Soft morning sun filtered into an unfamiliar room through faded and fraying burlap curtains. The soft sounds of waves and gulls could be faintly heard like a lullaby drifting on the wind. To Thomas' screaming migraine, though, they sounded agonizing. Each softly crashing wave, a pounding explosion behind his eyes as the wailing of keening widows peirced the air. In his head, he was somewhere in Scottland, the icy winds whipping his dark locks into dreaded tendrils as it drove the frigid waves to crash against the towering cliffs. The scene was melancholy, and yet somehow peaceful as the scent of soot and ash rose from some distant funeral pyre. Where was the pyre? The thought tickled his brain. Hadn't he been in America? How'd he get back here? WHY'd he get back here? Who died? No... no one died. Did they? 

The distant tolling of port bouy's teased his brain as the familiar tingle of magick prickled his skin.... followed in short order by a squealing yelp and a cacophony of shattering dishes. There were no dishes on the cliffs. 

Slowly, Thomas awakened to the realization that he was dreaming... or at least half-dreaming. The vision remained as he shook himseld from the stupor of it. Softly, voices filtered through the dream... soft and muffled. Kovi, grumbly and chastizing... that was unusual for him. And... someone else. A soft feminine voice caressed his consciousness, pained and apologetic. He knew that voice... didn't he?

As he struggled to hold on to the melodic lilt of it, a tall and lithesome figure materialized on the cliff before him, drawing his attention back to this internal experience. She was as pale as sea foam, with long golden-white hair that framed electric blue eyes. And something about the way her curls danced on the wind seemed painfully, longingly familiar. It was a familiarity that he could feel in the whole of his being. His body strained under the weight of it, his heart straining frantically inside his chest as she smiled at him with near maternal adoration. She was the most hauntingly beautiful thing he'd ever seen, and everything in him longed to have her smile like that for all of eternity. 

"You must take care of her," the woman said softly... much to Thomas' confusion. His mouth opened, moving wordlessly like a fish out of water as he tried to ask 'who'. But a single wave of her hand stilled his wandering mind smoothe as glass. "She is fragile. Rare. And precious. And I was unable to protect her," the woman's eyes grew sad and distant... and his heart twisted painfully along with it, "She is not like the others you've known. Her kind are few. Fewer, even, than mine... or yours. You will love her. For it is nearly impossible for man NOT to love her... but remember... above all else... you must CARE for her. Do what I could not, Abraham De Lacy, K.C. Guiseppe, Thomas O'Malley, Alley Cat. Protect her, train her, keep her safe. CHERISH her." 

The words echoed softly in his brain like a fading broken record as the vision melted into dappled sunlight dancing on a bare-beamed ceiling. Slowly, Thomas blinked against the bright light of reality; the harbour bells and gulls anchoring him as his mind ground slowly into understanding. He was sore... terribly sore. Why was he sore? He remember fire... and blood... and.... blonde? Sitting up slowly, his ribs creaked and groaned softly in a tell-tale kind of way. He'd overdone it again. Too much energy through his vessel at once. 

As he looked around, his surrounding slowly snapped into understanding. He was in the loft. Shit. His clothes wreaked of soot and ash. His wand.... WHERE WAS HIS WAND?! 

Finding both his bletloop and the bedside table empty, Thomas panicked. Bolting upright from the bed he rushed to the railing that overlooked the living area below... just in time to see a floating teapot - HIS teapot - plumet from thin air. Kovi... pillows tied to his chest, oven mitts globing his hands, and a wok strapped over his floppy ears... dove for the pot, arms outstretched like a reciever catching a hail-marry in the last play of the fourth quarter. Squeaking as he bounced against the hardwood floor, he turned and glared at the blonde bonbshell who, Thomas noticed with no small amount of alarm, held his wand. 

"No, no, no," Kovi chastized, "Swish and flick, Special. Swish. and. Flick." 

Beau, who'd run this ridiculous drill no less than a thousand times in the last three days, wailed in frustration; tugging at her golden curls in frustration. "I am swishing and flicking," she lamented, dramatically flourishing the tempramental wans for emphasis, "It's this infernal stick. I doesn't like me!"  Almost as if in confirmation of her quip, the wand erupted into a cacophony of spraks and fireworks; backfiring and sputtering in a shower of brilliant lights and loud popping that send Beau backpedaling and hoping on the spot like the victim of a 'dane for me' scene in some old western flick. 

Wailing like an angry banshee and blushing like an asian bride, Beau stomped her feet and threw the misbehaving culprit at Kovi... who was still holding the teapot. With no time to put it down or even 'cast' it away, the wand struck him square in the middle of his face, causing him to shoot the woman the most unimpressed and perturbed expression a creature of such oddly ugly-cute features could summon. Draping herself, facedown over the arm of the couch, Beau mumbled a string of incomprehensible laments into its worn appholstery as Kovi shot Thomas a knowing look from below the balcony. 

"Kovi did not know that Special was this kind of special. Prehaps had Kovi known, Kovi would not have taken to calling Master's Special "Special". Kovi thinks it seems rude now," the elf teased, still holding the teapot... and ducking to narrowly avoid the couch pillows that sailed toward his head. 

