Horsing around (Iris/invite)

[Kennedy]

She won! Kennedy wasn't entirely sure why she was surprised because she pretty much knew that she would. The puppy dog eyes only sealed the deal but they were unnecessary because he never told her no. As he took her hand into his, she pressed into him as they followed behind Iris towards the farm house. It was a nice relaxing evening and they were with family. She had no issues keeping him from work this one evening. Maybe it was selfish but he needed to relax from time to time and she was going to see to it.

As they reached the house, she couldn't help but smile as the albino ferret tried to make his escape. Smiling at the little critter, she thought to turn into her squirrel form to try and make the little guy feel better but Ginny was close and Kennedy wasn't sure if Ginny would let her out of her site if she was in her tiny furry form. Ginny had quite the personality but it would scare her if she shifted. Giving the ferret a soft smile before she looked up at Mordie and squeezed his hand. Leading him inside after Iris, she let her eyes roam around the large house. It was night to just relax with friends and family instead of having to hustle and bustle of work and random jobs that needed to get done. As the aroma greeted her, Kennedy instantly knew that staying was the best idea. Looking up at her man, she gave him a playful wink.

[Mordechai]

A rare smile graced Mordechai's visage as he rested an arm around kennedy. Following Iris from the stable he could feel the pent up energy almost vibrating in his little allurist. He would take the night off to spend it with family and friends, if it pleased her. As they were lead towards the farm house, his eyes once more roved the landscape, it was a habit he could not break. Entering the house, a small white rodent flashed past, only to be ensnared by the nimble fingers of the stable's mistress. Following the scent of blood and tea, and the minute noise made by the mystic turned hostess, Mordechai led kennedy to a nearby room. Ordinarily the killer would have just entered, knowing that he was at the right place, but something held him back as he thought about Iris. She seemed lost, about one hundred years in the past, and was sure she still believed in the dignity and customs of the old system. Drawing kennedy into his arms, Mordechai choose to wait until invited in. Reaching out softly he touched his sirelings mind, "We are here Zo, waiting for Iris"

[Iris von Drol]

Iris’s blue orbs stared at Puck and finally the length of the domesticated European polecat curled up into a content ball inside the silk lined satchel handmade for such a purpose. The cordovan velvet shifted as the albino tail within found the perfect position over its face offering that shield to the now lethargic pink beaded eyes. All was to be as Iris expected. Calm, serene and affording her the luxury of perhaps properly entertaining the guests and her sire that waited below. Iris stroked the length of her splayed petite fingers downward over the dark material that wrapped her tightly. Her soft steps had her quickly back in the company of those she had invited in. The very same guests who would no longer need another reason to return came to her view. One invite was generally open-ended shrugging the formality when business related.

Zodiac was seeping into her thoughts as she cleared the stairs. It appeared Iris would be entertaining solo for the time being until she returned. Curious about the two beyond the common appreciation for majestic beasts she was enthusiastic with the prospect of learning more about the couple.

“I am pleased to see that you have made the choice to stay.” Wide friendly blue orbs floated their focus between the giant of a man and the energetic partner he claimed. Her hand gently nudged the door shut once they were inside the interior of the house.

Socializing was something that Iris did in sparse amounts for business. Otherwise she was rather quiet and had a routine that left her not often seen. The young telepath believed idle hands cost one far more than most could afford in the end. Her skirting glided across the wood leaving the soft hissing sound. That alone most would seem more out of place than the fangs that were in the mouths that were about to indulge in conversation.

“Zodiac should be back soon.” Iris took pause where she stood and motioned to the chairs available around the table. She had regretted she lacked the formal parlor to offer such a gathering but the kitchen would do just fine. “Please have a seat.”

