The Exploits of Misfit Company

Vastra takes Bixby's Wand of Magic Missiles and Helm of Teleportation before taking down the tent. "It's unfortunate that he never made a home in the manor, but at least it's easy to clean up after him. I suppose that's why he opted to live in the tent." Vastra will go back to the library and research magical staves until Courage arrives at the mansion tomorrow.

Alys would only step in when Yvan would open the door, her saddened eyes looking up to his. She'd glance away a little guiltily towards the table before looking back to him. "How are you?" The elf would gently reach for one of his hands. "I came here for you too." She'd offer him a soft smile. That was truth.

Then she'd give his hand a squeeze and try to tug him with her towards the table he gestured to. The blonde would peek back at Yvan before she'd pull back the cloth with care. A soft gasp of awe would escape her lips as her eyes would fall over his work. She'd rock up on her tip toes and back to her heels, hugging his hand to her. "They're perfect..." Alys' smile would grow wider and cheeks would darken. "Thank you..." There was a lot of emotion in her tone. She was extremely grateful for the time and care she knew he put into these, especially considering the quantity of her ask. The elf would reach into her bag and begin pulling out silken wrapped bundles, pairing them with each unique item their gentle giant had crafted, returning most of them to her bag.

Turning back to Yvan, Alys would be holding a freshly prepared parcel. It may have been a little bigger than the others and wrapped in a blue silk, tied with an intricate bow. Her cheeks would flush a little more as she'd shift a little shyly. "Will you come with me?" The elf would offer her sweetest smile.

Being in the house was boring, and the annual Halloween carnival was in town that evening, so Kasha took advantage of the day to dupe the stupider commoners around the town once more for coin and pleasure. She went to the bathroom, tied her hair into a ponytail, wore her skimpy jungle jane outfit, and put on some wild facepaint that made her face look like a skull.

"Step right up!" she'd call out to the idiots while on the stage with the small arena. "See the impossible! The unbelievable! The extraordinary! Jungle Kasha versus...the great reptilian terror..the toothy mawed horror..KRAGGLEHIDE!"

The crowd clapped. Kasha struck a grappling pose and turned towards Greg.

"All right, Greg, you know what to do." she'd whisper from the corner of her mouth. The crocodile, easily three times her size, winked.

"HEEEEEEYA!" she'd cry, and the wrestling match began. Kasha strained and wrestled and flipped and flopped as Connor "wrestled" the wiry druid. She huffed and struggled and flexed and heaved and grabbed and twisted until she was out of breath, Connor pretending to fight back. The crowd oooh'ed and ahhh'ed occasionally, and both of them gave a satisfactory performance.

When it was over, Kasha, panting and sweaty, bowed to the crowd after "catching" Connor in a cage.

There is a pang of guilt that hits the goliath when he meets with Alys' saddened gaze, his lips thinning into a frown as he gently closes the door behind her. She had gone through a lot lately, first with losing her mother a second time, and now Bixby... Yet, there she was, asking about how he was feeling. "I think we've all been better..." He comments solemnly. Though, when he looks to her again, and sees her soft smile, he finds that it was difficult to suppress one of his own, even if it had been a somber one that formed. 

When she takes his hand, his cheeks begin to burn, but he says nothing, merely following along with her to the desk. With the cloth taken off, he watches her for her reaction, the burning sensation having creeped up to his ears now. He had always been a bit... private about his work (reason for the cloth and all), and a project of this scale was much different than what he usually did. Her words of praise assured him that he did a good job. It was probably the happiest she sounded in a while... "It was... no problem." 

Then he watches her as she works on putting the pieces together, wanting to help, but unsure on how he would do so. Before he could ask though, she was already done. He looks down at the beautifully wrapped parcel, smiling again, this time, a little lighter than before. He reaches for one of her hands, giving her a light squeeze and saying, "Of course."

Vastra had heard the sound of cheering outside the house. She had figured that the carnival was in town once again and that Kasha was running her animal wrestling gimmick again. Can barely read, getting her to bathe is like pulling teeth, but she knows how to run a profitable business enterprise and I have to respect that. Speaking of business... Vastra writes a note on some parchment and tapes it to the door. 

Going out for business, should be back in 30 minutes, at most an hour.

