1.28 Fire Drill

Meghan didn't just spend her award money on her lab however, the interior of the house gets a bit of rearranging and some new furniture.

It's proves to be a bit impractical later, but she puts in several bar-stools for breakfast around the cutest corner of the kitchen.

Jyoti gets the tiny former nursery that she and her brother shared all to herself,

And Jet gets his own room on the other side of the kitchen.

Randomly the school holds a fire drill (someone was stuck, so full disclosure I hit the ol' “resetsim *” command and they all got kicked out of school).

From the left we have, Teacher's Aid Lyra Rendall, Nigel Martin, Alyss Khan, Hannah Huanna, Howard Huanna, Malcom Meir, Kevin Shift, Jyoti Sparrow.

Alyss and Hannah

Kevin is Clumsy, Good, and Inappropriate

Jyoti Loves the outdoors, has a Great sense of humor, and Athletic

Jyoti; “Why are you waving your wings in my face?”

Kevin; “You should be happy about that, nobody else even knows I have them. Besides, they're a part of my magic, they go through stuff, so don't worry about it.”

(yawn) “That's really fascinating...”

Neither one of these two actually has any enemies.

They're pretty good friends though, so it's anyone's guess why she feels the need to be making faces behind his back like this. She's probably jelly, I'd want a pair of wings too.

Howard always looks displeased. He has no skills (social, or otherwise) and is the town brat despite or because of his status as the Mayor's son.

I was wrong about his traits before. He'd actually Hot-Headed, Athletic and Ambitious.

He walks by and criticizes the fact that Jyoti hangs out with that 'fairy boy' so much. He doesn't like Kevin, but is also good friends with Jyoti. Who knows how many of the class actually believe that Kevin's a fairy or not. For now, it's a nickname that he's stuck with.

Jyoti just doesn't hate anybody, and like her dad when he was in school, kids flock to be her friend and hear her funny impressions or see her amusing view on things. She doesn't really feel like she needs their companionship or rather, enjoys learning about all kinds of other people, and she manages not to take it for granted that people like her. Her easygoing nature makes her somewhat 'cool'.

As opposed to her rebellious and attention-grabbing brother, who people are either amused by, or seem to hate. But in kid's land where acting out can either earn one a following of loyal friends or make people hate one for their frequent disruption of class and the sub-sequentially awarded homework that often results, it actually depends on the discipline methods of the teacher in each class as to whether or not Jet is popular in it. As for him, as long as he's doing what others are not doing, he seems happy enough.

Christian Elson (middle, she's an athletic, excitable snob) and her brother Chance (right) are two of the kids who hang out with him sometimes just because he's more interesting than their schoolbooks.

Jet finds artistic moments everywhere. He could totally paint this if he wasn't at school right now.

This is Howard's 'patiently waiting for the fire drill to be over so I can stop freezing my cheeks off' face.

These two pass the time by cracking jokes at the teacher's expense. There's something weird about her, so she's been the subject of a lot of speculation. Everything from “Her hair doesn't grow and she's wearing a wig” to the way she won't stop staring at people.

This is, of course, the children's natural instinctive reaction to having a vampire in their midst under the guise of a way-too-damn-calm for her 'age' teacher's aid, but nobody knows enough about the woman to realize that. So the best idea they can think of is not to get too close.

Then, randomly, Nigel Martin decides to disappear instead of going back to school, forcing the teachers to force everybody to stand outside in the cold while they frantically keep missing him at roll call. What a jerk!

Kevin shrugs, as usual not too concerned about something like the weather or 'human' drama. He pulls out his homework and proceeds to speed through it.

The teacher is kind of annoyed she has to pretend to be useless right now and can't blow her cover by running off to keep the kid from escaping school. It would be so satisfying to chase him down and give him a good scare with her insane speed and maybe a growl or two that would keep him in line all through the Holiday break, but she's enjoying her 'human keeper' job for now and wants to stay working at the school. So, do humans feel this useless ALL the time?

Lyra pretends to bite her nails in worry but really she just wants to go bite the kid. That'd teach him.

Nigel literally catches a cab and just leaves school for the day. He's getting up there in the local crime syndicate anyways, he has no need to impress his teachers or anybody else. There's money he could be making while half the town is away from home, leaving things unguarded. Old Man Cupp's business is still very much alive and well, even though he himself has been dead and compressed for a long time.

Nigel is going to aim for the top, but it's still something of a scramble to find out who's in charge anymore. If does his next few jobs right, he hopes he'll be able to have face to face meetings with the person he gets his orders from.

Everet takes charge of the younger kids for a moment. “He'll be fine you know, you don't have to worry about him, he always runs off like this.”

