"So, you're 19 you said?"

"Yeah," Eliza answered. "How old are you?" she asked Hoshi.

Hoshi nodded. "Cool. Astor's 27. So you know. I'm 18. Gonna graduate soon. Should be fun." She smiled.

"27?! wow, I would have never guessed!" Eliza exclaimed. "So, you're going to graduate soon? That's great... wish I could say I did the same.." she added softly.

"Most people don't." Hoshi smiled. "You in college I take it?"

Eliza shook her head softly, watching the people pass before them as they walked to the food court. "No," she answered. "I never finished high school...."

"Why's that?"

Eliza sighed. "Something happened when I was 16.. and I just kinda stopped living after that.. I couldn't face anyone.."

Hoshi raised an eyebrow. "You look rather alive to me..."

She shrugged. "It's been 3 years.. I like to think I've gotten over what happened, but I'm not sure I have yet. The memories still haunt me at night.."
 
Hoshi blinked a moment, then shrugged. "What kinda food did you want?" she asked, changing the subject.

"Chinese sounds good.. I'm absolutely sick of having burgers and fries all the time!" Eliza admitted. "That's all I've been having since I started working at the coffee shop."

Hoshi chuckled. "They don't let you eat the sandwhiches?"

Eliza laughed. "No, they do! I was just exagerating.. I tend to do that, dont' mind me!"

Hoshi chuckled. "If I minded it, I would never have become a Celestal. Avi and Astor are the worst.. or best, depending on your view." They paused infront of the chinese food booth and Hoshi ordered. "Get what you want, I'm paying," she nodded to Eliza.

She turned to her surprised. "You sure? You dont' have to do that.."

"I know." Hoshi answered simply.

Eliza ordered some sweet-n-sour chicken. "Are you sure you want to pay?"

"I wouldn't have offered otherwise..." Hoshi got herself a snapple and handed the casher a 20.

"So, you mentioned that you're a Celestrial.. what's that like? It sounds interesting.." Eliza asked, as she grabbed her food and located a table.

Hoshi laughed lightly. "It just means I have Astor and co for sibs. It's no big deal."

"Really? I thought there was a lot more to it.." Eliza said, as she sat down. "I did, however notice that all of your names had somekind of star in them."

Hoshi laughed again. "That was Astor being dramatic. I haven't chosen my middle name yet."

"When do you have to?" she asked, as she picked up a piece of chicken with chopsticks.

"I don't ~have~ to," Hoshi explained, deftly menuvering her chopsticks to poke through her food before finding the peice she wanted.

Eliza looked up from her plate. "Do you want to?"

Hoshi looked at her strangly. "It's a name..." she said slowly.

Eliza looked at her, slightly confused. "I get the feeling there's a lot more to this then you're letting on.."

"More to picking a middle name?" Hoshi looked at Eliza in disbeleif. "You read alot of scifi novles or something?"

"Not more to picking a middle name.. But more to being a celestial then you're telling me," Eliza replied. "Maybe it ~is~ just me, I do tend to read a lot of science fiction, but I always thought that being a celestial, meant you had some sort of power or something and the name helped define what power you controled.."

Hoshi laughed freely. "It's a circle in the Family, silly! We're not a superhero group."

Eliza laughed, slightly embarresed. "I guess I do read too much science fiction!"

"Mm. You do." Hoshi popped a peice of her seseme chicken in her mouth.
 
Aubri smiled, expression wicked for a moment. "I should change back so we can pay." She went into the fitting room and got back into the shirt of Damek's that she had come in. She stroked the arms of it again, smile turning wistful.

Carrying the trio of shirts and the velvet dress out, she said, "Are you sure it's ok? These are kind of expensive."

Astor and Avi again made dismissive gestures. "It's pocket change. And becides, you're going to be Family." Avi giggled. "We can be sisters." She took Aubri's hand and smiled and winked.

Aubri smiled her thanks, dropping her things on the counter to be paid for and wrapped. "I still need some warmer things and new shoes." She looked at her feet, holding them out for inspection. "I'm coming through the soles of these."
 
"So you'll keep him busy for me?" Aubri asked in a low voice as they reached the house. "Not for long. Just long enough for me to get changed."

Astor giggled. "As long as you'll share details after!" he whispered back.

