17333/Meeting Daddy Ted.

Meeting Daddy Ted.
Date of Scene:	03 March 2024
Location:	Cafe De La Magi
Synopsis:	Corben meets Clara's 'father' and survives the encounter and Blue finds herself burdened with a new responsibility.
Cast of Characters:	Corben Kelly, Clara Jennings, Ted Grant, Blue GhostEyes

---

Corben Kelly has posed:
One would think that Corben would at least make an attempt to clean the place up or wash the powder residue from his last concoction from his face. Maybe he might even put the sug-bat demon that is Kib'Kar in another room?

Sadly, none of the above are the case. He's currently sitting on a stool near his workspace; back to the public bar. "Needs more of this," the little demonling on his shoulder mentions before flopping to the table and slapping over a bottle of something that smells like a teenage boy's gym sock left in a sealed locker for days.

"Does not, Kib! You just like the smell!" The man is arguing with a little foot and a half long slug with one huge eye, tiny little wings and a lamprey shaped mouth.

Johnny Rotten pelts out 'My Way' over the airways. Seems someone is in a punk mood today.

When the little slug sprog slimes its way closes to the bottle it knocked over Corben admonishes, "Do NOT eat that!"

Sort of floating near by and off to Corben's left is a ghost. It's a short little old fellow that's speaking to the weird little alchemist in a thick Irish brogue. "Are ye keepin' that thing, laddie? Please tell me ye aren't keep that thing."

Clara Jennings has posed:
    Clara has done some cleaning. Honestly it is one of her proudest functions as a totally effective adult who can get by on her own. That and groceries. She does not exactly put a woman's touch on the space. But she does try to keep things tidy. She even has some food ready in the fridge. Granted, it's just the various fixing to make sandwiches. Turkey, ham, all that kind of thing. And bagels.

    She is done with that work for now, though, and is perched on a stool, reading a book. She says without looking up, "Kib, are you being a good slug and helping Corben nicely?" She filps through pages at a quicker than normal reading pace, but she is not blazing fast at the moment.

Ted Grant has posed:
Ted Grant and Blue seem to be in the cute phase of their relationship. Truth be told Ted rarely goes beyond the cute phase. Case in point, Blue and Ted enter with their hands in each their back pockets. His hand is in her back pocket and hers is in his. She must wear stretch jeans, otherwise there would be no room for Ted's meathook and Blue's... and Blue.

"Why are you being so mysterious?" he's asking as he takes in the place. Then he spots Clara. He removes his hand from Blue. Not as easy as he thought that'd be. Is she clenching her pocket? How can you even... "Hey Clara!"

Blue GhostEyes has posed:
Blue is a bit dressed up, at least for her. Her dark demin jeans are new with no holes, rips or tears and her black cowboy boots are freshly shined. She's got on a matching belt with a real silver buckle and a clean flannel shirt tied tight around her breasts with only the top five or six buttons done up. Her dark hair is held back from her face by several braids gathered together at the back of her head with a silver and jade stone clasp.

The Native American woman is distracted from her amusement at Ted's reaction by two things. One, there is a bloody damned demon in the shop, and two there is a ghost. What sounds like a very much more sentinient ghost than she usually finds. Oh and it's a genuine magic shop. Not the fake thing. So really three things distract her.

Instead of moving her hand she accidently squeezes Ted's rear. Not trying to cop a feel but needing the touch to ground her. Yes, the times are changing. Yes, she sees a lot of new things which is great but sometimes like now, it's hard. Before, demons were always the enemy. Before, vampires were always the enemy. Yeah, she noticed the scent of one in the Bell and was able to put it together that that one was a friend of the others. It's.. an adjustment would be putting it mildly. Blue takes a long slow breath, piercing two-toned eyes taking in the shop and its occupants before she manages to bring a smile forth and nod. "Hullo." 'Well. You always want to meet new people and beings. You know to be careful about asking for things like that. Never know who is out there listening.

