, and ... he doesn't know about the 'watchers yet. What will happen. Could be we'll just quietly drift out, one by one, and let it disband. Or ... just flee en masse. I don't know. But after last night ..." she shook her head. "If they can't trust those we trust any more ..."

Her lips tugged briefly into a smile as she glanced to Tristan. "I'm open to suggestions," she teased him lightly before glancing over to Relic. She knew Mitch was on board, and she imagined Relic would be, but she wanted to hear what he had to say.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

relic
2009-08-30 01:18 am UTC (link)

While Relic was very surprised, he couldn't say he disagreed with any of it. He scratched his beard thoughtfully and listened while the others spoke, until he felt Ace's eyes on him.

He nodded slowly, "I'm in," he began simply. "The meeting last night didn't sit right, and I definitely feel a change in the group." He thought Ace hit the nail on the head, there just wasn't enough trust between all the 'watchers, and that was a key element. He knew they wouldn't agree with each other all the time, but they trusted each others judgement.

"And if Isaac's all right with it..." he trailed off with a light shrug.

Mitch grinned and let his gaze travel from Relic to Lana and he arched his brows curiously, "How about you, scamp?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

i_submit
2009-08-30 01:55 am UTC (link)

Lana jumped a little at being addressed, and she briefly pressed closer to Relic. Her eyes skittered over Mitch's wounds before she hid her face slightly against Relic's arm. "I want to help," she said quietly. "I want to help people ... like you," she added, hoping her meaning carried across the way she meant it to.

She wanted to help people she could trust, and who could trust her without potions and interrogations. People who could relate - or at least understand - where she was coming from. Nuzzling softly at Relic's shoulder, she shifted her dark eyes to Acevona.

"So, is this it? I mean, what about ...?" Landon shifted his gaze over to Relic.

"Lan, don't waste that. Please don't waste that." Tris pressed a hand to his mouth to stifle his grin.

"Your mom," he said to Relic, trying to ignore Tristan when he cracked up, but grinning all the same.

He never could understand why the phrase 'your mom' always, always got Tristan laughing. "And ... some of the others. I know you said Vulture, too, but ... I mean ..." he hesitated.

Ace looked slightly pained as she dropped her eyes a bit. "There are a couple others I would have liked to invite in," she admitted, her thoughts flicking to Mal. "I'm just not sure ... where their base loyalties are at the moment. Not that I think they'd tell the ones we haven't invited in, but ... I'd rather not invite points of contention, or test people's loyalties." She shook her head, worrying at her lower lip.

It stung a little to be cutting Mal out, but he was a little too close to Patrick for her tastes - and a little too old for what they wanted to accomplish. Isaac, she knew, would be in the same boat - it was a shit decision, but they had to draw the lines somewhere.

She and Mitch had also considered other aspects of it, making their decisions carefully, weighing pros and cons of each current Moonwatcher. It was harder than she'd thought it would be before they'd composed their final list of people to propose it to, but ultimately, she thought it was for the best.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

thehuntsman
2009-08-30 02:11 am UTC (link)

Mitch had managed to mostly hide his grin when Tristan went into hysterics over Relic's mom, but he sobered as Ace began to speak about who they were inviting and who they weren't. He knew this was difficult for her, but she didn't have to cut Mal out of her life and he honestly hoped it wouldn't put a negative spin on their relationship.

This group, though, he thought needed a younger spin, a new outlook.

He reached over to place his hand on the small of her back to quietly offer support.

Relic gave Tris and Lan a look, but figured they knew him well enough to see through his 'you're not funny' expression. "I'm sure my mum will be glad to help us out in any way she can, even if it's just an adviser role," which it sounded like that's what Isaac would be doing.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

acevona
2009-08-30 02:26 am UTC (link)

She offered Mitch a soft smile, reaching out for his hand and lacing their fingers together again. "Of course, Winnie too, when she's ... back." She had to be due back pretty soon - the summer concert tour surely had to be nearly over. "She and Isaac can quibble over the best way to do things and we can smile, nod, and ... decide if its the right way for us."

"So are we still pretty much still ..." Tristan gestured slightly. "We're still doing the same thing? Same goals?"

"More or less, yes. But we're not going to be quite as stingy with our information. I think ... if we're careful about it, and we prove to give useful advice, we won't have to worry too much about the Ministry asking questions about where the information's coming from. We're hoping they'll just be happy to have it, and not ... fuss about the source of it."

Of course, if it went badly the first time ... then they'd know that wouldn't work, but they wouldn't know if they didn't try. Isaac, she thought, had gotten too afraid to try.

"But ... we'll see how it goes."

Landon bit at the inside of his lower lip before he nodded slightly. It would be interesting, however it played out, but he was on board if his grandfather was. He hoped this didn't destroy the relationships that had been forged here but then ... weren't they doing this because a few of the relationships had gotten rocky?

"Silverburn," Lana said softly, though she wasn't looking at Mitch when she spoke. "For a name. For what to do to Sterling," she mumbled, eyes down and flushing slightly. She still sometimes had trouble speaking up around Relic, and to speak in front of a group - even if her nails were biting into the fabric covering Relic's upper arm - said something.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

thehuntsman
2009-08-30 04:07 am UTC (link)

Ace was saying just about everything he would have so he was content to mostly listen, making a few mental notes here and there to go over with her later. It was good just to know their core group was on board, though he hadn't truly expected anything different.

At Lana's suggestion, he grinned, "Oh, y'know, I really like that. We can pretend we named it after my face, yeah?"

Relic was moderately surprised and impressed when Lana spoke up. He might have marks on his arm by the time she relaxed, but that was okay. He glanced down at her with a smile on his lips.

