Mayfair Manor

[.David Talbot.]

Cyrus sighed. "You think too extreme." He sighed again and stood up and paced around the garden. Then a thought occurred to him. He propelled it out into the air shielding just enough that Felix couldn't read it and everyone else could. He can't be one of us.
He didn'tmean that Felix couldn't be part of the family. He would forever be that now. But he couldn't be one of the Mayfair witches. The difference is too great. He didn't think like them. He didn't know the same things they knew. Like he didn't know of the Talamasca. Their family had been at odds with them for many generations. While Cyrus and his cousins had that sense of opposition towards them Felix probably never would. It was one of the things that made him believe suddenly that Felix couldn't really be one of them.
Meanwhile Khayman chuckled under his breath. "I wonder how Antha would react to your new belief." His eyes glanced at Felix and Cyrus and the hovered over the house. "There are hundreds of years of memories in that house. Your family. Felix's family. They didn't all belong. Some of them didn't want to belong. But they were still Mayfairs as Felix is a Mayfair. Hemight not belong as you want him to but I believe somehow he will find his place here." He smiled gently. "I'm sure Antha would agree. Because he has an advantage that you and your other cousins did not. He has her special attentions." He laid a hand carefully on the table beside him and ran his finger along the worn spots. "And she has the power to carve out a place for him and conform the rest of you around it."
Cyrus stood in the grass for a minute staring at the people on the patio and then up and the house and back and forth again. Finally he sat down and looked at the table too. "Maybe you're right." He stopped and looked this time at Felix directly. "You do realize how hard it's going to be trying to integrate into this family?" he asked because he didn't think anyone else had. "You are a mayfair in essence but it will be difficult finding your place here even with Antha's help. Are you sure you want that?"
He quickly put up a finger to silence anyone before they spoke while he gathered his thoughts. "Sorry I don't mean to sound like I'm trying to drive you off. It's just that this family is a full-time job and many people have spent their lives trying to get out. But once you'rein there is no getting out. I just want you to realize what being a part of the family means."

 

[.David Talbot.]

[sorry guys i've been doing summer stuff]  

[XCandy and LunacyX]

While Vittorio rolled his eyes, reaching his hand into the grass to scoop up a little patch of fallen snow, Dolly Jean looked between her other two cousins, a deep crease forming between her eyes. She had trouble understanding Cyrus's point---which was not an uncommon occurrence---but the way he was talking made her nervous.
"You know Cyrus, you have a rather nasty habit of snapping to ridiculous judgements." It was this voice that made Dolly Jean appear calm again and Vittorio drop his handful of loose snow, both of their eyes turning to focus on a spot above the table where Antha's faint, vague image chose to appear. Being so far away and rather preoccupied, she put little effort into this image of herself. For the most part, it was water vapor from the air, hovering above the table in the girl's image. "And you were being so helpful, too," she sighed, shaking her head so that the half-formed grayish curls became a blur. "Vittorio, dear, do me a favor," she asked, turning and casting blank eyes on his large form, "Call Lawrence. He'll be more of a help at this point, I think. Tell him I'm trusting him to have Felix legitimized, and I want his share of the legacy settled upon him before I get home. Understood?" She did not wait for a response, but merely let her image dissolve into the nothingness it had been only moments ago, returned to her proper body at Llyr's Court.
Vittorio wasted no time in obeying, slipping his cellphone out of his pocket and dialing the number for Mayfair and Mayfair law firm. He knew he would be there. Lawrence was always there, digging through the ocean of papers on his desk that pertained to nothing but Mayfair business. "Yes, this is Vittorio Mayfair," he said when the receptionist answered, knowing she would know his name, "Could you please inform Lawrence that he's needed at Mayfair Manor. Antha has commanded him to come immediately."
Ah, the magic word. Antha. Like everyone else at the firm, the receptionist was a Mayfair, and therefore she answered to Antha. Yes, she would tell Lawrence immediately, and he would be there in minutes. Neither of them had a choice.

 

[XCandy and LunacyX]

(('Summer stuff'? What is that supposed to be code for? Now, do you want to take Lawrence or should I?))  

[.David Talbot.]

[i'll do it!!!!!]  

[.David Talbot.]