Corben Kelly has posed:
Even with his cochlear implant processors in place, Corben still has problems distinguishing voices in the best of situations. He has a slug-bat demon sprog chattering at him, a ghost blathering on and on - although he can hear that without the processors, the music is rather loud. It all makes for him not picking up on new arrivals very quickly. It's more the ghost's reaction, "Lad, ye have guests", and the little skree! 'Stranger Danger' sound from Kibs that has Corben turning on his stool.

...while Kibs slimes his way behind Corben and flattens like a pancake.

He pushes himself to his feet and wipes his hands on his pants. Those hands are mostly hidden by finger-less gloves anyway. The tips of his fingers are stained magenta today. The color matches that of the contents of one of the bottles he'd been working with.

Corben offers a little 's'up' nod of his head along with, "Hey, I'm Corben," words both spoken and signed.

He nudges Clara, "Paper Doll," we have guests." Just in case the girl didn't notice, what with her nose in a book and all. Could blow the place up around her if she's /really/ into it.

Clara Jennings has posed:
    Clara is, thank goodness, dressed more normally. She's not wearing discount merchandise related to Blue Beetle, which seemed to be questioned (but it's soooooo comfy!) and she also is not wearing her new pajamas. Which would just be weird, even for her. Instead, she's wearing something she would for her lectures: a neatly pressed dress shirt (rose red) with a black pleated skirt that goes down decently past her knees.

    The little nudge gets her to hop up. She gives Corben a smile and with some care signs to him, "It is him!" Like that was not obvious.

    She will turn then to greet them! Which in this case is a kind of bounce step that slips into a hug of Ted's arm. "Daddy Ted! I am so happy you made it!"

    She looks over towards Blue. Clara's bright eyes are curious. She lets go of the hug and offers a hand. "Umm, hi. I'm Clara!" She looks over to Corben, "And this... umm, introductions!"

    She laughs nervously. Wow, smooth. "Daddy Ted and guest, this is Corben, he's my umm.." A pause. Boyfriend? Did they make that official? What is the procedure for that? Ah hell.

    "He's my guy!" More bouncing steps to gesture to Corben politely. She is... not great at this. "Um, oh. So there you have it."

Ted Grant has posed:
Ted Grant feels Blue tense. The butt squeeze is put aside for now, though her strength is remarkable. It's pretty easy for a man who can figure out an opponent's tells in a few seconds. Then she can feel him ready for action, or to back her up or anything. She can also sense his attention is split between her and the small woman with auburn hair.

He pauses in his vigil a moment to return the hug, lifting Clara like a doll. He explains, "This is my friend, Blue GhostEyes. We were out of touch for a long time. Muwah (kiss on cheek)!" He extends a hand to Corben and smiles. "Howaya? I'm Ted. Most people call me Ted or Champ."

Blue GhostEyes has posed:
Her nostrils are twitching over time as Blue takes in and processes the scents of the room and it's occupants. She purposely avoids focusing on the ghost in case its just a lingering remnant, not wanting to give it additional power. She already suspects its more than that though. She looks Corben up and down with a bemused expression. Still strange to find others marked by Raven's hand. Especially one without noticable Native blood. Of course it could very well be there is more than the First People's version(s) of Raven out there. An interesting idea to ponder later!

Clara draws her focus next, Blue having decided to just.. pretend the demon isn't there for the moment. She's trying, really, really trying to adjust here. "Nice to meet you Clara. Your dad told me about you. He and I are.. old friends." She agrees.

She grins a bit mischievously as she shakes the younger woman's hand and then looks at Corben and says and signs back as well as speaking out loud.. "Nice to meet a child of Raven also." When she catches Ted's eye, she'll offer a wink to show she that while she was startled, she isn't truly alarmed.

Blue GhostEyes has posed:
Also, she finally extricates her hand from his pocket with a rather sheepish look and a soft wistful sigh. Not the time or place for that.

Corben Kelly has posed:
"Daddy Ted?" That's the ghost talking. "Right?" that's Corben answering in a voice just above a whisper. "Sounds a wee bit like some sort of fet..." - "Watch it, Pup." Seems the ghost sort of has a name and it's Pup. The entire little conversation, such that it was, is spoken in a hushed whisper from Corben's side. Might look a little like the kid's talking to himself to anyone that doesn't know about Pup or can't see and hear him.

