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At the top of one of Philly's residency towers, two floors of its structure are given over to the residency of Maria Angelica Merlino. Vinnie has already seen the private lift from the private garage, and much of the pad's main floor for visitors. It was absolutely designed with entertaining in mind. Lots of open spaces and city and river vistas out the glass wall of windows.
Everything here is tasteful, intentional, and chosen for its quality. Not its price. The price simply comes with its quality, if you follow. There are staff milling about, and honestly the whole place has the feel of a well run hotel or country club. Much less that of a private residence.
Maria is wearing an absolute slayer of an evening gown. Swoop backed and daringly cut in the front. A matching clutch. After some conversation with her butler, much of the staff begins to quiet down and clear out. And within a minute or two, the places is exceptionally quiet.
The couches and chairs of the living area certainly appear inviting. "Make yourselves at home," she insists. "I sent the staff away for Avery's sake, but if you want anything from the kitchens, let me know. Vinnie? You good?" She taps the side of her neck.
Vinny is wide eyed again, still not sure if this was a dream or not, seems all he needed to make it big was grow fangs. "I. . .could use a drink." he admits, "Let's get settled in first though, Avy, what do you think of the new place?" he asks turning to his angel
Avery had been treated by Vinny, a nice suit and dress pants, and he brushed his hair back. It just...didn't feel like him. He wasn't the fancy sort, but he was trying.
"Um yes...sure. It's nice. I don't think I've ever been somewhere this nice?"
"Alright. Hostess shit out of the way." Maria lifts one leg to unhook the strap of her heel, then the other, and finally steps down to a much more diminutive height, carrying her strappy heels on over to one of the couches. She curls up into the corner of it, watching first Avery, then Vincent, then Avery again.
"Am I allowed to say you look handsome tonight, Avery?" It's as much a question sent to Vincent, as to Avery himself.
Vincent gives her a quick nod, "I agree with Maria." he says as he makes his way to the couches, sitting next to her and smling at Avery
Avery nods. "You can. I feel more masculine today."
He looks around the space. "It's a nice place. Thank you for inviting us Maria."
"You look more masculine today. Am I throwing some 'he' your way, thaby?"
If you want to be quietly chuffed up, Maria is a good person to have in your corner for it. "Look at those shoulders, Vinnie. Respectfully, Avery. But, again respectfully, I love someone in a well fit suit."
With Vincent settling in beside her, she folds up her hands in her own lap snugly. Her focus right now is all for Avery.
"He does look rather charming today," he agrees, "Black suits him but let's be honest, Avy know that." he chuckles, "Personally I like it best when he borrows my T-shirts. . .or when theirs much less articles." he grins, loving to tease his Avy
He nods. "Yes, he works. Pronouns are...strange for me. What you see isnt what I look like. You may use whatever pronouns you want, at any point."
Avery blushes at the comments, the red offsetting the black. "I...am not used to suits, but yes, black makes me feel comfortable. I do like taking your clothes..." Avery is embarrassed and doesn't comment on the tease.
"Alright. And am I still calling you Avery?" Maria does, to her credit, let the fact that she doesn't follow what Avery is saying about his mask show on her face. She doesn't pry about it, either. But she lets Avery see that she didn't follow.
"Okay. So. How do I make you feel good about yourself? What do you listen to? What's your love language?" The chat about clothing and t-shirts does win a bit of a grin from her. It's actually really cute. "I love that for you two, actually."
Vincent leans back into his seat, watching his two favorite people interact is a show of it's own
Avery nods. "Always Avery please...its something I've kept from before and wish to keep."
"I...don't know. Love language is...something I'm learning."
"Always Avery. Fuck. That's a really beautiful phrase. Always Avery. It's alliterative. That's put it in a script font and tattoo it on your inner thigh kinda good. Good work." Maria just continues to watch Avery stand while she and Vinnie are sitting, and tries to continue to not make that weird.
"Can I be real with you, though, Avery? If that's true, you shouldn't be with a fucking vampire. Or in a triad with me. Even if it's just a 'v'. What I really think is going on here is that you kinda do know? And for whatever reason you don't want to say what you know to me. You said it to him, apparently." She ticks her head Vincent's way. "Or maybe he figured it out on his own. But, God love the man, I highly doubt that. I think you showed him what you need and he gave it to you. So. If you can't even tell me how to be your friend, Avery. Again, respectfully? Why you dicking down with the dead?"
