[RP] The Inn of Peace - IoP (Open to all)

[Azana Brown]

Tyler's gaze flicked to the door, the incoming couple getting his full attention as he recognized the voices. There was a moment of silence, old memories and emotions reminding him of times seemingly forever ago. It wasn't easy to forget, nor did he particularly want to. He searched for some quip, some retort, some grand entrance for his kind-of-ex-girlfriend...

and came up completely short. The truth was, until she entered, he had been stressed and tired and lonely and bored all at the same time. But this...both Chris and Stacy, were a very, very welcome breath of fresh air. "Hey," he greeted her, an almost relieved grin popping up on its own. "Welcome back."

"Oh!" Max perked up, looking upward toward the crash she couldn't see after Crystal and Stacy walked in. "He...? That means...! Superdude! Aw, man, he's totally gotta hear about the mission! He'd bust some heads, and everyone could go home happy!"  

[The Legendary Knightsoul]

Chris picked himself up off the floor and dusted himself off as he went downstairs. As he descended, he heard the familiar sound of Max calling him 'Superdude'. "Man, is that a sound for sore ears. So what's this about a mission?"

Stacy smiled back at Tyler. "Hi," she replied. She stood there awkwardly, unsure of whether she wanted to sit down with him or at the bar. Things were always so complicated. Were they still together? Did he even still have feelings for her? Why did he have that smile on that made her weak at the knees?  

[Azana Brown]

"Gren made breakfast...there might be some left," he offered. "What've you been up to...?"

"Yeah!" Max ran over, giving him a tight squeeze before explaining. "The GMO's tryin' ta bust an odd arms ring, and we gotta side case about a missing person who seems ta be involved."  

[The Legendary Knightsoul]

"Ah, nothing like busting up arms dealers to get me back in the swing of things. And missing persons? Stacy will love this one." He looked over at his team's resident PI and saw her conversing with Tyler. "That is, once those two have a chance to catch up. In the meantime, I want to hear about everything I've missed while I've been away. I didn't mean to be gone so long, but Crystal and I were having so much fun on our honeymoon, we weren't ready to let it end right away."

Stacy took a seat next to Tyler. "You know me. Never a day off when you're a detective who moonlights as a superhero. Always another case to solve." She felt chills sitting next to him. Why did he have this effect on her and why did she want to kiss him so badly? "What's new with you? Believe it or not, I really missed you."

Nate had found his way to the kitchen and went snooping for any exotic new foods that might be stored in the pantry. He had his usual appetite which meant he'd likely be in there until dusk, by which point he'd have managed to blow something up, set something on fire, break something or all of the above.  

[Azana Brown]

"Um, wow...gotta figure out how long it's been. We gotta few folk, dunno how many you know. A Cockney busker, a strange dude-chick-person who hunts down invisible stuff, an author with big ears and a magic allergy, and a guy who recently showed up. Dunno much about 'im, but he's got a funny hand like D did, without the brooding. Oh! We gotta meet Mal's boss. He was tryin' ta be all dutiful and scary before, but Tam. Tam, the huldra lady? Yeah, he's got a thing for 'er now." Max babbled a little bit, trying to capture some of the events. It had been so long, and aside for the huge fusses around Halloween and Easter, it had been relatively quiet.

"But yeah, this arms ring is kinda weird. All the contraband's got no serial numbers. They weren't scratched out...they were just never there. No ties to a manufacturer; Ty and Techy-dude think they're makin' them themselves somehow. That's where this missing chick comes in. She's been leaving weird coins for the Cockney busker. Most recently, she's been seen bein' pulled around by some tough guy, an' the coin she tipped with is made of the same metal as the guns. It's not an accident...Violet seems to think she wants to be followed and found."

"I've been working on projects here and there. I don't know if you were around when I re-wired the Inn to keep up with the technology. I've been doing occasional maintenance on J.L. when Eli's in town. I've been lending encyclopedias to Mal, though I think he has the whole set by now. I promised a resident to try and make a device to render her strange mushi visible...about done with it, actually. And now I've been running analysis on strangely-made firearms. Otherwise, I'm just staying in shape and staying in my right mind, to greater or lesser degrees of success." He looked to her after the explanation, taking a moment to try and read that expression. She seemed almost conflicted. But about what?

"I missed you, too, Stacy. If you'd believe me, I was just talking about that when you walked in..."

"Max, don't forget Hemlock," Violet grinned, holding up a very good black and white rendition of Zippo for the posing chibi. "Or that I'm free...I'm not sure if Chris was present for that..."

"Aw, yeah! That cute little fireball! Kasdeya's got this little imp lackey...sweetest little guy, can't imagine why he's with her, but he dropped in as an errand boy. Apparently, Vi's got a sweet spot for 'im; he helped her out."  

[The Legendary Knightsoul]

She decided to test the waters and leaned forward to give him a small kiss. "I believe you."

"Hmm, sounds like we might have an opportunity for a sting operation. I love doing undercover work. Anyway, I'm glad to see you guys again and I'm really glad to be ho-"

BOOM!!!

