Unexpected Visitor (Rose, Nightshades, open)

[sky]

An elegant woman strolled through the courtyard with a baby cuddled and cooing in her arms. She wore a pair of ratty jeans and a black t-shirt, with her raven hair tied back in a long ponytail. Her expression was weary and little apprehensive, as if she was debating whether or not going into the school was a good idea. The little baby girl just looked around with large milk chocolate eyes that seemed to take in everything, curiosity burning in within her. The mother just heaved in a deep breath and started walking slowly forward, but stops every now and again. The debate was still raging inside her.

Sky could hear the individual minds of every mutant that was inside the school…including Ro-chan. She sighed as her mind washed over her younger sister’s new mind. The taste was slightly different…but the roots were still the same. It was her sister. Sky closed her eyes as relief spread over her. She heard rumors that Rose was still alive, but she wasn’t entirely sure until now. While emotion overcame her, Sky’s daughter Syrena seemed to be oblivious as she continued to look at the environment around them.

Once her mind sweep was over, Sky continued her slow journey toward the school with caution. She knew she wouldn’t be welcome here, but…ever since Cain died, Sky had changed dramatically. Maybe it was before Cain. Maybe it was when Syrena was born that Sky started to realize things about her life and how rotten it was overall. But Cain dying confirmed it. She had made a conscious decision to take the best care of her daughter and to stop being cruel to those who were weaker than her. Sky didn’t see the point anymore.

[Dalacur Nightshade]

"Cousin!" So much for Sky's inner turmoil. Dalacur smirked as he appeared after his exclaimnation. It had been forever since he had heard or seen anything about Sky. So imagine his surprise when he came to check up on the brat he called a kid brother, that it'd end up being a family reunion.

His arm suddenly draped over her shoulders as he grinned, making those fangs of his more prominent. "How long has it been? Ten? Twenty years?" He didn't have the foggiest but hey it was nice to see family. It wasn't until then that he realized that she was carrying something. "Oh and look at that a mini you. How adorable." He pulled his arm away from her and chuckled a bit. "Well you continue doing..." he waved his hands infront of him in a generic gesture, "whatever it is you're doing. I'll see you inside." Turning about he headed towards the doors of the mansion.

Suddenly Dalacur turned around, his trench coat swaying about him while he peered from under the brim of his hat. "But how are you actually?" That smirk reappeared showing a hit of that fang again. "You seem...sad." He seemed almost serious for a moment, as if he was sad for her saddness. He was a telepath after all... But rarely did he seem to be in one state of emotion for long. "After all this should be a happy occasion! Getting all the Nightshades together again! Certainly in for some fun, aren't we?" Yellow eyes looked to his cousin with an unsettling glimmer.

[Dracaul 'Bennet' Nightshade]

Stepping out of the cab that had brought him to the mansion Bennet started to make his way up the long driveway, a small package tucked under his arms. Since it hadn’t been on of the scheduled days for flights Bennet had opted to just use a commercial flight instead of waiting for the actual scheduled time. Freya had asked for him to bring it to her, what it was Bennet didn’t know, but when Freya asked you to do something it tended to be in your best interest to do it.

As he came closer to the front of the school he suddenly heard a voice call out. "Cousin!" Bennet froze. He knew that voice. He knew that voice extremely well. It belonged to his older brother Dalacur. What was he doing here? Since Bennet was still around the bend the people at the door wouldn’t be able to see him.

Debating whether or not he should go to another entrance or face his brother Bennet let out a sigh. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to see his brother as much as he didn’t want to have to deal with him at the moment, Freya was more then enough to handle without adding Dalacur to the mix. Deciding that he would have to face his brother at some point Bennet continued his way to the door.

[Rose North]

Something was going on outside… An unnamed student had come to find one of the X-men, nervous about the woman outside. In turn, that X-men, recognizing Sky, went to Rose. As you could imagine, she was more than a little surprised to hear her sister was outside…. With her baby? That was the strangest news. Rose hadn’t even seen her baby niece (didn’t even know her name, actually!). All she did know… Was Sky had been pregnant the last time they saw each other.

Now came a dilemma. Would Sky want to see her? Well, obviously, Sky was at the school, for heaven’s sake! But… Did Rose want to face her sister? Or rather, could she? In her attempts to kill Cain…. Rose had discarded all feelings for her sister. Now though, they were bubbling to the surface.