Vincent's wide eyed but says nothing, looking for Maria to Avery, sometimes hard questions are needed though.
Avery smiles at the tattoo comment, then immediately frowns. He tries to figure out how to word things.
A question to the room, but half directed to Vinny. "How much does she know so I don't repeat things?"
"I'm not asking for secrets and stuff, I'm just asking how I can communicate to you that I like you. That your feelings matter to me. That I want you to be safe here. That I want you to feel like you can hold Vinnie's hand here, and it's not going to be a thing. Like this furniture is something you could spill red wine on and it wouldn't be a big deal. Because it literally wouldn't be because I've decided you matter to me. I know it. He knows it. How do I communicate to you, Always Avery, handsome in his suit. That he can relax, have a drink, ask for a back rub. And get all those things? Get anything he wants, probably. This place is Xanadu, baby. Relax." She gestures about her pad and all its sumptuous ways to fall into one's vices with a grin.
"I told her your my partner and love," he says, "Nothing more, that's your place not mine, however I trust her and hope you will too."
Avery shifts slightly from foot to foot, uncomfortable in the suit. It doesn't breathe, he can't get to his knives as easily, and he has to talk. Talking is hard.
Avery sits down, offering his partners space too. Asking silently for them to be there
"I...I struggle to open up. I have for the past year. Vinny is just...someone that clicked...I think you are clicking too...but it took me time to trust him with anything. I just need time and forcing me to do things...isn't good for me. It is...unhealthy for me, as are so many things that just...hurt in the smallest of ways that I can't possibly say them all."
Avery sits for a moment, then speaks. "Just... holding me is nice... being there for me... helping remind me I am here...and grounding me...thats how you can help."
"The. Mm." Maria has to back up once some things are starting to come into a bit more focus for her. She has the Italian mom need to hold hands and squeeze people that look like they need it. And since she can't really go comfort Avery while he's talking, she finally gives in to the temptation and squeezes Vincent's hand hard. A little lifeline in all of this. And she doesn't mind Avery seeing it. Because it's what's helping her focus on Avery right now. She lets him see that too.
"If I made you feel pressured to do anything you don't want to do, baby. I am so sorry. Like. So sorry. I don't know what makes you hunch up like that, but there used to be a girl in me that looked a bit like that. So maybe you and me aren't so different where some of this shit matters. Yeah?"
Mary leans forward a bit to try and catch a little more of Avery's vision. "The only thing I want for you is everything you want for you and not one thing more. But I'm telling you, hon. I don't want to settle for one fucking thing less, either. That's all I want from you. And if we're starting with hugs, fuck yeah. You can even look down my dress the whole time if you want." She's back to teasing again.
"Would you like that right now? A hug? Being held? Getting your hair pet?" She looks up to Vincent with a small shrug.
Vincent squeezes her hand and nods, moving over away from Maria and patting the empty space looking at Avery, "Why don't we cuddle, yeah, put on Netflix and snuggle, it'll be like our first date all over but with Maria as well, that sound good Angel?" he says, putting every bit of love and care into his soothing voice
He notices. Avery notices most things. Its a problem. But Avery didn't seem to mind the hand hold. He could get used to this.
"No I...don't feel forced...I think. Its easy to...get hurt. Vinny helps not feel hurt, maybe soon you'll help like that too."
Avery nods slowly. "I think...yes, cuddles are nice. And a show...I like shows. Would that be okay?"
Maria rises to her feet by way of an answer. She just starts bringing these things about. A room remote is taken from the hearth of the enormous open air fireplace. Some controls are manipulated and a large screen TV drops from the ceiling, facing the floor. Once it's dropped enough, it turns to orient the room.
It winks on displaying her calendar and some news and stock widgets and such. Some more poking and the streaming apps, of which she has a comprehensive number, are displayed. The iPad like home control system is walked over and set down near Avery, but not in their hands just yet. Boundaries.