Cyrus cringed at Antha's image. He didn't want to be in trouble. "Tattletale," he accused Dolly Jean.
Halfway across the city Lawrence's secretary was in his office telling him that Antha demanded he go to Mayfair Manor. Immediately he called the house and Cyrus ran inside to get the phone.He explained about Felix as briefly as he could and Lawrence got all the documents he would need before he left the office.
He pulled into the driveway beside Antha's car soon after that and followed the voices to the backyard where he found Khayman and his cousins. "Well if this isn't a mess," he groaned sitting at the last chair and setting his briefcase down on the table.
Lawrence didn't look much like his cousins. He had natural silver hair like Dolly Jean and gray eyes like a few of the others and he was good looking like most of them but he was too solemn and serious and focused and sane and it showed. "My name is Lawrence Mayfair and I handle all of our legal issues," he introduced himself. "I was told Antha wanted to have you legitimized so I brought all of the necessary papers. You can look over them if you want." He popped open his briefcase and handed the little stack over the table to Felix. "When Cyrus told me some about where you've been I assumed there aren't any legal records of you so I've created them. It's not exactly legal but we're not in a position to get caught. With these you'll officially be Felix Mayfair. With a blood test we can be sure who your mother is and I can put your birth certificate in the public records. If your have any problems with this you can make a complaint to Antha."
He sighed and pulled some more papers out of the briefcase. "These papers I'll need you to sign. Since you're a mainstream Mayfair you are entitled to a share of the family legacy. In other words our fortune. At this time Antha has set the shares to fifty thousand a year each." He set the papers in front of him and a pen on top of them. "If you have any problem with that you'll have to talk to Antha about it too."
Cyrus laughed. "You sure lay it on thick. You should really breathe between monologues." He smiled. "But calm down. Antha won't mind if we wait until she gets back. She just wants to make sure it gets done." He wasn't really sure about that but he thought so. "She also needs to decide where he's going to live. It's really better to wait until she gets back."
Lawrence cut his eyes at him. "I was given an order. I would like to see that everything gets done as it's supposed to."
Cyrus laughed again. "Felix don't mind him. You'll learn that Lawrence spends his whole life stressed out." He patted his back. "You should get out of the office every once in a while. Relax."
Lawrence cut his eyes again. "Every time you say that Courtland or Jack ends up in jail. Do you think they get bailed out and the records get erased on their own?" He sighed. Again. "This family can't afford for me to 'relax'."

 

[Azure Halfbreed]

Felix just stood back and watched as everyone went about their conversation. Even when Antha's ghostly figure appeared on the table, all he did was watch. Trying to understand these people a little more. If that was possible. It wasn't long after that Lawrence showed up. Felix could already tell that he was a little more serious going than all the other cousins here. And he proved it when the first thing out of his mouth after he introduced himself was strictly business.

Felix didn't make a move while Lawrence explained everything. Just listened intently. It was only after Lawrence placed the pen on the stack of papers did Felix approaced them. He picked the pen up and started to look over the documents. Still carrying his habits from the guild, Felix only looked over to Lawrence. "You want me to be legitimized as Felix Mayfair?"

Everyone might think that an akward question at first. Wondering why he wouldn't want to be legitimized as his own name. Felix wasn't going to deny his surname and would sign for that, but he didn't want his first name going on the records and into the system. Felix stood up from leaning over the papers and returned the pen to the top of the stack of papers as he kept his gaze on Lawrence.  

[.David Talbot.]

Lawrence groaned. God forbid he get a cousin that wasn't difficult. "I don't care what the hell you want your first name to be. Antha might but I don't. Just put a god damm name on the paper so I can get this done."
Cyrus laughed. "Too stressed out."
Meanwhile Armand found himself wandering onto the patio. "When did Lawrence get here?" he asked groggily. He hadn't recovered from Antha's breakdown. He was still too tired. "Why are the dolls down here? They're supposed to be kept in the attic."
Lawrence groaned again. "I came because Antha ordered me too. I'm trying to get Felix's paperwork done but he's being difficult."
Cyrus and Armand both laughed. "A Mayfair being difficult? Well that's just not normal," Armand said as he sat down on the ground. It was way too cold.
"What's next? Alcoholics? Delinquents? Promiscuity?" Cyrus joked.

 

[Azure Halfbreed]

Felix picked up the pen again. If the person who's filling the paperwork does care then that was good enough. He thought of a name quickly. He didn't want it to be a name that he knew from the guild. Going through the possible names he knows, he wrote the name he wanted to go in the system.

Trevor William Mayfair.

Finally, after what seemed like too long of a time, every paper was signed. Felix placed the pen back on the completed stack and stepped back.  

[XCandy and LunacyX]

Dolly Jean, curiously watching the banter carrying on around her, ventured to lean closer to Felix, watching him sign the papers with a name that was entirely foreign to her. "Trevor William Mayfair?" she asked slowly, unsure of his reasoning.
Meanwhile, miles away, Antha was laughing, her voice carried to the gardens by a thin string of umbra who shared her amusement. Through Dolly Jean's fingers, she leafed through the papers, observing the signature. "It's hardly an interesting name," she said softly, an amused lilt to her voice that was unmistakeably characteristic of Antha, "Someone might think the last name attached to it is no more than coincedence." Her laugh filled the garden again, hauntingly, and Dolly Jean echoed her, however faint. "But then, it is not the brand upon my skin. Lawrence, I entrust the rest to you."

