Shatter Shield

[txt] thanks! Be there soon

Lark ultimately did let Falcata portal them over. It only took a moment, and Fal wasn't going to stay, just offering to help with travel. Still a bit uncomfortable.

Duck was picked up in arm easily enough and after a quick check that Raven was accounted for he lead all back to the truck. There wasn't individual seats in a truck that old so much as a long bench seat so they'd just have to squeeze in there best they could.

However, he did not get in himself just yet. Just made sure everyone was in there and closed the door with the AC on. Give Lark a little more time to decompress while he handled a couple things. Namely, taking a job into the surrounding mystical elf and fae infested forest to give the Envy-cube a throw. Holding the cube prison together while he went back to the cabin--and inside.

There was a subtle background relationship dynamic at play that compelled him to go get Merlin off the floor and get him into bed at least before he left.

He returned to the car afterward and went about driving them back to Devang's place. During the ride,

"She's back. Told her you and the kids were out doin' somethin'." Told Lark. "I dunno how long that's gunna hold."

News of Devang being home though had his stomach drop in a way Lark couldn't explain. It took everything in him not to fucking start stress-crying. Felt like it had to be written all over his face, but in reality he just looked horribly tired. "...okay." All he could get out about it.

When they got to the house, Lark wrangled up the kittens into his arms and got out of the car. He took a moment to go to Alan and bump his cheek against his arm. Welcome to the family. Not just through association anymore.

Then took a deep breath to steady himself before heading inside, in case Devang was right inside to greet them.

In the forest by Merlin's house, Envy was sitting in the cube with HIGH offense. They'd been in here too fucking long. They weren't boiling, they were quietly pissed, stepping out of the fading barrier as soon as they were able.

Fucker.

And started on inside with him.

Devang was in her beanbag in front of a fan, dozing, so at least there was that reprieve for now.

Not that Lark was communicating much better.

The crystal shoved across the floor did get a look from Lark, and another wave of guilt. He nearly wanted to go and pick it up, pack it away again, but he wouldn't. That much, at least, he could see wouldn't do Merlin any good.

Lark spent the wait licking Duck and Raven's heads, and brushing their fur smooth on their backs, and continually checking and double-checking Goose wasn't wandering off. Goose wasn't showing so much affection, but she wasn't teleporting away, limitation or not. The whole family was here, and that was what she'd been looking for.

Duck was picked up in arm easily enough and after a quick check that Raven was accounted for he lead all back to the truck. There wasn't individual seats in a truck that old so much as a long bench seat so they'd just have to squeeze in there best they could.

However, he did not get in himself just yet. Just made sure everyone was in there and closed the door with the AC on. Give Lark a little more time to decompress while he handled a couple things. Namely, taking a job into the surrounding mystical elf and fae infested forest to give the Envy-cube a throw. Holding the cube prison together while he went back to the cabin--and inside.

There was a subtle background relationship dynamic at play that compelled him to go get Merlin off the floor and get him into bed at least before he left.

He returned to the car afterward and went about driving them back to Devang's place. During the ride,

"She's back. Told her you and the kids were out doin' somethin'." Told Lark. "I dunno how long that's gunna hold."

Taika shrank, ready to be punished in some way outside words- but then Merlin and Lark and the kids whisked away.

The three stared at one another, and none of them were too keen on talking to one another. They probably wouldn't be heading home too soon.

Well, except Avalon. AVALON was going home, and going to have a fucking beer and a movie, fuck y'all, byeeee! And photos of Lark's kids got texted to Envy, for whenever they had phone access again.

Lark got off his chair with unsteady steps at first, like his legs had fallen asleep. He stood near his kids, but didn't go to them immediately. Shot Merlin a look, a look that was fucking- sad and guilty, but also hurt and frustrated. He wrestled with whether to say anything, and maybe he shouldn't, but he did. "Stop it," hoarse and quiet, fists clenched. "Stop doing stuff to me." Stop manhandling him, stop doing shit without communicating, stop ASSUMING you know what's right, just- stop. Even though Merlin had finally brought his kids home, and Lark was drowning in guilt for not having asked him day one-

Duck and Raven scampered over to launch themselves at Lark's legs, clawing their way up into his arms, to Lark's stifled hiss and teary eyes as he held them close, licking their heads and checking them over. Still got all their ears and eyes and noses and legs. They were fine.