She glanced at him and smirked. "How detailed do you want my account?"

"Instant replay if you've got it," Avi winked.

Astor giggled again.

"I should be worried... shouldn't I?" Damek asked as he opened the door.

"Nonono," Avi smiled. "Astor, you take Aubri's things up to her room while Damek and I pick out the sheets and bedding."

Damek blinked. "But you don't know where her room is..."

"Third floor in the corner where you used to start the tomato plants," Astor smiled.

Damek raised an eyebrow.

"The power of the moon fortells of things," Astor winked before falling into a fit of giggles.

"Aubri told him," Avi grinned. "Come on," she took her brother's hand and skipped off to the main linin closet.

Aubri watched them go before hurrying to Damek's room. She dumped the contents of the bag she still carried onto the bed and stripped completely. She put what she was wearing into the bag and hid it behind the door, then put on the clothes from the bed. She sat down to wait.

Five minutes later she heard footsteps heading for the door, followed by Damek's sigh. He opened the door and paused, blinking a few times before his face melted into a smile. "Well... that answers a few questions," he smiled, closing the door behind him.

She rose, moving a few steps toward him. "All welcome answers, I hope?" she said with an answering smile.

"Mmm... There's still just one more lingering..." he said as he approched the bed.

"What's that?" she asked, twining her arms around his neck.

He smiled, tracing a line across her shoulders. "What you're wearing underneith..." he said in a deep voice that almost purred.

*fade*
 
Eliza finished her chinese food shortly after that. "Thanks Hoshi, that was great! Hey! Come to the coffee shop tomorrow and you can have a lunch on the house.."

She got up and threw her trash away. "So," Eliza said, as she returned to the table. "What do we do know? Should we go catch up with the others?"
 
Hoshi closed her eyes a moment, a finger resting on her lips. She gave a small chuckle. "Don't waste any time, do they," she smiled, opening her eyes again. "No, they're already heading home."
 
"What do you have.. some kind of psychic connection with them or something?" Eliza asked, amazed. "That's really neat! What else can you do?"
 
Hoshi laughed again. "As you assume the answer is yes before I answer."
 
Eliza paused and thought about what she had said. "Oh, geez you're right! I'm jumping the gun here!" she laughed. "Ok, let me back track here a bit.. how do you know that they're heading back home by now?" she asked, as she grabbed her jacket and picked up her purse.
 
Hoshi grinned. "Sore wa himitsu desu!" she laughed. "C'mon, there's this annoyingly trendy shop that's selling good quality black wings."
 
Eliza blinked. "Sore wa-what?" she asked, confused.
 
Hoshi grinned. "That's a secret," she smiled. "Now c'mon." She began walking.
 
Eliza shrugged and caught up to Hoshi. "So, tell me more about your family? There's got to be more then just Astor, Avi, and Damek, right?" she asked, walking beside in step with her.
 
Hoshi gave a laugh. "Oh yes... much more... I think we number, what... over 5,000 last count. I could call one of the number crunchers and find out but it'd only be accurate for like... five min or something, you know, people being born, people being adopted, people spontainously combusting so they can go out with a bang..." she made a vauge gesture. "You should see the reunions. Last time we needed 3 citys just to house the cousins...."
 
Liah had nothing to do. She was incredibly bored, and in her line a work, that can be a dangerous thing.

After her rest in the room, she left and went to her own room. She decided she needed to get the hell out. She could use a good book, or maybe see what was in fashion at this moment. Not that she particularly cared. It was something that passed the time.

So here she was. Walking around the Poughkeepsie Galleria doing nothing in particular.

She stopped at a show case in awe at a dress that was absolutely beautifull. It reminded her of her eyes. It had a tight low cut bodice that went off the shoulders which tied up the front with a long flaring skirt and puffy sleeves. It contained the colors blue, green, and, brown. It looked... beautifull.

She stood staring at the window transfixed.
 
Eliza raised an eyebrow at her. "5,000 people in your family?! Are you serious? Damn, that's a lot of holiday gifts to buy!" She paused. "Wait a min! Did you just say people spontainously combusting?!" she laughed.
 
Hoshi nodded. "It's mainly the Protechnics, but every now and them one of the Greats won't want to wait around for death to come along and have a blast." She smiled at the girl. "Now, your turn to talk about yourself. Even exchange here. Tell me about yerself."
 
