A Night out with the Family (Family Members Only)

Isabella had taken her time removing her coat and settling her things as Alice made her way around the rink. Isabella didn't know how to skate, not yet... and prior to this meeting she had never owned a pair of roller skates. She had opted for the more traditional quad skates, a cute black pair with studs on them. Her outfit matched them and although it was much more casual than she was used to she hoped it at least gave her a flirty edge. After all she wanted to present herself in a way that would make Alice proud to have her.

A smile slipped across her pink lips as she thought about her love, glancing up and getting a glimpse of the wings on her back. She took her time tying her laces, sitting right next to the rink. She had alerted Alice she had never skated before, however that only made it better because that would give them a reason to be close. Alice was going to help her and Bella was confident that before the night was over she would be doing it all on her own and having fun.. Fun. A word that just a few months ago seemed almost alien to her. Her life had changed so much since she had 'met' Alice. Some might not agree that it was all good, but Bella would not change anything if she could.

She let the laces fall as she finished making neat loops, sitting back and waiting for Ms.Halifax to meet her gaze. She wasn't about to try to get up on her own, that would probably be the hardest part. She let her mind wander to the family. Sure she knew the members by now but mostly in name. She was a shy girl, well for the most part of her years at Hammel, and although a new side of her started rearing it's head she still wasn't on a mission to make friends. After all she would be out of here in a few years and it seemed unnecessary to work on something that seemed so.... temporary. Alice, however was not the case. And now that there was a family established, well it seemed her little world of people would be growing. Her life was getting busier and although the girl was not used to it, it didn't bother her.. perhaps because Alice seemed to keep her grounded.

Her eyes darted over Aki as she made her way around the rink and towards Alice. Isabella just watched the two for a moment before her angel's icy gaze met hers, she felt her chest heave for just a moment, it felt like she was flushing like a child caught watching something they ought not. But Alice still gave her that effect, even after the time they had spent together. She gave her lover a sly smile and nodded at Aki, who seemed to have glanced her way....

*Sorry Spell Check is not working for me. -_-*

Stella hadn't wanted to go at first. Firstly, when Alice had patiently explained what a roller skating rink was, the pale girl had timidly pointed out that given her eyesight, it was highly likely that she would not only fall over herself, but take several other hapless skaters with her. Still, Alice had asked again, with Stella's dorm mate Isabella behind her, and the chinese girl had found herself agreeing, even looking forward to it.

She had even let Alice pick out a dress for her, and while she had baulked at the bulky petticoat, when Alice had told her how it would look so pretty she find herself agreeing with softly voiced enthusiasm, and even letting the blonde girl fix her hair with some sort of bow thing.

She couldn't tell herself what it looked like, but Alice told her it was lovely and she believed her. And if people stared, well, people always stared. "I'll wait here," she said softly as Alice and Izzy pulled their skates on, and the bone white girl spread out her skirts to sit on a bench near their things, unable to make out any faces.

Well, she was happy to wait by the rink. Alice would call her when she was needed. What they were doing here and who they were meeting, the blonde woman hadn't really said, but Stella didn't feel it was necessary to ask. She trusted Alice, after all.

Odion surveyed the various women he would be working with. Alice with her charm, class, beauty, and obviously stupendous power. Aki, who was intriguing and a person all her own, and Odi's blue eyes were currently following her around the rink, before he looked to Isabella, Alice's weakness, unknown to the boy, but hopefully not for long. He shifted and stood up a little straighter as Aki approached, a small sheepish smile on his face.

It was then he noted all of their presences in his mind, and he wasn't sure how he felt about that. A little queasy, but maybe that was just from watching the girls dance around on the ice. He turned to see another girl, with multiple skirts and a shy expression, and he smiled softly at her. He had a feeling she was another member of their little tribe, and that feeling was confirmed as Aki approached both him and the albino girl, who was just as unique as the rest of them. Alice sure had rounded up a bunch of rarities.