“We aren't worried, we're cold,” Malcom thinks, but is way too shy to express it.

“Snowmen are way more important than homework, Chance.” Jet chides his friend lightly.

Christian is tempted, that looks fun. Seriously. Why does everything Jet does look like so much fun?

The second ugliest-thing to cross the screen in so many updates catches the kid's eye. What a hideous, skunky-lookin' stray! What kind of breed is that supposed to be?

“Aww, I want a dog!” Jyoti whines as it snarfs past their school entrance, obviously entertained by all the kids standing around doing nothing in this weather.

The grumpy blond kid speaks up. “Probably not that one, you don't.” (For once I agree with Howard on something.)

“Really chance, wait until you have a desk at least. Snowy days are for stuff like this!”

“No way! If I'm done with this at school I can do whatever I want when I get home.”

Jet looks up at chances sister, who is obviously still hesitating. “Christian?”

“We'll probably won't have time to finish it...” She hedges. It's funny how she acts when it's only the three of them. She's more honest away from the classroom full of people to impress. Her snobbishness fades in private company. Just like many of Jet's rebellious outbursts. Out here in the snow, there's a lot less to prove.

“It'll be more fun to do it together.” He tells her, holding out his hand.

Finally she nods and takes his hand “Okay but don't tell anyone!”

“That you like to play in the snow? Everyone likes to play in the snow.”

“I am not like everyone!” She nearly stamps her foot at that comment.

But he smiles and apparently she's a bit dazzled by it. Which is stupid. He smiles all the time, there's nothing special about it. “Okay. So let's hurry then so nobody sees us.” He whispers.

She takes his hand and shakes it. “Okay, deal.”

“Everyone can see you!” Chance outbursts from under a foot of snow. He's just frustrated that he's the only one being responsible right now.

At the other entrance, 'every'one decides to get homework done?

Jyo has her sleeping bag, and she didn't get a lot of rest last night, so... I guess that makes Kevin the lookout. “I'll protect you, tiny human!” He jokes at her, posing heroically.

“Who's going to protect you from Miss Rendall when she comes back and your homework ain't done?” Everet quips.

“Is she gonna be okay?” He asks her older cousin more seriously.

Everet looks up past the outline he's compiling for some essay on the page in front of him. “Eh, she's pretty tough, she's probably just doing that to see if she can. She'll get up when it's too cold.”

The fairy is not convinced. “Then I won't allow her to be disturbed, scouts honor!” And Kevin proceeds to stand like this until someone else comes up with a better game.

Meanwhile the adults finally get to play that game of space invaders, and Meghan has a horrible idea.

...To play best out of seven.

They get no work done for the remainder of the afternoon.

“I feel like I should be making money right now...” Dustin is uncomfortable when he's not accomplishing things.

“No. Stop that. Husband and Wife time is happening. We need a damn vacation, but this is way cheaper. So just enjoy getting your ass kicked right now.”

“Pretty sure you're losing actually.”

“I am not!”

He offers a classy challenge. “Yeah? You wanna take this outside?”

“More like take this inside.”

“You trying to flirt with me right now?” He asks honestly as she's so bad at it.

“Inside this video game we call life!” She laughs.

The falcon Meghan caught recently distracts them with it's loud bell head-banging and nobody wins the game. They'll have to take it up more another day.

I think they named it Pheobe?

But not before Dustin gets one last comment in about his physical prowess. Actually, I'm pretty sure he won here, but the screen looks like a tie... he's probably just trying to shake her up so he can win. 

Apparently I have no real idea of what's going on here xD

Meanwhile the school day actually ends, after having been one really long fire drill.

“Jyoti.... Jyo. Wake. UP.” Everet pretty much has to shake his cousin awake. He doesn't know if he should be terrified or impressed at her dedication. There seems to be actual snoring going on here.

Unbeknownst to their parents who are still on their gaming date in the garage, the school day is completely over and Jet is already home and in bed. Everybody had been up late at the festival preview last night after all.

Meanwhile Dustin has an agenda.

“We could make this a date if we went somewhere. Have you ever been to the cemetery at night?”

Meanwhile Meghan has an agenda. Maybe I'll go with you... ifff.....”

“Ifff...?” He parrots, waiting.

“If you hand over a DNA sample.”

“Can't you just get one of those off of my toothbrush?”

“That's not the same. It isn't fresh that way.”

He finds himself looking around for a hidden camera. “Uhh, why does that question make me kind of uncomfortable? I don't wanna be a fish.”

“Well Gene isn't going to be a fish either, that's impossible. At least at the moment.”

