Morningstar Manor

The Valdez apartment had taken on a whole new appearance under the careful and talented hands of the Morningstar maintenance team. New carpets had been laid, a new bathroom and kitchen installed, various special features had been provided and today they had finished one of the most bizarre paint jobs they had ever done.

Charlie had helped the first morning, making a face at the results but ensuring they could all duplicate it. The base coat was a dark lustrous grey, not quite black, and over it ran threads of crimson and creamy white - as if the room were a cave cut into black marble laced with quartz and cinnabar. With the lights on it looked odd enough - with the lights off the effect was startling. they all felt quite proud of it, although working in goggles, masks and gloves had been a pain. One couldn't take chances with phosphorescent paint.

"I couldn't sleep in there," Phil said as they left the apartment. "Who do you reckon's moving in? Batman?"

"Dunno," Nick said with a grin. "Catwoman?"

Phil groaned and took himself off to his next job, and Nick stepped into the lift with a yawn.

"Oops, sorry," he said to the other passenger. "Going down?"

There were two sets of 'not quite human' tenants in the garden this morning. The first was Aaron Jones, dressed as always in grey slacks and a crisp business shirt and tie. This morning he sat on a bench in the shade of a few trees and puffed on his cigar. A short ways away from him, in the bright sunlight, lay two massive Irish Wolfhounds apparently sunning themselves.

***

Not far from Aaron was another being. Today Loki had opted for a different spot to perch - instead of in the arms of the Angel statue he was sitting cross-legged on the head/back of the demon statue. In one hand was a cup of coffee from the Mocha and resting on his knees was his old and battered volume of Edgar Allan Poe. Dressed in all black as he was - if it wasn't for the bright red hair burning in the sunlight he might go unnoticed.

***

Demitri sat in the Mocha, trying not to laugh as Joy watched him cautiously. But really he wasn't doing anything - just having coffee and a bagel and looking through the paper. And trying to keep his mind on his classes for the day and not wonder where Kevin was and if he was alright.

***

Across the Mocha - stretched out quite enticingly on a sofa - was Eris. She had on a bikini top and a pair of very short denim cut offs as she had her coffee and flipped through a magazine before heading up to the roof for a swim.

After the incident in the basement, Roxy was staying far away. So far away, in fact that today she was up in the pool house, enjoying the sun as she swam laps.

~*~

Memphis's lazy afternoon was interrupted by a steadily irritating little brother and a supposed girl he was texting with. Unlimited text messages were a good thing. In the inclination to want to continue his lazy afternoon, he was hiding out in the Mocha. Doing nothing in particular, nothing spectacular, just watching.

~*~

Travis had decided to go wandering about for Memphis. His texting partner had been called off for something or another, and he was putzing around in the garage. Lucy sat where she'd been parked and nobody was nearby. Travis wondered if anybody would notice if he just opened the door and contemplated.

~*~

Erin was in the basement, racking up the balls on the pool table as her laundry simmered in the washer next door. There wasn't anybody else there to play with, but practice wasn't always a bad thing.

~*~

Logan had gone and gotten Lily from Emma's apartment, and was playing fetch with her out in the park. Chad watched them from a bench, for once without grumbling over nonsense scribbled in notebooks. He wanted nothing to do with work today. At least for this hour as he watched Logan playing carefree with Lily.

He'd had to decide where to take her for Beltane. There were so many places. But eventually Loki had decided on Edinburgh, Scotland for their Fire Festival. He could never pass up a fire festival.

Calton Hill was packed with people far before the starting time of 9pm but strangely they had no trouble getting up the hill and finding the perfect seat for the festivities. They'd dressed warmly - Loki in his usual black and the long coat - and in his many hidden pockets he had a flask of whiskey.

"We have to toast in the summer after all," he said, pulling it out and taking a sip then offering the flask to Erin.

All around them people were milling about and getting situated. The excitement in the air was tangible and Loki's eyes shown brightly in the firelight. As did his hair.

Loki was in the Square again but this time he wasn't laying in the arms of the angel statue. He was, however, sprawled at it's feet, laying on his back, shades in places, and reading his very old copy of Edgar Allan Poe.

If one were to look closely one might see it was a first edition. And signed.

After a full days work, followed by a stint in the laundry Charlie was ready for a coffee. So he got his latte and a danish and took them to his favourite seat on the couch and cirled up there to fiddle with his phone.

Deacon's creative accountancy was already showing its effects. A sizeable deposit had come through from one Mike Anderson in respect of a painting for his wife's birthday and that made his bottom line look much less terrifying.

He was actually able to smile today, at anyone who happened to be passing.

After working at the Gallery all morning, Emma brought her lunch down into the gardens to play with Lily for a while in the fresh air. Just then she was parked on a bench, alternately nibbling on a sandwich, reading some study notes, and throwing Lily's ball in all sorts of directions. Mostly she wasn't even looking, but then again, she wasn't throwing it that hard either. The sun was shining, and she was humming along to the music in her head, which wasn't necessarily a good thing since she really was tone deaf. It wasn't until the shadow fell across her that she realised anyone else was even in the gardens and looked up.

