loccent | run with wolves

[Eun looks over at Asil then, a wry smile on her face. She thinks she can read between the lines on that one.]

Am I reading too much into it to assume that they might have a variety of ulterior motives for trying to insist on that? Including but not limited to trying to keep me, use me as a bargaining piece, or protect me, but from their own pack who cannot be trusted to leave me alone while playing tourist?

[No alpha would admit to being so inept and incapable that they cannot control their own pack, but some of them may decide it's easier to look after one person than try to manage several.]

Or am I being too suspicious now that we're so much closer to Mason's territory once more...

[ He chuckles. ] The European wolves operate their territories like little kingdoms. And as such, itnis rare that there is no bad blood between packs, old grievances that some of us have the luxury of holding onto because what else is there to give us purpose.

[ He does, however, add: ]

I understand that there is some resentment towards Bran among the old lobos in Europa. The systems of wary cooperation that we have in place here cause suspicion among our brothers there.

And when we decided to bring ourselves out into the open, it revealed just how difficult it would be for the rest of the world to adjust.

[ He remembers those talks. And how Bran had paced since it had come down to Charles and Anna going in his stead. ]

[It's not exactly a promising answer. She wonders if she'd almost prefer that the issue be that they would cause problems because she's one of the few female werewolves, not that her ability to live her life the way she chooses could be limited by bad blood she had nothing to do with.

Deflating somewhat, or perhaps losing her edge at her initial suspicions, Eun sighs.]

I'll worry about the wheres and whens at another time then, closer to when travel would even be feasible. Maybe occupy myself with the rest of North America first.

[The car turns up a road that curves somewhat, elevating them into the side of a mountain. For a brief moment, the ocean stretches out to Eun's left, and she settles into her chair with a deep sense of satisfaction that radiates from her.]

Visits to California might satisfy me for a while, honestly. I think I'm going to love living in Montana, but visiting home and seeing the ocean once or twice a year would be nice if I can swing it.

[ He eyes her discreetly, watching the shifts in her expression as she maneuvers the vehicle. ] Bran will agree to that. We try as much as possible to make it easy for wolves with living family to keep in touch. Tending to our foundational relationships are important.

[ He keeps the stroke of his fingers on her hand gentle, not wanting to distract her from the road. ]

If you do wish to eventually travel overseas, I can guarantee that Spain will welcome you, and we are in good standing with the French werewolves because of Juste and the British Alphas are finally recovering.

The only true place of concern is Eastern Europe.

[Her attention is on the ocean somewhat as he speaks, and while she had suspected that visiting her family would not be an issue, especially with Mason's pack already familiar with her, it's good for her to hear confirmation that at least the wolves will have no issues with it. The vampire Thomas may prove to be more difficult, but she hopes that what she's heard of him and the fact that they will all have dinner together will prove otherwise.

The movement of his fingers is welcome, and while Eun does not distract herself by trying to reciprocate, she does give a faint hum of approval, listening to him still.]

Spain would be first on my list. I won't pretend I'm not eager to see the place you called home for so many centuries, and meet your son also if it wouldn't be overstepping.

[Such things she would not do with without him, and Eun does not wish to put pressure on him in that regard. She lets it go unsaid, for him to pick up or not as he wills.]

France and Italy are definitely on my list also. Juste would give a hundred tips and suggestions of places to go and people to meet, and Anna has had good things to say about the Italians on more than one occasion. I think she's still emailing back and forth with that other Omega...

Ric? Yes. He and Anna correspond regularly. Though I imagine that she is giving him more tips than he does her.

[ He smiles at the idea of introducing Eun to Hussan. He mentioned her in his last few letters, and his son had naturally expressed curiosity. ]

Hussan says hello, by the way.

[ Asil says that softly. ]

[Eun glances over at Asil at that, her hand twitching before she indulges herself in stroking her fingertips over his palm.]

Tell him I said hi back, of course.

[Oh, she is desperately curious now. A million questions light up her face, interest almost palpable. She decides rather than ask Asil what he's told Hussan, or what Hussan has said back, or any sort of prying into the more intimate details of their conversation, to go at it in a more roundabout way. To let Asil volunteer what he might.]