"That's," one pillow. "Not," two pillows. "Funny!" three pillows. All expertly dodged with nimble elf reflexes... and a heafty of apparation. 

"At this rate I'm gonna be useless forever," Beau moaned. "What if they come for him? What if they find us? What if some one else finds us? How am I supposed to protect him when I can't even lift a fucking TEAPOT?!" 

Beau seemed genuinely concerned and entirely dismayed. Kovi, on the otherhand... fully aware of their audience... was nothing short of entirely amused. "Well," he chirped with an impish girn, "If something goes terribly wrong, Special can always set the house on fire." 

Panic... Sheer panic... His wand was missing, it wasn't anywhere he could think he'd have left it...

"No, no, no," he heard Kovi's voice coming from the lower room. "Swish and flick, Special. Swish. and. Flick."

Thomas blinked slowly and raised his body to full height, peaking over the banister before making his way to it and leaning... Found his wand.

It was hilarious to see her trying to use the wand. Even more funny to see Kovi trying to teach her. The best of the whole scene though? Was listening to the slight bits of glee Kovi got from giving Beau shit...

"That's not nice!" Thomas called out at Kovi's last jab... But even Thomas was laughing. "But very true..."

He skipped down the small staircase as Beau whipped around hearing him. The scowl on her face quickly righted itself and she was practically beaming as she leapt from the couch. Thomas prepared for the embracing attack, closing his eyes and scrunching back slightly... But it never came. Instead, he heard Beau's voice complaining in confusion and Kovi scolding.

"Easy with Master... Do not trample him with your Specialness." He lowered Beau's feet to the ground and Thomas walked up to hug her instead.

"You okay? I see Kovi is trying to teach you some magic..." Thomas reached out his hand and his wand returned to it's owner speedily. "I gotta tell you though. You'd do better without a wand I think." He looked at Kovi. "And I'm surprised you helped her even PRACTICE with a wand considering how most of your people don't even know how to use wands. NOR do you NEED them like most humans!" He scolded Kovi, who frowned and 'Popped' away after mumbling under his breath... "Master is back..."

Shaking his head Thomas returned his gaze to Beau, his hand sliding the wand back into its place along his belt loops.

"I'll have to teach you the wand specifics... However, show me what you've got, hmm?" Thomas smiled happily. Truly happily. She was safe, he was safe. And then the weight of everything fell on him.

"How many days have I been out? Where's Scat? How's everyone else? What's the word on the cabaret? Any ideas on the fire from No-Maj's? And how did you get here?!"

Everything quickly laid on him as he moved to the couch that Beau had been frustratingly hugging and sat down.

"And has anyone come by?"

Beau was visibly ecstatic upon hearing Thomas' voice. All her worry and frustration melted in an instant as the relief of it washed over her. He was okay. Which meant... at least for this briefest moment of repreive... her whole world was okay. She leapt from the couch, feeling as though she was walking on air in sheer elation - right up until she realized she was actually walking on air... and getting no where. "Oh come on, now. That's not even fair," Beau pleaded with Kovi, hanging limp in the air like a pouting pupet; her needfulness palpable as the air turned a sticky kind of sweet-and sour- on their tongues. 

With a gentle rebuke, Kovi set her feet back on the ground. But before she could move, Thomas hugged her. ...that was not at all how this was supposed to go. But she reveled in it nonetheless, holding him close as she listened to him chastize Kovi. Oh how the tables had turned! 

"Thank you, Kovi," Beau called over his shoulder as the disgruntled creature disappeared. Part of her appreciated a little bit of turn about after all he'd put her through the last few days. And yet, she knew that her presence must be a distrubance to the dynamic of the house and, all joking aside, the little dude had handled it with grace. 

Beau cackled, lifting her hand to show Thomas what little she'd learned. But as the cascade of questions rained form his lips, her arm slowly fell to her side. She followed him to the couch, her hands sliding down his arms in a comforting caress as she stooped to meet his gaze.  Her touch was warm, and the gentle pet soothed him some... her soft and doting gaze even more so. This part, at least, she had learned well from Kovi. 

Smiling at him affectionately, she huffed a soft sigh... her breath like golden syrup as it brushed over him - sweet and tantalizing. Her electric blue eyes held his gaze - almost hauntingly familiar - as her fingers traced calming sigils on his shoulders. "Breathe," she caoched him, trying her hardest to coax the action out of him. "Relax," she commanded in a docile, submissive voice. "You must rest... and heal," she reminded him... the weight of her gift behind her words. 

"Everything is okay," she reassured him, "Just be here with me for now. Everything is fine." she was silent for a moment. Time stretched out and slowed down as she pressed her forehead to his, allowing them time to settle into eachother's presence... allowing him to feel her relief, devotion, gratitude, peace. Until finally, after several minutes, she kissed his forehead and continued softly, "Three days." Her voice trembled and nearly broke completely as she whispered the words. "You were out for three whole days... four counting the day of the fire."  She caressed his hand in small soft circles for a moment, almost as if to reassure herself he was really there. It was a telling and utterly vulnerable action, but her voice was more confident and controlled as she continued, "Scat is at home. He's holding things down on the normie front. He's been my liason... running messages, making deliveries, organizing the girls, and the like. Kovi was kind enough to set up a rotating drop point for me. So we could stay in contact without me leaving. Everyone else is fine... excluding Vinnie, of course. But all my girls, all Scat's guys... all good. The Cabaret is torched. Structural damage. Unsalvagable. Word on the street is it's scheduled for demolition later this week. Official reports are incriminating faulty wiring in the stage lighting system. The circuit board was old as dirt and overloaded... the breaker room is under the stairs right under Vinnie's office. So they figure it sparked and caught... ignited the old props and sets in storage and choked the poor sot out before he could make it to the door," Beau paused, sighed, and shrugged, "Nothing to be done for him given the noxious fumes a fire like that puts off." 

