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

[Gren_Eckener]

"Perhaps, but didja happen to notice how I don't have to clean up anything when you do? Or fix the roof?" smiled the Innkeeper ruefully, beginning to sweep up debris. "I didn't move the skylight...perhaps I was hopeful you'd manage to strike the same spot twice, like lightning?"

Gren sighed, glancing to Sol. "Think of Mal supervising Nate in the kitchen..." he snickered.

Zippo laid the frame on the counter and immediately began comparing its claws to his own, cooing in delight.

"Well, we'll have to look into that...or return it, who knows. It must be some impressive school, having something like that." hummed Charlotte, thinking aloud. "Of course, not without testing it." She smirked to her sweetheart. "Shall I get a head start?"  

[The Legendary Knightsoul]

"The others are good. I think they're on a fishing trip in Gambino. I'm a tad surprised you keep track of my entrances, though. If you have a highlight reel, I want to see it."

Turning to Gren and sol, he added "You and I both know that even if Nate has supervision in the kitchen, he's still gonna blow something up or set himself on fire. As for the roof, I don't know what happened with my aim but at least I hit the right room. I wasn't planning a crash landing, though. I had an unfortunate jetpack incident on my way over."  

[Azana Brown]

"Highlight reel?" Max blinked incredulously before laughing. "What, you think I have some sorta camera system through here? That's ridiculous! Seriously...only room I know of with cameras is Ty's. Set 'em up on one of his more paranoid days." As Chris explained the mishap, she listened before getting hung up on 'jetpack'.

"A jetpack?! You were usin' a jetpack! What kind? Is it cooler than the glider? Well, can't be, if it crashed. Want help fixin' it?" Oh, how she had missed Superdude and his fun gadgets.

Maybe Stacy will get Ty back in that fun, inventin' mood...

"He might be a little less likely, though," Sosol chimed in hopefully before pausing a moment.

Yes, I do. Why do you--oh...uh-huh. With Elizabeth? Well, Chris is here...alright...see you soon. He let out a sigh, letting Gren continue with the cleaning as he cleared off a couch and pulled out a small, familiar green orb. Azana was on her way back, too...this was going to get interesting.

"Chris, we're having guests shortly. Kristen is coming back with a friend of ours who seems to be a bit ill. You'll never guess who gave them a ride...about this tall, red hair?"

"Go ahead," Orrin grinned, opening his pocket and watching Charlotte clamber in. He stole a quick kiss as she left, retreating upstairs to where he could enter his coat in peace. Though...the mention of Malachai got him thinking. He had wondered why the demon's karmic balance was so strange...

Wait...of course! How could I forget? I guess I haven't worked with many demons in recent years...wait'll Charlotte hears about it!

Tyler wasn't exactly tired, but helping Stacy nod off was rubbing off on him. Maybe a bit of a nap wouldn't hurt...besides, he was kind of stuck. What else would he do, stay there and watch her sleep?  

[The Legendary Knightsoul]

"Max! Chill! We talked about pausing for air between sentences, remember?" he said with a chuckle. "I think the pack is a write-off. I had to ditch it on the way over and the last I saw it was spiraling off in the distance towards a mountain."

"Oh, good. Company. Well, this will be interesting," he added to Sol. "I'd tell Nate to prepare food, but by the time they get here there might not be a here to get to."

You don't have to watch me sleep, if you don't want. I'm not really that tired, either. Stacy peeked out of one eye at him with a playful grin on her face. "Sorry, didn't mean to invade your thoughts but you were thinking so loudly I couldn't sleep. Does your mind always move so fast when I'm around?"  

[Azana Brown]

Max chuckled. "So much for that--hey...!" She got a sly smile as she nudged Chris. "I think Ty's gotta workin' model...betcha could borrow his notes or somethin'..."

"I don't think she'll be very hungry," Sosol said vacantly. "Not sure why...one of my hunches. Either way, I've got a comfy couch ready for Honey and my Cure on standby. I'll handle the busker, and you can chat with Liz, if you'd like."

Tyler sighed. "Sorry...I've gotten used to filling the silence with 'em again," he explained, shaking his head. "Honestly, my mind moves this fast pretty often...though you have a way of slowing the break-neck pace." He glanced down with a grin. Stacy's presence was calming and exciting all in one...sanity-inducing, perhaps.

"It might be too soon to answer...but...are you actually sticking around for a little bit this time? Or is this just another stopover...?"

