New Arrivals Pt 3

Haruhime steps forward next. She had been afraid to before. The thing with the yakuza had reminded her of her previous situation, trapped in the red light district of Orarrio. She had still been wary, and in some ways she still was, but watching him interact with the others something reminded her of Bell. Totally different men, completely different looks and age... but there was a feeling that they had similar hearts. Their actions, while different had a similarity too. Maybe she could give getting along a little a try too.

She bowed. "Greetings. I'm Haruhime Sanjouno. A Renard and formerly of the Hestia and Ishtar Familias. I was a maid as well as serving in a sorcerer/supporter role. Before that I was," she speaks softly blushing,"in traing to become a courtesan... a prostitute in training... before I was saved from that fate. If the offer is open, I would appreciate the opportunity to join the maid team." She bows again.

Walt looks at Lita and she nods. "I would be happy if you joined us, Haruhime," Lifts-Her-Tail says. "Would you like to stay with us in the main house?"

She shakes her head. "I'm undecided just yet. Might I stay in the bunkhouse for a time until I can decide?"

Walt nodded. "That's understandable and perfectly fine. Everyone in the bunkhouse should pitch in too as long as they stay there but why don't we go ahead and make that your main area of operation for now and you can assist in the mainhouse?"

He looks over at Lita who nodded. "I was just thinking the same thing, Master Walter. It would be good to know someone is attending to and watching over it."

Sasha also nods. "As much as I'd like to stay in the main house, if I'm going to be working in the barns the bunkhouse is probably the best place to be for awhile..." she sniffs"... even if that means I'm further from the kitchen..."

Walt chuckled. "Sasha you do realize it's not that far away and the bunkhouse has it's own kitchen? A little smaller and simpler maybe but still you won't go hungry if that's what you're thinking."

Sasha reaches up and pinches herself. "Ouch! Not dreaming... Woo hoo!"

Everyone laughs. "Let's put the two of them in charge of the bunkhouse for the time being, then."

Everyone nods and agrees.

Tsuyu was next to step up but she didn't climb up onto the porch. She seemed apprehensive. "Hello. I'm Tsuyu Asui. I'm also known as the Rainy Season Hero: Froppy. Ribbit."

"Hello Tsuyu," Walt smiled. Trying to put the girl at ease. "Welcome home."

Tsuyu shook her head. "Thank you. And I ribbit you thanks for saving us all, myself included. But even though you acted within the law, and you might be well intentioned, I can't see your actions as just or heroic. Just villainous. Ribbit."

There's a lot of shocked outrage from the other ladies. Especially Manami! But Walt raises his hand.

He steps down off the porch to stand in front of Tsuyu. "I can certainly see how you can feel that way Tsuyu and I can accept it. To tell you the truth, I don't see myself as a hero though many do. But I don't see myself as a villain either, though many label me that too. I think those titles are too often decided and labeled on people by others. I think those roles are ultimately too confining and idealistic for me. I'm a person who is equally comfortable with taking either role, if it's necessary."

"I see." Tsuyu puts a finger to her lips thinking thoughtfully. "Interesting. Thank you for your honesty. I'll have to think about your ribbits... and what will you do now that I've voiced my disapproval for your methods? Ribbit."

Walt smiles and extends his hand. "I won't do anything, Tsuyu. I appreciate you and your honesty, courage and integrity. I respect you for them. I'd like it if we could try to be friends. I could use a friend who freely and honestly speaks her mind."

Tsuyu looks at his hand. "You mean you'd still like me to ribbit here? You're not angry or upset? Ribbit"

Walt nods. "I actually like what you said and I like you, Tsuyu. I honestly would like to be friends with you and I am looking forward to talking with you more, as long as you'll continue to be honest and open with me."

Tsuyu looks thoughtful and slowly takes his hand. "I think I would like to ribbit with you more also, Walter. Is it alright if we go slowly and I stay for now in the bunkhouse? Ribbit."

Walt nods. "Thank you, Tsuyu. That's fine with me and you can call me, Walt, if you'd like. All my friends do."

Tsuyu nods and smiles slightly. "Alright, Walt. Just call me, Tsu. That's what my friends call me. Ribbit."

The Baroness and Pirotess stepforward next though they both give each other looks expecting the other to back off. *So not a united front?* Walt thought watching Tsu back away. *This should be interesting...*

Walt thought quickly and, knowing a bit about these two, decided to sieze the initiative and provoke a reaction first. "Greetings Pirotess, formerly of Marmo and Lodoss. Welcome home. "

Pirotess looks slightly surprised still she's proud. "So you know of me? That at least is commendable." The Baroness silently fumes at being ignored.

Walt smirks. "I actually do. You're a capable and canny agent and opponent... almost as capable and canny as Anastasia Cisarovna A.K.A. Anastasia DeCobray, here." He turns to The Baroness who now looks shocked but quickly covers it looking smug. "Greetings to you, Anastasia. Welcome home."

She put her hands on her lovely hips and smirked. "I don't remember giving you permission to address me informally. That's "Baroness" to you. Also you have some nerve to address the elf slut before me. At least you recognize the superior talent. That's commendable."

Now Pirotess is angry. "How dare you human! I should make you take back those words if we were not bound to not harm one another! Besides you have some nerve! I'm no "slut", as you say! From the look of it I'd say you are the one who is the "slut" here." She said looking at The Baroness in her very form fitting costume. "And a dark elf is vastly superior to any human!"

Walter chuckled. Playing with fire was amusing at times plus the absurdity of the argument was entertaining!