Champ? No, no that won't do. So he skips over that and right to, "Can't complain, Ted. Most people just call me Corben, because that's my name." The handshake is accepted and returned casually. He's not a limp noodle, but he doesn't have anything to prove either.

"Except fer those loony artists ye deface public property with, whatsit they named ye, lad? Little Black Bird?" The spirit is definitely much more than a remnant. It's talking away at Corben just like any still alive human might.

"Shut-up, Pup," Corben hisses under his breath.

He clears his throat and adds, "So, you're Doll's father?"

As much as Blue is ignoring the little demon slug, it's ignoring her too! And Ted! Currently Kibs is trying to flatten himself out to invisible levels while hiding behind Corben. "Corbs," the little thing says quietly, but not quietly enough, "...they friend people or mean people?"

Corben turns to look at the little thing and mouths, "I dunno yet."

"Blue! That's a colorful name." - What? He thought it was funny.

"I think Clara made food?"

Clara Jennings has posed:
    Clara is totally used to Corben talking to Pup. She also needs to finish her introductions, now that she thinks of it! She kind of bounces on her toes, her cheeks flashing pink.

    "Sorry, umm, sorry. There's another couple to introduce. The umm, slug pancake there is Kib. He's a very good boy, hardly ever eats the toaster anymore!" She turns to look off vaguely around Corben (she cannot see the ghost) and says, "And somewhere abouts there is Pup. A ghost! Say hello, Pup!" He won't do that for her, probably. They did make up a few days ago, so that's good. No more of that Cromwell issue!

    Back to Blue, "It is wonderful to meet you, Blue. I'm glad you two are so close! Wow. I should wear pants with pockets. That looks fun!" Of course she noticed.

    "Oh, food. Yes. Umm, right." She will pause to pat the skittish Kib. "You are safe!" She adds more gently, "Any tries to hurt you and I'll chop their fingers off!" Nothing at all to worry about /there/.

    Off to the kitchen! It's quick work, but it still takes a bit.

Ted Grant has posed:
Ted Grant shrugs. "Ted is good. I already got a belt says 'Champ' so it's not like I'd forget it. ... she cooks?" He looks after Clara. Well there's cookbooks she could read.

Then he turns back to Corben and says, "I'm not giving you that bullshit talk that never stopped any guy from doing what guys do. I got faith in Clara's common sense; and I won't insult you.I WILL say, handle her with care. She doesn't handle stress well. Keep that in mind and we can be friends. Fair enough?"

Blue GhostEyes has posed:
Blue tilts her head back and studies the ceiling as she listens to Corben's muffled conversations. So, this is her life now. Full on spirits, demon slugs, a new romance meaning she's on her best behavior. Well. Coyotes are nothing if not adaptable. My oh my how the times change though.

"It's the eyes." Blue explains and gestures toward said orbs. The irises are are two colors, split vertically. A brown so dark it's almost ebony and a glacial blue that's so pale it's nearly white. She looks at Corben and studies the young man again. It's only in recent years that she's begun to discern power and magic not born of her own origins. This lad has the potential for so much more than he is at the moment. That she can sense and will think on later, suddenly understanding the Raven's touch she senses is from somewhere else. *Something* else. A Dark Lady with whom she wants no quarrel.

"Sometimes I miss the days when the powers of old had their own lands and people, and most were seperate from one another. Things now are never boring though." Blue comments mysteriously. Then she tilts her head and grins at Ted. It's a refreshing change of pace to see a guy so trusting of his daughter that he doesn't feel the need to issue threats or warnings. She takes a deep breath and glances at the little demon. "I don't like your kind." Blue says bluntly. "But I mean you no harm." Currently.

She offers Pup a nod of the head, looking directly at the spirit and offering a soft "Hello, Pup."

Corben Kelly has posed:
"I don't really think she's as fragile as all that, Ted," Corben replies with a note in his voice that's just a little indignant - for Clara. "I've seen her handle herself just as well, if not better, than ..." Is he allowed to say Agents of SHIELD? Is that a super secret thing he shouldn't be talking about? Does he even care? Not really so much.

