Salena sighed into her pillow, tossing restlessly in a sea of whispering silk as she fought to force her way toward sleep. Despite the hush that hung heavily over the house, there was no rest. The very house seemed alive, buzzing with a kind of nighttime energy that Sally remembered from camping as a young girl. And the same sense of relentless wonder that had plagued her as she stared up at the twinkling stars through the pine branches then, held her captive as she stared at the dark ceiling now. It was quiet, like the silent rustle of an owl's wings in flight; a biting silence that reverberated in her bones, fueled by the foxglove that stimulated her heart. 

Huffing softly, Salena surrendered to the electric energy of the night. Slipping silently from the silken sheets, she draped a matching robe over her peignoir and slipped quietly out the door. Tiptoeing down the cavernous hall, she meandered her way to the kitchen. It was odd. The house felt so awake, and yet she never met another soul... even as she rummaged through the numinous cabinets. If she didn't know better, she could easily have convinced herself she was entirely alone. 

Making herself at home as much as she was able, Sally worked her way through the fridge and the cabinets. It was definitely a hot chocolate kind of night. The pots hanging over the stove were easy enough to navigate. As was the milk and cream that she found in the fridge. Baking goods seemed to be scattered through the cabinets next to the stove... making it a gamble for each ingredient. Sugar was easy enough to find... as were the spices. But to her dismay, she found no cocoa powder. After a few more minutes of rummaging, she decided the block of baker's chocolate would just have to do. It would be rich, but that might actually help her sleep better. So, no matter. 

Setting the milk to warm on the stove, she chopped and grated the heavy chocolate slab as quietly as she could... wincing each time she lost her grip and it thudded to the counter. Setting the shavings to the side, she searched high and low to no avail for cheesecloth. Noting that, next time she was out she'd have to stock up. With a soft sigh, she relegated herself to adding the spices directly. The consistency would suffer, but it wasn't the end of the world. The aroma of cinnamon and hazelnut filled the kitchen, tingling the nose with just a pinch of cayenne, as Sally worked her magic. The syrupy scent of sweet cream turning rich and dark as she whisked the chocolate shavings in. 

Ever quiet as a church mouse, she flitted and danced around the kitchen. Pausing every once and again to stir her midnight potion, she gingerly cleaned and replaced everything with painstaking care; allowing her coco cauldron to simmer until everything was rightfully straightened. Smiling softly to herself, she ladled a heaping helping into a dainty teacup and hoisted herself onto the counter by the window. It was rather improper and unladylike... but no one would know. So what did it matter? 

Hugging her knees to her chest, she curled herself into the wide window sill; leaning into the warm, aromatic steam of her coco as she stared wistfully out at the sparkling night as it lay serenely over the verdant gardens.... entirely unaware of Hiram's approach from the hall. 

Hiram watched from the hallway for a while before finally approaching, the aroma of chocolate and spice too much for him to ignore. He silently slipped through the halls, not even a footfall to be heard as he stopped in the kitchen. Even ladling himself a cup of the hot chocolate was silent. He waited until she had taken a sip and swallowed, moving the steaming liquid away from her mouth.

"This smells nice."

Before she could even jump and send the cup flying, Hiram's hand was over the top of it and holding it down, knowing full well he'd startle her.

"Apologies, the smell was too nice to pass up. I honestly assumed it would be Sullivan or Amelia I would find here." Removing his hand from her cup, he lifted his own. His blue eyes scanned her as he quietly moved around the island counter and leaned against it to watch her.

"So..." he hesitated before giving up and simply taking a sip of the hot cocoa. "Oh wow, that's really, really good." Hiram almost melted to the floor in a dramatic flood of appreciation for the flavor explosion in his mouth.

"I mean, extremely good. Where did you get this recipe? I -must- have it." Hiram smiled at her and her nervous, cautious facial expressions. "I promise I don't bite, well, I mean... I do, obviously. But. GAH!" He huffed, taking a second drink of the chocolate heaven. "I'm not going to hurt you." Nodding, he grinned. That one felt much better.

