WAR: LC, LN, Urs, and ValNat don't understand what's going on (1/1)
  by Arletta Asbury, Cousin Shelley (not to be confused with the 
  other Cousin Shelley), Cousin Tok, and assistance from Kim Doherty



Lacroix hadn't moved very far in the direction of his quarters
when he ran into Urs, literally.

"Urs," Lacroix said and almost smiled.

"Lucian, I'm glad you're here.  Would you please fetch Kimee's
bags.  We left them down in the taxi ... oh and pay the driver too,"
Urs said, giving Lacroix a quick peck on the cheek.

Lacroix blinked in surprise at her self-assured manner.

"Hiya, Urssss.  L ... long time <hiccup> no sssee," Nick said,
grinning at her and her young companion.

"Hi, Nick," Urs replied. "Ah, Nick, Lucian, this is my new friend
Kimee.  Kimee this is Lucian and his son Nick," Urs said making
introductions.

"Hi," Kimee said, overwhelmed by seeing so many vampires.

"Urs, ..." Lacroix began.

"Lucian, I want to tell you about something strange that happened
but would you *please* go and fetch Kimee's bags," Urs said
interrupting him.

Lacroix blinked again. 'Perhaps he was beginning to emulate Vachon?'
he mused. 'But why was Urs asking him to *fetch* something from a
taxi?'

"Wsss the matter, Ursss?" Nick slurred.

"Umm, Nick have you been drinking?" Urs asked suspiciously.

"Lucian. what's *wrong* with you?" Urs asked, starting to get a 
little annoyed that he hadn't done as she requested.

"Nothing," he replied, sighing.  Releasing his grip on Nick's
arm, he went to fetch the bags for her.

Nick nearly fell over.  "Uups," he said, "cuse me."

Urs wasn't sure what to make of Nick's intoxication but she
decided that seeing him like this wasn't a good influence
on her young friend. "Kimee, let's go on to your room.  Lucian
will find us later."

The two women departed, leaving Nick alone, swaying, but managing
to remain upright.

Nick decided that now was a good time for another Bloody Mary and
he wandered off in search of some.

                       *    *    *

Shelley was standing in the hallway talking to one of the other 
cousins when Nick came tottering towards her.  'How did you get 
away from Lacroix?' she wondered as she reached out and grabbed 
his arm to stop him.

"I'll just have to keep you beside me until I see Lacroix again,"
she sighed.

"Sokay," he said grinning.

                       *    *    *

Lacroix walked back to where he had left Urs, Nick, and
Kimee.  No one was there.  He dropped the bags on the
floor and was just about to extend his senses to try to find
them when Natalie approached.

"Honey, I've been having a problem.  I can't get into our
quarters," Nat said.

"*Our* quarters?" Lacroix said.

"Yeah, isn't that the silliest thing," she said.

"Um ...  why do you want to go to *our* quarters?"
he asked as he was thinking, 'Nicholas should really
choose his friends more carefully.  After all, he barely
knew the woman and she was suggesting......'

Natalie eyed the shirt he was wearing which she had given
him on his last birthday and reassured herself that he was
the *right* one before she said, "Don't you think your *wife*
should be allowed access to *our* quarters?  My credit cards
don't seem to work and I want to go out to dinner with friends.
I have some extra cash tucked away in there that I can use.
Unless you care to hand over your wallet to me."

Lacroix did a double-take which she didn't seem to notice. 
"Ahh, it must be some kind of a mistake," he lied, trying to
humor her as she was clearly delusional.  "Perhaps you
should try it again."

"That's a good idea," she replied and left to do just that.

Lacroix shook his head and walked away rapidly in the
opposite direction.