"I turned on the closed captioning. So no sound. You have the remote, you can watch whatever you want. If you want the lights darker, that's the control. You can control the hue with this little color circle, here. You can control the locks here. You can order food and drink here. If you want a room turned down for you, just hit that button. And if you and Vinnie want to be alone, you tell me." She tilts her head a bit with a smile, then pokes another button, which causes the couch to begin folding down into a long lounge bed sort of area piece.
"I'll go get some pillows and quilts. You want me in PJs? Do you want PJs? This dress is a bit. You know."
"I sleep with just the pants," he admit and grins, "Or without if that's preferred," he says giving Avery a kiss on the neck, "How does that sound babe, closed captions good?" he gives Maria a your the best look and smile as well as an air kiss,
Avery looks in awe as the TV lowers. He didn't knew they DID THAT.
"I um...closed captions, yes please. They help. Lights are ok and...yeah...that other stuff. Food...does sound good."
Avery looks back as the couch folds back. "Um...yes...PJs would be nice. The suit is...rough. Nice but...rough." She glances to Vinny. "I do think...pants on?"
"I'll get you some sleep pants, Vincent," Maria assures the room. Any guy adding 'I think' about pants staying on needs pants to stay on. Maria says so. Before she heads off, she steps back over to bring up the kitchen menu. There are a whole bunch of preset dishes, set to Maria's personal tastes. And also some guest favorites. There's a wine and drink list, too.
Then she gives Avery's shoulder a squeeze, Vincent a 'talk to him, make sure he's cool' look before heading off to get all of the aforementioned things in a house with literal paid people that do that for her.
"So," he begins putting a hand on Avery's shoulder, "It's a nice place, right, quiet, out of the way," he kisses their neck and gives some love bites, "I want to know if their's anything that's bothering you about it."
Avery isn't entirely relaxed, a bit of tension in their shoulders as if expecting this to go wrong at any moment. That is quickly lost at the kisses and bites to his neck, Avery's natural reaction being to tilt his head to the side.
"I um...yes, its nice. It's...a lot. I'm not used to...these things. It feels...strange. But also... nice? Maria is nice too but...I feel like its harder to tell her things."
Avery frowns. "And she isn't allowed in the hollow. It would hurt her if we aren't careful..."
Cut to Maria standing in front of a mirror holding PJ tops up to herself and making disapproving faces. They are all one variety of varsity flannel or other.
The montage continues with her walking across a distant hallway in socks an that shirt, no pants, carrying a laundry basket.
Another of her walking back with that basket full of blankets, and a pillow on her head.
Another of her sitting on a dryer while the blankets tumble to get warm. She's reading Cosmopolitain.
They've got a little bit, yes, is the point. By design. And she has a security camera to tell her when she should bother coming back.
"So. . .do you feel comfortable around her." he asks, genuine concern about Avery's feelings are clear, "What do you think about her, she seems to really like you."
Avery pauses, and nods. Avery hears every bit about the montage, even the background music obviously. She knows when Maria will be back, so feels comfortable talking.
"I...think so? She is nice and caring but also...she can manipulate people. I'm worried about her...manipulating me. But she is...cute...nice...fun. I hope my fears are wrong... but it will take me a bit to open up... like it did with you."
It's kind of funny that Avery knows he's being given space and Maria is up there, knowing how long he's needing it for. They're both pretending this isn't what it is for the sake of Avery's nerves, and for Maria's part? She's happy to oblige. Not one to waste time, though, she heads back into her bedroom to flop on the bed and work on her laptop a bit, still checking the camera a bit.
"I know she can manipulate folks babe, that's part of what I like about her," he says putting his head on their shoulder, "But I want you to know and to trust me when I say, she will never manipulate you, from what I've seen she adores you and is drawn to you," he then whispers in his ear, "Besides. . .maybe one day we can have group fun" he teases
He slowly nods. "Ok...I trust you...and you trust her. I can try to make it work...its hard though."
Avery blushed hard. "I um...sure...maybe? One day..."
"He's probably using a line like 'fill the oreo'," she muses. Maybe it's the Bond. Maybe it's the Auspex. Maybe she just knows the guy a little too well for everyone's tastes.
Click of the mouse. She's clicketying off an e-mail, her sockfeet kicking behind her in the air.