"Oh, um, hi there!" She smiled, just as Lily pushed the soggy ball back into her lap.

Wednesday morning found Deacon in the garage, a wide smile on his face. The Car was finished - had just been delivered from the paint shop - and now sat like a great beast before him. She was a glossy black with a midnight blue racing stripe down her center. Her windows were pitch black, her wheels a shining chrome and she looked like at any moment she was ready to pounce.

****

Seth and Zack were in the Mocha - heads together as they discussed the design of a poster for the band.

****

Loki lay sprawled on a bench in the garden, smoking and listening with a soft smile to the strains of a violin floating through the air.

****

A violin played with care and love by Erik - further in the garden - to welcome the coming of spring.

He had been smelling it for a couple of weeks now - that odd enticing indefinable almost LACK of scent that made his fur bristle and his claws flex.

If it was true - if he WAS here - then Palug needed to find out where and make sure he knew what was what and who he was and wasn't allowed to play with.

Emma for instance was Palug's, no two ways about it, and there were other people too that Plaug looked at and thought 'mine' no mater what little illusions they may have held about themselves.

He roamed around the garden and found traces of scent on a bench or two, along a few paths and, strongly, on the angel statue. He growled and jumped up onto the plinth and clambered up to sit on its shoulder - there was a nice spot where the curve of the wing supported his behind - and settled there, purring. He'd give it some time to let the odour of Trickster be replaced by that of large healthy male cat.

Meantime he'd smile at anyone who passed - expecially if they had food.

Oy, I didn't know you played drums!!!



I'm sure that's you at the beginning. That looks like SUCH FUN!

By the way, how are you?

Chas

Most might think that Loki - like any normal Goth - didn't go out in the sun. That's how he kept his skin so pale after all wasn't it? So one might be surprised upon going to the pool house to find said Goth boy stretched out on a lounger - shirtless and with his jeans hanging so far down his waist that it was on the verge of indecent.

Of course this meant a few things, one being that a good number of his tattoos were visible. The symbol on his left bicep, the armband on his right bicep that was an amazing design of knot work combined with Norse runes, a Norse dragon in the center of his shoulder blades and the heartagram on his stomach. It was the only one that didn't have some sort of Norse background but Loki had seen it and liked it. In addition to the tattoos a silver hoop through his left nipple flashed in the sunlight as he stretched.

Shades firmly in place Loki basked in the sun, a secret smirk on his face. This would answer another question he knew was going around. Was his hair dyed? Well if it was then so was the tuft of hair beneath his arms and the faint trail leading from navel downwards.

A goth boy getting a tan (except he wasn't actually tanning) - what a sight!

Greg sat outside, reading a book and drinking coffee from a novelty mug that said, "I see dead people." It was a gag gift from one of his co-workers. The book he was absorbed in was called, Norse Mythology: A Guide to Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs. It was purely by chance that he'd stumbled upon that particular title in the bookstore. Or that's what he told himself. For a while he read unenthusiastically about Odin and Frigg, before flipping a few pages and pouring over the section devoted to Loki. He couldn't help noticing that the depictions of the trickster god resembled the Loki he'd had the misfortune of meeting. He was fascinated. Why had the twenty-something kid modeled himself after a Norse deity? He didn't quite get it. So page after page, he read on, looking at picture after picture, after picture.

Loki was very much liking this City. Charlie was quite fun and Loki wanted to get the man out to a club just to see what would happen. He'd watched him more than the man knew, of course. Had seen him with his big blond, with the little blond artist, and with the composer and his dark, strong woman. They all were interesting to be sure and he planned on making time to 'meet' the others.

Then there were Devon and Greg. Devon - now he'd be fun, Loki was sure. Once he got him having fun again. Which really shouldn't be too difficult. Not as difficult as the silent Dr. Morrow anyway. But Loki loved a challenge and Dr. Morrow - he could just tell - probably had a majorly wicked streak in him. If you could get past the walls. Loki was looking forward to that.

But now his attention was focused solely on the lovely woman who he was going to visit. Four o'clock on the dot and he stepped through the doors of the station and into the general living area of the station - complete with couches, chairs and tv. And a few firemen who looked at him oddly.

But the he supposed they weren't used to pale young men with shocking red hair dressed in tight black pants and shirts and long black coats coming through their door. Loki pushed his hair from his face with fingers tipped with black nails and wearing thick silver rings and smirked.

"I'm looking for Erin," he said.

There was an impromptu band practice going on in the ballroom. Jack had taken a break and gone to play piano on the big baby grand. Zack had happened to hear and run up to grab his bass and the small portable amp and come to join. Deacon had been next, having come up from working out in the gym, and a few minutes later had returned with his acoustic and the unmistakable sound of rock music was now drifting from the ballroom.