She tried to seem tough and uneffected as she half-smiled half-heartedly at Thomas, but there was a guilt and sadness in her eyes that weighed on him. "Kovi helped me get here after I got you clear of the chaos. There may have been some mild misues of muggle artifacts involved. ... but that's a story for later. And, no. Much to MY relief, no one has been by... which I assume is at least partially a good thing." 

She glanced up at him, "It is a good thing, right? I mean... I feel like I've had so much to worry about that I'm not even really sure what TO worry about. I assume it's a 'no news is good news' kind of deal... but I know no news also means no Newt... which is less good... and I've just been trying not to read too much into anything other than you continuing to breathe." Speaking of breathing, Beau finally stopped her frantically paced ramble and took a deep and steadying breath herself, blushing slightly. 

"Sorry. I've been worried. And it gets a little lonesome with only Kovi to talk to... especially when he doesn't seem overly-fond of you. And by 'you', I mean 'me'." she giggled softly... a bubbly, melodic tone that lifted his spirts like champagne and pop rocks. "I've had Scat put a man on patrol in the alley. He says no one's been by there either... although I'm sure that report is unreliable, at best, given all the possibilities. BUT, it gave me a smidgen of peace of mind, at the least," she shrugged, choosing not to think about all of the ways that one of Thomas' kind could sneak past a normie like Scat's men. 

Pausing, she smiled brightly and perked up. CAREFULLY raising herself into his lap, she showered his face and neck with excited kisses, "Enough of that for now. How are you? Do you feel okay? Normal at least? Where does it hurt? Shall I kiss it and make it better?" She shot him an impishly flirtatious smirk before peppering him with another nuzzling rain of feathlight pecks, "Are you hungry? Thirsty? Shower? I can wash your clothes while you clean up. Or rub your back." 

Beau held her hands up infront of his face for a moment... as if there was something special about them he could possibly see with his bare eyes (there wasn't)... before pressing her palms flat against his chest with a wink. As she breathed in time with the rise and fall of his chest, her hands warmed and pulsed along with the beating of his heart. Every beat they grew a little warmer until she lifted her hands once more and wiggled her fingers. "Kinda nice, right? Little something I learned while we were taking care of you. .... well, I say 'we'. Kovi did most of the caring and just made me sleep with you... like a lot." She nodded, not catching the possible insinuation for a few moments.

As it dawned on her, she blushed profuesly, shaking her head furiously as she insisted, "I mean SLEEP sleep. Like UH-sleep. Beside you. Not.... y'know..." Beauawkwardly mashed her palms together at altrenating angles before dropping her head with a sigh "I think today is the first day I've been awake for more than a few hours at once," she moved on, trying to hide her obvious and overtly intense reaction. But  the slowly creeping, nearly neon blush that traveled from her face, across her shoulders, and down her arms spoke silent volumes despite her efforts.

Thomas smiled as he listened. It seemed as if everything would be okay. He obviously still needed a good day's recovery, but his body was no longer in "critical" condition as far as how much energy he'd exerted. He went to stand, but Beau held her hands up in front of his face which made him pause. With his eyebrow lifted he leaned back as she placed her hands on his chest. Awkwardly, he lay still; confused. That was, until her hands started to warm.

The look on his face was priceless as his head swiveled back and forth; hands on chest, Beau's face, chest, face, chest, face...

She was using magic. Real magic... HER magic. Without a wand! That was exciting and amazing. It had been three days she said, three days with Kovi, and she already had that much control.

"That's amazing," he started, ready to mention that how he was feeling, but stopped and allowed her to continue. Finally as she finished, Thomas chuckled lightly, wincing as he grabbed his ribs, trying to hide it. He was injured, but at this point it was minor aches and pains in comparison to the amount of damage he'd done to himself the day be...three days bef. Four days prior counting the fire... Had he really been out that long? That was worse than the last time. That was probably the longest he'd been out after exhaustion.

"Thank you, Isabeaux... And thank you Kovi, I know you hear me." The little floppy-eared creature materialized slowly beside them on the couch and smiled. "Master knows Kovi well. Master also knows Kovi owes Master his life, and Master still set Kovi free. This is why Kovi works for Master happily. He doesn't have to, he chooses to. Master is good friend. Has been for many years. Kovi would not allow Master to ... expire."

Thomas chuckled and put his arm around Kovi. "You're welcome to work here so long as you want. I appreciate everything you do for me, Kovi. And Beau? You are an Angel. I don't care who, or what, says otherwise." He put an arm around her as well.

