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Things had been quiet for a little while now, but Grendel knew better than to trust the quiet. There was always something for him to be dealing with, whether it be drama, disputes, masquerade business, Disciple business, or God politics. He knew he did not have to get his hands so dirty, that he could delegate and let others take care of certain things, but he liked to be involved, to have his fingers directly on the pulse of all things to do with the vampires, and to keep a watchful eye on everything. This way, he would hopefully know when things were about to go sideways.

He was always on edge, just waiting for the signs.

But because things had been so quiet, he was willing to take a night off to tag along with Ravnos on whatever business he needed to deal with. If he was being honest, he had not really been paying attention when he explained where they would be going. He had just been very ready to get out of the temple and break the monotony of new fatherhood and childcare.

He followed along to the side and slightly behind Ravnos, adorning his mortal guise, the shadow tendrils that followed him around tucked safely out of view, his other God-like qualities dampened, and yes, he was even wearing clothing from top to bottom. From here he could keep an eye on the babies in the little pack that Ravnos carried them in, and his gaze flicked around the Romani that they wandered through, but he did not offer them kind words or smiles the way that Ravnos did. Instead, his face was set in one of vague disinterest, the look he wore when he would prefer not to be persuaded into idle chit-chat.

It seemed to work well so far. They all just spoke to Ravnos and avoided him.

When they finally swerved off path toward one of the nicer-looking wagons, Grendel followed, moving up to stand more fully beside the Disciple now, assuming they had arrived at their destination.

But then he turned his head and gave Ravnos a sharp look. Kitten?

Maybe he should have been paying better attention when the DIsiciple had said where they were going.

Ravnos, of course, had caught the sharp look from the God. It was always interesting to see his reactions to things. Grendel assured him he was not jealous, but sometimes the Disciple wondered. However, it was merely a nickname nothing more. And he gave him a reassuring smile.

A boot came flying out at them and he instinctively moved to the side to avoid it. Keeping the babies out of harms way from being hit by it.

His green gaze turned back to the figure yelling at some Antonio fellow. “We’ll. I would hate to be Antonio right about now.” A charming smirk came to his lips as she came into full view. He had almost forgotten what she looked like it had been that long. But he too had changed in more ways than one. “Trecut prea mult micuțo.” He fell back into the language with ease. Not speaking it often around Grendel, perhaps small snippets here and there. But he was unsure if Gods could understand any language. So it was just easier to talk in a common tongue.

Ravnos nudged Grendel lightly as if to encourage him to introduce himself. They hadn’t discussed weither or not Lillian would know it was the God since he was disguised, mostly for the mortal’s benefit. But he would allow him to choose how and who he introduced himself as. Although if Lillian had payed attention to rumors she would know anyway. If not she might just think him another vampire.

“My love and copiii nostri.” It would probably bewilder her. Maybe. When he had first met Lillian she was mortal. But their relationship had not gone past parent and childe. However, before Grendel he had a reputation of course. But that was long since buried.

Lillian laughed. "Everyone should hate to be Antonio right about now. The kid is crazy. He wants to marry some girl in town but aaaaesh... the stars say her daddy is going to stab him. He thinks pet names will get me to change his fate. What am I? A god?" The red head laughed, her emerald eyes sparkling as she did, the chiming of the coins on her skirt jingling in time. There was a certain warmth to Lillian that felt more familial. She didn't give off the air of a thirsty trailer cat.

Her smile warmed and she winked at Ravnos. "Cu siguranță a fost.. but we are being rude. Does your lover even speak the language? Sorry friend. It's hard to stop. You get caught up." She waved a paw dismissively in the air. As if that cleared them of the misdeed somehow. Lillian didnt have time for rumors. Any information she got she took with a grain of salt. Especially some of the wilder tales that had been circulating recently. She was about to step off the porch when the introduction happened and her gut kind of slammed her back into place. Her expression grew extremely guarded all of a sudden as Grendels energy shifted.

She'd only felt real fear a handful of times in her life, and her unlife, and now she could add this to it as well. Lovely. As the God of Vampires revealed himself to the Ravnos her demeanor completely changed. She grasped the edges of her skirt, sliding one foot behind the other, and offered a low, graceful bow of respect to the god. To any outsider it would just look like someone important was visiting but no-one was watching anyway. After a few minutes, once he'd spoken his name, she raised her head and her body followed suit. "Honor to you." She shot Ravnos a look like 'Dear god what did you spring on me?' But then, in true Ravnos fashion, she warmed easily again. "Well, now that I am thoroughly awake what say we get these bebelusi pretiosi inside where it's cozy hmm? I was about to light a fire here soon. I think there's a Patshiva happening tonight so we'll at least have some good music."