"What do you want to know, exactly?" Eliza asked.

Hoshi shrugged. "Just trying to make converstion. Gets borring when just one person's talking, you know?"

"Well, you told me a little about your family, so I guess I'll do the same.. although there's not much to tell," Eliza added. "I was adopted when when I was little. My adoptive parents died when I was 10, and for the next 6 years after that, I was put from one foster home to another.." She looked down at the ground.

"Cool." Hoshi nodded. "Minus the whole death thing I mean. Did you get to move around alot?"

"Not until my parents died." Eliza answered. "Once I was put in foster homes, I moved everywhere!"

"Very cool. I was with my birth set 'til I was about 3, then was with Uncle Jack and Aunt Alais, which was fun, thought not half as fun as being with Uncle Andy, Uncle Jacob & Uncle Evan. That's where I met Astor and Avi. They'd been there a cycle before and were staying for a second. Then I came to stay with Aunt Donna and Damek. Much calmer fun," she grinned.

Oberon looked up at the mall, sweeping his hair behind his ear with one hand. It was crowd today, more then usual. He didn't feel like being in a crowd so with a small sigh he adjusted his pack and contunied walking. There was a public library around here somewhere and if all else failed, there were always the coffee shops. Suddenly the idea of coffee sounded really good and there just happened to be on on the corner. SMiling sweetly at the waitress he settled at a table with a cup o' joe and took out his text book to try an get ahead in class.

Astor giggled softly. He and Avi were in the room dirrectly underneith Damek's and Avi was standing on a ladder, holding a cup to the ceiling. "They're going to be a while up there... page me when they emerge!" He giggled again and then nearly skipped off.

"Alex!" he called chearfuly, knocking on the door to the small cottage where the housekeeper lived.

The man looked up. He was about 30 and looked well kept. "Evening, Astor. What can I do for you?"

"A ride into town?" Astor asked, smiling. "Damek's busy and I have the urge for a chai tea..."

"All right, I'll meet you at the car in a few moments."

"Thanks, love!" Astor smiled, kissing the man quickly before skipping out again.
 
Oberon looked up as the cafe suddenly went quiet. This was really startling because it was steadly getting louder. A tall, tan man had entered and had drawn everyones attention to him like a magnet. Oberon looked over the man, he was quit handsome not to mention a fine dresser and good taste in jewlery. Oberon suddeny got a idea for a new earing and took out his scetch book as the room began to talk again and the man moved out of the doorway.
 
Astor smiled, walking over to the bar and leaning on it. "Hello, lovely goddesses of the coffee," he smiled at the girl working the counter. "Could I trouble you to make up a chai tea for this soul lost to your charms?"

The girl smiled, blushing slightly and hurried off.

Astor smiled and then leaned back agaist the bar, survaing the customers. He caught sight of a boy sitting by himself at a table, reading. 'Cuuuute,' he smiled.
 
Obie felt eyes on him and he suddenly wished he had taken the time to redye his hair back to its normal colors intstead of leaving the green in. He lowered himself down a little closer to the book, hoping to avoid further attention by looking like a normal boring bookworm engrossed in his book.
 
Astor smiled. Very cute. Paying for his tea, he blew the woman a kiss before walking over to the table. "It would be a shame for a most attractive man such as yourself to be without companion," he said with a smile. "May I be permited to share in your company?"
 
Eliza nodded, looking down at the ground as she did. She looked back up at Hoshi a moment. "Why do you think it's 'cool' that I've moved around a lot.. to different foster homes and all?"
 
"Because you got to move around and see things, experance diffrent walks of life before deciding which you liked. It's like how we do it, only it's more orgainised."
 
That's how Liah found herself in the store trying it on. She didn't think there was anywhere she could wear it but she was drawn to it and decided to buy it. Afterwards she was on her way the bookstore.

Tomorrow was another day to see if her contact would come in.
 
Obie looked up at the sound of a voice at his table. It was the handsome man from before. His mouth went dry as he blinked at him His thoughts looked something like this 'Ohmygod theres a really cute guy standing at my table. Why is he over here? Who is he? He asked me something! Shit! What should i say! Try not and make it stupid and be yourself. Thats what mom always used to say. Damn....'

Obie blinked again and then said the first thing that came to his mind (after the jumble of thoughts that is) "Why?"

