The Clan Begins to Grow

[reluctant_gargoyle]

The sun had only set an hour ago, and the Clan members assigned to patrol tonight had yet to begin that.  So the courtyard of the castle is empty when Elisa materializes back in it.  Materialized with company.  Company that going to be moving in.

She'd met a hatchling in the Nexus.  One that was undoubtably from this universe.  And one very much in need of a Clan and a place to call home.  So she'd done what any of them would have done: invited him to join them.  Gargoyles looked after their own, after all.

She did, however, realize rather belatedly that she should have told him that the Castle was on top of a skyscraper.  Still, she presses on, calling out, "Guys!  Come on out here!  There's someone here you need to meet!"

And so they come.  Brooklyn, Lexington, and Broadway.  Angela.  Hudson, with Bronx on his heels.  And, of course, Goliath.

Needless to say, all are quite shocked.

Comments

[spinstales.livejournal.com]

And when they came out of where the PINpoint dropped them his wings flicked. Amnd then he was trying very hard to not stick his head over the ledge. He wasn't used to being this high up.

He turns when he hears them coming and just fidgets. Rubbing his hands together shyly. And his hair flops in his face again. It was a nice shield against being oh so very shy.

[elisa-garg.livejournal.com]

It is Goliath who first finds the voice to speak. "Elisa, my love, you must explain..."

"Gregory, ah, fell into the Nexus, basically," Elisa begins. "But he's from our world. I checked it out. And he's doesn't really have anywhere else to go. His Clan was wiped out and he was raised by a human, like Angela. Only... his adopted dad probably isn't going to be around much longer. He needs somewhere to go. I told him we'd take him in."

Goliath nods, once. "You did right, my love. Gargoyles must always be there for each other."

The big purple Gargoyle turns his attention more fully to Gregory. "I am Goliath, the Leader of this Clan. You are welcome here, as one of us. I see you have already met Elisa, my mate and second-in-command."

The others begin to introduce themselves.

"Name's Brooklyn."

"Lexington."

"And I'm Broadway."

"My name is Angela, it's a pleasure to meet you, Gregory."

"M'name's Hudson. And this great beastie here is Bronx."

[spinstales.livejournal.com]

His eyebrows arch up when Goliath makes his introduction. But from what the hatchling knows of of the way Clan structure works that this is actually a very normal Clan. Mostly due to the fact often times the mate of the Clan leader was by defaukt the second in Command. Because they fought side by side and would discuss things important to the Clan. Partly because in a way the Clan leader's mate became a sort of Mother-figure to the whole Clan. Making sure they were all right while the leader focused on other things important to the clan. So this causes him to push his hair out of his face and give them a friendly smile.

"It's nice to meet you all..." He pauses then gives a sheepish child-like grin. "Elisa was the first Gargoyle I ever actually met..I...Well, my Dad has lots of books on different things and he taught me what he knew about our kind but um...Not the same." And his father would be very pleased that Gregory found a Clan. He had been fretting over what to do. Old age and old injuries had been catching up with him as of late.

[elisa-garg.livejournal.com]

Elisa grins slightly sheepishly. She'd have to explain a few things to him sooner or later--especially when the issue of her family came up, but she was certainly glad to have helped out someone in need.

"It's not," Angela agrees. "I was raised my humans too, and they did their best... But there are some things that they could not teach."

"And we'll do our level best to get ye caught up on our history, lad," Hudson adds. "If not of yuir Clan, at least of the Gargoyles as a whole."

"You need not worry anymore," Goliath says, bending down to the hatchling's level. "You are not alone."

[spinstales.livejournal.com]

Which will be rather interesting. But seeing as Gregory all ready has no problems with humans it'll be fairly easy to explain.

Gregory nods lightly. "He still knew how to handle most of my questions."

He smiles a bit. "I know some of their recent histyory. Father was a friend to the Clan." Which explained his being rasied by the man.

Gregory just gives Goliath a happy grin. "It...It's a good feeling. To not be alone."

[elisa-garg.livejournal.com]

"And we'd be sure ta want to hear it," Hudson says.

"Your father sounds like an admirable man," Goliath says. "We have found human friends to be far to few. I will not make light of the situation... This is a dangerous time to be a Gargoyle. Many humans are organized against us, and they are not without dangerous resources. But there are those we can count as allies, and their number does grow."