"So yes, as you said earlier, no news is good news. Perhaps I hid the cast well enough. Kovi, I need you to do some work for me again..."

Thomas eyed the little elf, who nodded. "Kovi is listening."

Thomas nodded. "I need to see if anyone is searching on one of the three unforgivables. Go. Listen in the Minsitry. Be my eyes and ears." Kovi nodded simply before placing his creepy little hand on Thomas' arm. "Master has hidden this before, he can do it again. Which one should Kovi listen for?"

Thomas nodded and placed his hand on Kovi's head, closing his eyes. After a moment, Kovi nodded and vanished. Thomas looked back at Beau. "Forgive me, it's better to not say the words again for fear of alarming anyone. There are three unforgivable incantations. Three curses. One kills, one causes immeasurable pain, and one takes control of someone's thoughts and body... Entirely. Like a slave, or thrall. But they no longer are able to think for themselves."

Thomas sighed and leaned back on the couch. "But me? I'm fine, mostly. Though the shower would be nice. Also the back rub. Maybe some more sleep..." He chuckled, then winced again.

"Thank you for staying. Thank you for helping keep me warm when my body wouldn't regulate it's own heat. Also, so you know, that was Kovi using you and training you to help heal me. He could sense the heat inside of you. The way that fire calls to ... you ..." Thomas slowed in his thoughts. "I need to the libraries... I need to look a few things up." He went to stand and immediately plopped right back on the couch. "I need to sit." The room spun quickly making him almost vomit. Luckily there was no food on his stomach to hurl. He dry heaved then calmed.

"Or perhaps I can wait another day... Shower and rest. -THEN- the library. I may have an inkling on your origins..."

He chuckled... "I could be wrong though... Very wrong." He closed his eyes and saw the cliff side again, the lady with the long, golden-white hair and bright, vibrant blue eyes. Her sea-foam colored pale skin... "Aye... I just might have an idea..." he whispered out softly with his eyes closed, a smile creeping up on his lips. His hand searched for Isabeaux's and gripped it loosely, simply holding her close.

Beau moved to steady him as he plopped back down. Instinctively she turned, her hand already out as she rose to move to the kitchen for a bowl. "You sit, darling. I'll get you a...." the room echoed with a dull grating as the small kitchen bin slid between Thomas' feet of it's own accord; Beau blinking down at her fingers in surprise as a kitchen towel and a glass of water *popped* into her palm. Clearing her throat, she tried to downplay her shock as she calmly dripped a little water onto the towel before handing Thomas the rest to drink. 

She brushed his dark, messy mop of haiar from his face; petting him lovingly as she draped the towel across his neck. It was cool... almost cold... in that shocking way that drags your mind back into your body. And the sensation contrasted sharply from the warmth of her touch. "Of course I stayed," she crooned softly, almost like a promise, as she continued to pet and caress him comfortingly. "I never met anyone like you before. So... I kind of need you around, all things considered." She smiled at him teasingly, as if that were the ONLY reason she'd stayed, "Besides, you got a way of growing on a gal real quick. I couldn't leave you... even if I'd have wanted to. And I'm not saying I did. There's no way on this Earth... or any other, for that matter... that I could ever let myself lose you." She smiled at him in that special kind of way that made his heart want to crawl out of his chest as she winked, "I like you too much." 

She was still as he reached for her hand, snuggling herself softly against him... as she had for so many days and nights now. Her head rested comfortably on his chest, just the right fit. Her skin pulsing with energy everywhere that they touched. She didn't care if her knew or didn't. What she was didn't matter so much right now... while she was safe in their little bubble. As long as she could hide away from the world... calm and protected... there was no risk of her posign a threat. So then, her only concern for the time being was his wellbeing. They could figure everything else out later. But she would never tell him as much. It was sweet and kind that he was concerned. His drive to find answers for her spoke volumes that his lips didn't have to. So, instead, she simply said, "Thank you, Tommy." 

They were both silent as she let him regain his bearings. It had been a hard uphill battle thus far, and he was only just recovering. She worried he'd push too hard too fast. So, she simply hugged him close and prayed that it would be enough to slow him down... even just a little. 

Shifting so that she was draped across his lap, she watched him for a long while; silently mapping the lines on his face, the circles beneath his eyes, the soft curve of his lips, and the feathery flutter of his lashes. He was utterly beautiful to her... in a way that stilled her breath and made her feel in awe of the universe. Just looking at him... just watching him breathe... made her feel more wonder than all the magic in all the world. 

Settling astride his lap, she brushed his unruly hair away from his eyes; running her fingers through the long, dark waves. He gulped as her fingers brushed his cheek. And she giggled softly at the bob of his adam's apple. How could something so simple and so normal cause her to feel so much... what was it? Wonder, awe, admiration... yes. But MORE than that. Her blue eyes nearly brimmed with tears as they beheld him with pure and unabashed reverence. 