"I've got to ask though. What are your intentions with my little brother? I just got him back, and I'm not ready to loose him to heartache again. Not so quickly." He chuckled softly.

Sally gasped, simply staring for a few moments as Hiram cradled her cup. Chuckling softly, she admitted, "That was smoothe." Sipping her  coco, she smiled, "Are you all that way?" She was cautious as she watched him... not entirely guarded... just curious and observant. 

She giggled as he melted, "Sully did say you were the culinary connoisseur of the family. I don't have a recipe, per se. I just... mix what feels right. This one is cinnamon, hazelnut, and cayenne.... and a little sugar because I had to use baker's chocolate instead of cocoa powder." She lifted her glass in a toast, warming a bit as she settled into his presence. "I'll be happy to teach you... or make it for you... whenever you like. I usually do this little ritual at least a few times a week. And I'd be happy for the company," she admitted with a smile. 

She smirked as he floundered, slipping the shoulder of her robe down to reveal a bright red circle of fevered skin beneath. "I'm hardly afraid of your teeth, Love. It's... everything else that concerns me," she admitted with relaxed candour... her face reddening a bit as he launched into 'the talk'. 

"And here I thought I'd have a few days to broach that topic," she laughed aloud, her cheeks a pale pink beneath her mismatched eyes and dark curls. With a sigh, she turned to face him fully, dangling her feet off the counter as she set her coco to one side. "I... Sully... There's this... He's..." she sighed helplessly as she struggled for the words. "Can't you just SNIFF ME, or something?" she laughed as she melted and floundered helplessly, hiding her hands in her face. 

"It's hard to explain. Do you know what it's like to pine after someone that you've never met? To know in your bones that a piece of you is missing? It's like craving a food you've never tasted. It's like... umami," she smiled, hoping he'd appreciate the culinary reference, "That's how my life was before I met Sully. It's like I've known him my whole life. And every day without him I felt half-alive. And now he's here, and it's like everything in me remembers. Every cell in my body recognizes him. I'd rather rip my own heart out than lose him or cause him pain. If I had MY OWN heart, of course," she chuckled, "It's like... I look at him and everything in the world makes sense." 

"Hiram," she smirked a bit as she whispered his name for the first time, "I look at him and for the first time in my life... I'm afraid to die." She shook her head in shy disbelief, "That's never happened before. I've stared into that dark abyss more times than I can count. I've walked myself back from the inbetween more than is natural for ANY being... otherkin or not. And now that I'm here... for the first time... I'm afraid.' 

Reaching for her teacup, she shrugged, "So I can't say what my intentions are beyond... living... for him. Because I don't know what HE wants out of this life... unlife?... yet. But... hopefully, you can at least trust that I'm here in good faith? ...For whatever he chooses."

Wrinkling her nose, she laughed out loud, "Oh gods... I'm like the human version of Jacoby!"

Hiram about shot hot cocoa from his nose as she made jokes about Jacoby.

"Heaven's no! Oh that's delightfully funny!" Hiram stood tall. "As for the intentions, well, I can happily allow those feelings." He smiled and took another sip of his drink.

"I'm sure Christian's already got ideas. I'd imagine he and Tsukina are pouring over notes, scrolls and tomes of old, and even asking around the realms. Hell, if he's buggered enough, Christian might reach out to Damian."

He shrugged and rounded the table to be closer to her. "It's uncanny how much I can still remember that scent. Then again, I am their bloodhound for a reason." He snickered. "It really is Sullivan isn't it? I wonder what it is he's become. He doesn't quite feel like us." Sighing, Hiram leaned against the counter beside Sally and stared out of the window.

"You know, it's not kind to make fun of me..." Jacoby's voice bounced down the hallway as he sleepily made his way into the kitchen. "That smells really good, can I have some?"

"Ummm, it's chocolate, kiddo. I know it's not deadly like with dogs, but I don't wanna smell you all day afterward," Hiram called over his shoulder. Grumbling, Jacoby sighed and resigned himself to smelling the hot cocoa instead.

"Fiiiiiiine. You got anything stronger than this?"