Astor giggled. "Why to which, lovly one?"

Obie blushed as he reallized that "why" wasn't the most intelligent thing to say. "umm ,sorry," he grined up at the man," Won't you have a seat?"

Astor smiled. He placed his tea down and gave a small bow. "Thank you for your hopsitality." He said politely before sitting down. "I'm Astor. Astor Rosta Silvermoon." He smiled.

Obie smiled, "It is a pleasure to meet you Astor. My name is Oberon Kamizu. Please just call me Obie."

Astor smiled and nodded. "As you wish." He took a sip of his tea. "What are you studing?"

Obie grinned at Astor and sipped his drink as well. "I'm currently studing philosophy, but my major is in physics. Do you go to college?"

Astor gave a small giggle and shook his head. "Used to. Never went far. I'm not a person who takes well to structure. What kind of philosophy?" he asked, intrested.

" General philosophy. I have always been especially interested in Taoism, but i like to keep an open mind about things." Obie grined at Astor, "yo ureally didn't look the college type but i don't think I would have guess it was because you didn't like the structure. So what do you do?"

Astor made a vauge gesture. "I travel alot." He smiled before taking a sip of tea. "I go where the wind takes me. So, what would you have guessed if I had not told you?" he asked with a small wink.
 
Obie studied the man sitting before him. He was well built and tan which reminded him of some of the hired muscle he had seen around town but he didn't have the over domainting air that they had. He almost could be a spoiled rich kid for all his finery but he didn't have that air either. " I think i would have guessed you to be an actor. This is new york after all."

Astor giggled happily, claping his palms together lightly. "Oh I LIKE that guess!" he giggled, smiling. "Afraid I never had the patience to do it profesionaly. They want you to spend all your time on it and I dislike being tied down to things." He paused, as if thinking, then grinned and giggled again. "With exceptions," he winked.

Obie was amazed with how nice and open Astor was being. It was almost like being back home where everyone knows everyone and if you don't know them, they fix it when they geta chance. It was the first taste of home he had sense he gotten here. He smiled broudly at Astor, "what execptions would those be?"

Astor giggled again. "The ones that are highly pleasurable," he winked again.

Obie blinked blankely at Astor. Obviously there was some joke that Astor was implying to that he just didn't get. Blushing slightly, he made the decision to ask. "Which tie downs would be highly pleasurable that aren't related to the job you love?"

Astor blinked a moment, then giggled. "Those that are achived in the bedroom." He smiled.

Obie eyes grew really big in comprehenshion and then he blushed a deep red, "Oh.. yeah.. those.." he coughed and shiffed slightly uncomfterable in his chair (especially sense he was getting a stiffy just picturing it and yes he thinks in mental pictures)

"So ummm, what bring you to this cafe?"

Astor chuckled slightly at Obi's blush. "The urge for a cup of Chai, and fate's gentle manipulation of strings." He smiled softly.

Obie blinked as Astor took a step towards amore comfterable subject, " So you believe in fate?"

Astor nodded. "It's what guides us. I've let fate lead me across the globe, and have yet to be dissapoitned at what she shows." He smiled meaningfuly.
 
"Oh, I see what you mean," Eliza answered. "But I didn't get to do much of that, considering my parents just died and all.." she continued to look at the floor as they walked.
 
Houshi blinked. "Don't follow you. What does one have to do with the other?"
 
"Moving around, seeing new sites and all.. my parents just died.. I wasn't exactly paying attention to new things at that time.." Eliza replied.
 
Hoshi shrugged. "'Just' for how long? You can't let misfortune ruin your life, you know."
 
"Well, yeah.." she answered. "I realize this now.. but I didn't then... and I let it 'ruin my life,' as you say, for six years after they died," Eliza's voice softened a bit. "A lot happened those six years and then I just broke after that.. I had to get out of there.."
 
"Mm.. and has it been betteR?"
 
Eliza was quiet a moment. "Yeah, for the most part.."
 
"So let it go." Hoshi smiled before ducking into the store. "C'mon, I'll buy you wings. Do you some good. What color you want?"
 
"Easier said than done.." Eliza mumbled as they strolled into a store.

"C'mon, I'll buy you wings. Do you some good. What color you want?" Hoshi said.