Her fingers trailed down from their nest in his hair. Massaging his neck and shoulders as they found their way slowly to the opening of his buttondown. The top few buttons were loose. And she shyly traced the line of his collarbone with one finger as she chewed her bottom lip. He was glorious. Utterly, and completely glorious. Her thumb lingered, tracing circles in the hollow of his neck as she leaned in a tenderly kissed his cheek. "I'm really glad you're okay," she whispered softly, her breath warm against his ear as her cheek rested lightly against his... lingering there for only a moment before she pulled away, "And I'm happy I got the chance to help you be okay... even if Kovi DID make me sleep through most of it." 

Sliding away, she stood and kissed his forehead, "Why don't I start the shower for you? I'll get everything warmed and ready. And I can whip us up something to eat while you shower." She smiled at him dotingly, "Your body needs food. And it will make sleep come easier after the massage... if you think that's best. Otherwise, we can brainstorm while I work my magic." 

She giggled, playfully wiggling her fingers like a teasing jazz singer... though not AT him this time, which he noted was a conscious difference. She was learning. This was cool. "Maybe you'll feel better after you eat and we can hit the library later today. I'd LOVE to see it. Do the books read themselves? I bet they do. And fly. What are book shelves like for you? .... do you even have actual books? Or is it all scrolls and globes and what not?" Beau prattled on as she sauntered off toward the shower. He could hear the excited twitter of her voice over the hiss of running water as steam began to roll out from behind the shabby, patched privacy screen. "I fixed the water heater, by the way," she called around the corner of the screen, "It heats much faster now."

Thomas tried to remember, Did they even have a water heater, here? He couldn't recall. If not, what had she managed to do?

Slinking back over to the couch, she knelt and carefully slipped off his socks; laying them neatly over the arm of the couch one after the other before moving to unbutton his shirt. Her hands traced the hard angles of his body as she marveled at him, slipping her hands under his collar and down his arms to coax the now-crinkly shirt free. 

With a smirk and a wink, she popped the button on his pants loose as she hopped up. Draping his shirt and socks over one arm, Beau pointed to the little corner shower, "Go. There's a clean towel on the rack, and ammenities on the sink. Kovi sent me to the store for your preferenes yesterday," she rolled her eyes with a playful grin, "I'll leave these for him and get a clean set laid out on the bed. Lunch will be ready before you're spiffy." 

Humming softly she turned on her heals and flounced off into the kitchen, her floral print tea dress... a notably homely choice compared to what he was used to... swishing and swirling whimsically as she did.  

Thomas sat there; shirtless, sockless, shoeless, pants unbuttoned, and baffled as any hell you might think you'd have fallen in to... He gulped again, closing his eyes... Was he still -IN- his head? Was this the real life? Was it just fantasy? He was desperately caught in a landslide and felt there was no escape from reality... Opening his eyes, he looked to the...ceiling.

With a chuckle, he slowly pushed himself up. "Okay," he managed to call out before making the slow trek to the shower. So slow it felt like the earth was moving faster beneath his feet and keeping him just as far away as the shower had been when he started moving... Then, in his exhausted stupor, Thomas realized he'd stood, but never taken a step. "Too far this time, boyo, too far..." he whispered out softly, knowing only he'd hear himself.

Finally reaching the shower, he stripped the rest of the way and climbed in... And back out.

"SON OF A MOTHERLESS GOAT NAMED UFFA!" he yelped. "You weren't lying!" Thomas called toward the kitchen. "It gets -really- hot -really- quick now!"

Correcting the water, he climbed in and began to relax in the warmth, -NOT THE SCALDING-, of the running water's raining over him. It didn't take long to have himself feeling refreshed and stepping out, toweling off quickly. "So what's for lunch?" he called as he dried and began dressing himself.

Making his way to the living room, he buttoned the last button on his shirt and tugged his suspenders over his shoulders... His wand slid into it's place along his belt loops and he slid a pistol into the back of his pants. It was time to do real mobster things today on top of magical mafia shit...

The loft filled with tantalizing scents and flavours as Thomas luxuriated in the shower. Beau, with conserted effort and dedication to her task, did her best to focus on lunch. Though every once and again her hands would slow in their preparations as her gaze trailed toward the worn out room divider and the teasing silhouette of bare flesh that peeked through in all the right places. Silently, she wondered if he did that on purpose. Shaking herself loose from the hypnotic display, Beau continued diligently preparing their meal. And in no time at all, the table was dazzlingly set with all of his facourite foods.

BEAMING as she bounced back into the living area, Beau took his hand and lead him over to the small breakfast nook that occupied the window space opposite the shower. From their seats at the little round table, they had an almost romantic view of the waterfront... albeit the industrial portside. Beau, however, didn't seem to mind at all as she slid a chair out for him and set about serving his plate. 

Pumpkin pasties, dragon's milk creme dela creme, bratwursts, bacon, kiwi-melon-berry-dragonfruit salad, treacle tarts, and hand squeezed lemonad. All mouthwateringly fresh and prepared to near perfection. 

Plopping into the seat opposite him, Beau leaned in on her elbows; resting her head in her hands as she gazed at him... waiting to watch him dig in. "Well, go on," she prodded eagerly, with a smile so bright it put the bayfront sun to shame, "I'll wait..." 

Thomas sat, rolling up his sleeves, and began with a sip of the lemonade... His eyes squeezed and his lips puckered then smacked. "Wow! That's got a sour kick... HOOOHOOO! Damn is that good!" He shivered with the chill the sweet and sour mixture sent down his spine. "Note to self, let you make the lemonade from now on!"