Hiram chuckled, "Just who's house do you think you're in?" Hiram opened one of the top cabinets and produced a bottle of hooch. "Rum, or bathtub gin... One or the other. Can't remember." He snickered and popped the cork. With a sniff, he pulled it away from his nose. Jacoby and he at the same time shook their heads. "GIN!" they called in unison. Hiram poured two glasses, then looked at Sally and shook the bottle with a third empty glass in hand. "Want some? Distilled fresh in one of the tubs here in the house!" He smirked wickedly.

Sally giggled and slid off the countertop. "Actually... it's the theobromine in cacao that makes it unsuitable for canids. And I think I saw some carob powder in the cabinet. It's not quite the same, but close... ish... without the nasty side effects. If you want, I think I can make a canine-friendly version fairly easily," she smiled, trying her best to ignore the dumbfounded expression on both men's faces. 

"What? You act like you've never met a human before," she poked teasingly, sticking out her tongue. Nodding to Hiram she accepted his offer with a smirk, "Just a teensy bit. It's contraindicated with my digoxin. If I drink too much I'll get quite dizzy. And I'd hate to give your brother qualms so soon after arriving. I just got him relaxed." 

Pulling another pot down from its hook, Sally fetched the milk and spices, setting to work on a new concoction with a content smile. It was sweeter and more fragrant, filling the kitchen with a rich, nutty aroma. Milling through the cabinets, she muddled together an ambrosial mixture of cardamom, allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove with just a dash of black pepper. Smiling triumphantly, she served Jacoby AND Hiram a small glass. "It's not quite chocolate... more like a mocha-chai... but I think you'll like it," she bowed her head as she passed Jacoby his glass. 

"And, for whatever it's worth, I wasn't making fun of you. I was making fun of ME," she chuckled lightly... giving the men a bit of time to assess the nutty, creamy, sweet concoction she'd improvised for Jacoby's sake. "Your reaction to Evie is part of your nature. It's in your blood. It's entirely normal... and kind of endearing, actually. Me, on the other hand..." she shook her head as she blushed, "Aside from my heart... which isn't really even mine... there is nothing about me that belongs here. I am very aware that I am out of place in your world. Yet I charge in... directly against my nature... without so much as a second thought out of sheer, enamoured devotion. I should be running the other direction... but instead, I'm making you warm cocoa and praying it'll help convince you that I'm good enough to keep. It's like an antelope serving dinner to lions. But... Carlisle is a far worse fate and... well..." 

She blushed s she reached for the gin, "Just the idea of love tends to make humans do insanely stupid things. So... here I am." She glanced at Hiram, hoping he'd catch the inference. She knew it was an impossible, ridiculous, preposterous proclamation considering how long she'd known Sullivan... but it carried the scent of truth through and through. 

Jacoby and Hiram both nodded at her comment about humans and love. It was true. Love made people stupid. Then again, they were no different. Love made them stupid as well. Hiram was a testament to that fact... As was Jacoby's newest discovery.

As for the drink, both males took a sip and veritably melted in their spot. Silence befell them as they enjoyed their drinks and stared outside, watching the few cars pass on the street below and the Sun slowly rising over the garden the kitchen overlooked.

"This is really good," Jacoby quietly broke the silence. "Could I possibly have a second glass?"

Hiram nodded and took his glass around to the pot and made them both a second one before looking at Salena and topping her's off as well. "So back to this every cell in your body recognizing Sullivan comment." He looked between Jacoby and Salena.

"Do you think it's because of Matty somehow? Maybe that's why he's back? Or at least why you find yourself so enamored with him almost immediately?"

Jacoby shrugged. "She smells like Matty but doesn't, if that makes sense... But it was strange when I saw Sullivan as well. I wanted to attack right away, but then he let me sniff his hand and talked too freely about things only you or we would know..." He pointed to Hiram then himself indicating he meant Black family or Pack family... "So I knew it was him... Or, some part of him at least. But there's still something off about the whole thing, Hiram. He doesn't smell like you, no offense. He smells like old Sully. Not like Upyr Sully should smell. But then, there's a hint of something... I can't place it because I've never sensed it before. But it makes the hair on the back of my neck rise. Ely too, I asked him."