Sighing, she decided. She’d have to go out. To be on the safe side (though she didn’t expect her sister to attack her mentally, it was more or less she didn’t want Sky in her head right now), Rose put up several barriers in her own mind, shielding her thoughts from any telepath. If someone did try to read her mind, it would be like running into a brick wall. Only Sky had the power to break through these walls, and even then it would take more concentration that she would be willing to exert. Unknowingly, she was keeping Dalacur out as well (He definitely didn’t have the power to get past her barriers).

Slowly, she headed for the front doors, stepping out into the warm day…. And was met by, not her sister, but the back of a man. It took her several moments to realize who it was. Dalacur? And… If she didn’t know any better wasn’t that Dracaul approaching? ”Well, isn’t this a surprise. Five Nightshades under one roof, and none of them trying to kill each other.” She wasn’t including herself. Dracaul and Dalacur thought Rose was dead, after all. How long that would last…. Probably a few minutes at best, depending on Sky’s reaction to seeing her sister.

So many Nightshades though…. Sky, Dalacur, Dracaul, Rose, Parker, and Alucard. They were only missing two. Shadow, who was dead, and the youngest Nightshade girl who was…. Who knew where. At home probably. This was probably the largest gathering of Nightshades since…. Oh hell, even Rose couldn’t think of a time. But, that wasn’t too surprising considering she’d run away ten years ago…

[/justify]

[Dalacur Nightshade]

The voice behind him brought an arch to his brow. Then a sinister grin to his face. He turned about to see Rose. That grin remained as he took a few more steps forward. It was like a beast that just found his prey. But then he realized something. Her mind was blank. "Well well, who is this?"

Dalacur walked around her looking her up and down. "And how does she know us so...well?" He had noticed that his brother showed up to the party but hadn't acknowledge that yet. He stopped behind Rose for a moment, narrowing his eyes at her. Why couldn't he read her? Then he started to laugh. "Oh my dear cousin! I didn't think you were dead." He smirked and suddenly grabbed her into a hug. "You shouldn't worry family so! So many torn hearts and tears shed. You should be ashamed." He let her go finally and smiled to her.

Then his attention turned back to see his brother's approach. "And you!" He smirked while pointing at him. "Should call more often too. Locked away in that castle thing...really isn't healthy." Not that he was too much of a fan the whole mansion thing either.

[sky]

Sky knew Dalacur was approaching long before he yelled out to her. When she felt his mind earlier, she certainly was surprised. She was even more surprised when her younger cousin, Dracaul, came into the picture to deliver a package to a woman named Freya. Syrena immediately was captivated by the appearance of a new person. Her eyes went wide as she inspected him with her cow eyes.

Looking Dalacur in the eye, Sky gave him a replying witty smirk. It was as if the two were sharing a joke that no one else knew. ”Hello, Dalacur. It sure has been a long time, hasn’t it?” Her deep purple eyes inspected her cousin with slight interest, taking in little differences and perks he had picked up since she last saw him. The taste of his mind seemed a little spicier than she remembered, but it was the same Dalacur. When he mentioned her baby, Sky just smiled and showed her bright white teeth as she looked down at Syrena. “Yeah, she’s trouble, this one.”

Sensing the hesitation from her other cousin, Dracaul, Sky didn’t even turn to look at him. She didn’t want to bring him into a situation that he didn’t want to be in. But when she felt Rose’s mind shield itself, Sky froze. Rose figured out she was here. Syrena kept looking at Dalacur as Sky’s stomach seemed to ice over in anxiety. What’s Rose going to say? What would she say? She didn’t dare pry into Rose’s mind at this point.

When Rose came outside to greet them, Sky just stared. Hearing the mind wasn’t the same as seeing the person that the mind belonged to. But she did catch a glimpse of Rose’s mind before she used her power. She had changed a lot. She had become cold. Sky didn’t like it. Her Ro-chan was kind and innocent. Why did Shadow and Cain have to change her so much? She had grown up so much.

”Yes, I would guess so.” Sky shifted Syrena onto her right side as the baby looked up at Rose with her usual cow-brown eyes. It seemed to be a look of wonder as she looked at her aunt…as if she was waiting to see her.

When Dalacur went up to Rose, Sky just scowled a little. "That's enough of you, Dalacur. Go bug your brother for a little while. I'm sure he would LOVE to see you."

[Rose North]

Nightshades were smart. Troublesomely smart. What most people wouldn’t see, a Nightshade would spot a mile away. Dalacur was really exercising that ability as he tried to figured out just who Rose was. She just smirked. Of course he’d figured it out, she was stupid to think he needed Sky’s reaction to solve the puzzle. The smirk though… It was more of a challenge. Daring him to try and figure it out.