It is deeply, deeply fitting given Avery's worries that the person she is mailing is Simon Dubois. And that the e-mail only reads.
you could be so much more.
Lower case. No sig. And send. Then she rolls over onto her back, grabs her smokes, and lights one up, swaying her foot to the beat of music that's only in her head due to Avery downstairs.
"I'm sure she's pulling someone's strings right now." he says, half joking, "But you can be sure she has your best interests at heart, cause your's are mine and mine are hers, and hers are mine and hers are your-ok you get the picture right, we three are all aiding and helping each other," he says kissing him on the shoulder, "Your safe here, with us. . .she does care about you,"
He lets the kiss calm him, a moment of looking around the room he looks dead at the camera, suddenly going a little more worried.
"Yes...I hope so. I know she's...been nice so far. I just...I want to care about her too."
The're all over the place, of course. Nowhere one would find unusual in a home with a panic room, though. If one thinks about those kinds of things. When the eye contact box starts jiggling on Avery's face, she leans over to her laptop and keys the intercom, cranking the volume down to the lowest it can go, and then disabling the speakers in the living room where Avery himself is at. So the sound will whisper out of the walls around them.
"Hey, everything okay down there?" Perhaps if she doesn't make the cameras a thing, they won't be a thing. "If you need anything you can use the remote, remember?" Why else, says the question, would he need to stare at the camera? Certainly not in shock or concern.
"I can't hear what you're saying unless you turn on your intercom on your end, though. So if you said something just now, can you repeat it for me?" She clicks off the intercom, folds her hands up before herself, and waits to see if she's believed or not.
Vincent follows Avery's gaze and sighs, not at the camera no, he understands the need for secruity but more a sigh for the misunderstanding that seems to have been made, he remains silent, knowing these two need to work out themselves so they can be closer in the future
Avery keeps an eye on the camera, hating being watched, like an animal in a cage. He leaned into Vinny a bit closer. And shakes his head at the camera.
"Do you...mind if she comes here? I don't want to talk through the camera..."
"Okay, baby. I'm finishing a smoke so it doesn't bother you two, and I'll be back down." Click. The intercom goes off again, and Maria fights the urge to zoom in and agonize over how all of this lands in 1080p. She flicks some ash into the tray on her night stand, though the dancing of her foot in the air has ceased.
She takes a long slow drag, checks her length left to smoke, and looks back to the ceiling. Just waiting it out now.
"No, I don't mind, I want us all to be together," he says holding him, "I just want to say, she's a high profile woman who needed to invest in security, please keep that in mind." he says kissing his head, "Hey Maria, could you come in here?" he calls up, hoping her diplomacy magic is working tonight
She doesn't need to be asked twice by Vincent. The ashtray has another butt in it by the time she's back on her feet. She pulls on some PJ pants for herself, grabs the laundry basket with the blankets and pillows, tosses on a fresh pair of sleep pants for Vincent, and more or less the same PJ style for Avery that she's wearing.
Maria has kind of a futch thing going on. So the pants are square and boxy through the hips. The sleep shirt is comfy, flannel, has a huge collar, and is of that boxy boyfriend cut that looks good on almost any gender save The Void.
Avery may see the samesies sleep set as an untoward manipulative further enticement. Or, if he really wanted to, he could choose to view it as Maria sharing the ways she knows how to unwind with someone who doesn't seen to know how to.
She underhands Vincent the fresh-in-the-laundry-bag, hotel style pair of black satin sleep pants. They're monogramed, even, with MA. Her initials. Cute. Then the pillows and blankets get situated in and around Avery. Any comparison to a nest is genuinely accidental.
Avery takes deep breaths, calming himself. Listening to Vinny's words, letting himself be calm.
"Yes...its not a trick. I'm safe here...we should tell her."
Avery looks over as Maria enters the room, an eye flick to the copy of the PJs being picked out. Not to mention having to resist the urge to change form and lay in the warm blankets. A blush hits his face...it appears it was a good choice. Avery melts into the warm a bit, happy. A little shudder that looks...rather odd on a person.
"I...thank you Maria. This is nice."