"... some SHIELD agents," he continues. "If anything, I feel like most people don't give the Paper Doll enough credit. She's made of a lot stronger stuff than the paper she controls."

Just a moment after his nostrils flair slightly to emphasize his point, he adds, "But I wouldn't handle her with anything but."

"Down now, Lad, take it down a notch..." Pup does a little leap and taps his heels together, "Well damnit to 'ell, lad! This one can /see/ me!" The old spirit seems mightily excited by that. It also brings Corben's attention more directly toward Blue. "It's not just him, y'know. It's a lot of them. Some just passing through, some asking for help. It's just that Pup's been around since I was like five, won't tell me his name or what he wants." He shoots his own daggered glare in Pup's direction and, with the most horrid attempt at copying that brogue says, "All in due time, Lad, all in due time."

"That be right, all in due time." It might sound like the spirit is mocking Corben, but to a good listener? There's nothing but fondness and concern there for the kid.

Corben? Flips the old ghost the bird.

After Clara's assurances, little Kibs inches his way out and actually waves one of his absurdly small wings in greeting before he uses those same absurdly small wings to flitter on up and perch on Corben's shoulder again. "What she means? My kind?" Little thing sounds a little hurt.

Clara Jennings has posed:
    It's not /really/ cooking exactly. At least not tonight. Some of the ingredients did take some cooking previously. It is just, well, having open fire anywhere around here is something that needs to be done with caution! One can never be sure just how the various ingredients might react if they met fire.

    Eventually, after everyone is done discussing her various levels of fragility and toughness, she comes back out. As if on cue.

    The paper master bears a tray with plates, a variety of cold meats, three different kinds of bread, a bunch of toppings, and even dressing. That she made herself. She likes various aioli dressings and such!

    This is set out, and then she asks, "What would you all like to drink? We have beer, water, and a few different kinds of fizzy drinks. Oh, and a bottle of wine." Corben's fridge has never looked so full before!

    She pauses to look around and then smiles. There's a lot of emotion in her eyes, "Everyone is getting along! Umm... this is so great! It is what I was hoping for!" She's going to cry if she is not careful!

Ted Grant has posed:
Ted Grant gives Clara a pat on the back. "You did good, little girl. Beer me please.' He grabs a stool and pulls one out for Blue. That's about as gentlemanly as he gets. He even pats it for her. "So my date here was being vague to put me on the spot. What is the purpose of this meeting? You obviously didn't know I was coming. Can't be me."

Blue GhostEyes has posed:
Blue eyes Kibs with suspicion. "It has been my experience that demons are always up to something bad." She considers a long moment and then allows "I don't know everything though and there are always exceptions to the rule." She tends to encourage those exceptions actually, and nurish them whenever possible so.. "So peace between us, eh?" Wow she managed to say it and mostly mean it and didn't swallow her tongue or anything.

"Everything happens in it's own time." Blue grins a bit and nods respectfully at the spirit. "Of course we are, Sweetheart. I might not know you yet Clara but everyone here loves you. I can see that." She smiles at the redhead and reaches out to gently touch her shoulder.'I mustn't let old predjudices and memory fragments get in the way of living my life now.' Blue internally chastises herself.

"Those SHIELD people wouldn't be hanging round here would they?" Blue's expression and tone are deliberately mild but those people are the type one such as her needs to avoid. They can be fun to mess with individually but that is a dangerous game and she doesn't want to draw that agency's focus upon herself. "This food looks great and I'd love a soda." She drinks heavily enough, often enough that a beer would just be flavored water. Might as well get the calories from a soda. She smiles at Ted and takes the stool. "We're getting to know each other again Ted. I wanted to meet Clara and now we are also meeting the other important people in her life." Also she dreamed.. Blue can't remember what, just that this meeting was important. "So it's all good, right?" The coyote shifter asks.

Corben Kelly has posed:
"Just water," Corben replies, but Clara likely knows that. Corben doesn't drink. That isn't to say that he never gets is buzz on, but he only does so with things he mixes himself and he typically smokes it to get there.