Hiram nodded. "Don't worry. Christian and I spoke about it too. Something is different. Not necessarily bad, but different." He looked at Salena. "Any ideas?"

Chuckling softly, he took a drink from his mocha-chai-tea-cocoa thing and waited.

Matty nearly choked into her cocoa. "Wow," she chuckled lightly, "400 years really takes the edge off the whole social propriety thing, hm?" Hiram frowned a bit as she said it, thinking that - perhaps, in the eyes of someone unaccustomed to their family - he'd been rude. But the look on her face was genuinely tickled rather than offended. "Relax," she cooed softly, reaching out to pat his hand lightly... her fingers soft and warm, "I like it. Social graces tire me. I'd much rather get down to the meat and bones without all the dancing niceties." 

Scowling into her cup, she took another sip, meditating on the dark circles within for a long moment before trying to form an answer. "Bear with me," she entreated them with worried eyes, "I'm not... as well versed in such things as you but I'll share what I can put to words." Sliding back onto the counter, she tucked her feet beneath her indian-style as she chewed her lip. "It would make sense... in a sense. Given that my heart isn't mine, I suppose that might hold some explaination but... and forgive me for my rationality, but I strongly believe that the two MUST coincide... just in ways that society as large is yet to recognize or understand. The science of it doesn't hold. I can give that any lingering hormones in Matty's system could have transferred to mine and facilitated my attachment to Evie. Sure. But at this point, it's been long enough that... I would think... integration has been more or less achieved to the point that what's mine is mine. Even if I am a chimaera, I'M the chimaera. Not her and not my original self but something new composed of the stronger traits of both, which would still mean that it's MY resulting cells... MY spliced physiology, not hers that ought to be running the show. But - and especially - if it is as Sully seems to suspect and my continual habit of resurrection is due to a mismatched... racial marker?" her brow quirked as she searched for the most accurate and least obvious way to articulate the difference between an 'other' and a human, "...or if said markers are dominant rather than recessive and somehow triggering an overwrite of sorts... then that opens a whole different world of possibilities that I'm not sure anyone up to this point has had the opportunity to explore." 

Blushing slightly as her own rambling, she smiled. "Forgive me. I just... find it all fascinating." 

"As for Sully," she smiled uncontrollably as she said his name, trying to hide the involuntary reaction behind a long sip of her cocoa, "The boy has been to Hell and back in the most literal of senses. He remembers the feeling of heaven. And I can't imagine that exposure to those energies wouldn't prompt changes at an essential level of being... kind of like radiation, no?" Her head tilted to one side quizically, wondering if either of them understood, if she was even remotely CLOSE to the marker of how the world ACTUALLY functions, or if she just sounded mad... or worse childlike and ignorant. "I mean... just think about what it would TAKE for him to be here. 20 some-odd years... there's..." she winced a bit, recalling the earlier events of the evening in relation to her current conversation, "there's not gonna be anything to come back TO. I mean, I've read enough smut to understand the general acceptance of regenerative healing in non-human entities. But... I would think there would have to BE SOMETHING to regenerate. With Sully... I don't know. It just seems like it's perfectly reasonable for him to be 'different' considering... given what little I understand... that... I mean... how do you even fucking remake a body??" Her expression was priceless as she finally tumbled her way into the question, the words spilling out with innocent wonderment and genuine curiosity as she eyed them both. "That can't be normal... even for all of you." 

"So, I mean, sure. He smells like him and not like him because he IS him... just not the SAME him. Kind of like I smell like Matty and not like Matty because part of me IS Matty, and yet not. In that regard, I think we're two peas in a pod. Something entirely new that few have ever seen before... and no one knows how to categorize. And it makes no fucking sense, and yet all the sense in the world because... apparently I died and fell through the fucking looking glass yesterday." Her grin grew a little as she struggled to process the insane turn her life had taken, "But then... I don't have your olfactory sensitivities," she chuckled, "to me, he just smells like vanilla bourbon... and oud wood incense." 