Vincent grins at the blush, an intrusive mental image of his loves partaking. . .oh now he's blushing at the thought, "Yeah you look great. . ." oh crap he needs to think of a pet name, but for now pajama's, taking the silk pants he looks at them smiling. . .then grinning, "So, do I need to go in another room or can I just-" then a thought happens, "I'm going to take a quick shower. . .you two talk." he says, getting up and taking satin pants with him, smiling as he leaves them to their words
"We've both seen Il Duce, Vinnie. You can take a walk. Go get fresh. Wash the ass for me." Maria's voice is so deadpan dry, it is almost a laugh in its own right. She holds her deadpan as long as she can until Vincent is heading off, and then she lets her big goofy grin crack, because she can't quite hold it any longer.
"I'm sorry about Vinnie, honey. People around me get ideas. And then it's all they think about. I'm not-- I mean, you're cute, sure. But I'm not-- you know? That's. Vinnie being Vinnie is what that is." Maria scoots a little closer to Avery on the bed and, of all things, turns her back to him. She pulls her hair around the front of her shoulder, and seems to be inviting being the little spoon. A cuddle Avery can fully control, and whose pacing he manages. Otherwise, she'll just sit there and continue to chat quietly over her shoulder.
"Hey. Do. Do you know about the Sailor Moon thing?" It's asked in a 'I know a secret' way.
Avery watches as Vinny leaves, a worried look for a moment. "No no he's...fine. I'm sorry for panicking over the cameras."
Avery looks hesitant for a moment, and another long moment before letting in, giving her a hug from behind.
"I...don't know? Is that...a show?" Avery takes a deep breath. "And...I need to tell you some things...before I can trust you."
"Yeah. It's a Japanese Cartoon. Vincent has some things that he-- Things about himself that he has every right to love. But that the world wouldn't understand. There's a lot of that thing in my life." Maria gestures at herself and means Mob when she says, "Catholic. You know? I got gay cousins and trans cousins and cousins of all sorts. Vinnie likes girls in sailor suits cos of a cartoon."
She carefully settles her arms over Avery's about her waist.
"That's what I am to him right now, I think. A place to be strong in his weakness. That's a good thing for you. For all of us. And I don't mind it. I kinda. Like it? Weird to say? Catchy tune, too." Beside the point. "But for me to be a place where his weakness can be strong, I have to be strong, too. I have to make this place safe for all of us. For him. For you." A little squeeze of the arms.
"I am a fucked up, emotionally stunted, person. I've been really badly used up in my life. But I know for a fact that's not how trust is supposed to work, hon. You're supposed to trust me and then tell me things. If you got things to say before you can trust me, what you're not trusting is your ability to bear up to my opinion of it. You fear my rejection. Not my trust. Do you agree with that, do you think? Does that sound right? Or am I being a jerk, here?"
Avery smiles at the thought of Vinny liking girls in sailor suits, not entirely sure what it means. "I...get it. I want to help him too. You know what he is...he...needs help to learn. I want to be here to keep him healthy...and he keeps me sane. I hope I can...be strong for you too."
Avery frowns as she talks about herself negatively, but nods. Thens she continues, and he nods again, hugging her waist with a...supernaturally gentle touch. Theres words to describe humans that are lithe, but Avery...hes even more so.
"I fear your rejection...or that you'll hurt me. I fear you'll...sell me back to Him." Avery takes a deep breath. "I know you won't...but that is how my brain is forced to think. I am...no longer human."
"I do know what he is. And I'm helping him there, too. I'm there with him when you can't be. So if you whisper things you're worried about in this ear right here." She taps her left ear again. And that one only. "And I'll make sure to be on the lookout for it when we're out. And tell you about what of it I see around him. So you can decide if I need to still be worried about him or not. Okay? We'll worry about him together. Teamwork."
She leans a little further into Avery, turning slightly in his arms to crane her gaze up at his face from what must be said to be quite the close distance. When he says it's rejection he fears, Maria just leans in and kisses him. It's not a passionate kiss, and it's not a kiss that really is crossing any boundaries. But it's absolutely a kiss that makes it clear rejection was never, ever, remotely in the cards here.