Rose’s gaze slowly followed Dalacur as he circled her, the young woman deathly silent as she waited for him to come to a conclusion. When he finally did…. That smirk returned, though it was more like a ‘good job, would you like a reward?’, taunt. She didn’t expect the hug though, shock actually making her freeze for several moments. ”Yeah. Worry. That’s what you guys call it. We call it ‘murder attempts’ here.” Okay, most the family hadn’t actually tried to kill her…. But that wasn’t saying all of them were blameless. Whether anyone present had a hand in the several attempts she’d survived, Rose didn’t know. It was more likely Shadow and Parker’s parents were the source of all of them.

Stiff, she waited for him to finally let go, refusing to breath until he did. Of course she was cautious. She wasn’t going to let him sink those fangs of his into her after all! She was just waiting for him to try…. Maybe she could chip those fangs, teach him a lesson…

Wait, shit. Bad Rose. She wasn’t supposed to have those kinds of thoughts. Even if they were only slightly diabolical, they usually led to worse schemes if she let them run loose. Came with going insane.

Sighing, she finally looked at her sister. Really looked at her. It’d been so long…. Since she’d seen Sky, Rose had forgotten how much she cared for and missed her. Rose was worried… Would Sky feel the same? Rose was different, unrecognizable in appearance and personality. She was cold. Cold and heartless. She’d do Shadow proud if their cousin was still alive. And that wasn’t a compliment. Still, she couldn’t help but smile slightly as Sky seemed to wait for her, her niece fixing her with ridiculously huge (and cute) brown eyes.

A few moments passed, before Rose stepped away from the doors, slowly approaching her sister and niece. ”What’s her name?” How sad, well over a year since she’d last seen her sister and the only thing she could ask was about the baby?

[/justify]

[Dalacur Nightshade]

"Enough? Enough of ME?!" His eyes almost turned afire as Sky ordered him to 'run off' with Dracaul. He sneered at her as he walked up to Sky.

Had the baby not been there he probably would have been a little more violent in this situation. But considering that little bundle of joy's eyes grew only bigger he huffed. "You're lucky I don't like to show violence to children. But just for your own sake..I suggest not ordering people around...Cousin." His eyes burned into hers, not looking away for a moment as he gave his little warning to her. He was aware of her mind powers and his own were on full alert as he postured himself infront of her. "Next time you might not be so lucky."

Another minor threat before he turned his attention to the baby. A friendly smile on his face while he playfully poked her nose. "Don't worry your cute little head." He then he was practically pushed aside by Rose. Damned women. He sneered slightly but let the woman go to her sister and neice. Whatever.

His attention turned to Dracaul then. Since the women were mingling he really didn't need to be involved in all of that...fluff and cute things. Whatever it was that women did. He grabbed his brother by the collar of his shirt and pulled him in closer to him. "So? what do you have to say for yourself? You don't call...you don't write. What do I have to do to get your attention?" A wicked grin crossed his face.

[Rose North]

Rose wished she could say this never happened. Sadly, in their family of strong willed, easily angered mutants, it was a daily occurrence. And if this had been anyone else, Rose would have turned a blind eye to it. But the fact that Dalacur had threatened her sister… Well… That was unforgivable.

She was flat out furious, and, like Dalacur had just demonstrated, an angry Nightshade was a force to be reckoned with. ”Unlucky for you, Dalacur. I don’t care if I’m violent around kids.” It was a threat, a mighty big one to, the stare she had him fixed with so dark it would raise goosebumps on any semi-normal person. ”Speak to Sky like that again, and you’ll see it firsthand.” She didn’t attack him, not yet at least. Right now, he’d only traded threats. If he did turn violent though… Well, it’d been ten years since he saw Rose fight. He’d be in for a pretty big surprise, she was sure.

”Do I make myself clear, cousin?” The ground cracked under Dalacur's feet, the sound alone echoing across the whole courtyard. If he managed to tune that out.... Well, Rose would applaud him.

Rose had, for the moment, forgotten about Sky. She was too busy defending her sister’s honor to really care if Sky wanted defending or not. But considering how Sky could only do so much if he decided to attack her, maybe it was a good thing it was Rose going after their older cousin, and not Sky.

[/justify]

[Dracaul 'Bennet' Nightshade]

And most of the Exiles wondered why he liked to stay in France, hidden away in the castle. It was so things like this didn’t happen. It wasn’t that Bennet hated his family or anything, it was just that when you got any number of Nightshades together things tended to get…..complicated. Complications he could live without if he were honest with himself.