He laughed and then stabbed his fork into one of the brats and took a chunk from it, immediately regretting it as the steam poured from the center of the link... His mouth was open wide and he looked like a huffing, puffing dragon angrily trying to blow fire as he chewed and sucked air to cool the piping hot center of the bratwurst.

"Hory fuck, tat's hot, sooooo fuckin' hot!"

Finally able to swallow the chewed up meat, he smiled... "Really good though!" Thomas chuckled, then made a plate with another brat (and his half-eaten one), some bacon, a few pastries with a small saucer of the creme, and a handful of the fruit salad... He'd save the treacle tarts for dessert, with more creme!

"Get yourself a plate and eat! This is delicious... But we need to hurry. There's things to do today that the family is going to need. For one, checking in since it's been three days. I'm sure Katherine is bouncing off the walls worried sick." He shrugged.

"Then I need to stop by a local shop and handle some business... Then we can head to the library. The one where No-Maj's don't go." He winked with a smirk.

"You in for that day? I can teach ya how ta be a real gangster, -AND- a wizard at the same time. Oh, I didn't tell ya before... The suits? Yeah... I'm not a street thug like I make myself look often enough." Thomas slid back in his chair and looked at her face.

"The Order of Merlin... It's a special sect of Wizards, granted entry into the order by certain expectations. Well, with Newt having been in charge, he funded the Order's means, by handling things in the No-Maj's world. Talk about a truly marvelous money laundering gig." He chuckled. "Well, I'm his left... WAS his left if it's been three days since I was out."

Thomas sighed. "Newt's been so busy as of late, we decided to move into another order to continue handling the black market of No-Maj and Magical goods... Katherine, is now the head of a family here, and I'm her right hand. A boss in the No-Maj underworld, and a Wizard of the Order of Merlin, and the Order of the Phoenix, in our world. So you're going to meet the side of me that Scat knows. Because he's going to put his suit on today as well, and you're going to meet my closest bodyguard for who he really is. Still a No-Maj, just one that carries a charm in his pocket I gave him that, well, keeps him from being charmed." Thomas smirked... And now she knew why her abilities didn't seem to actually -work- on Scat. It had been Thomas' hand in the mix the entire time... That son of a bitch...

Beau paused midway through making her plate and simply stared at him for a moment. That was a lot to digest. Gulping audibly, Beau glanced up to mett his gaze... and her vice-grip on the seat of her chair loosened a little. Was she really going to freak out over a little mobster business when just this week she'd drive head first into Fantasyland? It couldn't possibly be much worse, right? Course... underboss wasn't exactly 'little' business. In fact, it was kind of a big deal. But, then again, so was the fact that he'd literally killed for her... well, almost. As she thought back on what little she could vaguely recall... Beau suspected that she'd had a larger part than she wanted to admit in that little fiasco. Whether she liked it or not, she was already in up to her eyeballs. What good would turning back now even do? 

As it stood, she like him... REALLY liked him. And, so long as she was on the right side of things, she had no doubt he could and would keep her safe in ways that Vinnie would never have imagined. Plus, if she were being brutally honest, there was part of her that LIKED the idea... the freedom of it all... the power to truly determine one's own destiny completely uninhibited and unsupressed. It gave her a certain thrill. And, she thought... when she got right down to it, she could probably be GOOD at it... really good at it. .... as long as the innocents were left reasonably unbothered. 

After an long moment of agonizing silence, Beau simply nodded. "I think I can be in for a day like that," she agreed hesitantly, "I mean... I'm kind of half-in as it stands. So why not just go all the way, right?" She chuckled nervously and forced herself to steal a bite of Pitaya from her plate. 

It took a LONG moment to set in, but about halfway through swallowing, she blinked. "HEEY!! So you KNEW?!? The minute he shook me off, you knew," Beau half glared at him across the table. "That was a test. And you didn't even tell me?" She scowled playfully. Part of her was actually a little upset. But she couldn't help but admint it had been a good plan... right up until it all went sideways. "So... you really think you can figure me out, then," she asked with a cuatious air of trepid curiosity. "Do you think... Do you think I could fit? Y'know... here?" 

Beau glanced up at him bashfully, her questioning expression all too telling. It might make her an awful person. But at least for now, in this moment, this - him… this life - was her choice. Trying to cover her own vulnerability, Beau skipped over the question quickly, hardly giving him time to form an answer. "So... Do I need to change? Or... I dunno... do something? Or do I just tag along and stay out of the way?" 

Thomas smiled, "Yeah... Yeah I knew." The wicked smirk that played across his features was one of sheer enrichment. He got joy out of letting her know that Scat was off limits from her charms even more than he, himself, was... There was something tantalizing about the way she frowned, the way her lips pursed and her dimples formed as she glared at him. Who -wouldn't- smile at that?

"Ye-" he started as she asked about fitting there but was cut off...

Nodding, he smiled. "Yes, eat up first, but then change into something revealing but not -too- much. Something that says money, and a lot of it... And an inkling of danger as well." Thomas winked and yelled for Kovi who popped in quickly.