Tilting her head to one side, she fixated on Hiram with a mischievous, inquisitive grin. "Hey," she chirped with childlike curiosity, "Can I sniff you?

Hiram and Jacoby nodded along, following her train of thought and even smirking or chuckling at parts. However, where she hit home, was with the question about twenty years later... He'd come back to that. As she continued, he and Jacoby agreed that perhaps it was, and wasn't him at the same time because some things were... new.

Hiram was about to speak as she paused, but then was taken aback by her mischievous grin and subsequent question. Blinking, he chuckled softly and nodded, stepping closer.

"I don't see why that would be an issue."

He waited for her to sniff him, then stepped back after she'd had her experience. Vanilla and bourbon. Just like the others. A signature scent maybe? A genetic marker? Who knew... Certainly not Hiram.

"So, about what he'd come back to..." Hiram started.

"I've seen the way my brother treated the dead before putting them in the ground, and I've had plenty of time to exhume some that were older than he. Depending on circumstances, it is possible that the body mummified, or left very little behind... But, with the right kind of work or for lack of a better word, magic, that could easily be reversed and his body's natural regenerative state would have kicked in." Hiram shrugged. "I suppose that all he'd need would be a quick jump start, and if the tree was enough life force for his body to steal, then it would explain why he has a body... Because it's his, just completely regenerated over his skeletal structure..."

Hiram stepped away. "But that still begs the question, is he one of us? Or something completely different? And if so, then -what- is -that- which he has become?"

Downing his drink, Hiram shook his head and placed the empty cup in the sink. Jacoby shuttered at the thought of regenerating after decomposition, and at the thought of not knowing what it was that Sullivan had become.

Sally giggled, leaning much closer than Hiram expected as she inhaled his scent; her smooth cheek barely grazing the crook of his neck. "Interesting," she chuckled, tilting her head to one side, "There's more... what is that?" She trailed off, leaning in to sniff him again, "The mid notes are different, spice and... moss?... almost. Like... more 'outside'. And yet strikingly similar." Giving him one last huff, she wrinkled her nose with a playful smirk, "That a family thing, then?" Sliding off the countertop, she set to washing the dishes muttering under her breath about needing to 'find out'. 

"I may not know what you all know. But I'd stake my life that he's NOT one of you... in that sense." Drying one hand, she pulled her dark curls to one side, revealing a tell-tale trail of raised goosebumps that disappeared beneath her nightgown. "You see," she chuckled shyly, "The effects may be contrasting, but the pattern holds. As a natural byproduct of my biology, the lot of you tend to involuntarily set my senses on edge. Sully doesn't. But he DOES for you. Which, rationally, leads me to believe he is another 'other' and not..." Glancing over her shoulder, she eyed Hiram inquisitively, "What was the word? Upyr?"

Turning back to the sink, she let her long hair fall over her shoulder as she continued scrubbing the pots and cups. "From an unconditioned human standpoint, your aura, your simple presence feels threatening on an instinctive level. Everything in me KNOWS that you are, unquestionably, apex and that I am consequently indefensibly vulnerable at every moment. It's thrilling, in a way, but also undeniably menacing. Dangerous. Not necessarily in a bad way, just... very obvious and aware. Sully feels... different... it's hard to explain. His presence is alarming, but it doesn't feel as imminently perilous. Still somewhat dangerous, yes. But it's like a comfortable kind of inevitability. It's... no offense... natural, in a way that is very far from the rest of you." 

Sliding across the kitchen, she hung the pots back in their homes with determined grace and control. "Does that make any sense?"

Hiram nodded and Jacoby tilted his head as he looked out of the window.

"It makes sense..." Hiram joined her in putting things away and cleaning while Jacoby still sat and stared out of the window, his gears turning slowly in deep thought.

"Natural... Now that's a word I've never heard used to describe Sullivan," Hiram chuckled out softly before placing a hand on Salena's shoulder. "Regardless, I'm sure we will all figure it out soon enough."