Did you tell him we would be traveling to California today?

I did. [ His eyes are focused on what little of the ocean he can spot from here. ] I wanted to let him know in case he called and we found ourselves occupied.

He has only been to this country once before - for the conference the Marrok called for and which Angus of Seattle hosted. But that was before the world knew we existed en masse. So now he slides in inquiries about what it is like and how different it is from Spain.

Edited 2020-06-01 03:34 (UTC)

[Eun could point out that they could very well find themselves just as occupied in Montana also, especially as she enjoys distracting him in any number of delightful ways, but she hardly wishes to distract Asil from the subject of his son.

Besides, she's not so clueless as to think he's not referring to the many activities they're in town for.]

I can see how that might be relevant to his interests on multiple levels. [As a werewolf. As an alpha. As Asil's son.] How has the response been in Spain?

Not quite as publicized as the wolves in America. [ Here, Adam Hauptman was a celebrity. And, at least up until Mercy's declaration, Bran had utilized that for the good of all werewolves. ] There are many things to contend with: religion, politics. To be truthful, many of the wolves continue to operate quietly.

Their families know, of course. Our communities tend to be close-knit and often people are born and grow old in the same place over the course of generations.

We choose to steer away from more urban centers.

[It's an answer that gives Eun something to chew on for a moment, as she considers both the potential reasons and whether or not being public changes things. The car continues up the road, still showing glimpses of ocean now that they are past the wooded area. Houses begin to appear in larger clusters, and not just on Asil's side but even on Eun's overlooking the ocean. What started as a two lane road begins to take more of the appearance of a highway proper.

They are getting close.

Eun's hand chokes up on the steering wheel, though her other remains gently over his.]

I suppose that makes sense, especially for all these years of keeping things quiet while also wanting space to support a pack and allow them to hunt as wolves should...It will be interesting to see if things change over the years now that we are out.

[She wets her lips with the tip of her tongue, and checks her rear view mirror again to make sure Charles and Anna are close behind still. Her voice quiets somewhat as her eyes return back to the road before them.]

We're nearly there.

[ He turns his palm up so that he can hold her hand better. While he does not know exactly what she is feeling, he can hazard a close enough guess given how he's been observing the changes in her posture, voice, and expression. ]

Everything will be alright, mi amor.

[ With his free hand, he swipes out a message to Anna's phone, letting her know exactly what Eun has told him. ]

[Her wolf paces restlessly inside of her, and while Eun stays steady on the road, her nerves--anxious and excited--make it hard to feel calm. Grateful for Asil's reassurance, she takes his hand once more, holding tightly.]

I think you're right, but the way I feel is so odd right now. I can't explain it...

[Breathing slowly, steadily, she takes them into the gradual curves up the coast, recognizing places that are familiar with ease. The city has not changed at all in a year.]

Don't leave until I'm inside? [It feels like a stupid question, one that Eun recognizes. Why would they leave until they are sure she's connected with her family? And yet she asks because she somehow needs to hear it. Perhaps not from Asil who is her lover, but Asil who will be her pack. This moment has nothing to do with their relationship and everything to do with what she has become. This second family that she has brought to meet the first.]

I was not planning on doing so until you actually waved me off. [ The way he says it is teasing, but the look in his eyes is serious.

He can scent her nervousness: a mix of anxiety and excitement and the faintest hint of longing. He will not call it homesickness, but the scent is close enough. Kara used to have a similar mix of scents in those first rocky months after her parents started visiting again. ] And you do not need to explain the feeling, mi querida. I think I understand.

[Now would be an excellent time to wrap her arms around him, breath in his scent and take comfort in the reassurance that he offers, but she still has a few miles to drive. Her hand shifts until her fingers curl over the edge of his palm.]

I thought that you might, thank you. [She has only so much control over what will happen, and while the worst of what she had to reveal to her parents has been discussed at a distance, the unknown rattles her. The more she thinks about it, the more grateful she is that Asil will defer to her as to when he should leave. It is something she controls, which soothes her wolf.

