Halcyon Halls

Who: The Hecatomb Clan
When: Late afternoon, Early evening
Where: The Accor Thalassa Resort, Biarritz, France
What: Happy Eighteenth Birthday Xael!!!

Biarritz. Far less known than the Riviera destinations, and for that reason alone, a much better choice for the Hecatomb family during this time. Though Biarritz could get busy enough this time of year, Accor Thalassa, the resort they stayed in was situated on a private beach, nestled almost secretly away from the rest of the village. Accommodating of some, this was not however a typical family vacation spot, and the staff was, by now, torn between open adoration and quiet irritation of the large, rambunctious toddler that had made a playground of the restive haven. Likely even those who now gritted their teeth wondering how soon they would be gone would be missing the boy all too soon once they were.

Not that he was ever out of control. No, Aidan was simply being his usual happy self. And when the staff snuck him pastries, candies, and all manner of sweet, well… they were equally accountable for his level of excitement.

Today there would be plenty of all that. It would be another of many meals they’d taken together as a family (in a private dining room that was a part of their lavish suite), but that was not the reason for all the sweets. No, that was for a special occasion. To honor the birthday of their oldest son. The resort chef was one of the most renowned in France.

As such, the food was exemplary and the service second to none. Even if it was a bit frou-frou for Axel. He appreciated it and even knew which fork to use. Though in all honesty, he was well past his hundredth year before gaining that bit of training.

That being the case, the birthday dinner was also at the resort, but this evening they were served on the terrace on a table completely decked out in honor of Xael’s 18th birthday. And imagine that most of the women that worked at the resort, young or old, had managed to come by, whether working or not, just to wish the charming young man a special day.

Jadyn’s pram was at the table and Axel pulled it nearer himself. Roz, he knew, would hardly be able to enjoy the night if she were more worried about the baby. The whole purpose of the trip had been for her to find some means to relax. Axel wasn’t at all sure it worked, though he liked to think it had at least a bit.

Her view now was of the ocean, and the sun nearing the horizon. She and Xael had the primo seats for this spectacular view, which was exactly as Axel had wished it. Aidan wouldn’t really care about such sights for some time now, and of course, the baby was asleep.

Who: Kssy n MR. HECKATUM
Where: IRONICALLYHELLONEARTH flyinck lass
When: 2sday
What: ldis r pimps 2

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The Faerie Princess
and
The Demon of Mid-Morning
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Chapter 2

Kissy had sucked that hapless girl into her world of gossip in moments. Wide-eyed, it was fifteen minutes before she had even caught her up to speed in between text messages to her cousin Morgana (name!barf) and her boyfriend drama. Then the bomb came. He was totally half-demon/faerie and told her that as an excuse when her friend Elrida used her pixy powers to totally breathe underwater and catch him at the beach with this girl who told everyone she was a siren but everyone totally knew she just had some harpy blood and she wouldn't fess up and saw them kissing but he told her that he knew Elrida was watching and so just wanted to catch her spying but then Elrida's sister's boyfriend's uncle knew her boyfriend's cousin's best friend and they said that it was a total family secret that he was so SLEEPING WITH HIS STEP-BROTHER and the illusion was some spell to make sure like other people and not her found out because why would they know that harpy girl who was so dumb anyway and OH MY GOD his step-brother is totally married with kids and it was so scandalous.

So you can imagine how long it took Kissy and the girl to text message that entire script to just about everyone they knew AND include further clarifying details upon request. AGES. In the realms of girly temptation, Kissy was a whirlwind, a flurry of punches and kicks that out-fu'd Axel's greatest moves. He was a dragon so tiny that he was practically iguana and a princess so big...er, with HAIR so big he had no chance of reaching her.

Her hair wasn't totally big today, but had suffered from the previous day's teasing by just refusing to be manageable today. Kissy solved this problem by rolling a colorful scarf into a headband and then using a hairtye to give herself a cute, if messy side ponytail. Then there was her black calf-length leggings with lace accent at the bottom (aero-dynamic!) and an extra-long turquoise tanktop dress with a tighter, shorter black tanktop underneath it. Some white skimmers with little blue flying pigs across it and a black belt to give her dress a waistline. It had taken her ten minutes to choose earrings (ten minutes she was supposed to be in her first class, incidentally) and had finally found the second matching button earring in a random purse. And some modesty shorts. Not because she planned on flying or anything, but just in case. Sometimes she couldn't resist the urge to cartwheel if provoked enough and she had learned the no modesty shorts lessons the HARD way. (and no, not what you're thinking way, but in the wedgie way!)