"Sure as death..." Jacoby said quietly, which was a joke to and at Hiram...

"Very funny, pup," Hiram quipped back halfheartedly and with a smile. "I'm certain we'll figure it out."

"Yea, as certain as I am that we have a good chance of never knowin' exactly what it is that our dear Sully has become." Jacoby finally turned from the view through the window and looked at Hiram and Salena.

"But, regardless, I think it's a good thing he's here. Even if we don't know what it is that he's become, we know he's your brother and he's home again." Jacoby shrugged as he wandered away after handing Hiram his cup. "I'm gonna go sleep a little bit more. Enjoy your time cousin." He waved over his shoulder, "You as well, Salena. Hopefully Chicago is what you wanted it to be. Ely and I will return to L.A. after this morning, perhaps with Evie. If not, Ely will go alone and I'll stay here with Evie." He chuckled. "You ready to smell mutt permanently?" He chuckled, and slipped out of sight down the dark hall.

"Not really," Hiram called out before shaking his head.

"Sorry about the kid. He means well. A lot better than when we first sent him to Ely. He doesn't know that, but, we actually found him alone. Figured Ely would raise him the best. He's turned into a pretty good man, at least I think so. Definitely not so useless anymore!" Hiram laughed. "He's tough though. We knew he'd make a good soldier eventually. We just never thought he would imprint on someone from ourside of the family. Always figured it would be some insignificant, no name, average, every-day girl... Or even a guy. No offense of course meant by those statements. I just mean, we figured he'd find a human, run off, and never come back eventually." Hiram shrugged. "Now, he's saved Elyan, Shomecosse, and even Ely's beta, Dimitri, a time or two... He's really stepped up. We're proud of him, and I'm happy to have him here." He chuckled softly.

"But, what if he's right? What if we don't figure it out? Do we just go on with life, or undeath, as usual?"

Sighing, Hiram turned away from the kitchen. "Either way, you should go shower his scent from you... It's rather strong today." With a wink, Hiram drug himself off into the den, still easily within line of sight and earshot if she continued talking, or even followed him. He plopped down heavy onto a couch and kicked his feet up, grabbing a book and opening it before stealing a look back at Salena. She was pretty; the scars and mismatched eyes certainly adding to the appeal. He could see why Sullivan liked her so much. Not to mention the eerie similarities between her and Matty... Shivering softly, he turned back to the book in hand and opened it.

Salena gasped with an audible squeak, instinctively clutching the front of her gown. A million thoughts screaming through her head at once; the scent of her blood washing through the kitchen like heavy perfume as she blushed the darkest shade of red Hiram had seen in decades. 

She was frozen for a few moments, save for her failed attempts at forming a verbal response... her worried pout resembling a fish out of water as she sorted through each thought in turn, finally deciding it was probably better to say nothing at all. After all, it wasn't like anything could be particularly surprising or offputting to someone of his age... right??

Catching his shiver, her head tilted to one side; her expression suddenly worried as she scampered out of the kitchen. Was she repulsive? Was he hungry? Aroused? Disgusted? Had she done something? What if she wasn't good enough? She was human, after all. Maybe that was frowned upon? Why was she so concerned? 

Pausing at the door, she whispered a soft, "thank you," before turning and pacing her way slowly back to the bedroom. 

Her lip was nearly busted from incessant chewing by the time she meandered her way down the long corridor to 'their' room; a fretful expression colouring her eyes with stormy clouds as she closed the door behind her. Even Sully's cheery greeting as he slid out from beneath his piano barely scratched the surface of her brooding as she forced a shy smile. 

Now just what had gone wrong? The embarrassed flush of her cheeks had him up in arms within moments, as she quietly, nonchalantly picked her way through the things he'd packed, earnestly focused on prying her way past him to the shower

Sullivan happily tweaked the -slightly- out of tune piano. He'd been plucking away at strings and tightening, or loosening, as needed to meet the right, haunting sounds we wished for out of his lovely pride and joy... The black grand piano took up half of the room by itself, and was in need of some necessary maintenance to make her happy again. He was just about done when he heard the door open and he slid out from under the contraption of melody and melancholy...