"Firstly," he looked at The Baroness, "I am your owner, as well as very familiar with who you are, so I think I will call you by your name Anastasia." She crossed her arms.

"Secondly," Walt continued "There will be no "slut shaming". It's ridiculous and pointless. All four of you remaining ladies are quite lovely and attractive in your natural forms and your preferences in "costumes" are all a little on the revealing side. While Anastasia's is perhaps the most revealing, next to Mystique, showing off her beautiful figure it's easily the most covering of you four. " Pirotess, The Baroness, Demona and Mystique all look at each other. The man had a point though they might be loathe to admit it... plus they all noted he'd called them "lovely" and "attractive" as well as "beautiful". Demona was surprised he didn't specify her human form was lovely. And Mystique didn't usually get men complimenting her natural blue skinned form. Usually they were excited she could change her appearance to anyone else they fancied.

"Thirdly," Walt continued. "I praised her skill because it's worthy of praise. She's as capable as the rest of you three and without any of your talents or gifts. For a plain old vanilla human, that's extraordinary. The trope for that type if character is called "The Baroness" is named after her for a reason. Her biggest failure and flaw is her incredulously poor choice of alies and allegiances. "Cobra" was almost a bad joke as often as it wasn't. I always thought they might have had a chance if you had been running the show. But all the Commanders were awful, one way or another, and Serpentor was worse. Half of the command structure was filled with ego maniacs and out right nut jobs and incompetent fools. Destro got better as time went on and could have stepped up and taken over, especially when you sided with him as partners. But no, McCullen fucked off to start his own group setting you all up for an inevitable three-way stand-off failure. I could go on and on but honestly, why bother."

Pirotess is angry but then smirks watching The Baroness go from pleased to surprised that there's a trope named after her, to embarrassed at the critique of her poor choices of allies. She was well aware how poorly she had chosen and had lamented it many, many times.

Pirotess shook her head and crossed her arms. Walt tried not to notice how that emphasized her chest. "I still find it hard to believe."

Walt shook his head too. "How many times have you lost to humans?"

That caused her to blush. She had lost to extraordinary humans several times before. Even her beloved Ashram, whom she'd been sent to **** originally, had bested her setting their tragic destiny in motion. Not to mention the other humans, heroes and villains alike, she had met. She knew she shouldn't underestimate humans.

Demona and Mystique stepped forward. Demona in her human form now had shocked the others who hadn't seen it previously with her sunrise transformation.

"Greetings Demona." Walt said smiling to both of them. "Greetings Mystique. Welcome home you two."

"Greetings," replied Mystique back.

"Greetings, human," Demona also replied.

Walt nodded. Honestly that was better than he'd hoped for from those two. He didn't bother pointing out the irony of Demona calling him "human" in her "human" form.

Walt looks at Demona's costume. "Would you like some changes of clothes for your Human form, Demona? I'm sure we have something for you to wear before sundown."

Demona crosses her arms but thinks. "I wouldn't mind a few changes of clothes. But also know I have no intention of becoming "friends", nor joining your little "family". You may own me human but, no matter how nicely you ask or act, I shan't trust you. I'll never trust humans."

Mystique nods. "Nor I. I have no intention of being friends or joining your family either."

The Baroness also shakes her head. "Nor I. Even if I'm moderately impressed how you know so much, I find the idea highly unlikely."

Walt watches as Pirotess shakes her head no and steps back. But she's also somewhat removed from the others. She was a "bad girl" type but more anti-heroine than villain. Infact depending on ones point of veiw, She and Ashram were heroes for the people of Marmo... dark heroes perhaps but Marmo was like that.

Walt looked back at everyone else who'd gathered together on the porch. Friends and family and new friends and family. He was surprised. It had gone so much better than he could have hoped for! He smiled. He looked at Tsu and she blinked. Even Tsu and Glynda, were willing to be open to the idea. And of they hadn't he'd still do what needed to be done.

"Alright, Pirotess, Anastasia, Demona and you too, Raven or Mystique," He said smiling at each in turn. "I have no intention of forcing you to accept the offer. That wouldn't be right. But I won't retract it either. You're still my responsibility and I do want to help you if I can. Whether it's finding suitable work for your talents and skills that you enjoy," He looked at Pirotess and Anastasia, "or locating and reuniting with a family member," he looked at a surprised Demona, "or trying to help however you need without judgment," he looked at Mystique. "I'll be patient and still try to help you all."

"And if we escape?" Mystique asked.

Walt laughed and shook his head. "How many times did you escape your last captors only to be brought back? And they didn't have nearly as much security as I do here, nor offer you the freedoms that I do?"

They looked chagrined. There had been many attempts to escape and they certainly had not been treated this well. He was still laughing but nodded his head. "But I also understand if many of you would like to make the attempt. By all means do. Ask Sienna how her attempt had gone. But if you do please be safe. There are first-aid kits and bear spray for you to take and use. Until then please rest, eat and try to enjoy your stay. We'll see how things go from there."

Walt started walking to the house. "It's a new day for all of us. Let's all have breakfast!"

[Walter Stark Penny Polendina F.R.I.D.A.Y Neopolitan Pyrrha Nikos Blake Belladonna Kali Belladonna Sienna Khan Willow Schnee Glynda Goodwitch Ahnassi Lifts-Her-Tail Sayoko Shinozaki Roberta Cisneros Haruna Sasha Blouse Senko Ilulu Raven Minami Aiba also with Tsuyu Asui Haruhime Sanjouno The Baroness Demona Mystique and Pirotess

Will Return In

A New Start

Coming Soon]