Nate, charred and singed, stumbled out of the kitchen. He wasn't used to Tyler's upgrades in the Inn and, as such, had no clue how to operate the gadgets in the kitchen.

"Yep. Just like home."  

[Azana Brown]

Tyler did absolutely nothing to stop her. If anything, he met halfway. "I haven't lied to you yet," he smirked. Things were going to liven up a bit, he could tell.

"Aw, Nate...! I missed the explosions!" She chuckled. "You're gonna give Gren more grey hairs, though..."

"Well, at least the key still works, I guess..." Sosol sighed, fixing some drinks for the superheroes.  

[The Legendary Knightsoul]

"Actually, Sol, Nate and I came by air. That reminds me. There's a hole in the roof that needs patching. Nate, go clean that up."

"You couldn't even if you tried," she said as she leaned in to kiss him again. "So have you got any plans this evening?"  

[Azana Brown]

"I was thinking of heading out tonight but hadn't come to any definite plans," he answered as accurately as he could. "I have a vague feeling you're wanting to change that."

Sosol simply grinned at the two, a couple drinks landing nearby as Chris sent Nate to fix the roof above their room. "Az is upstairs, I think...wait, no...she's...hm, flying. Near Aekea. Okay."

"Oh!" Max leaned in a little, whispering to Chris. "It's a secret, but remember that cool squishin' materia they gave me? I've got it totally figured out now. Been practicin'."  

[The Legendary Knightsoul]

"Well, nothing too exciting. I am a bit jet lagged, but I could use somebody to hold me while I fall asleep. Interested in the job?"

((And I'm out. I'm pretty tired.))  

[Gren_Eckener]

Gren chuckled at the comment about his hair greying, giving a glance to his bangs. "All indigo...you've not got me trounced yet, fellahs." he grinned, sighing with an eyeroll as he resigned to clean the kitchen. "But don't push that envelope, all right?"

Charlotte giggled, watching. "I love it when Superdude comes over. Things go so interesting, very quickly...he's so much fun!" Looking back to Orrin, she trilled "New things? Do they move?"

Zippo hopped about, delighted by his latest rendering. "AI RABIIT!" he cheered, hugging Violet's arm. "Kanai haviit?"  

[Azana Brown]

"Wow," Tyler chuckled, setting aside his dishes. "Just walked in the door, and you already give me an offer I can't refuse. You sure you're one of the good guys?" All joking aside, he would never have turned Stacy down. Even with the long gaps between seeing her. Even with the seemingly burgeoning thing with Zulma that hadn't gone much of anywhere yet. It was easy to tell when you had a good thing going.

"Some of them do...there's a lovely dancing automaton," Orrin offered, patting his pocket.

"Hm?" Violet grinned. "If you want to keep it...it's missing something." She made a quick jot in the corner before handing over the page. "The artist always has to sign it."

"I'll help," Sosol offered, "many hands, and one super-powered mind, make for light work."  

[Gren_Eckener]

"Much obliged, Sol..." grinned the Innkeeper, grabbing a trash bag for whatever was ruined, and dampening a cloth for the washing. "Think sometime they'll learn to use a door?"

"I bet it can't beat your two-step." grinned Charlotte, eyes narrowed in loving challenge. "Or my cha-cha."

Zippo chirrupped, leaping off of the bar, and scurried into Charlotte's purse a moment before returning with a picture frame. "Putiitin hiiya!"  

[The Legendary Knightsoul]

"In my defense, my dear Gren, my feathered comrade and I have used a door on many occasions." He thought back to the time he and Nate had been chased all the way back to the Inn by a pack of angry Vikings. The duo had gotten inside the door just as a variety of swords and axes stuck themselves in the side of the Inn. "Besides, I had been aiming for the skylight. I think it might have been moved."

Crystal said nothing and simply smiled and shook her head at her husband's antics.

Stacy also opted for saying nothing as she took Tyler by the hand and led him to the stairs.  

[Azana Brown]

"Nate should probably be supervised in the kitchen, at this rate," Sol suggested, bits and pieces of charred food hovering into the trash bag. JIM had also whirred into action, sweeping the floor of smaller crumbs. "Just until he gets a feel for the new system..."

He glanced to Chris as he raised his defense. "The wiring got re-done, but I don't believe we've had any structural renovations lately...are you sure your aim was correct?"

"Not quite, no," Orrin grinned, "but it makes a lovely partner when you don't have one. A label on it was from a dancing school somewhere...a practice automaton. I hope I can find it a good home."

"O-okay..." Violet smiled. Her first framed work...and it went to a chibi. Ah, well, live couldn't be perfect, and besides, he was really appreciative. She slipped the page in, securing and closing the frame before handing it back. "Enjoy."

Max whipped out her smartphone. "You have used the door...about half the time. Half of that time, you're being chased or are otherwise in a huge hurry. The rest is a normal entrance, but never by yourself. You walk in with others, like Mike or Jake. How are they, anyway?"

"You actually kept track?" Tyler asked, though he couldn't get an explanation. Stacy was already leading him off.