Kibs lifts one little wing again like he might be offering a 'high-five' in Blue's direction. He, in fact, does have five 'fingers', they're just connected by a membrane just like a bat's. "Kib's here is actually helping me figure out how to maybe close some of those weird portals that've been popping up all over - and at great risk to himself." Awwww, he's a proud demons sprog dad! "Nah, I don't think so anyway. Could be the place is being watched. I've had quite a few run-ins with them recently. I mean, not like I was on the wrong side of the run-ins or anything like that. Just same place, same time, same bad to fight and all that." His talking a bit more quickly now, like he's trying to keep up with his own thoughts. He's also deaf, profoundly so without his cochlear processors, so his expressions and his hands are /always/ animated when he's off on a tangent. "Still haven't found out if they've gotten all the stuff that was stolen back from Baltimore."

Oh wait, there's food! He really did have more to say about Baltimore, honest, but there's something else that needs his attention. He, very kindly, splits his sandwich with the demon sprog. Who, very quickly, makes it disappear by swallowing it whole.

Corben offers a thumbs up and mumbles, "All good," around a mouthful of food.

Clara Jennings has posed:
    Clara is off to get drinks. Well, she almost is. Then Blue says that really sweet, lovely thing, and Clara is suddenly just hugging her. Hopefully that was okay. Oh, there are some tears. Even a bit of trembling. Wow, she was stressed!

    "Thank you," she manages softly. "Um, sorry. I.. er." A breath in, a breath out. "I will get your drinks."

    She does not retreat, exactly, but she tries to not show her face too much. The tears are a bit embarrassing! She will spend a bit more time getting drinks than is necessary. It gives her time to compose herself again. "Focus, Clara," she chides herself quietly.

    Then she is back out with the drinks. Which is easy enough. Her memory being what it is, there are no mistakes there. She will serve and then settle in next to Corben. Only when everyone else has food does she get her own. And she is drinking water, if anyone is curious.

    "So you can see Pup and you have experience with demons, Blue," she begins. She worked on this question before, so the 'um' is missing. "Have you dealt with these kind of things many times? Oh, and you were signing, too!" That makes her even more emotional. She does a simple 'thank you' sign back to Blue. She only just started to learn a short while ago.

Ted Grant has posed:
Ted Grant tilts his head towards Blue and says, "We fought Nazis together too back in the day." He takes a bite of his own sandwich. He drapes a hand on Blue's leg. "Well hello to all the unseen people here by the way. I can't see you but no sense in being rude. If you see any Justice Defenders there, say hello from Wildcat."

Blue GhostEyes has posed:
Having no idea about most of what Corben is talking about, Blue just nods. She even manages to give Kibs a little finger wave. Yeah she's trying but she can't bring herself to actually touch it. Him? She definitely seems relieved SHIELD isn't about though. "Great sandwiches." Blue smiles at Clara. She doesn't talk around her food but definitely eats it faster than any normal person would. The hugs startles the hell out of the woman but she returns it with a bemused smile.

Then she goes quiet for a bit, her thoughts obviously elsewhere. Though she glances at Pup once. For a bit it seems like she is either ignoring Clara or just didn't hear her but finally Blue shakes herself, looks at Pup again and nods ever so slightly. 'There is a burden not mine to bear and yet..' She's trying to rejoing the world of the living and in all her lives one thing can be said for sure. She never does things half way. She'll look out for the boy, as best she can.

"I am older than I look. Been around awhile. Fought a lot of battles." Her gaze drifts again for a moment before snapping back to Clara. "There's a deaf kid on my street. I made sure all the other kids on the street learned for her." It meant learning herself but to save that child from lonliness and despair, Blue considered the time well spent. "That we did." Blue responds to Ted's statement. "We ran into each other again recently and it's been really great." Her smile is genuine and she kisses the side of Ted's head before resting her hand atop his.

Corben Kelly has posed:
"Une seconde ma poupée de papier," Corben leans over toward Clara to murmur. He sets down what's left of his sandwich and digs around in one of his coat pockets and comes out with a small bag. He dumps the contents of that little velvet bag into his hand. For just a moment, there isn't anyone in the room save for Clara and Corben. "I got these, two days ago?" ...and forgot about them, but that's one of Corben's quirks. His brain just gets all running too fast and he forgets, he just forgets. In the palm of his hand are two infinity rings - not the Avenger kind - but the kind with four or five colorful rings joined together in such a way that they can be rolled up and down a finger easily. They make the /best/ fidget rings and he offers them up to Clara now.