Had he been trying to scare her? Maybe a little, though it was, for the most part, completely unintentional. Sometimes his complete God form just had that effect on people, though it certainly had not ever seemed to with Ravnos or several of the other Disciples. However, they were all very old and powerful in their own right, so it did not really surprise him. He watched her bow, and when she rose again he gave her a nod of his head, still smiling though that had turned a little more smug than warm.

"Thank you. I am always happy to meet a friend," Slight emphasis there, "Of the mighty and fearsome Ravnos." Was he teasing a little bit? He was definitely teasing a little bit, with his voice his usual low rumble.

Grendel's gaze flicked to Ravnos at his words. "I will learn, eventually." This was directed more at the Disciple than the woman on the porch. He also gave a small shrug, a smooth rise and fall of his shoulders.

He still had no idea why they were here and still wished he had been paying attention when Ravnos had explained it, but he was starting to get the impression that it was just a friendly visit. Especially with the way the two of them were talking. Whatever. It was fine. It had gotten them all out of the temple which was probably something they all needed.

While Grendel did not speak much, as per usual, he could at least admit to himself that sitting in front of a fire sounded nice. He did not know what a Patshiva was but apparently, it involved music, and he only shot Ravnos a curious glance this time when he mentioned a present as he followed the Disciple, eyes soon trailing over to the babies the Disciple carried on his back, to make sure they were still sleeping soundly.

When he entered her vardo it made him ache for his own. A ti he of wanderlust popping up that he stamped down quickly. But it did make him want for it. However, for now, the temple was his own. He had spent a lot of time decorating and furnishing it to make it just as homie as the wagon. But there was still something special about a vardo. It went so many places and allowed you to wake up to something new each day.

Taking in a deep breath he savored the smells that lingered here and there. Eyes roaming over the decorations she had hung on the walls. “I see you re-decorated since the last time I was here. It looks very nice.”

Moving to the couch he set the little pack down , pulling back the flap to check on Vadoma and Kieran. They were still both fast asleep. Good the bustle of the crowd had not disturbed them. Taking a seat in the couch next to it he patted the couch on the other side for Grendel to sit. Keeping the pack in between the two of them as they sat.

“Yes a drink would be nice for me thank you.” Usually Grendel just whipped up his own drinks so he would let him decide if he would accept her offer. He would probably change whatever she gave him anyhow. That much he knew.

“How have you been Lillian? I suppose you have received the new fledglings I sent you?” The Disciple was mostly curious about Cassius. He had gone through so much he hoped connecting with his older childe would put his feet on a hood path. Lillian was good for this things and that is why Ravnos trusted her so much.

Vadoma stirred a little at the sound of Ravnos’s voice. He reaching in the smooth the fur along the bridge of her nose with his thumb. Something he did often to keep her from fussing. He wasn’t sure if it actually did anything but whatever he could do helped.

Lillian was busy as she maneuvered around the kitchen area, letting her guests get settled. She made an appreciative noise as Ravnos complimented her decor and began grinding some herbs. "Ah, mulțumesc. It took a while to get the old girl not looking like a starving alley cat but we've come a long way." She paused to look admiringly about the Vardo. Just a hint of pride shimmering in her eyes. The next question caused a kind of hesitation and she turned back to the counter to keep working on the herbs. How had she been? Hmm. Which life? Sometimes the threads of both were wound so tightly together it was hard to separate them. In the time Ravnos had become scarce much had happened. The clan was fine. Perhaps a little less fiery and there were less large gatherings of Ravnos. When everyone was fairly nomadic already it was hard to determine if anything had fractured. She ground a nut and with a resounding crack Lillian stopped grinding.

The chimes woven into her skirt rang softly as she looked out the window. "Did something happen to everyone, Ravnos?" It was... strange. Like she'd fallen asleep and awoke in another life entirely. One where her parents had lived. She'd had siblings. Twins. She'd married. Her wife had been beautiful. Lillian's eyes closed for a moment. Sometimes she still felt an ache when she remembered her. Her eyes, the smell of her hair, dancing slowly with her around the fire on their wedding night. But her voice most of all. They'd had children but the memory was too painful to hold onto for long. The dream had ended and she'd woken up here again. It had changed a lot of them. Some for the better. Some not so much.

