Who: Hope, Karl, and Rory (and baby Nita) What: Rory visits Nita Where: the Pack house When: Feb 19 Afternoon Warnings: low Status: g-doc
Rory made her way to the Pack house. She’d been there a few times, usually to see her niece. Obviously, Rory also knew Kate, since Kate’s mom was dating Dan, Rory’s surrogate father of sorts.
She wondered if Hope and Karl would move anytime, but it wasn’t the brunette’s business. With a bunch of food in bags, Rory arrived at the Pack house and knocked on the door. This way, Karl might grumble a little less if Rory brought food.
Karl knew Rory was coming to visit and to see Nita. He didn’t dislike the young woman, but Karl didn’t tend to like a lot of people, even if he could be charming. But, Hope liked Rory, so he’d try.
He opened his mouth and looked around the room. “Hope. We need to move. I’m starting to feel claustrophobic in this house.” So many people now lived here and with his recent earnings, the werewolf could definitely afford to buy a house for his wife and baby daughter.
A knock sounded. “Do you want to get it?”
“I’ll start looking after our visit, I promise.” Hope wouldn’t mind more room for themselves too. She had liked the help with a newborn, but Nita was nine months now and they had it all under control. Hope was used to a lot of independence too.
She went to answer the door, leaving Nita in hr exersaucer and smiled when she saw Rory, then went in to hug her. “Hey Rory. How’s it going?”
Hope stepped back to let Rory inside. “Careful. Karl’s having cabin fever.”
“When isn’t Karl having cabin fever?” Rory joked as she entered the house, returning the hug. “Isn’t that part of being a werewolf?” She knew Karl could hear her, but he had to be used to her version of joking.
“I always forget how large and small this house can be at times.” Rory smiled at her sister of sorts and held up the bags of food. “I come bearing gifts from Hinkles, so then Karl might be a little less grouchy. Is Nita napping?”
Karl followed his wife to the front door.
“Well, being called grouchy doesn’t help, but sliders from Hinkles certainly does. Hello, Rory.” He offered a nod to the young woman. Who might not be as young as she looked. While not fully clear on the details, Karl could smell that she was older than she looked, although without clear details.
“Nita is in her bouncer, but we can definitely move to the kitchen.” Karl plucked the food from Rory, happy to carry everything.
“Bribing is always a great choice.” Hope grinned. It helped that Rory understood werewolves and the way their brains worked. “How are you?”
Hope went to retrieve Nita and brought along her key toys that she’d been favouring as she teethed. Once in the kitchen, she let Nita down on the ground for her to explore. Hope knew her way around the kitchen enough to know that all the dangerous stuff was locked, though that might not save the tupperware drawer. “Did you get caught up in the whole weird-happening thing?” Hope had enjoyed it for its chaos, especially since it had been mostly harmless chaos.
Rory returned the grin. “I’ve met Karl.” She knew enough about werewolves, considering, and keeping them fed seemed like a good place to start to remain on their good side. However, his response did not keep Rory from rolling her eyes. Good naturedly, of course, but still.
When Rory saw Nita, her face brightened. “Hey cutie pie.” At least her niece turned toward her and had a smile, before it looked like she went on the move. “Man, girl’s got legs. She’s just…motoring along.”
At the question, Rory shook her head. “Thankfully, no. Although, gotta say, I feel a little bad for the vamp who seems to only be able to drink fruit punch mixed with blood. Anyone here?”
Karl thanked his lucky stars that he hadn’t ended up with any kind of quirk. “Nick seems to feel the need to sing the theme to Sailor Moon before he eats, like it’s Grace or something.” Not annoying to werewolves at all. “Honestly, I’m amazed he knows the words.”
He brought plates to the table. “Who wants what to drink?”
“I think it’s fun.” It helped that she didn’t have werewolf hearing nor did she need to eat nearly as much as Nick or any of the other werewolves. “I have a couple videos.” Hope pulled out her phone and pushed a few buttons before handing Rory her phone to watch Nick sing the song before breakfast. “Nita likes the song.” Hope had joked that Nick was going to have to continue singing once whatever this was, was over, now that he got her daughter addicted to it.