When he turns back again, his sandwich is gone and a slug is looking mighty smug.

It is what it is, right? His mind backpedals, going over things thought missed in the conversation. "I don't want to live that long," he says and signs. His expression, his tone, it's darker than it was a moment ago, as if a cloud's settled over him. "I've seen too much already." There's an emphasis on the word 'seen' that's obvious in the crisp, exaggerated way he signs it and in his voice.

But the cloud dissipates a little when he adds, "It means more than you can know that someone tried to learn her language instead of forcing her to understand theirs."

Pup's mostly gone silent now, other than to ask, "What be that? A justice league... what now?" Who knows how long the man's been dead?! From behind Corben, he offers Blue a nod of appreciation.

Clara Jennings has posed:
    Rings! Corben gave her rings! You can imagine what her muddled head will make of that. Thank goodness he did not do that while he was on one knee, tying his shoes. The girl would have run off with notions.

    Regardless of that, though, she is focused on this sudden gift. Anyone who knows Clara knows she has... problems. With her hands. For now, it is neatly concealed because she has been serving food and eating.

    "So you fought Nazis with Blue and now you are, ummm," Clara tilts her head, looking at Daddy Ted.. Her eating stops. Like her hands just freeze in what they were doing, too. Those eyes are considering the situation carefully. "You are dating. Um. That is what it is, right?" She directs her attention from Ted to Blue, "Get him to dance, umm, he is good. He throws me very high sometimes!" She focuses her attention back on eating.

    Eyes slowly go from face to face. Including the face of Kib. She pauses to offer him half of her sandwich. "Be sure to eat up, little one. You are still a umm, growing slug!" She has no idea, but it sounds like something she heard a woman say to her child in a book she was reading.

Ted Grant has posed:
Ted Grant leans towards Clara and says, "Megan and I talked. We're friends. She's too unsettled for much else. You have to take my word that I'd never want to hurt her, or stand in her way and she feels the same. As for dancing, I'll see what Blue remembers. And I'm telling her right now, I'm leading." He gives Blues leg a squeeze and twines his fingers in hers.

Blue GhostEyes has posed:
She looks aside with a quiet compassion as Corben speaks. Blue just bets he has seen a lot and she is sure the worst is yet to come. Life is like that for mortals, they're often the playthings of the gods and others who think themselves superior. Hell, even her lives have been affected though she's mortal only in the loosest sense of the word. "It's not all bad." Blue turns and smiles at Corben and squeezes Ted's hand on her lap. "Plenty of good in life that you could live a thousand years and not discover it all."

Private misgivings aside, Blue winks at Pup.

As for the girl and the signing, well Blue knows better about that than most. She saw it over and over again when her peoples were made to lose their way and forced to learn anothers. So little remains now. So very little. This isn't a time or place for those thoughts however and she gladly tucks them back into the darker recesses of her mind.

"We've discussed going dancing." Blue admits, seizing on the lighter topic with a grin, gently squeezing Ted's hand in turn. "We're getting to know each other again. I was different back then." She doesn't really want to put a label on what they are doing. It's too fresh and new and, fun and wonderful and oh gods she's gonna have to beat some asses when they show up anywhere she tends bar but that will be fun too.

Corben Kelly has posed:
"It's not all bad," Corben agrees with a quick glance in Clara's direction. But then there's the most unusual odor drifting through the shop. It's not a bad smell, not really. It smells a little like someone is burning incense made from lavender and some completely unknown - to most people anyway - substance. But the emphasis is /burning/.

"Shit," Corben mutters as he's hopping up from his stool and making it posthaste to a spot further down the back bar, the part that's hidden from view from the rest of the shop. It's the area where he does his 'cooking', with a small stove, a Bunsen burner and even a small microwave and toaster oven (best not to ask).

He snatches a pot off the stove and promptly drops it into the small sink nearby. The language that comes spewing from his mouth is enough to make a pro blush, but only if said pro is fluent in FrenchEnglishDutch all smashed together.