She looked over at Ravnos for a moment, her vibrant green gaze neither hostile nor docile. The hand holding the pestle gesturing as she spoke, a habit she'd picked up in her other life from her mother that hadn't quite faded. Her voice wasn't harsh or accusatory, it was calm, matter of fact, almost businesslike. But held a hint of someone relaying an encounter with something that seemed too unreal to be true. "I thought, at first, it had been a vision. But when it ended.. I knew it wasn't. I know it was real. And then the clan. Some remember. Most don't. I had an entire Kumpania pick up and leave out of nowhere, I saw long time enemies bury their differences and close friends never speak to one another again. I had an Elder, an Elder lock himself in my bedroom and drink himself into oblivion for over a month." Poor Ace. His dream, whatever other life he'd lived, had almost broken him. Though you'd never know it now.

She turned back to the sink in time for a small knock to echo through the Vardo. "Ah, good timing." Setting the pestle down she dusted off her hands and stepped around the counter, crouching down to open a small door on the wall. There were some words exchanged in their native tongue and Lillian laughed before closing the little door again and reappearing upright holding two big bottles of dark liquid and a smaller bottle almost plum colored in hue. She set them on the counter and fished out the good goblets. Whatever it was in those larger bottles smelled spicy. Like a rich, juicy red wine mixed with mulled herbs. However there was definitely a hint of vitae of the mortal variety. She gathered whatever she'd been crushing and lined the rims of the glasses lightly to add a pleasantly spicy and warm introduction to the wine.

"It's going to be a cold night. But this should warm the blood plenty." She handed them their goblets before picking up her own, leaning back against the counter and furrowing her brows as she tried to recall who had crossed her threshold more recently. "No, I'm afraid I haven't seen anyone other than Ashke and the others. No Cassius. But sometimes these things take time. I'm sure he will come around." So, she was going to be expecting the son of a Deity. Wonderful. It would certainly be a new challenge, she wasn't terribly worried. Lillian raised her glass softly and smiled at them both. "It is good to see you again old friend. And to meet your beautiful family. I hope that you both choose to take the night for all it can give and enjoy yourselves."

For some reason had not even occurred to Grendel that anybody would have any memory of what had occurred. But he'd also been messing with a power far beyond his comprehension at the time. When Ravnos had been stabbed by the Spear, he had assumed him completely destroyed, and not just sent to another plain of existence to live out his life as though he'd never become a vampire at all. He'd never realized that his entire bloodline had disappeared, or that anyone he'd turned had become mortal again. The God had been too consumed by his own grief to notice.

But he had thought that returning Ravnos had fixed that. The shockwave that was sent out into the world upon the Disciple's return had brought back those who were lost and corrected all paths that had been altered. With Lilian's words, he realized that the damage he had inflicted upon Ravnos's clan had not just been temporary.

A pang of all too familiar guilt that he thought he had left behind began to gnaw at him. Ravnos was giving her an explanation but it did not seem like enough. It did not lay the blame directly where it was due, and so Grendel spoke up, as soon as the words were out of the Disciple's mouth.

"That was my fault." He said, as he felt Ravnos's hand slip over the top of his and give it a light squeeze. He appreciated the gesture, and he cast the Disciple a small smile for it before he continued. "But I assure you it was unintentional. I would never knowingly cause Ravnos or anyone in his clan any harm." He hesitated to say more because it was a long story, and a complicated one.

He wanted to offer to do something, but he hesitated to do that either. There was a deity of memory for such things, and to overstep too often into their domain would only cause conflict, he was sure.

He had enough conflict to deal with.

He took the offered drink with a nod of thanks, held it up in a toast just as Ravnos did, and took a sip. It was not the worst drink he'd ever had, not by a long margin. In fact, it was clear that a lot of work had been put into it to ensure it was downright delicious, by vampire standards. But Grendel was not a vampire, and he frowned a little at his drink before giving it a swirl and altering it slightly to be more to his liking.

He took a longer, more satisfying drink then, and smirked. Ah yes, that was much better. Hearing that Cassius had, so far, pulled a no-show was unexpected. Busy celebrating perhaps? The God made a mental note to check in on him and make sure nothing else was going on, the smirk slipping away as a small frown took over his features, Lilian's last words about enjoying themselves going unheard.