Sat down on the floor so he could continue holding them (and get Goose into his lap) while he pulled out his phone to text Alan.

[txt] got the kids at merlins house. can you pick us up?

He didn't know if Lark would ever understand what he'd done to Merlin today.

He just wanted to sleep. Or eat. Sleep seemed like a more pressing problem.

[txt] yes

Alan was en route shortly after. He wasn't a fast mover, but he was coming up the drive in a timely fashion with his available car; A very old Ford truck that ran beautifully for all the rust in the red and white panels.

When he got there he was in the doorway swift enough. He'd been holding Envy-cubed in his hand since he'd made the structure and he'd been worrying about events since they started. He was much relieved when he saw the kids all over Lark. Even if Goose seemed a little reluctant. Expected, Goose was a very independent sort of kid in his observation.

He came over and offered some uppies to which ever kid was interested.

"I'm not sure what to think or say, but I'm glad you're all together again." He told Lark as he did.

He heard Charlie pretty easily and came out from behind the house while he'd been checking as a cursory thing that they weren't' hiding out somewhere nearby.

"Lark's inside if you want to confer with him about the search. Fair warning, I'm holding Envy hostage--a Sin is nearby." In his hand. "Don't need them sneaking off to cause more problems."

He opened the front door for him. "Lark's just inside."

A momentary fear struck that the traps might still be there, but- but no way. Devang wouldn't just leave explosives in her old yard. That would be needlessly dangerous.

The hybrid gave another bark of acknowledgement, spreading large wings as an indication that he was there to help. Whether it was scenting or... transport? Maybe? He could do either. Lark would have to direct him where to go, but if he had an idea, then it couldn't be asking too much. He was much larger now, the passage of time showing in his growth; easily the size of two large Clydesdales now, he had plenty of room on his back. If no one had access to any sort of teleportation magic or what-have-you.

Presumably, there were any number of people involved at this point if it were Alan reaching out to him. That alone was a little alarming. And Charlie scrabbled quickly out into the air, shaking off the dust from his nap. He'd need to be fully transformed for this to be effective, taking form on all fours after a moment before speeding off in the direction of the house.

He heard Charlie pretty easily and came out from behind the house while he'd been checking as a cursory thing that they weren't' hiding out somewhere nearby.

"Lark's inside if you want to confer with him about the search. Fair warning, I'm holding Envy hostage--a Sin is nearby." In his hand. "Don't need them sneaking off to cause more problems."

He opened the front door for him. "Lark's just inside."

[txt] That's at least a bit of a relief

Envy and normal people had a different idea of what 'friendly' was.

Also, they were not in Hell. They were in Washington somewhere on the coast. Earth.

He picked up the dice cube of Envy.

Alan followed after Lark all the same. Pausing long enough to lift the door and put it back in the frame before he continued. Ash hadn't exactly started a shitshow. Continuing toward the shed with the Gate.

"Then I'll text Charlie and we'll regroup on next steps at the house." Alan tried to give Lark some kind of linear planning and steps as he punched in the code with free, non-cube occupied, hand.

Also, unfamiliar place without his kids? Another type of hell.

Not actual Hell though, okay, good. Totally thought that was where they'd be going for demon stuff, but Alan is cool and smart and found a better way, nice.

Still, Lark was eager to get back through the gate and back to familiar ground. Maybe they'd get back and the kids would magically show up! Maybe Fal and Taika just took the kids for a walk and...dropped their phones in a puddle. Maybe they DID take the kids to Envy and Envy was lying through their teeth. Maybe they were dead, all of them. Maybe Envy locked them in a closet somewhere and left them to rot.

No sneaking off to take advantage of the chaos, sir-ma'am.

Lark startled back when Envy went from trapped person to a tiny speck of sin-mush in a cube. Everyone involved is probably thankful it was just Envy and not their host, because the idea of a human body being crushed like that was uniquely horrifying.

Please don’t share with the class if you’ve done that to a flesh being before.

“Maybe- maybe they’re visiting Charlie.” He agreed. “It’s Father’s Day.” And Charlie is Fal’s father. Maybe? But why would they bring Lark’s kids? And why no response on the phone? Lark ran claws through his hair, swallowing thickly.

Envy and normal people had a different idea of what 'friendly' was.

Also, they were not in Hell. They were in Washington somewhere on the coast. Earth.

He picked up the dice cube of Envy.