Uncertain what to say beyond that, Eun finally falls quiet, taking slow breaths as she finally turns off the highway and onto John Daly Boulevard to get to her neighborhood's entrance. The car heads down the easy slope of the road a ways before Eun takes the first opening on the right, and carefully eases them down rows of colorfully painted houses with crisp green lawns. She takes a few more turns along the way before finally parking--three houses away from her own. Checking her mirror, she sees Charles and Anna pull up behind them, but they don't leave their car.

After all, they're just supposed to be dropping Eun off. Eun shuts the car off and gets out without a word, eyes trained on the familiar house just a few down.

It's just the way she remembers it. Shades of blue, her parents' green sedan in the driveway, and the silver one at the curb. Eun takes in a deep breath as she crosses to the front of their own rental vehicle, and holds it a second too long with surprise. There's a cluster of red and silver balloons tied to the front.

Her head whips back toward Asil, to see if he's caught sight of the same thing.]

[ He steps out of the car, one eye on Eun as he rounds the car to the driver's side. When he gets close, he allows himself a moment to settle a hand on the small of her back, leaning in to press a kiss to her temple. ]

I take it that red and silver mean welcome home?

[ He's remembering their first exchange. When they traded names and the meaning behind them. ]

You are their good fortune, mi amor. Go. I will wait here until you wave me off.

[Eun presses against him as soon as she feels him close to her, and as his hand moves to her back, Eun turns in. Her arms wrap around his waist, face tucked against his shoulder for a moment. She feels his lips on her temple and closes her eyes. He is warm and solid, and a familiar source of comfort already.

And she is overwhelmed by that small, thoughtful gesture that her parents have done for her. A sign to give her confidence to come home to them. She is returning, and she isn't just welcome, her return is to be celebrated. They have missed her and are leaving her with no doubt that they want her to come back to them. Had they known that she would be anxious and uncertain by the time she got to the house? Had they anticipated that their confident girl might worry for the first time about how she would be received? Perhaps they knew her better than she thought.

Swallowing, she lifts her head and smiles at Asil. There is excitement that thrums through her, and her nerves are still in a heightened state, but she does not look so much like she's going to vibrate out of her skin for fear of the unknown.

Her mind is already halfway through that front door as she looks into his eyes and leans up to press a kiss to his cheek.]

Okay. [She leans around the car to wave at Anna and Charles, before she turns back to Asil and gives him one last squeeze of her arms. Her hands draw back to his waist, and she takes one last centering breath.] See you soon, mi alma.

[It's difficult, but she does pull away from him and walk down the sidewalk alone to her home. She takes the steps the way she's used to, with a little energy that propels her up them faster than she's ready. She steps onto the top landing, ready to approach the front door when it opens.

Eun's eyes widen as she sees her mother standing in the doorway first, and her own face lights up in response to the broad smile of her mother. Even from afar, the wolves will hear another woman exclaim Eun's name, and see arms pull her into an embrace. Her father stands close behind, and Eun looks up to his face to see his eyes tearing up ever so slightly. Keeping one arm wrapped around her mother, Eun lifts the other past her, reaching for her father. His larger hand envelops hers, and with them both close to her she lets herself sink into the familiar feel of home and family that she did not know she was missing so intensely until just that moment.

The wolf falls back, giving her space to have this moment, sensing safety as much as Eun does, even if for different reasons.

Eun hears her mother murmuring into her ear, code-switching between Cantonese and English as her father lets go of her hand. Dimly, she's aware that he's urging her mother back so he can give his daughter a hug as well. Cheeks pink, she returns the embrace, aware of the fact that they do have a small audience from afar.

The questions begin moments later, and Eun finds herself laughing, all tension melting away as they begin the bombardment. Still on the porch landing.]

Let me get in the door and I'll answer everything, okay? Come on, come on, this way...

[Gently she shoos them inside, with her mother turning back to shoo back Eun's hands, making them both laugh. She pauses before stepping in, realizing that she's out of view. Two steps bring her back into sight of the cars, and she finds Asil there with ease. She gives him a small wave and blows him a kiss before darting back to her mother, who had already made it halfway across the porch again to Eun's side.]