"Master needs Kovi's assistance?" the elf spoke softly.

"I do, Kovi... Is-pecial-beaux needs something that is riske, but not over the top whoreish. It needs to scream 'I have money, rob me!' and then make them question it at the same time with a hefty bit of danger and 'Can you taste the iron in your mouth yet?'..."

Thomas grinned and waved his hand as if Beaux would understand to get up and follow Kovi. However, he spoke. "Kovi will pick out some outfits. Once you've eaten, join him. He will let you play dress up with any fashion you can think of in the world. Afterword, Kovi?" he turned back to the elf. "Arm her... No-maj style. Perhaps the snub nose, or any of the revolvers? Maybe a 1911 if she chooses. Whatever it is, make it concealable in her hand held." Kovi simply nodded and headed toward the closet which would, all of a sudden, be bigger than even the safe house they were in. It was so large that she couldn't even see the furthest back wall of the room.

Kovi picked out a couple business women suits (read pant suits) and also some pretty, formal dresses, and even a few tea dresses to try and find a good style to put Isabeaux in.

Selections in the closet picked by Kovi!

 

Dress number one, he laid out on the bed...

Dress number two beside that...

Number three...   Number four...

 

Then there were the pant suits...

Suit One...  

Two... 

 

And lastly, the tea dresses...

One... 

Two... 

Three... 

 

The ones laid out, of course, weren't the only things stashed away in the closet, but they were the ones that Kovi seemed to like. However, she would certainly be able to have her pick of anything and everything she might want to mix and match to wear... Or not wear... Regardless, Kovi waited with a smile to play dress up with his life-sized, moving mannequin doll. The original -My-Sized-Barbie- if you would...

Thomas returned to eating, quietly finishing the food he'd pulled to his place while he let Isabeaux finish and then go change. He anxiously awaited her and Kovi's wardrobe choices, secretly wanting her to perhaps model slightly...

Leaving her plate half-touched, Beau scurried after Kovi submissively. She didn't have much of an appetite anyway... or at least that's what she'd tell herself. Standing in the doorway of the closet, Beau GAWKED in silent awe for a few minutes before Kovi tugged her unceremoniously into the spacious 'room'. With an air of almost too-eager sternees, the little creature whisked Beau out of her tea dress in one fell swoop. Beau, too stunned to resist, simply blinked as Kovi maneuvered her about... posing her this way and that as he went about his task. 

First came proper undergarments... hose, garters, bustier, slip. Then on to the outfits. Kovi was, much to Beau's surprise, very opinionated about the whole ordeal. And as he argued with her about the 'power' of a suit, Beau quietly leaned... still in her underclothes... around the closet door, calling jokingly down to Thomas, "Exactly how often do you have occasion to dress strange women?" 

Kovi, unimpressed by Beau's lack of enthusiasm for his wardrobe choices, yanked the woman back into the wardrobe with astounding force. "Kovi can do this the hard way or the easy way. It is up to Special." Blinking, Beaus chuckled and shook her head, "I don't do pants. You can't make me do pants. Thomas said I can choose whatever I wAAA....!" From the dinette, Thomas could hear Beau shriek as the room spun at terminal velocity. And, suddenly, there were pants. 

Glaring at the elf, Beau tromped out to the dinette with an air of 'only because you made me' and did a begrudging twirl for Thomas... who was very clear on her opinion about the matter. He eyed her up and down with a smile, but shook his head. Probably, she thought, only because he knew she didn't like it. 

With an uncomfortable *pop* and a distant yelp, Beau was pulled back into the wardrobe once again, and was bare down to her knickers (once again) in a matter of seconds. Blinking away the nausea, she forced herself to focus on the outfits Kovi was holding up at hyperactive chihuahua speed. "Too formal. Too much lace. That might work, needs red shoes. No. Hell fucking no. Not enough iron. Awful for my skintone. Too quaint."

And then it was Kovi's turn, "Not enough iron. Too much iron! Too risque. Too plain. Eh. Getting closer. Oh that's good. OH, that's better." 

With her choices narrowed down to three outfits (1, 2, 3), Kovi halted his fashion-atical assault and allowed Isabueax to model her options for Thomas. And this time, he could tell, she was truly pleased to do so. Each dress was progressively more... well, exactlu what he'd asked for. ANd the look on his face said he was stunned by them all. But there was something about the way Beau smiled and swayed in the last one that told him that was the one. 

With a nod, he communicated his approval to Kov, who ushered Beau off to another level of the closet. With in moments, she was furnished with a stunning pair of red bottomed pumps, an elegant clutch purse, a black fascinator that was just to die for, one of those fancy cigarette holders Ieven though she didn't smoke)... and then they hit *that* level of the collection.

With a small gulp, Beau stared at the expansive collection of weapons that covered every wall. There were guns of all types, the sheer number of which made her queasy. But Kovi, as usual, had no time for her nerves. Without a second thought, he began unceremoniously handing her pistols... heavy things, with far more bulk than she'd imagined. No... no no... these wouldn't work at all. Waving about, things floated here and there as Buea ducked... only barely missing getting pistol whipped... again. This was too much. With a shaking sigh, she grabbed Kovi by the ear before he could shove anything else terrifying into her hands. 