"Hey there beautiful! I've just about got her all fixed up, why don't you give her a pla-... Hey, what's wrong?" He sat up and slowly stood. "What happened? I smelled the cocoa, did you arouse someone that upset you?"

Rushing to her side, he attempted to hold her, but she slipped from his grasp and quickly detoured toward the shower.

"Hey now! What's~" he sighed out as she shut the door to the bathroom and he heard the water kick on. Frowning, Sullivan headed to the door and quickly down the hall toward the kitchen.

"OH GOOD! You're up!" Hiram's voice called out, and Sullivan rounded on him quickly, eyes flaring a familiar, icy-blue in the Black household. Hiram raised a brow as Sullivan raised his voice.

"YOU! What have you said to Salena to worry her so!?" he huffed out, his footfalls quickly carrying him over to Hiram as the man stood. Just shy of Sullivan's height, Hiram looked up to him.

"To worry her? I simply said she might want to clean up, I could smell you on her rather strongly. No ill-intent meant, dear brother."

At Hiram's words, Sullivan's tune changed quickly, and his face flushed... As the color returned, his eyes faded into their natural blue color and he smirked.

"Yeah... Heh. Sorry. I probably smell of her too..."

Hiram, never the one to pass on hazing someone, raised a brow and nodded with a smirk. "Do not think you are free from my wrath, youngest brother. You too will receive a heckling." Hiram chuckled, "But first, I hadn't realized how familiar she looked to Matty. It was so easy to have a conversation with her this morning because of that! It honestly makes my skin crawl that they look so similar!"

Sullivan chuckled, "I think she may have noticed that. She seemed nervous, and, telling her she smelled like me probably didn't help!" The two laughed, and then Hiram slipped an arm around Sullivan's shoulders.

"You sir, need to make sure and do a much better job pleasuring that woman. I smelled you all over her, but I hardly smell HER on you. Not the same way, if you understand, little brother?"

Sullivan raised a brow, looking at Hiram. "What are you on about, Hiram?"

"Climax, my little brother." He leaned in and whispered ever so quietly, "You failed her... And I can smell that." He laughed as Sullivan turned beet red.

"Yes, now you understand..." Slapping Sullivan's ass, Hiram continued, "Now go, either shower your shame off or seek redemption for you failures... AND LEAVE ME TO MY BOOK!"

Hiram plopped back down on his seat as Sullivan hurried himself back down the hall to hide his embarrassment. Had it really been that bad? Perhaps Hiram was just messing with him, as he did? If he told the truth, well, he had been buried for twenty years. He'd need to knock the rust off of his equipment so to speak, right? It wasn't like riding a bicycle, or was it? Regardless, Sullivan slipped back inside the bedroom and slipped to the door of the bathroom.

Knocking softly, he called out, "Salena? Salena, are you okay? I'm sorry if last night wasn't what you expected!"

Dead. Fucking. Silence.

It echoed through the room like church bells. 

How could this morning possibly get any MORE embarrassing? 

Sally croaked and squeaked a bit as she - AGAIN - searched for words to process the day's events. "I... you... no... um... it... we..." 

Nothing would come out. So finally she simply settled with, "It's not locked." 

Hearing the door open, Sally pulled the curtain back just enough so that she could make eye contact... giving Sully an unintentional view of her glistening form as the soap bubbles trickled slowly down her soft curves. 

"I'm okay," she smiled sheepishly, ringing her curls. "I just um... Hiram suggested I needed a shower," she blushed brightly, "I didn't realize... I mean... obviously I CAN'T realize... but I... he... um... it caught me off guard, that's all." She smiled, as she peeked around the curtain at him, "I thought things were going really well... but... now I'm not so sure. He... um... cringed." 