[Zodiac]

Once she had found the two mortals that worked for her childe (Edith accepted hers gracefully and chatted for a bit while Lugosi simply nodded and wandered off with his cup) she began to look about for Ginny. Odds were the miniature black panther was stalking Puck somewhere in the house. The gypsy would not have worried at all if the cat managed to go back outside. At this time of the night, there was little about that would pose any real threat. Visions of the cat staring down Leviathan made her grin for a moment, but she knew that wasn't the case at all. The ferret was a source of curiosity for the cat's senses and the mystic was never sure what the cat's intentions were in the few confirmations the two animals have had so far.

She pulled the small flute she carried in her purse free and softly blew a couple of notes as she visually inspected each room. The short tune she played quite often caught the animal's attentions and brought it to her feet as a norm. She continued to search till a muffled 'meow' caught her attention. Zodiac turned and found the furry fury looking directly at her from on top of a table with a field mouse firmly in her jaws. After the shock passed, she fussed over the cat as she laid her prize down on the antique table top.

"Thank you, dear lady. A gift for Iris or your contribution to the tea party?" her thoughts whispered as she gathered up the tiny mangled corpse in a hankie. Both Iris and herself kept immaculate homes and keeping the field mice out was part of a unending war both of them faced out here, however Iris did not have a world class mouser at her disposal to aid in the fight. The devil in her suggested simply giving Ginny's latest victim to her child, but a discreet word would probably be better received in front of company. She gathered up her familiar and made her way back to where the others were waiting. Upon entering the room, Ginny snapped to full attention. She smelled the ferret at once. Either it was with Iris now or had been moments earlier.

"No,no. I agree Puck looks like a weird mouse, but leave him alone." she cooed softly as she took a seat next to her childe. Not seeing the ferret did not mean it wasn't around somewhere. She held the cat in her lap as she smiled to the others, while inside of Iris' thoughts.. "Ginny caught another mouse for you. Wanna see?"

[Kennedy]

As Mordechai waited and pulled her back into his arms, she smirked and waited for the invite into the house though her eyes were darting to and fro to get a better glimpse of the house to see what Iris' style was. Curiosity as well as her bubbly enthusiasm were her flaws but she was happy so she didn't care. She was who she was and she didn't care about what others thought of her. As Iris offered them a seat, she bounced in and sat down as her eyes watched the ferret. It was cute and clearly thought it was safe from Ginny in Iris' care which made Kennedy smile. Ginny was a badass but there were others that would intercept her to keep the little rodent safe though Kennedy had spent a ton of time with Zodiac to know that she herself should avoid shifting into squirrel form when Ginny was around.

Sitting politely and waiting for everyone to sit and Zodiac to join them. The tea smelled amazing and she couldn't wait to take a sip of the nice warm liquid. Her hand drifted over to take hold of Mordechai's as she was happy that he decided to stay and not head into work. He worked so much that she was afraid that if work could kill vampires...he would be the first to go. He was a workaholic but his paychecks proved that it was worth it. Smiling over at Iris, she spoke while trying to be normal and not a giant ball of energy. "Thank you for your hospitality, Iris. You have a really pretty home."

[Mordechai]

Mordechai followed his kennedy and Iris into the room, his obsidian eyes roving the decor, assessing alternative egress routes. As he chose to stand near kennedy unsure if the delicate funriture would hold his mass, he heard the light tones of a small flute floating gently on the air, followed by Ginny's answer. Evidently his sireling did not always mentally connect with her feline partner. At the entrance of the diminutive mystic, the 'party' began. The massive male lifted the delicate cup in his hand, examining it. The smell of the blood frew him, but his fingers did not fit the handle. Spinning it on the saucer, he shook his head, the handle was smaller than the trigger guard on a child's cap gun. Shaking his head, the killer stared, his silky tresses flowing over his shoulders as he tried to pinch the handle between thumb and forefinger. The porcelain felt brittle between the pads of the males fingers, but years of feathering a trigger, gently sending round after round down range on target, had given a sensitivity that few could match. It came in handy on occasion, and now was one such, as he lifted the cup to his lips, he extended a pinkie. Iris was obviously enarmoured with Victorian times and mannerisms, and he had heard this was considered 'genteel'. Waiting till the hostess had taken her first sip, he tipped the cup, reveling in the feel and taste of warm blood trickling across his tongue. It was not the same as holding a human in his arms, and draining their life force from a pulsing vein, but it beat the taste of weak enemic animal blood by a long shot. Mordechai grimaced slightly at the thought. So many denied their heritage, and spent a life wondering why they did not have the strength and abilities of legend. Leaving his musings he returned to the present, raising his cup to the gathered family. "To new beginnings"