Clara definitely knows this little dance. He's left it cook too long, likely ruined the pan as well as whatever he was simmering and likely burned his fingertips pulling the pot off the stove.

But that's not the important bit. The important bit was /what/ he had brewing that is suddenly all out there burned in the air. "That was my LAST bit of blood from a demon Lord."

That's what he gets for getting distracted by visitors, innit?

With a put upon, yet fond sigh, Pup glances at Blue, expression clearly reading 'See? See what I mean?'

Once he's kept the shop from burning down, he turns his attention back to Blue. "Sometimes it's hard to hold on to the good when the Fates only show you the worst." Never, does he ever, mention things like that aloud, ever. He immediately seems to regret it and covers the true meaning of it with a forced chuckle and, "Fate's a fickle bitch, after all. Sometimes it's fun to let the lady lead, Ted," he adds - still trying to take focus off his previous slip of the thought.

Clara Jennings has posed:
    Clara is done eating. Which pleases her at first. Until it does not. Ted and Corben are used to her hand wringing, but Blue is not. It usually gets so much worse when Clara looks at her hands. Or worst of all, when someone else inevitably does. It is an ongoing source of anxiety.

    However, this time, when she looks down, she notices the rings. She starts to move them slightly, then rotate them. It is no doubt odd to see someone /focus/ on something that is meant for fidgeting, for not paying attention. However, she is captivated. If one has seen that moment when a baby first realizes they have hands, there is a striking similarity.

    Eventually, after a silence that is, well, awkward, Clara looks up. "Um, these are neat," she decides softly.

    "Sorry, I umm.. oh. Where is Corben?" She was that distracted. And then she hears that familiar string of swearing. She has asked him to teach her the Dutch parts. She is so curious!

    "Oh? Demon lord blood. We can do that."

    But can they, though? She looks towards Ted. Her mind returns to what he said a few long awkward moments ago. Awkward for her anyway. "She will be okay. My Governess is busy, and well, umm. I want to spend time with her again. I er, I mean, I miss her. I hope she can forgive me. Running away, I mean. That was rather unkind of me."

Ted Grant has posed:
Ted Grant stops eating to answer his ringing phone, "Talk to me. What wha... TOny! Slow down. What happened? We were robbed? Anyone hurt? No? Good. How much did they get? a hundred kilos of barbells. Big guy hunh? Ah don't throw the M word around. Might have a zombie or robot. I'm going home now." He shuts the phone and looks at the others. "I can't leave them alone for a minute. Sorry." He gets up and looks at Blue. "Ya wanna come with? Maybe you can trail the guy? I'll hold your purse and earring while you beat him up. Hunh?" He punches her on the arm.

Blue GhostEyes has posed:
....A demon lord... Blue gives Pup a "You've got to be fucking kidding me?!" Look. Then eyes the ceiling again and holds back a sigh. Sensing even stronger she'd best not mess up this task. Well, she at least has some idea where to start learning the things she might need to know. That is a problem for tomorrow's Blue however. Since Corben seems to regret what he said, Blue lets it pass but makes note of it.

Aside from a single short and curious glance, Blue keeps her focus off Clara, not wanting to make her more nervous while she's distracted or whatever. "It was.." Oh holy fucks. She's going to be dragged into this demon lord blood thing isn't she? Can't let Ted's kid be unprotected and now there's a sense of responsibility for the boy too. Man. Young man. Really hard not to just think of them all as kids sometimes.

Thankfully Ted gets a call to distract her from the worries and give her a chance to sleep on them. Oddly enough she does some of her best thinking in the dream world. Laughing at Ted, Blue bumps him with a hip and waves at the others. "Let's go. I'm we'll be seeing you all again soon." And with that, she darts ahead and holds open the door for Ted with a cheeky grin.

Corben Kelly has posed:
Once he's alone with his girl, his Paper Doll, Corben turns to her and asks, "Do you think he likes me?" At least it wasn't a complete disaster? Never mind the soot on his face from the putting out the burning pot or his burned fingertips. It went /swimmingly/, right?