Her eyes were sad and disappointed as she turned away to rinse her shoulders.  "I'm sorry if I made you think it was something you'd done. It's really not. You were..." she paused, searching for exactly the right word. "You... were... refreshingly motivated," she nodded, giggly softly, "It was nice. And I didn't die... or pass out. So... that's an improvement. Well... a first, actually. So, all things considered, I'd say you were the best I've ever had." She smiled brightly at him over her shoulder, her mismatched eyes asparkle with admiration. 

That WAS a good thing, right? Her words certainly SAID it was a good thing, but something about it made Sully feel like maybe it wasn't. Not dying is a pretty LOW bar, after all. Maybe Hiram was right? Would she even KNOW if Hiram was right? Maybe not... but Hiram certainly would. 

..... FUCK!

Sully couldn't help but smile as he watched the soap run along her curves. As she spoke, he chuckled softly, but when she mentioned Hiram cringing, he frowned and nodded.

"I might know what that was about, love."

Sullivan walked over, through nerves and worries all, and sat on the edge of the toilet seat. "You see, we already know you have an uncanny resemblance to Matty... But it really messes with Hiram to see just how similar you are, even if I can see how different each of you are." He smiled. "It's chilling to him is all. Unnatural, which is funny coming from us." He laughed.

"As for, me..." He frowned a bit, "Not dying is... Not exactly how I want to be remembered, hmm? I'm going to get your meds figured out so you can focus more on enjoying yourself instead of not dying. Does that sound like a plan to you? I hope so! In fact, I'll go get started on that now. Lemme know when you're done showering so I can."

He hopped up quickly and smiled at her, giving her a good look over again. "You're beautiful, Salena. Inside and out."

Sally giggled, "Me, unnatural? That's... wow." She paused for a moment, her gaze searching out her reflection in the mirror. "I... didn't know it was that... bad? That's not... ?" she trailed off, refusing to finish the sentence. Of course, it was. Why else? 

She blushed a little, her eyes sad as he complimented her. "Is that because you think I'm her? ... inside and out?"  

She hated herself for asking. But given the course of the morning, she needed to hear it. One way or another. 

Smiling away her insecurities, she reached for his hand, tugging him back as he tried to leave. "I think you were perfectly wonderful. But I'm sure that I could improve for you. So... if you WANT to try for better... You could just shower now," she grinned at him wickedly. 

Sullivan smirked as she stopped him...

"No, I think Salena is beautiful inside and out. You're not Matty. No offense, you'll never be Matty... You're Salena. You're perfect in your own way, different and magnificent. I love it." His smile twisted into a goofy one before he shucked his clothes and quickly joined her in the shower, ripping the curtain shut.

Her lathered and soapy form was tantalizing, and he was already excited to be so near her.

"Okay then..." He chuckled. "I could just shower now."

Sally nearly choked as he stepped into the shower. "You... you love it?" she asked, her fingers gingerly tracing the constellation of scars that dotted his torso. There was a well-hidden smirk tickling the edges of her mouth, scratching to reach the surface as her voice lilted with unfiltered hope. Could that really be? Did he? Did SHE?? Her eyes said absolutely yes as she looked up at him with a shy, needful searching. 

Chuckling bashfully, she lowered her eyes to her feet, "I'm sorry. Too soon? What am I saying? Of course, it's too soon. I'm just being silly." 

She bit her lip as she glanced up at him hesitantly, biting her bottom lip as her shy smile struggled to stay hidden, "But... if you did... maybe... you could prove it?" Her smirk was enough to slay the dead as she peered up at him with a heterochromatic 'come hither'. 

He chuckled low as he stared into her eyes, his hand reaching out and sliding around the back of her head, tangling in her hair.

"Is that a challenge?" he smirked, the look in his eyes a bit dangerous as he pulled back, making her look up at him.

"Because I like a good challenge. Maybe I shouldn't go so easy on you, hmm?" Sullivan chuckled again, deeper than the first. "Let yourself go, dear Salena, and I shall make good on this challenge."

Embracing and entangling, the time would pass by slowly while throughout the rest of the house, Sal, Christian, Hiram, Elyan, and Jacoby busied themselves with other tasks to keep them preoccupied and not listening in on their brother's charismatic interpretation of redemption.