She then says the activation word for the helmet and attempts to Teleport to Dio's

51

Vastra teleports about 20 minutes outside the city. "Inconvenient, but it shaved about five days off of this trip." She then flies into the city and lands in front of Dio's store because walking is for losers that can't cast spells. She walks into the door and deposits all of her gold off in front of Dio. "I would like to commission a Staff of Power, I trust that this will be a significant down payment?" "Yes indeed." "Excellent." Vastra casts [Tooltip Not Found], walks right through it, and appears back in the mansion. Then she goes to find Stella. "How are you doing?"

Yvan was right, they've all been better. And Alys wanted to be sad and to process everything, and she would, but she didn't want it to be alone. Not right now. Yvan, all of the Misfit family, had helped her through the emotional second parting with her mothers spirit. She found comfort in being with them. All the gestures, big and small, made all the difference Alys was stronger now, and ready to smile and laugh through the sadness with good company. She wanted to be there for them as they have her. And she felt as though she wanted to give back for all of the support she's received from the beginning.

Alys would feel the warmth in her face travel to her ears when Yvan would take one of her hands. After beaming at him for a moment, her expression would soften again. "We'll be okay." She'd return with a gentle squeeze of her own. With a little time, she believed things would be okay. They all just needed that time to heal. The blonde would lay her head against his chest for a moment in a soft gesture to hug him with full hands before looking back at him. She'd tilt her head playfully as if to ask, ready? Asking the goliath to carry the larger parcel with his free hand while she guided him along.

In the spirit of the festivities, Alys would bring Yvan on a couple of detours before arriving at their end destination. First, they'd find their way to Kasha's door. The wizard would reach into her bag, pulling out a parcel similar to the one Yvan held but instead of being wrapped in blue, it was wrapped in green silk. She knew trick or treating worked the other way around, but that was part of her trick. Or so she convinced herself. Once that package was delivered, the elf would lead them towards Vastra's room. She too appeared to be out for the moment, therefore Alys would leave behind a parcel wrapped in marbled colours of yellow orange and red for her mentor.

Alys would hesitate on whether to head out to the garden, but a small pained expression would cross her face. She wasn't ready to leave that one yet... Inhaling a breath, she'd look back to Yvan holding the final parcel, the inspiration for their project, her face would relax, pulling into a small smile once again. Squeezing his hand that she had refused to let go of, she'd finally lead them to where they needed to go.

Standing in front of Stella's door, Alys would peek back to Yvan with a shy but optimistic smile before she'd turn back to reach up and knock.

Slick with perspiration, and her makeup running just a tad, she bought a steak with her tip money for Greg and bade him farewell. She frolicked into town and went into the candy shop.

"Hi Robert!" she waved, and began picking out some treats she thought everyone would enjoy. She used the tip money she made to make the purchase it, and bought as much candy and bags as she could, spending it all. She put together the little treat bags and danced in the street, enjoying the carnival. 

She went into the kitchen and placed the bags of treats for everyone in a small box, making sure to write each person's names phonetically - each one also reading:

HaP pY HaAL o WEE n  !

She smiled at her handiwork, and said PSPSPSPSPSP to call Obsidian, who, as an intelligent fey animal, didn't appreciate it too much, but he got over it, seeing who it was who was calling him. She playfully waved him outside, where she promptly turned into a cat and the two were off for more mischief.

Vastra finds Stella in her room, sitting on her bed and checking the edge on her blades, her hair pulled back in a messy ponytail out of her eyes. She looks up and gestures for Vastra to come in, shutting the door behind her. "I'm...okay, I guess. Adjusting to Bix being gone. But I guess I'm getting a little more used to it." She shrugs, her eyes drifting towards the small shelf of mementos of departed friends. That's when there's a knock at the door.

Stella blinks and heads to the door, opening it. Seeing Yvan and Alys, she smiles. "Oh, hey you two. What's up?"

“Hi Stella.” Alys would offer a shy smile. “How are you doing?” She’d ask softly. Her eyes would glance seeing Vastra already there, giving her a little wave before looking back to Stella. “I thought... maybe... we could all be a little sad together...” The elf would shift a little nervously with pink cheeks. She’d then pull her lips into a warm smile, gesturing to Yvan. “We bring warm, goliath sized hugs and hopefully a little something that could maybe bring a smile to your face.” 