"Avery? I don't know how to make you believe I won't. But I won't. I'm not going to sit here and argue with your demons. But I will hold your hand the whole time and whisper that it's okay if you do. So. Take the time you need. Do what you gotta do. Say what you gotta say, but--"
Maria leans in for another kiss, just the same as the first one just in case he thought it was a fluke. Nope.
"You're the one telling me no."
He nods solemnly, not sure how to feel about going behind Vinny's back... but it wasn't, right? It was so they could both help him. Teamwork...
And then she kissed him, and he made a surprised noise. "I...I don't know. But I... yes." And then the second kiss comes, and in that fraction of a second, a million thoughts go through Avery's head. But out of all of them...one...he kisses her back.
"I want to trust you...if that is okay."
Of all the times for vincent to walk back in, it had to be the moment his thoughts apparently became reality, but rather than leer, he smiles, smiles because Avery has someone else, that he trusts anyway, who can love and care for them. . .for both of them
"I want to be someone you feel you can trust. So yeah. It's okay. I get that you don't yet. That's okay, too. I get that sometimes I may say things, or things may happen that remind you of rough stuff. That's also okay. I know there will be things we never talk about cos you don't wanna. That's okay. I know there will be times you want to be alone, or when I can't help you. I'll. make that work. And you're going to let me down, and upset and hurt me, too. And that's okay."
Hopefully Avery will forgive her for closing all of that with just one more kiss now that Vincent is here to properly enjoy it. It remains just as chaste and innocent and unrushed as all the others. And it breaks with a peck to his cheek and a big smile up to Vincent. She is so proud of herself.
"Avery could use a hug, Vinnie. He's having some big feelings right now."
Avery was too distracted by the kiss to hear the footsteps, and is genuinely surprised for the first time since Vinny has met them.
"I um...I...yeah. I am...glad I can trust you Maria." His face is entirely flushed, made worse by the third kiss. And the prck to the cheek.
"I...I yes. I would like a hug please."
Vincent walks over and smiles at Avy, hugging him, "I love you. . . so much" he says, squeezing him, "Never forget that, I would never do anything to put you in danger," he then moves his other arm to bring Maria in, "I love both of you. . .so much."
Maria doesn't pursue the matter further, insofar as three slow but genuine kisses can be said to be pursuing anything. For her, this is downright Victorian. She's not trying to seduce Avery, and when he seems so visibly flutered, she takes that as her cue to scoot back into the cuddle again and rest her head back on Avery's shoulder.
She takes a breath in and holds it before fussing her hands on her stomach. Fidgeting with unsaid words. Finally she says, "I love you, too, Vinnie." She doesn't insult Avery by presuming to use that term now. But she does squeeze her arms around his.
Avery was SUPER flusered, but wrapped an arm around Maria gently when she comes back to the pile. Avery's head pressed gently against Vinny
"I know, my Devil. I'm...I'm safe here. I love you Vinny." There was a glimpse to Maria, longing, not quite sure how to express it. If it were okay to express.
Vincent smiled but then. . .well something felt off turning to Maria, he looked into her eyes, "What is it, is something wrong?" he says, voice filled with care
"You do? Heh." Maria makes one of her wry self-depricating jokes at her own expense, "Here I thought I was the only one."
Maria is trying super hard not to look him in the eyes when he comes to try, but she can't help it. Once he's there, he has her, and he's the sun in her sky. Her expression softens. Yeah. This is exactly how she wanted it.
She lifts a hand up and cups Vinnie's cheek. "Just. Look at me right here and say it again. Use my name. I've been so good to you. You owe me that much. Avery deserves to hear it, too. I love you comma Avery. I love you comma Maria. You say it any other way, all I hear is a line, Vinnie. Cos that's all it's ever been."
She's squeezing Avery's arm, now, for some sort of support. He's right there, after all.
Avery let's it go, not quite ready to say it. He lets her be the confident one... but he very much wanted to hear it.
Vincent stares at her, for seconds that seem like centuries, "Maria Angelica," he says leaning in and kissing her, a mix between chaste and passionate, "I love you." he says and turns to Avery, "Avery Frisk," he once again leans in and kisses him in the same way, "I love you." he says, then once again looks at both of them, "You two. . .you two complete me."