Azana opened the door to the Inn, pulling off her helmet and mussing up her hat-head. "Man, fly all over Aekea, and not a single lead...where the heck would they hide a whole manufacturing operation?" She pulled out the goggles, looking around but finding no sight of Tyler. However, who she did find was just as delightful.

"Chris! Crystal! Oh, wow! Um, hey!" She set down all her stuff, waving before giving her husband the usual greeting kiss. However, something seemed off.

"Cleared-off couch, Cure materia. Someone's hurt. Who? And who did it?"

"Honey, and I dunno," Sol answered. "Kristen thinks it's cardiac trouble. She's on her way here." In a moment of selective omission, Sol neglected to warn her of Elizabeth's arrival. They didn't have as much of a history as she and Chris.  

[The Legendary Knightsoul]

"No more jetpacks for me, Max. I am perfectly happy sticking to my glider or my bike. If I need to fly long distance, I can always have Jake fuel up the jet. I wouldn't mind seeing what Tyler's been up to in my absence, though. Assuming Stacy lets him come up for air anytime soon..." He trailed off when Azana came in and started talking about the case. His brain instantly went into fearless leader mode and was about to ask her for a sitrep when he noticed Sol made no mention of Elizabeth arriving. Curious of his old friend to omit something like that, but Chris figured he had a reason.

Chris instead settled into old friend mode as he walked over to Azana. "Hello, Az. It's good to see you again." He and Crystal offered hugs. "If you're looking for Tyler, Stacy has him enthralled, but as soon as he rejoins us I'd love to hear about this arms dealing case you're working."

"Too soon to tell just yet, but I'm already thinking of a compelling reason to stay." She leaned up and kissed him, stroking his chest as she did. She broke off the kiss, though, as a thought swept through her consciousness. "To be continued, handsome. Something's up downstairs." She rolled off the bed and swept out of the room.  

[Azana Brown]

"Aw, man..." Max whined with a chuckle. She thought the gliders were cooler, anyway. It didn't hurt that she had one herself...or that she had given it a proper paint job.

"It's been forever," she answered, hugging each of them. "Been...well, I can't really say quiet. Let's just say your lack of presence is noticed. And Stacy's back, too? Can't wait to see her, too." Chris mentioned the mission, and she shook her head with a sigh.

"Word travels fast, huh...? Yeah, one of the time that the mundie cops are actually turning to us. Stella's been working hard at letting our services be known, though she's pretty strict about what kind of cases we'll take."

"Oh?" Tyler asked before the odd pause. Something was up downstairs. Geez, I wonder if Az goes through this... He thought, amused but a little disappointed that their time was cut off so soon. On the bright side, he could catch up with Chris a little, maybe see Azana when she got back.

"It's been interesting, and slow-going," Sosol opted to explain, maybe to take his mind off of Elizabeth's arrival. They were coming down the path...only a few minutes, and they'd arrive. Kristen was worried, Honey was just barely there mentally, and Elizabeth...wow, she had a lot going on.

"Honey was actually helping us with part of the case...she busks for a living, so she made a good pair of eyes on the street."  

[The Legendary Knightsoul]

"I wouldn't so much say that word travels fast as Max couldn't wait to tell me about it. Admittedly, it does sound right up our collective alleys. I'm not surprised the local boys in blue called in the experts. By the way, give Stella my regards next time you see her."

Nate finished fixing the hole in the roof and, naturally, was rather hungry. He decided to make his way back to the kitchen for a snack. He had almost reached the door when a strong hand grabbed his beak and pulled him away.

"This one is not allowed into the kitchen until he learns not to blow it up in the process," Chris continued. "Gren has enough on his plate just trying to keep the Inn in one piece. By the way, birdbrain, you need to find a new room. Crystal and I are married now and we can't have you hanging about all the time."

What's on your mind?, Stacy thought to Sol as she descended the stairs. She sensed something was bugging him. Someone else arriving soon. "Hello, Az. I've missed you. Sorry to have abducted Tyler while you were gone."  

[Azana Brown]

"I can cook for you," a small voice offered from the corner. As nervous as she was around Chris, Nate was harmless enough...well, aside from his accident-prone cooking style. "I'm, um, not sure how you'll tell me what you want..."

"Eh, I'm not surprised. Once I heard you were around, I knew where he was." Azana smirked to her knowingly. "I just wanted to get the x-ray goggles back to him...they came in handy for peeking into factories, but I didn't find anything related to that arms ring."