"I think I'll just take this one," she pipped, reaching for a ridiculously small handgun that lay carefully tucked inside a neaby glass case. Obviously, Thomas never used it. And Kovi started to explain all of the various reasons why. But... seeing how well it fit into her small hands and the comparable confidence with which she held it... he smiply nodded instead. 

With another loud *pop* and a whirlwind of color, Beau found herself back in the dinette. Kovi snickering softly as he told Thomas... with a certain kind of LOOK... "Special picked Master's 1908." 

Beau, clueless as to any particular significance, simply blinked at Thomas... awaiting his approval. 

As Beau stomped angrily into the living area in her pant suit Thomas swiveled his body around crossed his legs; his ankle resting atop his knee. His elbow rested on the chair's armrest and his thumb held his chin up, his fingers curved and covering his mouth slightly. Chuckling softly, Thomas shook his head, agreeing that the pant suit was not a good fit.

Then came dress one. He smiled and gave her a bit of a nod... Dress two, moderately the same reaction, though his eyes traveled her form more... The third dress though? As their eyes met, they -both- seemed to sparkle. The two nodded in agreement at her selection.

Again Isabeaux vanished into the closet with Kovi, outfitting her with shoes, a handbag, the useful cigarette holder, and... a nearly useless pistol only good for a watch fob, and to be pretty in the case where it should have stayed.

He smiled and nodded, whistling as she walked out, primping and modeling for him. "Now that's the girl that belongs on my arm..." He winked, then smirked, then slowly began to frown as Kovi told him what weapon she'd picked.

"Why? Why would you let her take that useless pea shoo...You know what? It doesn't matter, she's not gonna need it, and if she does? Well? Fuck it, right? Any gun is great for intimidation I suppose... Against the right people." He sighed and shook his head. "That gun, if you shoot it, aim for their face... Make sure you land that shot between their eyes, otherwise whoever you shoot will probably only get angry and respond in kind."

He snickered and then shook his head again, covering the laugh with his hand and standing. "We should be on our way... Kovi, phone Scat and tell him I'm on my way. Tell him I said to put it on." Beau looked at Thomas and raised a brow, mouthing a -what?- as she did so. "Oh, it's a joke. I gave him a suit when I hired him, said it's the last suit he'd ever wear..." He snickered them gave her a peck on the cheek as she rolled her eyes.

Thomas hooked Isabeaux's arm and led her to the door... With one last display of magic he flipped his hand out and caught the fedora that came flying from the closet, spun it, and placed it on his head; just slightly cocked to the side. He winked at Beau then opened the door, the bright rays of the sun illuminating their pathway to his 1931 LeBaron Marmon Sixteen Limousine. The middle window had been removed and it served well as a crew vehicle whenever he needed to tote around a few of the fellas (or ladies) with him.

He directed Beau to the passenger side and opened the door. Beau, who was visibly befuddled by the fact that this vehicle had NOT been here the whole time, slowly slid into the car and looked at him. Her face asked many questions but Thomas just smiled and shut the door, making his way around the front of the vehicle and hopping into the driver's seat. Handing her the keys, he motioned to the ignition... "Care to turn me on, baby?" They laughed together for a moment before Beau smirked, sliding her tongue slowly across her upper lip as she tip-toed her fingers across the seat and over to the ignition, inserting the key, and giving it a twist. The engine spat and groaned as if shaking off the dust before roaring to life, and Beau was ecstatic. Her smile said it all, like a child in a candy shop. Thomas goosed the gas lightly and the whole vehicle shook with power, making Beau giggle like a young girl. Thomas smirked and chuckled.

"Well, let's get goin', kitten. Scat's gonna be expectin' us sooner rather than later." Grabbing the shifter's knob he clutched down and threw the vehicle into reverse, pulling out of the safe-bubble of the safe-house, and heading off into the world of men and no-maj's to start their adventure.

Beau glared at Thomas as he mouthed off about her pistol choice, her eyes smouldering as the ambient temperature rose a degree or two. Withouth blinking, she racked the slide, firing three shots across the bar at the nicely arranged flower vases she'd created to mark each of the days he'd been asleep. Each one shattered in a spray of vibrant petals and sparkling glass with a cascade of dripping water. Pursing her lips, Beau locked eyes with Thomas and, without looking, fired one last shot directly at poor Kovi... who blinked away... before the bullet redirected itself with a wave of her hand, catching the last falling bud mid-air. 

Without a word, she waved her hand again, and the room... quite warm now... seemed to stand still as the vases reformed in rewind. 

With a salty smirk, she held the tiny pocket-piece out to him. "I guess I'll take the 1903," she quipped as the smaller gun dematerialized in her upturned palm, replaced by its larger brother. 

Thomas... with an expression somehwere between extreme arousal, dumbfounded confusion, mild irritation, and smitten fascination... said nothing more; hooking her arm and leading her to an absolutely smashing limo that she was sure had not been present mere minutes ago. With a befuddled smile, she slid into the passenger seat and giggled with school-girl like glee at the roar and rumble of the engine as Thomas bid her 'turn him on'. And, as they sped off into the early-morning sunlihgt... she though, if she survived the day... that might just be a wonderful idea.