Nita, drawn by the recording of Nick, walked up to where Rory was and started to use the chair to pull herself up. She had shaky legs still, but she managed to stand with help.
Hope smiled proudly, “She’s doing that a lot too.”
Rory watched the video and burst out laughing. “I’m impressed. Nick can carry a tune after all. Who knew?” Nita very obviously liked the song and Rory didn’t blame her. “Well, now she’ll have to watch the show when she’s older.” Rory liked the show, more or less.
“Nick should record himself singing it and then you can play it for her.” The half-angel watched her niece. “Look at you! You’re standing, Nita.” Rory clapped softly. “She’ll be walking really soon.”
Karl grinned at his daughter, obvious pride on his face. “If I don’t hear that song again, it will be too soon, but for Nita, I’ll suffer through it.” Like anything regarding his little girl, Karl didn’t mind it too much.
“You’re doing so well, treasure.” Karl didn’t move to pick his daughter up, but the desire to kiss her head rested in his heart. Instead, he ruffled his wife’s hair, instead.
“At least the chaos vibes from this are mostly harmless.”
“It’s actually the first time in a long time I can say that it’s nice.” Usually the chaos she had to deal with was murder or violence. It was one of the reasons that she enjoyed her husband sharing his brand of chaos which, while technically against the law, was usually about stealing and not getting caught. Hope had a hard time admitting a part of her - the demon part - liked the violent kind of chaos, but she liked to shut that part up as much as possible because that part was a real bitch.
“You were doing the dating thing too right? Meet anyone interesting?” This year she decided to give Karl’s nerves a break and not go, even if she only wanted to make friends.
Rory shrugged. “I did go to the speed dating event. I ended up on a few dates I enjoyed. Got one girl’s number for a hook up, but nothing beyond friends, and maybe friends with benefits. I kind of have a crush on a girl.” A girl who, as far as Rory could tell, missed someone from home, although the half-angel had no proof.
“But, I did meet a new person with bunny ears. She seemed nice.” Rory grinned at Karl. “Couldn’t handle your wife making some new friends?”
Karl gave Rory a look. “Yes, that’s exactly what it was.” Even if a small part of what Rory said was accurate. He hated that he felt that way sometimes, but he did.
“Bunny ears?” That might prove slightly terrifying when he turned into a wolf. “But, like a full sized person, with bunny ears?”
She leaned over and kissed Karl’s temple. She knew very well his jealous streak and she didn’t mind most of the time. It was part of who he was and she loved him.
Hope was fascinated too. “Does that mean they were part bunny?” She paused, then shook her head. “I’m trying to picture this and I can’t. But for some reason I can picture the pack running after someone like that as wolves and it’s a fun visual.” Mainly for some reason Hope was picturing Clay - whom she assumed would hate the mention - so she just made a general comment.
“Now that I have a sister, should I do the whole thing like ‘when you find someone you like, I need to have a talk with them?’ Because I can.” She’d have Karl linger in the background for dramatic effect.
Rory shrugged off Karl’s look. She didn’t mind her brother-in-law, but they most likely would never be bffs. “I’m not sure, really. She’s taller than most people and has bunny ears. I think she mentioned living in the forest? And then one of the other Pack was kind of rude.” Rory made a meh shrug. She laughed. “Only if you get Karl to glower in the background, otherwise what even is the point? But no, you really don’t have to do that. I promise.”
Karl smiled at his wife and gently squeezed her waist. Thankfully, she accepted him and at this point in his life, Karl wouldn’t be changing who he was.
And then he snorted. “Well, at least you both know I’ll be in the background.” Because he would. Obviously.
“Should we eat before the food gets cold?”
“Yes, let’s do that. I’m starving.” Hope was okay with Rory and Karl being friendly without needing to be bffs. Real life wasn’t all close relationships, after all.