"Sounds like a good name to me," he added, though when she first said it he had worried that Mitch might not like it, but ... obviously that wasn't a worry.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

acevona
2009-08-30 04:25 am UTC (link)

Ace lightly swatted Mitch's arm, but ... it did have a nice ring to it. A little more focus on the hunting side of things, but ... maybe that's where they needed to be. A little more proactive about hunting, and a little less accepting of simply cleaning up messes afterward.

She glanced to Relic, and she smiled softly as she watched how he looked at Lana. She was glad they'd found one another, and that they worked like they did, and she squeezed Mitch's hand gently.

"So, I imagine ... depending on what happens with the 'watchers this coming full ... I say we just stick to the original plan. Patrol around a bit. See if we can catch anything happening. I know the Aurors are ..."

Ace hesitated suddenly when she realized that she was giving ... well, orders. It made things suddenly and scarily real. That they were really splitting off. Really stepping out on their own.

"Ah. Are patrolling around as well. I'm not sure if we'll get a full schedule, or if Vulture's only going to get his own assignment, but either way those of us who are wolves, or look like wolves will have to be careful."

Lan lifted one hand slightly. "I was ... going to mention it when it ... but it never came up at the meeting. I've got patrol in West Dorset on the full. Lucky draw, I guess," he added with a faint smirk and a little shrug. "So, I won't be able to ... be out there. Not ... furry."

Ace nodded slightly, her lips twitching into a little smile. "Well, at least you'll know what to do if you see a wolf."

"Run like hell?" Tristan offered with a grin. "I can be down there without it being suspicious. I saw the last one and ... Lan's my mate so he knows what I look like. And I'm nosy. A nosy, independent wolf trying to help keep people safe from a not so innocent wolf," he continued grandly, a grin creeping across his lips.

She chuckled softly before she glanced to Mitch. "Are you going to be up for anything this full?"

Lana listened to them talk, relaxing her grip on Relic slowly and in stages, resting her head on his shoulder. This was more comfortable. Not completely, but better. And they'd let her help again, she was sure, and she'd remember again, and it would all be fine.

A smile crept slowly over her lips, and she exhaled a very soft sigh.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

thehuntsman
2009-08-30 04:42 am UTC (link)

Ace, he thought, was a natural and he smiled softly as he watched her step right into the role of leader. This was going to go just fine.

"I'd like to say yes, of course, but to be honest I might have to wait and see how I feel," for as much as he liked to insist he was fine, he did know his limits and if he wasn't one hundred percent while out on a hunt or a patrol, he could put himself or others in more danger than it was worth.

"Can run around outback, if nothing else. Patrol for bear traps," he added innocently.

When Lana was resting against his shoulder, he wrapped an arm around her softly and let the others discuss the full. Sometimes he wondered if he shouldn't start hunting, or at least running patrols, but if they did run across a pack of wolves, he wasn't sure he'd be an asset instead of a liability.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

not_an_orphan
2009-08-30 04:48 am UTC (link)

"I know where you sleep, Jonathan Mitchell," Tristan said, brows arching.

"Because you dream about it every night?" Lan offered innocently.

"Yes, because I drea-- hey." He grinned and playfully swatted at Landon. "I told you that in confidence, Lan," he mock-chastised before he shook his head. "Beartraps." He sighed.

Ace watched the boys with a soft smile. "Well, we'll have to find a place for meetings that isn't ... my potions room," she said quietly. It wasn't big enough, comfortable enough, or designed for it - and she didn't know how long it would take to have a house up for her and Mitch. Not if they were having it built.

She thought in a pinch they could use the Corners' place, which reminded her to talk to Zoe and Michael later. She paused, tilting her head. "I didn't ... bring it up to them yet, but ... we're all right with the Corners?"

She knew they weren't quite as close, but she also hadn't missed Michael's proclamation last night - and she really liked Zoe.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

thehuntsman
2009-08-30 07:53 pm UTC (link)

"You've made a pest of yourself outside our door enough times that there's no doubt you know where I sleep, pup," he grinned to Tristan.

"I have no problem with the Corners," he decided, shrugging his broad shoulders briefly. "It'd be nice to have eyes at the school still and Zoe always comes in handy." Those muggle hospital reports were very nice to have.

"Same," Relic echoed. "We could meet at my flat in a pinch." It was bigger than this room, at least, and he could rearrange the sitting area to give a bit more room. "Probably better to meet during the evening though, if we use my flat."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

not_an_orphan
2009-08-30 08:56 pm UTC (link)

"And how would you know how Zoe comes?" Tristan said to Mitch, brows lifted. "Think maybe Michael might need to hear something about that," he teased.

Landon shook his head but laughed all the same. Well, at least he could figure out one of the things that had been bothering Tristan, given his shift in mood with the way the meeting was going. It bothered Lan that one person could get to Tris so badly though, enough so that he stayed out instead of coming home.

Pushing the thoughts aside, he nodded to Ace. "No, I think ... they're good assets."

Ace nodded. "We'll work something out. Maybe ... if the 'watchers do disband, we can ... still meet here and there won't be as much risk of people walking in."

Though she was sure there'd still be some. There was no reason for people to stop visiting, after all. Some people, anyway. Others, she knew, wouldn't have much of a cause to come around if there was no group ... and that, she thought, was a little telling as well. Things just weren't as close as they'd been when things had started out.

She glanced around and smiled slightly. She did feel a slight pang at a few of the missing faces ... but she thought they were still on the right track.

"So, all right. Mitch and I will start fine-tuning specifics. I'll let Isaac know we're all on board and ... we'll go from there," Ace said quietly. "Class dismissed," she teased them.

(Reply to this) (Parent)