Now she was firmly planted next to yesterday's new friend and animately talking about all the new details...of which there were none. But everyone's reactions to the situation had to be analyzed down to the Nth degree and finer points rehashed to the point of liquefication. Kissy did a pretty good job at avoiding him at the beginning of class. She got out of the changing room at like, the last possible minute. Then fussed with her hair tie. THEN she had to warm up, then she and the other girl were like 'working together' which mostly involved looking like they were doing something when really, more of the above.

Eventually, however, thedragon hewhoblotsthesun teachergonemade Mr. Hecatomb's cold, dark shadow crept upon her again. Would our princess evade his maniacal clutches yet again today? Could the power of good triumph against...vaguely-and-most-likely-subjectively-unpleasant once again!? While Kissy felt fear as she turned around again, she put her best foot, er, scent forward. Today it was a classic: warm apple pie. She would find his weakness eventually! Her new strategy was to keep changing it until she found something he really liked and then they could discuss. That had to be good for at least five days. AT LEAST.

Who: Kissy and Axel
When: Flying Class (mid-morning)
Where: Flying Class

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The Faerie Princess
and
The Demon of Mid-Morning
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Chapter 1.5

Last Week. Disaster. Kissy had arrived all sparkle fresh, perfecting her M&M cookie smell in morning class (where she got in trouble for asking people to identify what she smelled like). If she had played it off, she thought, she could start all over again with the new teacher and somehow eke it through the rest of the semester. Between the class and her family it was like a rock and a hard place.

But it had been horrible. Even Tuesday when she'd brought actual cookies he'd just given them to other people. Kissy had been going on and on about how horrible the class was for her. All of Axel's bellowing. The way his eyes glinted a little red when he looked at her and how he dominated the light of the sun when he was near her. He was so huge and hulking. Someday his hair was going to set on fire FOR SERIOUS.

So she'd had to pull out a little bit. Just the tiniest, itty bittest flying. Like, a little spurt, then she had to make a big show of looking soooo tired (and scared). Every weekday mid-morning was a ball of anxiety for her. She worried about going to the class, she worried when she left it about the next day. With every passing class, she was sure she was going to ralph (eww!) one of these days.

Imagine then, her trepidation upon stepping up to the enclosed flying class area. She swore he had gotten bigger over the weekend. Did demons inflate with passing seasons? She didn't know. It was possible. Her plan was to wear shirts cut down the back to bring her wings into play. Just practicing her wing-work! she'd say whenever he came close.

There she was, beating her tiny wings like a champion. Her ankle got cold as he came near, his huge shadow trapping the chill of the coldest months within them. His presence carried pure dread! Augh! She was flapping so fast and smelt and tasted so sweet, anyone near her got a strong whiff of pastry. It was so fitting, because she was totally cooked! "Just practicing my wingwork!" She announced, trying to sound peppy and motivated as she could feel him getting nearer. Go wings! go!

The days had changed for Axel. Recently going from one class a day to now teaching three, and add to that his increased guard duties plus the desire to keep Aidan more and more occupied so the little one was less and less in his mother's way.

Not that any of this was more difficult, more consuming, or near the challenge of his previous life, it was simply different. Axel just looked upon it as he looked on everything in his life, as a challenge. And some days, especially where Aidan was concerned, it didn't seem to be any less of a challenge than his past.

Attempting to keep Rozlyn distracted and occupied, while not overwhelming her, that was a real challenge in and of itself. But with her worries for the baby in her womb they couldn't heap on top of that the other worries, the concern of threats, against the school, against their family... threats of a certain demon whose persistence never seemed to die.

Two teachers and one student dead and any with knowledge knew this was barely even the beginning. It would get worse long before it got better. None were safe, though some were in more danger than others. What angered Axel the most was the fact that where Xael and Aidan were concerned, and now Roz as well, they had no choice but to be affected by it. Otherwise Axel would be tempted to live as though the other demon had no affect at all. Not advisable when you had such vulnerabilities however.

Fucking Sergius.