"Father," Angela butts in, in a scolding tone of voice. "You're scaring him."

"I... am simply trying to be honest."

"Don't give that up, Big Guy," Elisa says, "but, ah... You might wanna try and be a little less serious."

[spinstales.livejournal.com]

He perks up and nods. "I can tell you what I know sometime." He was sure that Hudson would be happy to hear it.

He flinches a bit. "I know the world is a scary place. But Humans will have to learn that we're here and...We can help them with things. Like parts of their own history, protecting the city, stuff like that." He is optimistic after all. It has to do with being a kid.

And that has him giggling. "You'd get along well with Father. He's real serious. Won't even let me out of the house unless I carry a bit of cold irorn and a pouch of rock salt. Where his house is well....At one time there were lots of things there that were dangerous. He took care of it though."

Because his Dad? One scary human when he got mad.

[elisa-garg.livejournal.com]

Gregory's optimism brings a smile to Goliath's face. He'd almost forgotten what it was like, to have hatchlings around the Castle. "You are correct. As we guard this city, we seek to show them that we are more than beasts. And one day, we will succeed."

Brooklyn chuckles at that. "Man, and I thought Goliath was harsh! Your father sounds mega-serious."

Elisa stifles her own chuckle. "You wanna come on in and see a bit of the Castle, Gregory?"

[spinstales.livejournal.com]

He nods brightly. "Yeah we just need to wait. And show them through actions."

He flashes Brooklyn a smirk. "He's always viwed me as his child and well, he doesn't like the idea of his 'kid' getting hurt I guess."

He perks up and nods. "Do I ever! It..It looks so big!"

[elisa-garg.livejournal.com]

In as much as a Gargoyle with a beak can smile, Brooklyn does. "Eh, the Elders and warriors were the same way when my brothers and I were hatchlings. Parents are like that no matter what."

Elisa smiles. "C'mon then."

((Mun is crashing now. Can continue tomorrow, though)).

[spinstales.livejournal.com]

He looks ammused. "That actually sounds...Awesome. I always wondered what it would be like living in a Clan." And now he had the chance.

He moves to follow her. It waould actually be interesting watching Gregory adjust to living with the Clan. He had opened up to them after all.

((Sure! I'll be on off and on tomorrow. And thanks so much. This is so much fun.))

[elisa-garg.livejournal.com]

((Oh yes it is. So thanks be to you as well!))

Inside from the perch where the Gargoyles roosted was the Great Hall of the castle. Once, it had served to be a place where Princess Katherine and her father before he had held court. These days, it served as the Clan's dining room, and sometimes war room as well. Today, it was also further occupied.

The man was tall, fit without being muscular, bespectecled, and gave off the impression of being so square he was sharp around the edges. "Goliath. Detective," he says, his attention falling on Gregory. "The security cammeras were not wrong then. You have brought home another Gargoyle."

"And if we did?" Elisa challenges.

"Then it is your affair. But maintaining security for this building and castle are part of my duties. I would be remiss in that if I did not investigate such matters. Mr. Xanatos takes the security of you and his home quiet seriously. As do I."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Bad enough you're always watching us..."

Goliath held up a hand. "Enough. The matter is settled. Elisa. Owen. Let us not soil what is to be a joyous occasion."

Elisa nods. "You're right, Goliath."

"I appologize if I gave offense," Owen says, moving to leave. "I shall leave you to your celebrations then."

[spinstales.livejournal.com]

Gregory for a moment stood very still. Trying to figutre out why the stranger had been there when they got in. But after listening to the exchange the hatchling relaxes. After all whoever Owen is? He was just doing his job.

And Gregory had a feeling he would get to see Owen again at other times. Instead he began to poke around the large hall. Then he pauses and glances back.

"Why is..." He fumbles over the words. Trying to think of what he was really asking. "Why does this Mr Xanatos take care of security?" It was an innocent enough question. Besides the fact Gregory wouldn't understand the shakey relationship between the Clan and Mr Xantatos.

[elisa-garg.livejournal.com]

Elisa and Goliath exchange a look long practiced between couples of all species. It's known as the "You're going to handle this one, right?" look.