"And you won't," Elizabeth announced their presence in the doorway, herself and Kristen holding up an obviously ill Honey between them.

I believe you have found your question answered, Stacy, Sosol shot to her quickly, taking Honey from the two of them and giving her a boost to the couch. "Curaga," he muttered, activating the small sphere and letting the calm, blue light flow over the sickened girl. It had probably been the Halloween scare, as far as the last time he used this. At least he hadn't lost the knack.

"Just relax, Honey. You're in good hands."

Kristen watched, hoping that this would help against whatever had befallen the busker. Part of her wanted to ask details, but...it was best not to pry. Not now.

Now relieved of Honey, Elizabeth could take in the population of the Inn. The Jacobs family, a few of the Millennium Knights, and--

Tyler strolled downstairs after Stacy, glancing around the main room. "Well...this is a bit awkward, isn't it? Hello again."  

[The Legendary Knightsoul]

Stacy's reaction wasn't quite as civil. She marched over to Elizabeth and punched her square in the face before storming back upstairs.

Chris couldn't really fault her for her reaction. After all, the last time they had seen Elizabeth, she had worked with Omega to kidnap the Knights (minus Stacy) and, after that failed, she kidnapped and brainwashed Tyler. Chris wasn't going to punch her, but he certainly wasn't about to give her a warm welcome, either. "Ms. MacGregor," he said curtly before he departed the room.

Crystal, not quite ready to forgive, either, was at least civil. She sat silently and ordered a drink.

Nate took advantage of everyone watching Elizabeth and slipped off to the kitchen to make a sandwich or two...dozen.  

[Azana Brown]

Elizabeth recoiled from the punch, hand going for the ornate knife but stopping short. "You're welcome," she snarled as the two left. "You hold grudges like that Zero Trent."

"In all fairness, they haven't seen you in a long time," Tyler shrugged, watching Stacy storm off. She'd cool down...maybe. "I wasn't exactly pleased to see you, either, that first time."

"What do you mean we won't find anything...?" Azana asked, ignoring the reaction and silently thanking Stacy for beating her to the punch, literally.

Elizabeth took that opportunity to pull the knife, stabbing it into the nearby table. "Because he isn't using a factory. I wouldn't just randomly come out here and tolerate this without good reason. Are you going to listen? I don't like repeating myself."

"You wouldn't come out here and give us something without some sort of gain, either," Sosol reminded her. "What are you looking for...?"

"..." Elizabeth was silent for a moment, an array of emotions dancing across her face. The final one was of annoyed defeat, and she let out a sigh before delivering her demand. "...I...need your help."  

[The Legendary Knightsoul]

At hearing Elizabeth say she needed help, Crystal sat straight up and both Chris and Stacy poked their heads back in the room. "This should be good," Chris said sarcastically.  

[Astra_Senpai]

Honey sits on the couch, the pain is gone but now she's just left feeling weak and tired. Pressing her lips together, looking at the floor and humming a few notes. There's a lot going on again, she bends in half and rests her head against her legs... her pants feel cool. This is nice.

Kiran watches the drama without much change in his expression. His hand, however, continues to write every word spoken.

Sam continued to sleep like a log.  

[Azana Brown]

"Oh, shut up," Elizabeth spat. "I did you a favor, Roberts. Do you have any idea how rough it's been, cleaning up Trent Tech's act? He was in deep, and they really didn't like losing the business." She folded her arms, glaring at him.

"Look. I know he's been out of custody, and I doubt you'd be back around here unless he was under the radar or nearby. I've seen how this guy works, and let's face it, I've got nothing that can stop him from murdering me in my sleep. I kind of like my head where it is, and I think you'd like his cash cow in the hands of someone you know."

The glow faded, and Sosol looked to the group. Watching for now, he did his best to read Elizabeth's complicated and mixed emotions.

Tyler was pretty relaxed...all that he knew. He had guessed that was why she had been courting him so intensely, but he already had a sweet gig. He wouldn't wish death on her...part of him could get it. Part opportunism, part desperation. Guess she didn't realize his friends were superheroes.

Azana looked over the knife, letting out a low whistle. "This is nice...custom job?"  

[The Legendary Knightsoul]

"I do feel more comfortable knowing he's not in charge. Still, I've not seen you do anything that didn't have an ulterior motive. So you'll excuse my skepticism. Now, back to you needing help, which doesn't sound self-serving at all."