He nods, slowly. “Okay then... but promise to tell me what you're going to do with it later?”

“I promise.” She says breezily, and then aims this multi-lensed device straight at his chest.

He frowns. Women are so weird sometimes. “Fire away.” He says with confidence. So she knows she can like, get this over with already or whatever.

I guess it kind if tickles?

Her laugh after seeing the sample is kind of creepy though. Like she's forgotten he's even in the room.

Finally they decide this is a date after all.

Everet made sure that Jyoti made it home, so all in all she had a good time at 'school' today. And dinner is cookies! Her parents are quite possible the worst, and most likely the best, ever.

Still off in their own little world.

Eventually Pheobe gets the garage back to herself.

And Meghan does rope the kids into doing their homework later. Is this 'ignore the kids for our date' guilt?

Quite possibly.

Then it's tea time...

Kind of uncharacteristically girly for Jyo, who's usually all about sports.

But what little girl doesn't like to dress up from time to time and play pretend?

(okay I wanted to see the teddy bear tea party but she dressed up on her own afterwards :3)

Overview of the house layout.

Then the winter sort of flies by.

Jyoti starts working out, inspired by her sports club...

Jet reads every book in the house and they have to start buying more shelves to fit more books in...

Friends come over to play...

And art projects are completed

And Dustin occasionally stops performing for tips to berate the ignorance of one Moira Rendall. “I thought I told you to stay away from us!” He says before he's really thinking about it. It's more of a surprise that she's still in town. Does she live around here somewhere? Have a hideout? Does Loki? He shakes his head in an attempt to clear it.

“You did! And if you were smart you'd stop and ask for my help now as the item I gave you OBVIOUSLY worked the way I said it would. Why are humans so stubborn?”

He shakes his head. “I- look. I can't thank you because I don't know why you gave that... item... to me in the first place. I am grateful, it's not that, I'm alive because of it but only needed it because of my stupid mistake- but I can't believe I'd need it they way you think I would!" He pauses and catches his breath for a second. "I can't just... give up on my friend. I believe he's going to do the right thing, whatever that may be.”

“And I believe you are going to regret ignoring my warning, but I'm done trying to help you. Really, truly done. I wonder if you'll live long enough to see him betray your family anyways. We live longs lives, and your kind likes to exaggerate us as it is." She shakes her long hair out of her face snidley. “Let's make a bet. If I'm wrong, and he betrays you, you'll give me your first born child.”

There a fist at Dustin's side before the chill even finishes traveling up his back. “What did you just say?” He growls between clenched teeth.

And Moira replies by laughing at him, harshly. Uncharacteristically even. “You see? You don't even know what you're risking! But I do. Go ahead and play peaceful resolution with yourselves, live life obliviously. I can't stop them anymore anyways, and I'm honestly sorry for that. We could have nipped it in the bud. But now... well I have to ask you what kind of legacy you think you're going to leave behind?”

Dustin narrows his eyes slightly, trying to hide his confusion. “...who is 'they'?” He finally asks.

“I don't know how many people. Honestly. I don't even know anymore!” The woman throws her hands up and starts walking away. “I would have told you to move, to leave and never come back, but well, I think that's useless now too. Have fun performing out here in the snow, living as if nothing matters other than yourselves.” She tosses over her shoulder as she walks away.

Not wanting to admit how shaken up he is about this, he calls Meghan to make sure everything is alright, under the guise of seeing if they need groceries. He also confuses her by telling her to make sure the lab is locked up tight. For some reason he feels like anyone who wanted to harm them would go straight for their research. They can't threaten his life anymore, Meghan's been cloning the crap out of that little grasping black flower after all, but he wants them to be safe in all areas.

Meghan didn't hear much of what her husband just said over the phone right now. She is way. Way too excited.

Her research is finally going to be paying off.

~~~~~~~~~

Women aren't weird Dustin, Meghan is weird. xD

Lyra was randomly assigned to be their teacher, which is perfect, possibly? She's Moira's twin sister from the 'Loki arc' if you all recall. She believes that vampires are superior, humans are quite possibly food, and totally expendable. But other than that, she's pretty level-headed and chill. She's most likely just there to study the kids, observe human behavior, or to amuse herself. We can only hope.

Moira was watching Dustin perform, then he stopped to yell at her, old arguments die hard, I guess?

Actually the old 'Mortal, Im'ma help you' trope is too fun not to ruin completely. These characters show up, drop heavy clues and in most stories, the MC runs off to do their bidding forever instead of living their own lives. Well, not in this one! (cue evil dumb laughter). In this one I just play it where it lies. Like a game of golf (which, full disclosure, I kind of suck at)