Alan followed after Lark all the same. Pausing long enough to lift the door and put it back in the frame before he continued. Ash hadn't exactly started a shitshow. Continuing toward the shed with the Gate.

"Then I'll text Charlie and we'll regroup on next steps at the house." Alan tried to give Lark some kind of linear planning and steps as he punched in the code with free, non-cube occupied, hand.

They sussed him for a Devang. The resemblance wasn’t thin, and they knew Devang had a brother.

Lark heard little birds though and his head shot up from where he’d started staring at the ground, ice in his veins. They know.

Envy caught Lark’s eye. “Why don’t you tell me who’s missing? Maybe I can help.”

He'd been building up thick walls of the stuff out of Envy's assumed peripherals to the behind. Four of the six faces of a cube. That left only two more to rush and close the cube around Envy. Sheer blue and ruffling Alan's shirt when it closed up. The construct hovered Envy off the ground a moment before it imploded. Crushing into a size of a game die.

He was under no illusion that this was fatal. Just incredibly uncomfortable and disrespectful. He didn't trust Envy to help with shit or do anything other than be a noisy pest with an agenda that made him want to eat the Sins eyes out of their skull. Little else.

"Anyway. They don't have them." Alan rubbed fingers against an eyelid. "I know they like to visit Charlie from time to time. Maybe off-world doing something recreational?" More to Lark at that point. "I'm not a very good sleuth."

Lark hadn’t expected such a straightforward answer. Envy played with fucking around there, but they did actually say no. Fear and distrust bubbled up and out as he pushed beside Alan. “You- you didn’t put them up to it?”

Envy glanced at Lark, then away, grimacing. “Ooh, am I allowed to talk to him? I mean, he asked, but I wouldn’t want to step on any toes…I was given pretty firm instruction after all…”

While Alan strong-armed Ash, Lark hung back, jaw tight, keeping his mouth shut. They might have my kids. He didn’t say it. Just listened and braced himself and waited.

"One of you owes me a new door." As he stepped to the side a bit. Smiling brief and crooked at Envy that the chalk choice had been noted. He wasn't being an ass.

Alan was.

Lark's feet held courage his thumbs didn't. He put his phone away and followed closely behind Alan, still in his stupid fucking drawstring shorts, careful of his pawpads on the path not to step on anything that might pierce him. Rocks were no problem, he often went without shoes.

Lot of Devangs ignore door conventions.

The whole thing was easily busted out of the doorframe with a kick. Alan didn't struggle with brute strength.

"Ash." There was not much respect in that call.

"Alan. That is my fucking door you just--" The demon started to answer with no real fear so much as archness until he'd reached the hallway to stare at the both of them at the end of it. His mouth pursed and he visibly soured. "Ah." Not a social call.

"Get me a line to Envy." Alan got to the point.

"I am not your dog." Ash stated back coldly.

"No, but I'll beat you like one all the same." Bit of teeth baring on Alan's part. Which seemed to give Ash a pause and a shuffle on his cane. Apparently there was a history of such a thing.

He heaved a cranky sigh and turned to head for another room. "A moment." He would try, at least. Being a Prince tended to give him at least some weight in pulling a response to a summons. He just had to set up the sigil. They all had one of those. Stan had made certain of that.

After many failed attempts, Lark scrolled his contacts. He let Devang's name tempt him for a moment, but scrolled past to the Es. Had to unblock the number. Dialed and put it to his ear.

Envy got as far as a flowery "Hello" before Lark hung up abruptly. Hovered his thumb over the button to call again, but couldn't will himself to do it. Envy shouldn't even know about the kids. They knew he was pregnant, but they never got told for certain that they'd made it, right? They never got a look at them. They shouldn't even know.

Unless Taika told them.

Or, at least, his one possible line to talking to them.

He put in the code to get somewhere nearby to Asmodeus' abode. Came out of a shed halfway down their driveway and started trudging up the path toward the fancy fuck house.

Lark paused his restrained-frantic searching, pursing his lips and touching fingers to them. Haha okay. Hmmmmm. "Why...would Falcata...TAKE my kids."

He knows a why. But he doesn't want to say that why because at this point it's kind of fucking unthinkable.

Taika though- but she wouldn't, right? On fucking Father's Day? And Fal would have to help. And they wouldn't, right?

His own phone came out to try calling either of the adult goobers while he went to put his shoes and coat on. He knew where he was going in the meantime--up toward Devang's room for that Gate. Suspect number one was going to get approached first.