Eliza looked confused. "By me wings? What kind of store is this?"
 
Hoshi chuckled. "Trendy goth store that doubles as a prop & costume shop. What kind of wings you want, feather, butterfly, wire..."
 
Liah usually wasn't soo impulsive. She glided out of the dressing room of the store doing a gracefull twirl, swirling the skrirt around her legs.

All she needed where those delicate fairy wings she passed on her way to the dressing room and she would be set. She'd look like some sort of etheral Fairy. They had a surprising amount of doodads like that. She gathered this place must also sell props.

They had all shades of fairy wings. She chose a pair of wings which were made up of several shades of purple. She placed them on... whith great diffuculty, and then glided towards a big mirror next to the dressing room. Her eyes widened in surprise.

Wow. If she did the make up right and put some glittery stuff on... It was a thought. Who was she kidding, she was definately buying this stuff. All she needed now were the shoes.

Eliza looked around the shop a bit. As she moved towards the back of the store, her eyes caught hold of a pair of butterfly wings. She lifted the wings off from the shelf admiring it.

"These are beautiful," she said, softly. "The way the colors mess together and all.. it gives it that soft look. And the glitter! Not too much, but just enough to help bring out the colors a bit.."
 
Hoshi chuckled slightly. "Think you can fly with them?" she inquired, smiling.
 

Eliza continued admiring the butterfly wings. "Hm?" she asked.

Hoshi chuckled again. "Do you think you can fly with them?" she repeated, walking over. "Wings aren't just for decoration, you know."

"They're not?" Eliza looked at her confused. "What do you mean, 'fly with them'? You're joking, right?"

Hoshi smiled mysteriously. "Jodan ja nai..." she said as she took the wings from Eliza and headed for the counter.

"Will you please stop speaking in Chinese.. or Japanese, whatever the hell language you're talking in..." Eliza called after her, following Hoshi to the counter. "What does that mean, anyway?"

Hoshi smirked slightly. "Japanese. Native language you know," she smiled, paying for the wings. "Now c'mon, let's see if you can fly with these or if  you need a diffrent pair."

Eliza followed Hoshi out of the store. "But you still didn't tell me what you just said in Japanese.. Jordane ja nee or whatever it was.."

Hoshi laughed. "Jodan ja nai," she smiled.

"Yeah... that's what I said.. what does that mean?" Eliza asked.

Hoshi smiled again. "What, you want me to give up all my secrets?" she winked. "C'mon." She took Eliza's hand and lead her to the parking lot. "Now, put them on."

Eliza proceeded to put on the wings. "Now what?" she asked.

Hoshi closed her eyes, putting her hands together as if holding a small sphere out a foot in front of her face.  A white light glowed in it a moment before she opened her hands, showing the small butterfly shaped construct of light. It flew out and lighted on Eliza's wings, melting into them.
Hoshi smiled again. "Now, try and flap them."

"Try and flap them? But I can't!" Eliza complained. "They're not part of my body... they're just attached by a piece of string...."

"Just... try..." Hoshi smiled mysteriously.

Eliza shrugged and tried to move the wings on her back.  To her surprise, the wings flapped back and forth. "Ah! It worked! How did you do that?!" Eliza exclaimed, excited.

Hoshi chuckled. "Sore wa himitsu desu!" She winked and began skipping off.

"Wait a min! Where are you going?!" Eliza called to Hoshi.

Hoshi grinned. "Elsewhere, why?"

Eliza blinked. "But.. I thought you were going to stick around..."

"Stick around?" Hoshi repeated, blinking slightly in a cute way.

"C'mon! You can't just buy me a pair of wings.. do something to them to make them work, and then just leave like that!" Eliza said to her, following her.

"Never said you couldn't come..." Hoshi pointed out with a wink.

"True, ok.. you didn't.." Eliza admitted. "Where are you going anyway?"

Hoshi shrugged. "Wherever I feel. No real destination, you know?"

"Ok.." Eliza joined her. "You bought me lunch and wings... why don't I buy you something? I have to repay you somehow... is there anything you want?"

"Hmm..." Hoshi pondered. "Yes. But I won't tell you now." She smiled.

Eliza looked at her a moment. "Ookk.. when will you tell me?"

Hoshi smiled ignigmaticaly. "Sore wa himitsu desu," she winked.