I'm coming, I'm coming!

[Leaving Asil and the rest to find their way to the hotel, Eun enters her family home once more to spend some much needed time catching up.

Her purse drops to the floor by the couch, and Eun soon follows suit, dropping into the corner of the couch with a sigh. It feels good to be back, and strange. For a moment she doesn't even realize what's off until her wolf seems to understand. She's never smelled her home as a wolf, only as a human. Her mind races to absorb the way it seems different and somehow even more familiar than it might have before. It's strange and somehow comforting, and something to give her balance as her parents soon descend.

Thirty minutes into the rush of talking with each other and over each other, Eun realizes that even now she is not to be treated as a guest, and pushes up from the couch to get herself a glass of water. Talking is thirsty business, and as she fills a glass with water it's easy to see that nothing has changed at all.

Her parents had questions the night they spoke, but in the intervening time they've thought of more. Her mother pulls out a list and after the first few Eun grabs it from her hands to skim them over. She deems half of them better answered by the others and passes over them for later.

Later comes a full hour and a half later when Eun finally picks up her phone to text Asil.]

dinner prep starts in fifteen
you're all welcome to come back now
dad is firing up the grill
how is the hotel? everything going okay for all of you?

[ He is standing by the window of Anna and Charles' suite when her message comes in. The three of them were in conference with Mason's second, working through the details of protocol. Earlier, Anna had deemed it prudent to call Mercy so that they could do away with middle men and a more direct line to Thomas Hao.

Surprisingly, nothing has exploded, no Fae have declared problems within California, and everything moves along so smoothly, he wonders if he should have taken a nap instead.

But that is neither here nor there. He nods to Charles, motioning that he is listening still. ]

The hotel is lovely.

Anna has already made Charles promise to take
her back here at a later date.

I would call, but we are currently in a
conference call with Mason's second
to coordinate some items. But once we wrap up,
I will let them know that we can head over.

[ He pauses a little, and then adds before sending the follow up message off: ]

I gather your parents find it acceptable to have three additional werewolves as dinner guests?

i think mom or dad may have gotten a call from bran
or maybe mason?

[What follows is a picture of several small mountains of food. Steaks. Chicken breasts. Sausage. Several vegetables, and a few fruits as well. A woman's hands are in the background of the picture, placing bottles for sauces on the counter near it all.]

they knew i was bringing you all before i left montana
but someone must have told them how much werewolves can eat

my parents are looking forward to meeting everyone though!

[ He presses his lips together, biting back a smile. When Anna notices, he shakes his head and turns back to looking out the window. He suspects that it was Mason, but decides that inquiring after that bit of information might be more useful when face to face with the Carmel Valley Alpha. ]

Those look lovely. We shall see you soon.
Charles is wrapping up discussions now.

Edited 2020-06-03 06:45 (UTC)

oh good, dad was worried about timing so i'll let him know

remind anna and charles that this is all casual, okay?
whatever they're comfortable wearing
same goes for you too ♥

[She's excited to see him again. The butterflies are back in her stomach but this time at least there's no apprehension. Her parents had treated her the same, asked a million questions, and each hugged her half a dozen times in the last hour.

They're also very much looking forward to meeting Asil, Anna, and Charles, and not just to ask them all of the questions that Eun couldn't, or wouldn't answer. It's the sort of thing that ought to have her nervous all over again, but she's not. The three werewolves joining her are people she has grown close to in the previous weeks, and she's excited to introduce her parents to them, and vice versa.]

[ He passes on word to Anna and Charles and they all agree that might be better to bring the two rental cars still. Anna had taken the liberty of pinning their earlier location to the GPS, which makes navigating the streets easier from the hotel.

They bring gifts, naturally, stopping by a grocery along the way to pick up ice cream and one of those frozen cakes made available for any occasion.

When they arrive, they are dressed casually for an evening dinner indoors and Asil has his present for Eun's present in his arms: a window box with herbs from his own garden. He and Charles both leave Anna to handle ringing the doorbell. ]

[Eun's mother had just started to say that it would be good to start cutting up the vegetables for the grill when the doorbell rings.]