"How could I not have fun, surrounded by beautiful women I'll soon be calling family?" He replied to Aki, looking from her to Aki, feeling the telepath's excitement rubbing off on him. He wondered if the others would be able to hear his own sentiments towards how he felt about this meeting. "I can't skate though," he added, his innocent words only adding to the cute face he used for convincing people. He was, however, not lying about not being able to skate.

He didn't want to be rude, and finally addressed Stella. "I haven't had the pleasure of meeting you yet, love," he smiled, his dark blue eyes holding her stunning redish pink ones, "name's Odion, at your service." He sat next to her then, glad he wasn't the only one parading around without skates.

Just what was Alice up to?

Alice and Aki split apart just long enough to round up the other members of the Family. Stella had accompanied Alice and Izzy here, much to the dismay of Izzy. Alice's lover was very jealous, as was Alice herself, but Alice had assured Izzy many times before they all left Hammel that Stella was not a threat to their relationship. Stella was collected piece of Alice's collection, as well as an addition to the ever growing number of the Family. This of course did not quell Izzy's jealousy or worry, and in some small manner, Alice found it all amusing. She wasn't finding amusement in Izzy's emotional suffering, but rather in the emotions themselves. Alice was clearly Izzy's first female companion and while Alice herself had been with a young woman or two, Izzy held a much more dear place in her heart. Izzy was indeed Alice's weakness and a very large and clear one. Alice would do anything to secure the safety and love of her sweet angel Isabella.

Alice skated in close to Izzy, hooking arms with her, giving her a small kiss on the lips to help quell Izzy's bad mood. Alice knew Izzy was hoping for a more private evening with her, but the matter at hand demanded full attention from all of them. Introductions were largely in order and the rules of the Family needed to be established. This group was going to be unbreakable and very tightly knit. Unlike other groups before them, the Family would indeed be just that, a true family. "Easy lover, we'll have our time later," Alice whispered to Izzy with a soft smile. "There are others to meet," she said, pulling Izzy toward Stella who sat there looking like some China doll. "Stella?," Alice said, letting the young woman know who was approaching. Stella's eyesight was poor and Alice pitied her for that, but Stella made up for that negative trait with many other positive ones. "The others are here precious, time to meet the rest of your new family," Alice said with a large smile as she held out her hand to the doll like Stella.

All the family was now together, Alice with Izzy and Stella and Aki with Odion. They all were together for the first time, a momentous occasion for sure. Odion retained his charm in the presence of so many lovely ladies, something which Alice wasn't too surprised to see. The link which Aki and Alice shared tingled and on the outskirts of her mind, Alice began to feel the other members of the Family. Aki was very gifted and no doubt with time and much effort, the family would be inseparable. "Oh, I'm getting chills from this moment," Alice said with a slight girly giggle, which in some way fit her and seemed out of place at the same time. "Now, we have much to discuss and Odion, you'll get your chance to meet all these lovely ladies in just a moment," Alice said, giving Odion a wink. Shall we find somewhere to sit, a table sort of out of the way from the rest of the masses in here?," she asked, looking from one member of the Family to the next.

(I'm gonna just sort of go out on a limb here and move the thread along a bit to save time and set the scene. Please forgive me if I step on anyone's toes.)

After all five of them were settled at a table off the side of the roller rink, Alice took a deep breath and smiled. Next to her at her right hand was Izzy, both of them entwined together at usual, holding hands like all good lovers do. Stella sat at Alice's left, close but not close enough to rile Izzy's jealous nature. Odion and Aki sat across from Alice, all of them so very nice and cozy, just like a family. "Tonight is just an introduction of sorts, a time for us all to get to know one another and to establish the goals of this Family. I picked each and everyone of you for various talents and skills you bring to the table, not to mention your social status. So, I think a small round of introductions are at hand. Who wants to introduce themselves first?," Alice asked, looking around at each member as she gently rubbed the back of Izzy's hand with her thumb.

[ooc: sorry for the long wait!]