And that's it for Maria Angelica. Her eyelids flutter back and she sort of swoons back into Avery with precisely how good the bond makes that. "Oh, fuck. I used to be such a hard top," she whines with a tug at her PJ shirt, "but fuck me, that is so gooooooood, oh my god." Apparently Maria just needs some positive male reinforcement to get her motor running? Who knew. Or to relax, maybe?
Either way, she is more liquid than person now. Her eyes swimming with the entrancement of the blood. "Avery? If there's something you want to say. Or want to know. Or want to hear. It's... Fuck. Everything is so good right now..."
Avery waits patiently for his own kiss, fingers playing along Vinny's jaw as he gets his. Sharing him...Avery could get used it it.
The reaction from Maria catches him off guard. He holds her gently. "Is...is it my turn to shower so you two can talk?"
Vincent shrugs, "Is that ok?" he asks, not wanting anyone to feel left out
Maria, currently being snuggled by Avery, makes a sad little baby whine at that whole idea.
But then, "If you want a shower, have a shower. Or a bath. Or a prime rib dinner. Whatever you like. I don't... Vinnie and I, we know what's up. I'm pretty sure. And anything he has to say to me, I'd kind of like him to say right here in front of you? Unless you'd rather not hear it?" Maria looks back up at Avery and assures him right into his eyes, "I don't want you anywhere but where you are right now."
Avery gives a small smile. He obliges and holds Maria closer. There's a hesitation, but then a kiss on top of her head.
"Dinner... does sound nice. I can shower soon. I...I can stay right here." Avery wraps gently around Maria, the fluid motion just...so elegant.
"I can stay here then." Avery frowns. "Can..we talk first...before we go father into the night?"
"Talk is good," vinny says looking to Maria, "Talking is great,"
"I love talking. I'm also not suggesting we have to go further into the night even as the night lingers on. I literally am not trying to sleep with you. Unless you want to. You are in control here." She'll keep saying it until Avery starts acting like it's true.
But with all that said, Maria squirms a little bit deeper in against Avery and makes absolutely no attempt to hide how much she keeps trying to look up into Vincent's eyes. Each time, it's a little dopamine hit.
Avery blushes. "I meant...like timing. But yes, that too. Do you mind if I disable your cameras so...we can talk without being recorded?"
He pets Maria's back gently, looking at Vincent. Vinny knew their tells by now, serious talk. Want to chat serious stuff.
"So, serious talk time," he says out loud, petting Maria's back with Avery, "New rule for serious talks, anything one of us wants to say, they say in front of the other, no secrets, not between the three of us." he says with a tone of finality, the domineering side of the beast showing a tad
"Press that button there, and you'll turn off the room. I'd. Genuinely prefer you not turn off the perimeter defenses. But do what you need to do to feel safe. I'm sure my idea of safety and yours are ... different. I don't expect it to always feel or look the same." Maria indicates the little ticky box on the wire frame top down view schematic of the penthouse floor on the control pad.
"Good idea, but not practical. Shit explodes, emergencies happen. Throw an 'under ideal circumstances' in front of that and, sure." Maria thinks like a Changeling without being one, which is pretty frightening all things considered.
L
Avery nods to Vinny. "I'd like that...no secrets. Secrets make it harder. But yes, ideal under circumstances. I'm not Sealing that though Vincent." Sealing? Well that was a weird word.
Avery gives a small smile at Maria's assessment. It is worrying she felt so necessary to add in the loopholes. He just hoped she never had to experience what he did.
He spends a moment, grabbing the PJ's he was offered, and stared at Vincent, and then Maria. The silent declaration that he belonged here. This was his home. The security was for outsiders and HE WAS NOT AN OUTSIDER. And neither were his companions.
"The cameras cannot see us, but your security is intact, and the cameras are still recording. We are just...hidden within the reflection."
"Ok, so speak what's in the mind, and yes, 'under ideal circumstances is a great rule." he says to Maria.
Maria nods, "As long as I hear about it eventually, when you can, I'm not going to sweat it. Get out of whatever it is safe. Then, worry."
And with that, she shuts up to listen.
Avery takes deep breaths, gently stroking Maria's hair if allowed.
"What do you know of the fae? Fair folk? Changelings. The myths around them and where they come from?"