Holding back the sigh Bennet continued to walk forward coming to a stop a few feet away from Sky, his gaze then landing on the child held in his cousins’ grasp. He had known that Sky had been pregnant but that had been the extent of his knowledge. After joining the Exile he hadn’t seen or spoken to anyone in his family, and that had been right after high school. Bennet just nodded to Sky in greeting as to not alert Dalacur that he was there, though he probably already knew.

Hearing a voice coming from the doorway, a voice that obviously didn’t belong to his older brother, Bennet removed his gaze from Sky to the new arrival. It was a girl and Bennet just lifted an eyebrow and was about to say something, when Dalacur beat him to it. Rose? So she was alive? Intersting, though when Bennet thought about it anything could happen.

“It’s good to see you Rose.” Since Bennet was a little more reserved then Dalacur he had opted for a simple greeting for his long thought dead cousin. Bennet at last shifted his gaze to his older brother. “Like your one to talk.” Bennet couldn’t remember the last time he had actually spoken to his brother, not that he really tried that hard, but Dalacur could still contact him….maybe; though if Dalacur addressed everything to Dracaul it probably never get to him. He had gone by Bennet for the last eight years.

Sky was evil. The last thing Bennet wanted to deal with was his brother, or more his brothers lightning fast mood swings. Shooting Sky a half hearted glare Bennet braced himself for the inevitable change of moods, whatever it may be, and wasn’t disappointed when Dalacur’s mood quickly changed.

Letting out an almost frustrated sigh Bennet wasn’t completely prepared for Dalacur to grab his collar. Though the only thing that did run through his mind was the question, who would I rather deal with more? Freya or Dalacur?

“You could just send me an email. I’m pretty much on my computer twenty-four seven there’s a good chance I’ll see that.” Though did he even have his email address? Bennet really couldn’t recall. When Rose started showing the famous Nightshade temper Bennet quickly slipped into his role as peace keeper, a role he had since a child. “Rose, please calm down. The last thing we need here is a Nightshade battle.”

[sky]

When Rose came over to Sky and asked about her baby...she was about to explode with happiness. She didn't care if Rose asked about her sister or about her niece, Sky just liked the fact that Rose was willing to talk to her. She gave a slight, motherly smile...the type of smile that wasn't for herself, but for someone else.

"Syrena. Her name is Syrena Nightshade." Sky hefted Syrena to get the baby's attention and spoke in a sweeter tone. "Hey, Syrena, this is your Auntie Rose." Syrena looked up at her mother knowingly, then turned her attention back on Rose. She just stared with one of her hands in her mouth.

Sky felt Dalacur's mood shift immediately after she made her snide comment. Dalacur was always one to get heated up so easily over something so little and it just made her roll her eyes sarcastically. "Drama queen." She wasn't afraid of her cousin as he basically bared his fangs at her. And she wasn't afraid for Syrena either. Syrena could take care of herself already, if you pushed the right buttons.

But she was taken off guard when Rose started to bristle about Dalacur's threat. Honestly, there was no need to go that far. But Sky understood what it was to establish dominance in their family. Rose had picked up many of those traits since their separation. Even though they didn't look alike anymore, Sky knew this girl was her sister Rose. When Bennet came into the picture, she sensed his hesitation and annoyance at his brother Dalacur. She gave him a knowing look, as if saying, "What did you expect?"

Syrena soon became bored and reached toward the ground with groans of impatience. Sky kept her in her arms though, since Rose was showing off her powers towards Dalacur. Syrena looked on, unhappy with her present situation in being trapped in Sky's arms and wanting to explore.

[Dalacur Nightshade]

Dalacur made no effort to look back in Rose's direction while he had his brother by the collar. "I give respect to those that I recieve it from." It was the only response she was going to get from him on the subject.

His attention turned back to his brother with a smile. "E-mail? Really? Something so impersonal? I wanted to talk to you...personally." He let go of his collar then shrugged slightly, "Well I came here to see Alucard but you were next. Nice way to show up and make my life easier. And here I thought I was the psychic one." He smirked to his brother playfully.

But that smirk did fade a little as he remembered what the real reason for his visit was. "I still need to talk to Alucard though. Come on." He turned and headed towards the doors of the mansion, ignoring the female cousins. As well as that crack in the ground he had to walk over. Since Dracaul was here then he might as well just talk to them both at the same time.

The interesting part was that for once it seemed Dal was concentrated on something. He hadn't switched emotional states or anything of the sort. He had something on his mind and was actually taking it seriously.