The interaction, the group connection, it was all thrilling to Alice in varying levels. Granted this little scheduled meeting was more like a slumber party than any real organized meeting, but this was how Alice operated. Hiding in plain sight, making the most serious of events seems accidental or all in all harmless. There wasn't any hiding of the connection all of them were having and would have with one another. There were too many prying eyes at Hammel, especially the one known as Rumor. In no time word of the Family would circulate through Hammel, small at first but then larger with each Family gathering. So, in proper reaction, Alice would have to spread some interesting rumors of her own. In theory, allowing the populace of Hammel to whisper dark silly paranoid rumors about the Family would then result in any actual information being tainted and unbelievable. It was a risky gambit, but one which Alice was sure would pay off.

Introduction went silent for a moment, with Alice patiently waiting with baited breath. Who would go first, who would be the brave one? To Alice's surprise, it wasn't Aki, but Stella who spoke up first. Stella was the most unlikely of all candidates to be drug into the family, but Alice saw something there which others did not, as she did with the other members as well. Alice's attention focused on Stella as she spoke more plainly than Alice had ever heard her speak. The revelation of her ''true'' name gave Alice a cause to smile. Such a revelation might not have meant much to others, but Alice knew the power in a name. For Stella to reveal this much of herself, meant she must have felt accepted, yet another cause for that sense of victory for Alice. "Beautiful Xiaodan," Alice said using Stella's "true" name.

As expected, Aki appeared the most comfortable of the members, aside from Alice. She was relaxed and had an almost overwhelming sense of confidence about her. Alice could feel their mental connection pushing at her mind and wondered if the connection with the others was as strong. It was quite curious and thrilling to be in a link with someone like this, but it also could prove dangerous. Squeezing Isabella's hand tighter, Alice tried to focus her thoughts on her lover to help ground her mind in its proper place. Aki showed promise of great power in her ability, but would the young woman realize this herself?

Odion was the last member to introduce himself, and in a fashion befitting him, her made such a grand impression. Odion was a perfect choice for a founding member of the family. He had a fantastic grasp of her ability and was willing to bend or break the rules of society if necessary to get what he wanted. The Family weren't some two bit thugs or organized mob, they were entrepreneurs who were going to go far in the world. They walked the thin line of right and wrong, crossing briefly to one side or the other for as long as it took to succeed in their plans. As always, Odion made Alice giggle a bit. He had that rough charm about him which sort of put a girl under his thumb. Alice would have to be careful around him lest she find herself being the one manipulated. Odion might not have had the social status that Alice, Izzy, and Aki, had, but that was what made him so perfect. Odion was from the streets so to speak and that meant he knew things which those like Alice would not know. He would have a better understanding of the everyday life of those who operated under the city shadows.

"Charming as usual Odion," Alice said with a wink before squeezing Izzy's hand. "I believe Aki already knows a little of who Bella is and I'll fill the rest of you in on her later. Just remember, she's off limits," Alice said, casting a watchful eye toward Odion. "As for me, well, we've met or you wouldn't be here. I'm sure the more pressing question is why we are all here. The answer to that is quite simple really," Alice said, looking to each member of the family in turn. "Each of us has the potential to be successful in this world, but success is only fleeting. Together, we have the potential to run this world.....or at least a very important part of it. Social status is everything in society and while high society is often thought of as the only social circle, there are other, more hidden areas which are just as important," Alice said, giving Odion another glance, curious if would understand her meaning. He was and would be their link to the people out on the streets and back alleys. "The other aspect of our control will extend to the money markets. A financial global empire run by us, from behind the curtains. We will own every major player out there, whether they know it or not. We have more than one leg up on any competition and our abilities will give us insight into realms foreign to others. Research into each specific area could and will result in numerous technological leaps and bounds, everyone patented to us and controlled tightly," Alice finished, her smile wide as well as her eyes. "I know it sounds like a pipe dream or some comic book plot, but believe me, I am more than serious about all of this. So let me know now, are you all still in and more importantly, are each of you ready to sacrifice everything for this new found Family?"