****

Eris was in the Mocha, sipping a latte and sorting through a mass of brochures scattered on the table - all advertising various resorts on various beaches in the Caribbean.

****

Erik was in the garden - dressed in jeans and a soft button down, sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Humming to himself he tended the little garden patch he kept to prepare it for spring.

****

Jason at behind the security desk, writing up the schedule for the next few days and feeling much better than he had over the weekend. Of course people had left the guards a good bit of candy for Easter and chocolate was always a good thing.

But if he found one more hard boiled egg rotting in an undiscovered by children hiding place he was going to be very unhappy.

****

Loki was on the roof - sitting on his heels on narrow outcropping, looking like a great black bird with his long coat flapping gently in the breeze. It was a good spot, he decided as he smoked a cigarette and gazed out over the City. You could see a lot from up here. Not that any normal person would have been able to get to this spot but really that was there loss.



[ooc: Just say who you want in the tag and if you need the time of day to change that's fine. They'll probably be there most of the afternoon, though Jack might have had to go back to work.]

Easter Sunday which meant lots of people were off to church or out hunting easter eggs - a ritual Loki still didn't quite get. But he liked the chocolate bunnies that were everywhere this time of year.

He'd snagged one from an unattended easter basket in the lobby and headed out into the gardens. The sun was out and warm and as it had the other day, set his hair aflame (though today it wasn't soft and flowing but scrunched up in dred-like bunches), and when he happened upon the angel statue he smiled. So this was the one Deacon had posed for was it? Loki studied it closely and smiled. Very nice. Charlie really did know how to pick them.

As it happened this one - like its ancestor in the Square - had arms in a good position for someone with Loki's balance to lounge comfortably so when someone happened to come strolling down the path they would find the black clad young man resting in its arms, sunglasses in place and licking chocolate from his fingertips.

Despite his pale skin Loki loved the sun. He loved the night too but sometimes he did enjoy soaking up the rays. Specifically the last, dying rays, as the sun began its descent towards the horizon.

Today Loki had found himself in Vine Square at that time of day and had been entranced for a bit by how the sun shone on the large statue of an angel that stood in the middle of the square. He couldn't help but notice that one of its arms in particular was crooked in such a way as to provide a rather enticing place to sit and a moment later that's just what he did.

A pale young man dressed in black with shocking red hair set aflame by the setting sun, cradled in the arms of the statue, sunglasses in place and reading an old and battered copy of The Complete Works of Edgar Allen Poe.

It was new for the Square to say the least.

Loki had tracked down several clubs over the last few days and even visited one or two over the weekend. He'd decided that this was a wonderful city. Tonight he planned on hitting another club. Yes okay it was a Monday and therefor likely to be quieter but that was fine by him. He could always see to it things livened up a bit.

But it was early still and so plenty of time for a coffee in the Mocha and maybe something to eat as well. And the simple amusement he got from the looks he was being given. But then he was dressed for the clubs so he couldn't blame them really. Tight black leather trousers that sat low enough on his hips to make it clear there was nothing beneath them, black boots, fitted long sleeved black mesh shirt - the mesh small enough to just give teasing glimpses of nipples and skin, black painted nails, thick silver rings on all his fingers, and a dog collar round his neck.

Getting his coffee from Joy - who seemed transfixed by the collar around his pale throat - Loki found a seat and curled up in it. How he did that in leather that tight was anyone's guess.

It wasn't that Cambion was lazy, so much as that. . . okay, he was lazy. he had nothing to occupy himself with, but that didn't really excuse the fact that the half-demon was, by his very nature, and indolent, self-indulgent, spoiled brat. This afternoon, he was indulging himself in a large cup of coffee, from the Mocha, and sitting on one of the excessively squashy couches in the Lobby, watching the other tenants go about their business. he felt, perhaps, a little smug that he had no such business to go about.

He'd told the lovely Andy that he'd come by the gallery and check it out. And okay so he hadn't gone when he said he might but now he was standing out in the square studying the outside. He particularly liked the bunny in the window.

He'd dressed slightly nicer today - still all in black of course but this time the jeans weren't baggy, they showed off his narrow hips, and the shirt wasn't a t-shirt or netting of any kind but a black button up, the collar undone by several buttons to show a silver Thor's Hammer amulet against the pale skin of his chest. His long black duster and the faded black scarf were in place and so it was only his skin, which seemed to glow, the shocking red of his hair, and the twinkling of his eyes, surrounded as they were with eyeliner, that gave off any color.

As he pushed open the door he grinned. The bell was a nice touch.

Leo had a good list of publishers, a phone and a notepad and was calling round asking advice. Since for this he didn't necessarily have to be indoors, yet it was chilly in the garden he had bagged a lounger in the pool house and was making his calls and enjoying the warmth.

Andy had greeted him when he arrived had dropped her robe on a nearby lounger and was now swimming laps, her dark hair confined in a businesslike plait.

Nick watched her idly as he mopped the tiles.

All three were bored and would be glad of distraction.