[Iris von Drol]

The lift of a tightly wrapped dark velvet wrist rose in front of Iris. Her cornflower blues tracked it as the slide of Zodiac's thoughts weaved back into her own. Softly her lids tapped downward as a smile curled across her unpainted lips. Her golden head dipped once to the direction of Mordechai and Kennedy in respect to both speaking. In the background the announcement was received that Ginny, the feline extraordinaire, located a pest.

It was not a surprise since they were all sitting in a farming settlement, but still unsettling none the less. The books that the telepath had been trusted to restore as well as the documents could be compromised should the little creatures decide they required some extra sources for building their little beds. Iris had no issue with the little critters that scurried about the farm. Until, of course, they chose to dig and invade spots that she had set for her business and the resources the spaces provided.

“It appears that Ginny has an early lunch to enjoy.” Iris replied in short and kind to her sire sitting beside her. “Puck will get over the loss of his acquaintance.”

“Indeed, Sir.” Iris lifted her wrist a little outward taking care not to be incredibly bold in her movement to the gathering in the room. “To new beginnings.”

Iris waited until the guests took the first tastes of the tea Zodiac had expertly prepared. Her focus drifted from the miniature rodent huntress to Kennedy who had commented on the home. It was definitely outdated in decor with respect to those expecting to find modern amenities. It was as victorian in furnishings as was the rest of the von Drol properties. However, if one desired to slip back in time it was home to those like minded. Her husband could be sensed as soon as she finished the thought.

“I thank you, Miss Kennedy.” Iris glanced to each evenly. “We have found it enjoyable to be away from the city from time to time. It has been a rather profitable investment thus far. Have you given thought to buying a piece of the countryside and settling down?” Her eyes drifted to Zodiac and she smiled. “There are wonderful neighbors and common interests to be shared.”

[Zodiac]

She too waited until the guests took their first taste before sipping from her own. Inwardly she flinched as she saw Mordie debating on how to grasp the cup without damaging or loosing it in the process. She should have prepared him a larger cup but she was too deep into tea mode to think of it. She would apologize later.

She smiled at the sight of Mordie and Kenny together. She didn't see it much, but it was always a welcome view. Zodiac would see glimpses of the man most would never know were part of him when he was in her company. As the conversation continued, she began to do what she did best. Namely, try to wiggle under that air of calm Iris wrapped herself so tightly in by whispering to her thoughts about the dead mouse siting in the mystic's purse.

"You sure you don't want to see it?"

"It is a very big mouse."

"Probably a momma, meaning you got baby ones in here now."

"It's bleeding all over my hankie now. Gross!"

She kept whispering teasing thoughts to the girl, only stopping to answer anything directly put to her. She nodded in agreement with Iris' description of the area the farms were located.

"Is simpler out here, but at least for me that is what I want. Why do I want all the drama and drag down of city life, work, and everything else right in front of me all the time? I come out here, tend my plants, grow my flowers. Meditate, relax, paint, take long baths or even longer naps. Read, work on my spells, and let voice mail take my calls. It's a piece of land you can do anything you want with and no neighbors right on top of you to question or complain about it." she added to Iris' statement. 'Farm life' was anything but farm life as far as the gypsy used her property. "In time I hope to start my own commune out here. Have people of like interests come out, stay the day or a weekend. Do some workshops, a little skyclad dancing round the bonfires and such."

As she grew quiet, she mentally poked at Iris again.

"You really need to see this mouse."

"I swear, should have it stuffed!"

"Maybe I can make you a nose warmer out of its fur. What you think?"