Meet the Hayes|Acoia

[Devon]

Darin arrived in Acoia with Pandora by his side. Sighing he made his way through the city to the last place he remembered his father talking about. Stopping front of an inn he read the name, knowing he had found the place. Pushing the door open, Darin held it for Pandora so the two could enter, Riverside Inn.

Heading to the front desk he looked at the man behind it, who promptly glared back at him. The man was about as tall as Darin, the difference only being an inn or two in Darin's favor. He had a rugged beard and graying blond hair. "What are you doing here?" the man asked. "....Hello to you too Dad."

[Kender Bard]

"Still warmer than my father," Pandora quipped, slipping around Darin to stand at his side.

"Darin?" a female voice called out. Coming forward, an older woman with brown hair going gray in wisps at the temple cried out in delight at seeing her son. "Darin!"

[Devon]

Darin glanced back at Pandora, "Oh he doesn't mean it like that. I think he is just wondering why the hell I came to visit him." Turning at hearing his name called he smiled at his mother. "Hi mom..I'm glad you're both here, I want to introduce someone to you." Darin put his hand behind Pandora's back and moved her forward so she stood before him. "This is my wife Pandora. Oh yeah, before I forget..you're grandparent's now."

Darin's father Brandon Hayes stared at his son in disbelief. "Can you believe this idiot? He doesn't come visit us for years and the first thing he does is return with a woman way too much for him to handle." Brandon glances at Pandora, "How did he trick you!?"

[Kender Bard]

More amused than offended, Pandora just burst out laughing.

"Brandon!" Alita scolds quietly of her husband. Truth be told, though, she's a little hurt that this seemed to be an afterthought visit on Darin's part. She rallies herself well though and takes Pandora's hand gently, inspecting her new daughter in law. "Welcome to the family dear."

Pandora smiled. Alita started at the sight of her fangs and - she notices now - her slit pupils. "Oh you're a Beast?" There's no accusation in her tone, just surprise.

"Yes," Pandora confirmed. Looking at Brandon, she added, "Darin didn't trick me, though he did woo me quite smoothly. I admire him for his strength and for his good heart."

[Devon]

Darin glanced at his mom, he'd be kicking himself later for not sending her any kind of letter about what he was up to lately. "See mom, I have a good heart. You raised me well."

Brandon chuckled and got up to look Pandora over as well, "Good job Darin, I was a bit worried about your luck with women for a while. Of course in my day wooing ladies came easy, it's how I got your mother, but you were a bit slow on it."

Darin flashed his father a quick glare," Your luck with women is better? I've seen you slapped at a bar so many times it isn't funny."

[Kender Bard]

Pandora and Alita giggled together quietly.

Alita took Pandora's hand and lifted it up and bid her to turn around. Feeling foolish, Pandora complied. "My, my, but you are an exotic thing aren't you? Look like you came right out of the desert."

"I do like Naurorod better than the Beastlands," Pandora admitted. "I spent enough time there to get my complexion. I ought to go back more often before it fades for good."

Alita smiled and gently rubbed her belly. It irritated Pandora a little, but the woman meant well, and for Darin she'd put up with minor things. "I wish Darin had thought to tell us a little sooner of all the additions to our family. How far along are you now?"

"Four, going on five months," Pandora admitted with a blush.

[Devon]

"I have been busy mom, I had a few jobs to take care of and the house we moved into in Ronduin," Darin replied." Going over to his mother he gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek, "I am sorry though. You'll forgive me right mom?"

Brandon shook his head, "Don't fall for that and baby the boy." He crossed his arms over his chest a bit proudly. "How long are you two going to stay here Pandora?"

[Kender Bard]

"Overnight if it isn't a problem," she mumbled. Something about Brandon subdued her. He radiated a dominant air. His very aura screamed 'father!' and it was enough to make her abashed in his presence.

Alita smiled and hugged Darin tight. "I'll forgive you this time," she whispered. "Don't tell your father. And if you do it again, I won't be quite so forgiving."

[Devon]

Darin nodded and smiled back to his mother. "Okay I understand mom." Glancing at his father he smirked to Alita, "He hasn't been giving you too much trouble has he?"

Brandon shuffled for something behind his desk and pulled out a key to a room. Leaning forward he held it out for Pandora, "all right you have your room. If it were just Darin here I'd have to make him pay, but for you it'll be free."

[Kender Bard]

Pandora smiled at him, as sweetly as she could manage. "Thank you, sir."

"Oh doesn't he always?" Alita groaned, casting Brandon a coy smirk. "The rogue. He'll never grow up, I swear to it."

[Devon]

Brandon heard his wife and after returning Pandora's smile he quipped to Alita, "Maybe we should warn Pandora about that now."

Darin's eyebrow shifted up, "Warn her about what? I'm perfect."

[Kender Bard]

Alita put her hands on her hips and grinned at Pandora and her son. "My dear, you'd better never have set hopes that Darin would grow out of his childishness. It's a permanent phase, I fear."

Pandora grinned and stuck her tongue out at Darin playfully.

Alita laughed. "I think he met his match."

[Devon]

Darin smirked and moved to stand behind Pandora, putting his arms around her waist. "My match," he said. "Hell I may have met my better."

[Kender Bard]

"Oh dear," Alita sighed dramatically. "And now you're bringing more children into the world who'll be just like you."

"Yes," Pandora murmured in complete satisfaction as she pressed her cheek against Darin's, smiling, "We are."

[Devon]

Brandon smiled and chipped in, "You're looking at a boy I bet. For generations the Hayes bloodline has only produced men." Darin probably for the first time since they got to Acoia agreed with his father. "She keeps thinking she is going to have a girl, but I know we're having a boy."