It is Elisa who finds her tongue first. "Xanatos owns the building that the Castl is on top of," she says. "And he lives in another part of the castle, along with his wife and son. Because we helped protect them, he protects us in return. And sometimes, that means asking tough questions, because he's concerned about our safety."

Good lord, but that was the most sugar-coated version of their history ever. They'd need to tell him the full story, sooner or later, but for now, hopefully, it would do.

[spinstales.livejournal.com]

Also the look prarents give each other. Used when hard to answer questions come from the kids.

He cants his head a touch then nods slowly. He understood what they said. "So he makes sure no one hurts us while we're asleep?..Cool."

Yes it'll do for now. The sugar-coated version of things works for a kid.

[elisa-garg.livejournal.com]

"That's right," Elisa says. "There's probably no place on Earth safer than this castle."

And so the tour goes on. The kitchen, the library, the TV room, and ends out on the highest balcony of the tower. From there, one can see nearly the entire city.

"Well?" Elisa asks. "What do you think?"

[spinstales.livejournal.com]

"It..." He pauses and chuckles. "It's nice. Very different from Father's home. I'm uised to much more wood and less stone." He traces a claw over a stone that makes up the Castle.

"I like it though. It has the same...Feeling of a home. Not just a place people live in," he says with a smile.

[elisa-garg.livejournal.com]

"It takes some getting used to," Lex pipes up. "There wasn't anything like this back in Scotland either."

Goliath has an arm around Elisa's shoulders. "And home it is. We are together, a Clan. I am glad that you feel the same way."


((Last post for tonight, I'm afraid. will pick up again tomorrow, again))

[spinstales.livejournal.com]

He crooks a brow. "No I guess it wouldn't be but...I like it."

He flashes them a large grin. "I think I'll be very happy to live here and...call you all Clan."

[elisa-garg.livejournal.com]

The particulars of the Clan's history can wait for another day.

"And we shall be happy to have ye, lad," Hudson says. There was a gleam in the old Gargoyle's eye that hadn't been there the day before. A young Gargoyle would need lots of training, guidance. A role he'd held many a time, and one he'd be quite happy to reclaim.

Elisa smiles as well. "Hey, you said you'd want to call your dad. Should probably do that before he gets to worrying."

[spinstales.livejournal.com]

Indeed it'll be much easier in the future.

And it will be interesting to see Hudson teaching Gregory. After all Hudson has alot he can teach a youngster.

He smiles awakdly. "Yeah I better." He checks the larger pouch hanging off his belt. This one seems detachable so he can get it off his belt before sunrise. Then pulls out the mobile phone to call his father.
He winces when he hears the old man start in on a lecture. He had started to worry all ready.
"Dad! I'm fine I...sort of fell through a portal while I was playing around near the back of the wood lot. To make a long story short, I'm safe. And with the Manhattan Clan." He pauses to listen to his father. This time the old man is loud enough for the others to hear.

"...What? I...Gregory. You get into more trouble than I ever could, boyo. You didn't just fall into their city, right?"

"Well no. Some place called a Nexus....But I met Elisa there. She took me to meet the Clan after we got talking."

And there's a noise from his father. Like he's trying very hard to not choke or growl. "You're lucky you met her. I don't know whayt I would have done if you got hurt, kiddo," the father is rather affectionate with his tone. "I'll be down to see you in a days. Do I need to speak to the Clan leader?" He could hear his father pacing the length of the kitchen right now. Hard not to with how loud the floor boards were when his Dad got to pacing.

[elisa-garg.livejournal.com]

It's always awkward listening in on other's phone conversations. Especially when the person on your end is getting quite the talking to from the person on their other end.

"Do I..." Goliath begins. "Would it put him more at ease if I spoke to him?"

[spinstales.livejournal.com]

He nods meekly. "Dad is getting himself worked up over my being so far away. I'm usually...Not."

He offers Goliath the phone. Rather funny, it is smaller than the Big Guy's massive hands.

[elisa-garg.livejournal.com]

The phone is indeed almost comically small in Goliath's hands, but he still holds it up to his ear. "Hello? I am Goliath, the Leader of the Manhattan Clan."

[spinstales.livejournal.com]

There's a pause on the other end. "This is Gregroy's father, Doctor O'Malley." The old man can't help but smirk. "I can't help but worry Gloiath. I knew the Acdaedia Clan very well and I needed to...Make sure he found a Clan he could be happy with."