 

[.David Talbot.]

Lawrence sighed with relief. If Antha wasn'tmad then everything was alright. "Alright then Trevor. I'll have your identification and bank card ready for you tomorrow afternoon. You'll have a few years worth of your inheritance at your disposal so you can get yourself settled. Have you decided where you'll be staying? Mayfair Manor and Satis House have free rooms. But then you'll have enough to buy your own house if you prefer. Mayfair Manor is crowded and Satis House.....well it takes a very particular sort of person to be able to live with Antha. She drives most people crazy." That was why no one lived with her for long.
But he had been hearing about her new vampire companion lately. "So what can you all tell me about this vampire that's been following Antha around? I heard they've been together a few days now."
"His name's Vikteren," Cyrus answered. "We don't know much about him. Antha met him in a bar or the crypts or something like that. I can hardly keep the story straight."
"He's quiet," Armand added. "Doesn't talk much. Doesn't seem to like being around us much either."
Cyrus grinned. "But Antha imagines herself in love. Julien's been carrying on about it since the night she brought him home. She was with Claire Leonelli that night but she sent him away when she went into Sleet's crypt to chase after Vikteren. He called here and told Julien all about it."
"He seems respectable enough." This from Khayman. "He was at the Talamasca motherhouse with her. If nothing else he looks out for her. And since Nicolae wants to kill him out of jealousy I think we can safely say they have some feelings for each other." He sighed.
Cyrus turned his attention to Felix. "What do you know about him? You had some contact with him at Satis House didn't you?"

 

[Azure Halfbreed]

Felix really didn't care about the inheritance Lawrence said he'd be getting. But if he was going to do it, that was just one less thing Felix had to do. As for where he lived. He'd find his own place. So far his life has been mostly isolated. Why change that? He knew someone of his family would find him. Most likely Antha, just from seeing the extent of her magic so far.

Cyrus' question drew Felix back from his thoughts. Vikteren. The vampire that Antha is with. There wasn't much to be said that they hadn't already mentioned. "Just what you all[ have said."  

[.David Talbot.]

Cyrus raised an eyebrow and Lawrence sighed. "I also heard about Courtland's little scheme. I did some research on the Calais family---"
Cyrus and Armand laughed. "He's had this plan for a few hours and you've already done research? Bravo lawrence."
"As I was saying there's not too much information on them but I found some things in the Talamasca's records. Seems they're an old witch family. Calmer than ours but not that different. Both of the parents are dead along with one of the sisters. Out of the brothers I think Courtland would be thinking about either Cian or Rynn. Rynn is a bit younger than Antha but he's the head of the family and supposedly he has some power. On the other hand Cian is only a year older than Antha and from what I could find out they're very alike."
"How so?" This from Armand.
"Apparently he's fond of drugs and sex. The Talamascan that wrote the profile on themnoted that he's probably crazy. A good Mayfair candidate if nothing else. I don't think the other one would last in our family and I really don't think he'd last married to Antha."
"He sounds like he might breed well," Cyrus commented.
"You sound like you're talking about a horse." Armand again.
"I might as well be. Whoever it ends up being all that matters is he father the next Designee of the Legacy. All we need are good genes. After Antha has a girl any outsider can fall over dead for all the family cares."
"You really think Antha would let that happen?" Armand asked. "You think she'd actually willingly bring another Designee of the Legacy into the world? She's sworn on her life she won't. Besides there's barely enough time before---"
"Shut up," Cyrus commanded with cold eyes that darted a few times to Felix. Armand hung his head and satyed quiet.
"You should tell him," said Lawrence. "He has a right to know. The prophecy will affect him on the fated day too."

 

[Azure Halfbreed]

Again, more talk that everyone wanted to exclude Felix from. He didn't care though. From what he's heard though, he was going to find out one way or another, sooner or later. It was just a matter of time, like everything. So Felix didn't pushed the subject. If they wanted to keep him in the dark, so be it. Felix wasn't going to lose any sleep over it.

But he did start to think about when they mentioned the Calais family. Or one of the brothers. They mentioned that he seemed like a perfect match for Antha. Remembering what Cyrus asked him earlier tonight, does that relieve him of the task that was asked of him. Being a newcomer to the family versus someone who seemed the perfect match for Antha. It seems he had a better shot at her than Felix did. Maybe that task was pointless to take after all.  

[Goblin In A Suit]

Seth didn't listen to the conversation much. His mind was else were. He looked at the full moon. The wolf in the forest was a new born. *That must have been why it ran.* he thought to himself. Werewolves facinated him. *Why would it have been here?* he asked himself knowing he didn't know an answer.

Kain slept on not knowing that any one else had come in or that their was a conversation going on. He was dreaming. Of Antha. Even in his sleep he couldn't stop thinking about her.