And now was Vincent's turn to shut up
It's not the weirdest question she's been asked in her PJ's, so she shrugs a small shrug and curls around to push up a bit and look down on Avery, more or less climbing up into his lap for story time. She stretches her legs out and settles them onto Vinvent's lap, just to keep the cuddles going.
"Not a lot? Watch your promises. Stay away from mirrors. Probably a bunch of hokum, most of it. Why?"
Avery shifts slightly to be able to hold her. Avery wasn't the strongest of people, quite the opposite.
"You are dating a vampire, and other things must be 'hokum'." Avery knows she's smart, but has a sad smile.
Vincent stays silent
"I am dating a vampire. And the garlic in my veal parmesan ain't cooked him yet. The rosary around my neck ain't made him flinch once. So, yeah. I figure maybe I don't know everything about everything. You'll note I didn't say 'they don't exist'. We'd get on a lot better if you stopped not hearing what I said and hearing what I ain't."
She then gently boofs Avery with a pillow on the shoulder, straight faced. She breaks into a giggle a moment later, she can't help it.
Avery gets hit by the pillow and smiles. "Thats...fair. The stories are often twisted or backwards. Sometimes that's intentional."
Avery takes a breath. "We call ourselves the Lost. The stories you know of changelings, those that replace taken children, are backwards. We are the changelings, those left in our lives, we call our Fetch. For every one of us that's escaped...there's still hundreds being tortured...changed in ways that don't make sense to most..." Avery takes a deep breath, putting his head on her shoulder for support.
"Escaped slaves basically." Vinny comments pity and contempt in his voice, pity for the Lost, contempt for the Fae, hatred of a one eyed viking enthusiast
Maria is clearly following the strict language being employed here, but is having some difficulty broadening her cosmology. Vampires and werewolves, on their face, carry a lot less baggage than a magical fairy land being real.
But once she grasps that, no, it's terrible there and everything sucks? That makes more sense to her, and she starts to nod a little.
"So you were tortured." That's okay, too. It's not, obviously. But it's also not a problem with her that he comes with torture trauma.
She nods over to Vincent, seeming to get it. It still goes back to the same questions though.
"What do you need for me? To feel safe. Do you know about triggers? Anyone ever talk about those with you?"
Avery holds her, their breathing and heartbeat accelerate slightly, and they close their eyes.
"Yes...we were tortured. It doesn't always seem like torture, but there are things we...never should have been through."
Avery hugs her. "I am...a raven. I was His watcher, one of them. What I need from you is to...be patient with me. Hold me...and help ground me if something hits wrong. There are those of the Lost who specialize in helping restore Clarity." Avery looks to Vinny. "Vinny is...close to me. He helps to ground me. If I am not careful with my mind, I enter a coma."
"And if that happens then we need to ask people for help, people I'm positive don't really approve of me as it where. . .but I trust one so far at least," he says, "Vorpal is fine. . .although her other partners make me nervous," he mutters, moving his hand to cup Avery's face, "Avy, one of my most important jobs is to keep you safe and mentally healthy." he says caressing his cheek, "and now I have someone to help me with that."
Maria sits up a little straighter in Avery's lap and tugs her overlarge flannel to the side to bear her shoulder and collar bone. Once Vincent has finished his own reassuring pampering, she gently cradles Avery back into herself, and wordlessly guides his cheek down to the bare skin of her shoulder. Very little calms like skin contact.
She watches Vincent's face in naked stupid adoration as her fingers gently pet through Avery's hair, now making certain to pet with the course of feathers she can't feel.
There's a kiss placed on Avery's head, and then she settles her chin atop it, still just staring across at Vincent.
"I'm listening," she finally decides on saying. Followed by, "You're right here with us, and this is what that feels like, if you can remember that feeling out there."
"Vorpal...is probably the one to contact. Or Asbolus." She wanted Maria to at least be familiar with the names.
"They are the ones who can help me the most." Avery lays his cheek against her shoulder. As the hair and feathers are pet, Avery melts slightly at the touch, rather liquid when he wants to be.
"But yes...I'm here...you're here. Its nice."
"We're all together now," Vincent says smiling at Maria, "And together we can do anything."
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