Stella nods. "I think that sounds like a great idea, Alys. You want to come in, or should we go out to the living room or something?"

“May we join you and Vastra?” Alys preferred to go where Stella felt most comfortable. To her that would be her room, but wouldn’t want to invade her space if Stella preferred to go to the living room.

"Sure, come on in." Stella gestures for Alys and Yvan to enter, the rogue sitting cross-legged on her bed and picking up her dagger off the comforter.

Vastra smiles as Alys and Yvan enter the room and looks curiously on when Alys mentions the package. She momentarily Dimension Doors to her room to see if there's one for her and collects it when there is one. She also sees the bag of treats that Kasha left, with a note that's mostly spelled right. She takes that too, then promptly Dimension Doors back to Stella's room.

While he did feel a bit like a puppy following around the wizard the way he was with the bigger parcel in hand, it was a welcome distraction from... everything clogging up his mind. He found himself enjoying leaving behind the little parcels to the others, little surprises for them, though he did wonder briefly where they were as they left behind one for Vastra. Kasha usually had been out and about, so her not being there wasn't too much of a surprise (probably celebrating that... holiday?), but she always found her way home. Vastra... in the library then? 

However it looks to be that he was wrong when they approach Stella's door and are let inside. It was nice to see Vastra and Stella together, the goliath giving them both a sheepish wave as he lets Alys do most of the talking. His cheeks do heat up at the mention of 'goliath sized hugs', though says nothing about it. If they needed it, he would be willing to provide it. 

He blinks in surprise when Vastra opens a portal, then returns a few moments later with two packages in hand. Of the unfamiliar one, he catches sight of the note, mostly spelled out right, and relaxes a bit. Kasha was okay, just celebrating the festivities it looked like! 

Yvan lets the girls take up the bed as he sits himself on the floor. "The idea was all Alys, by the way," He tells them as they open the parcels. 

It was the wee hours of the morning when Kasha came stumbling in with Obsidian not far behind. She was giggling and had a uncoordinated gate to her, and she stumbled on her own two feet against the counter, causing pots and pans to crash to the floor along with her. She snickered and snorted uncontrollably, looking up at Obsidian and putting her finger to her mouth. "SSh  Shs h  hshSs hsh!" she warned him, getting up slowly. She turned and, after a few moments of trying to stand, crawled instead to grab the counter and pull herself up.

Obsidian leapt up on one of the counters and began cleaning himself.

She noticed on the counter there was one bag of candy left over. Hers. "OoOo! For ME?!?! Don't mind if I do!" she mocked exaggerated surprise and tried to grab it, missing completely. After a few moments of this, she finally got it and melted back to the floor again face up. She held it above her head. She opened it. "Holy ****! Chocolate coverkhkhhkhk-" she had another giggle/snorting fit "-covered peanuts!? Who the **** knew!!" she tore it open and they all spilled on top of her, rolling everywhere on the floor. "Ah, ballsacks." Too borked to do anything else, she laid there on the floor, defeated. After a moment, she was snoring, sound asleep.

Obsidian rolled his eyes and leapt down from the counter, snuggled up against her, and too closed his eyes.

Alys' face would turn beat red seeing Vastra return so quickly with her parcel. Her head tilting slightly in her own curiosity at the second parcel in Vastra's hand. A soft smile would appear recognizing Kasha's writing. Hopefully she finds her gift too. Looking around the room the elf would shift a little nervously. She had been hoping to be sneaky and leave these items for each one of them to open and enjoy on their own to spare her any embarrassment in case it was silly. But the opportunity was presenting itself for them to enjoy some of it together.

With a shy nod, Alys would accept Stella's parcel from Yvan and gently lay it on the bed in front of her, nudging it her way. "Sometimes a care package can give a us little taste of home when we feel a little far away..." She'd say softly.

Should you find and decide to open your gift from Alys you will find:

Stella:

Vastra:

Kasha:

Yvan:

Bixby:

(Will add to if I think of anything I missed... but I think I'm done. Enjoy the montage? I know I'm probably super stretching the magic properties, but for RP fluff I ran with it. :3)

Stella looks at her care package, and without a word, yanks Alys and Yvan into a tight hug, tears springing to her eyes. "I love you guys," she says, voice thick with tears and flicking a hand for Vastra to join the hug.

