Valerie and Scout would have a freeze moment when they’d both be see what Chip was going through with swamp fires through the camp. No one would know for sure this was Piper but there would be suspicions after the magical reinforcements from camp were the best way to tame it.
It was possible even Thomas got some connections with Raya on this one with her dead-side Hell-mind being so triggered. Valerie suspected Piper right away whether Brigitte did or not. She was too in tune waiting for news after Dale left. Laveau property being ground zero for a swamp inferno couldn’t be a coincidence.
Valerie would tell Thomas about this tragedy. Her precious other world, her camp, Chip’s community, Zeke’s home, his mamma’s people, so many hurt, the village nearly destroyed. There was a selfish part of Valerie that felt her life in her new Lothlorien was exactly what she wanted with Thomas, protected, and safe, felt so fine. Then there was another part of herself that felt that natural inclination to need to help. It was in her blood to pull together with the group and help the village if something real went down. This was something real. But, not wanting the responsibility of it was also why she left and the guilt was going to be put to the test with this one.
Zeke would have contacted Thomas personally just in case Valerie got any impulsive ideas. She was in no condition with the triplets to be coming home to all this mess. Physical labor was the last thing she should be doing and she didn’t need the emotional stress of seeing it all up close. He, Brigitte, Chip, and the elders left would handle it.
The next happening was the most recent amazing moon.
Thomas would change and head out like he usually does. Valerie would wish he’d not wonder too far. She couldn’t communicate with him, but she’d start to feel sick herself, nauseous, pain she wasn’t used to feeling. Victor wasn’t there. Jesula was in no way available. Scout stayed home on full moon nights out of habit and sense of duty ingrained, but she was still a kid, and no specialized nurse here. She had no idea how to help when her mother started to cry out in pain clutching round her middle. It had finally happened, the big it. The triplets were being affected by the moon and with three of them crammed in there Valerie could feel it and they would only get bigger.
Valerie would be compelled to go outside swearing up and down to Scout the pups wanted their father and moon. In her condition, barely able to stand, Scout had to help her walk to the door, but would beg her to go no further. She was scared if she stayed on the porch she’d just be a target for other wildlife like that on a night like this. She didn’t trust her father was the only wolf left in New Zealand after the camp they plowed down. Who knew if there were any strays out there? So, Scout would sit on the kitchen floor with her mother right by door trying hard to muffle the sounds of a wounded animal Valerie might make by keeping the radio on unsure of what else to do as she tended to her mom with cold cloths, and they waited for Thomas to return.
It didn’t end there. There was another happening.
Flotsam/Valerie was groomed to have a connection with the other side. They’d had a strong one that had grown more powerful with age. Dr. F’s saying “He’s got friend’s on the other side” was one of Flotsam’s favorites. They tried so hard to appease the Gods, spirits, and such. That same full moon night would end with Valerie in an involuntary seizure-like trance ghost writing on the floor. It took a while for Scout to figure out to put pen in their hand. The writing would not be in her own handwriting, not even the parts that were clear, though most of it was scratchy and gibberish, hard to make out, like her body was hard to invade and control. Something possessed her and it was not Marrassa or Savvy. Neither entity had ever worked that way before.
All of this was going to be what Maddy and Bastien were flying in from Nola to New Zealand to. As if their little miscommunication wasn’t a jumble of a mess of it’s own, the Laveau family stress just rose a little higher in worries that would feel a lot less petty or emotional and more life concerning. Valerie was still half in the dark about Thaddeus so she didn’t know Thomas had that piled on it too.
Victor and Zero were traveling by the same Jolly Roger magic sea portaling and would be as long as Delta had anything to say about these trips. He’d be bringing Tree back to Nola with them. That said, if Victor were a guessing man, he’d guess Thaddeus better not test Thomas’s patience at this point in the game because his wife was now officially in a very, fragile, high risk state, and would get a doctor’s warning label over the phone before he’d arrive to see her. Emotions matter. Getting heated matters. Mamma gets upset. Babies get upset. They could have emotional changes too not just full moon just like daddy.
Chip hadn’t even reached out to Maddy he’d been so exhausted and busy in the village. Though the fires themselves were all over the news, so the Bellerose’s had to have been wondering. If anything they might have been able to get more news out of Scout than anyone. Scout would be the most open line in the Laveau family at the current moment.
Still, with all this going on in the background, Bastien and Maddy were going across the sea. So, were Delta and Frank.
Delta and Frank were happening.
Delta wanted to check out this place Tree had been. They thought about not making a move till Maleficent did something, but it was dragging out. They took a risk and left Heresy alone in the castle. It was a big risk, but damn it they were bored. Fuck it all. They would not even announce they were coming to anyone. They would just board the Jolly Roger right before they set sail, even Victor and Zero did not know. They would tell no one where they were going to stay. They would tell no one their itinerary and just show up and take over the Captain’s cabin. Smee would start to lift a hand when they chose that door and all it would take was one look from Frank and the ever slow slight bounce of one of Delta’s curls as if she might turn her head and he lowered that hand and opened the door for them. Delta never had to turn her head. Frank’s stares always did it.
The Cap’n wasn’t going to be happy about this. He doesn’t like his things moved unless he’s the one doing the breaking or throwing of course. Delta decided it was much more fun to stow a ride on the infamous Jolly Roger and mess up Hook’s room than to hitch a ride a plane with the Hunch and Maddy if given the choice and since Victor was going they had a choice. So, Delta told Maddy they weren’t going and gave no other reason. She didn’t say they had another ride, just that they weren’t going with them.
Bastien and Maddy went on a plane. Maddy got a plane all to themselves this time she said. Bastien liked that. He was not a fan of ear popping in planes and going deaf when going high and low, but he was a big fan of being alone. So he would sing his wife lots of praises for that.
This was a new place and Bastien got a little skittish about leaving the airport unless it was dark. He kept asking what time it would be when they landed even after he’d already asked. He was jazzed up in Paris on marriage confidence. In Nola everyone knew him as Delta’s hammer guy at the very least. Going out in the day just wasn’t so bad anymore, but this was a brand new world out there that didn’t know him. The nerves started to hit. He was very thankful their arrival was in the evening. They’d arrive at Valerie and Thomas’s most bragged about and highly recommended honeymoon hotel. They’d mention Valerie and Thomas and get the star treatment from moment one. With a pocketbook like Maddy’s they won’t be regretting it or wasting their time either. They’ll surely be amply rewarded for their hospitality.
Still, Bastien had that groggy after-transformation face with extra travel exhaustion on top as he sat down on the balcony for a smoke without taking much of the room in yet.
“Look at us in a whole new world again.”
He was calming down after everything. Bastien always needed a moment to step back and recenter after the pain. He gained strength through the night. As confident as he’d become in Nola in the day his love for the night would always remain. He always longed for a day in the sun like a normal man but there was comfort in the dark. There was muscle memory in what this was. There was never pressure here to be brave or overcome. He could just be.
“Come check out the view, Mama Bear.”