I'll get it!

[Funny how some things never change. She hasn't lived in this house for a while now, but it's still home. It will always be home to her. She darts out of the kitchen, wiping her hands dry with a towel on the way, and after a quick peak through the peep hole, opens the door to the trio of wolves on her doorstep.

Her smile is for Anna, who is at the front, but it slides back to Charles, and settles on Asil. Stepping back at once, she gives them room to come in, eyes alight with curiosity at all of the things they're holding.]

What's all this?

[The box that Charles holds looks like it belongs at a bakery, and she recognizes the plastic bags of the grocery store not far from the house. Asil's gift...looks nothing like something from a grocery store. She only barely restrains herself from pawing through it all, and instead uses her feet to shove some of the shoes by the door out of the way to make room for the guests' shoes as well.]

Asil showed you the picture, didn't he? [They're going to be rolling out of this house with all of the food that's been set aside for tonight's dinner. Distantly, Eun notes her mother's voice in the kitchen, calling through the window for her father to come inside. That "Eun's friends" are there.]

[ "Yes," it is Anna who replies, "but considering that we'll be around for a bit, it seemed only right that we bring something so that the task of feeding us all doesn't fall solely on your family."

He waits for Anna and Charles to make their way inside, before following and dropping a kiss to Eun's shoulder. ]

A gift. For your mother. I set them aside a few days ago and had them flown ahead.

[Eun grins, acknowledging that it won't be amiss for them to have brought food as well.

Her attention is drawn from friends by the kiss to her shoulder. She turns to face Asil, all warmth in her expression, and looks down to the window box in his arms. It's more than flowers. More than roses. It's a thoughtful gift that has personal meaning for him and use for her mother and father. Her father may have been the one to teach her to bake as much as she does, but her mother is the better chef in the family by far.]

Both of my parents are going to go wild for that. [Her heart swells a little, moved by his gift, and that he did it all himself without input from her. Without even telling her he was going to. She'd have to make sure to make it clear to them how special it was that the herbs came from his own greenhouse. Leaning up, she presses a kiss to his mouth, and when she speaks again her voice drops low enough that her parents won't hear from the kitchen.] It all went really well. Everything's the same, it's--

["Eun?" her father says, calling over to her from around the corner to the kitchen. Her cheeks color faintly, aware that he likely saw her kissing Asil. Oh well. It's not as if she'd planned on holding back entirely during the visit.

More important is making introductions. She glances between all three of the wolves, wondering which order in which she should give names. Charles and Anna are closest to him, but Asil is the most important to her. In the end, because things are casual, she decides to go with what's easiest. Asil is more dominant but Charles is the second in the pack she is joining, and closest. And, as she walks forward to stand between Charles and Anna, and her father, it will set things up more easily to let Asil speak more than a greeting to the man who raised her.

She introduces Charles and Anna first, giving names only, and nothing to do with pack rankings or anything of that sort. This is her family, and they don't necessarily need to take that into account at first meeting.

Her father shakes hands with Charles just as Eun's mother comes out of the kitchen to join them. Eun quickly repeats her introductions, allowing Charles and Anna to give their greetings and explain what they've brought (which they're directed to place on the nearby table to be dealt with momentarily. Eun crosses over to Asil quickly after, resting a hand at his elbow with obvious familiarity and guiding him over with his window box in hand.]

And this, of course, is Asil. Asil, these are my parents.

[She looks between them quickly, half holding her breath as both of them give Asil a more curious, appraising look than they'd done for Charles and Anna.

It's Eun's mother that steps forward first, offering her hand to shake.

"Welcome to our home," she offers, looking every inch like a near copy of Eun, but for the twenty or so years between them. A mirror of what Eun might have looked like eventually if she hadn't become a werewolf.

Eun's father steps up after, standing a step behind and to the side of his wife to offer his hand to shake once Eun's mother has done so. While Eun's mother's attention is wholly on Asil and the hand that Eun has resting on Asil's arm, Eun's father is clearly drawn to the window box instead. Eun can almost hear the wheels in his head turning as he starts identifying the various herbs inside by sight.]

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