Obsidian woke up in the morning where Kasha was covered with drool, sprawled completely on the floor. He squirmed out of her ninja hug and was about to lick her face awake, but startled noticing she was still covered with white face paint, and sweat had matted her hair in certain places. He decided against it, instead carefully patting her face with his paw. She slowly grumbled awake.

"Oh." she moaned, rubbing her eyes and smacking her lips. "Morning already? Ow, someone tell Bane's Fist to lay off my head." she rubbed it for a few seconds. 

Obsidian meowed, it was clear he wanted her to follow.

"If you think i'm going to bathe, you've got me all wrong, mister puss." she warned.

The cat rolled his eyes, that's not what he was doing. He meowed again. 

"Wow, what a potty mouth. Ok, i'm coming." she slowly got up. "Where is everyone?"

He led Kasha upstairs to her room where a small gift was nicely wrapped at her front door. Obsidian smelled it casually. He meowed. "Oh, how nice of her! Lets go see what's in it!"

She opened the door to her room where they both slipped in, Obsidian hopping on her messy bed. She began to open the present. "Gosh, it's heavy. That was nice of her, huh." she mentioned. "And all I left was candy for everyone." she frowned for a moment, but then the feeling passed and she looked what was inside.

"Oh my gosh! Chocolate covered peanuts! How did she know!" she giggled, opening the bag and absently mindedly eating them while she looked on. "And gummies, and chips! She knows me so well, don't she though. Oh! The empty bottle! Next time, we share, it says. Look. Ha! You got it. Wow, she kept the bottle." she then gasped. "Kinder eggs! Omigosh I love thes- ..hey, what the-? Choking hazard? She's just looking out for me. I would have totally eaten the toys! Khkhk!" Obsidian looked at the camera. "Oh **** yes! Coupons!? Free hug, girls night out..hoo man, these are great!" she tore one out and stuffed it between her little tittie committee for later. Then, the picture. "Look! It's you and me! HA! Omg it's so good! Look! This is going on the wall for sure!" She gasped again. "Holy **** this BOX!" she held it up, looking at it. The hamster in her head turned, thinking of all the things she could keep in it. "I love it!" she breathed. "My first handmade box!! HHhhhhh!!!" she hugged it tightly. Then, she realized something was inside it. She opened it, her face full of curiosity and wonder. "What the f-" she read the note. "HO man, are you kidding me?! This is AWESOME!" 

She took the gem, and, following the instructions she held it.

Like the scene in Interstellar, we all knew what the memories were about, so the camera focused on her face closely. Kasha observed the memories, and where once her face was happy and dry, it slowly twisted and contorted in an obvious variety of happy tearful emotions as the memories were displayed. She pulled Obsidian in close and used him as a hug pillow as tears rolled down her face - the cat not caring or noticing white paint on his fur after a few moments. When the display was over, she let Obsidian go and held the gem in her fist and brought it to her chest where she laid on the bed for a long while until she regained her composure. 

When she was ready, she went downstairs, or wherever Alys was in the morning, slapped the FREE HUG coupon on the counter and hugged Alys as hard as she could.

She didn't let go until she was good and ready.

It was a while.

Alys’ eyes would go a bit wide in surprise by the sudden pull, but she’d quickly relax and snuggle into Stella’s embrace, returning the hug. “You are loved too Stella. Very much.” She’d say softly, more than content being squished amongst her, Yvan and hopefully Vastra too. “There will always be a place for you. And I’m not going anywhere.” Even if the mansion were to burn down, Alys would find, heck make a place for any of them. She’d be that home, whenever she needed to be for them. She would.

(Cross post! I won’t let it slip away :3 I will respond to Crispy/Kasha <3 on my next break.)

 Vastra doesn't dig in to all of the gifts immediately, but she does touch the gem and focuses intently on the memories it contains, crying a little bit,  before stowing it in a safe location on her person. She then walks over and gives Alys a very large hug. "Thank you Alys, it's a wonderful gift."