[Rose North]

Rose didn’t even look at her cousin, Dracaul when he defended his brother. Okay, he really didn’t, but the fact that she was the one at fault.. Now that was just infuriating. Dalacur had threatened Sky first. And if Rose had known Dracaul had even thought Sky was evil…. Well, he wouldn’t get a threat. No one messed with Sky. Especially not when Rose was around.

Without realizing it, Rose had fallen back in her old habits. Sky, who had purely mental powers, would lose in any physical fight if the other person was determined enough. For as long as Rose could remember, she’d stuck up for her sister at those times. Even if they were seven years apart. Who would have thought, this young woman, who most people wouldn’t believe was Rose, was still the same… Somewhat.

Finally though, with Dalacur skulking off, she seemed to relax. She didn’t care about what he’d said. All she cared about…. Was he was leaving Sky alone now. It was like a guard dog, on edge until the possible threat got far enough away. That didn’t mean Rose dropped her mind barriers though. Those stayed up for her own privacy.

With the threat taken care of, Rose’s attention finally returned to her sister and niece, all traces of that fury gone from her face. She’d caught the girl’s name before it all began. Syrena. ”It’s pretty.” She smiled a little, watching her niece squirm and wiggle in her sister’s arms, trying desperately to escape. ”I guess she’s already showing signs of a spunky Nightshade. Can’t even stay still for a few minutes.” Thoughts of Syrena’s father never crossed her mind. She refused to let them. She despised Syrena’s father, but that grudge wouldn’t care over to her niece. Never… She wasn’t Cain’s daughter. She was Sky’s, and Sky’s alone.

[/justify]

[Alucard Nightshade]

Alucard was half crouching, half laying on the ceiling at the entrance into the mansion during the entire events that had occurred just outside the door. He had ended up following Rose when he noticed she had a concerned look on her face. She never noticed him, which was odd yet at the same time understandable since lately Alucard had gotten very good at not being heard or even noticed unless he wanted to be. None of the other Nightshades had noticed him either, not even Dalacur noticed him at all and walked past him and farther into the mansion with his other brother. He wasn't liking the situation that was taking place in the mansion, there were far too many Nightshades in one place. He also wasn't about to let his eldest brother find him to have his 'talk' with him either. He had a feeling that it was about the reason he was at the institute in the first place and he didn't want to be told to leave now that Xavier was gone and couldn't help him out.

Alucard waited until his brothers were completely out of sight before he silently dropped to the floor to go see his new relative. He walked out to see Sky holding her new baby girl and Rose looking like a proud aunt. He had heard that Sky was pregnant and he knew all too well who the father was, but he was surprised to see that Sky had come to the institute and brought her daughter with her. He just walked over and looked at the baby girl in Sky's arms. He and her looked at each other without an expression for a moment before she started to reach towards him and he just stuck his finger out for her, which she took and started to play with. He smiled slightly at her before turning his attention to his two cousins.

" She is very cute Sky. It would seem she got her mothers looks." Alucard said to Sky. " I hope you have been well and it is good to see you."

Alucard turned to look at Rose. Syrena continued to play with his finger and seemed to be really enjoying how he was letting her do as she wished with it. She had ended up putting it in her mouth a few times and was now covered in drool.

" Would you like for me to leave you and your sister alone now Rose?" Alucard asked Rose.

[sky]

Sky didn't pay much attention to Alucard when she came to the school and inspected its inhabitants, but now that he was following Rose...that was a different story. It was as if this boy was a puppy following an older dog that wasn't fond of being around puppies. Sky noticed that this boy wanted to grow closer to Rose and prove himself to her. She just sighed. Boys. Men. They were all the same.

Syrena certainly did perk up when Alucard came up to them. She ended up gnawing and drooling all over the boy, but he didn't seem to mind it. But Sky just glared at him, her mother's instinct to protect kicking in. If someone was going to touch her baby, then they at least should ask permission first beforehand.

Sky gently took Alucard's finger out of Syrena's mouth and gave it back to him. Her orchid eyes seemed to bore holes into him...into his very mind. He would soon have a nagging feeling in his mind to back off and to keep his distance from Syrena unless Sky said otherwise. Syrena was a little confused about losing her chew toy, but she then turned her attention on Rose again.

The little girl squirmed and held out her arms to Rose, wanting to be held by her aunt. Sky then said, coldly, "Yes, we're doing fine, Alucard." Sky then turned back to her sister with a soft smile on her face

"I think she wants to meet you, Rose." Sky just gave her baby into Rose's own arms. Once Syrena was settled into Rose's embrace, she gave a cute smile that seemed to turn every woman's head toward them. She was a beautiful, precious baby that was looked after all the time. She was certainly in for some spoiling family.