Cheers

Chapter 7: Awkward Company

Murchadh had the distinct impression that the human was completely clueless and unaware of how over his head he was, as the man took the strangest group of kin through a series of complicated dances. They weren't that different from the equinox celebrations or dances on Baile, though they were definitely... human.

He glanced around the bar and rolled his shoulders back, forcing himself to relax as best as he could.

He had observed Earth early in his exile, seen these things that humans did, unseen from the shadows, but to be within it, experiencing it, he didn't quite get it. There was a huge group here but no community, no connection between them. Just a sea of strangers that people brushed against without care or acknowledgement.

But he would put up with it, seeing Ferya laughing as she followed the human's directions and lead. Seeing her looking like she was took his breath away. He had always thought her beautiful but she had never made an effort to display it before. And her laugh was enough to calm his tense nerves.

"So Merk, is it?" The vampire, the older one across the table finally spoke, all three of them had been watching the dancing in an awkward silence.

"I suppose that's the nickname everyone has attributed to me." Murchadh grinned a bit, pulling his eyes from the dance floor. " You aren't in the same coven. I can sense that, but... you... work together?"

The other vampire, the one decidedly attached to Urdu and the redheaded witch who had stolen Ferya earlier today was the one who answered. "I work for him. We don't do the coven things. He didn't make me. I have no connection to the ones that did." Timothy offered a shrug, giving him a surly look. "And you're a Prince. So, like Royalty..."

"Not in the way that you probably understand it." Murchadh shrugged, smirking a little darker, "so if I killed your sires... neither one of you would die?"

They just blinked at him, then Tim frowned a little deeper. "Urdu and Baltha mentioned a little about that. The connection vampires had to one another... "

Carbry arched a curious brow, watching him intently, "and do you think you could kill one of us? Let alone vampires old enough to make us?"

"Ferya asked me to play nice." Murchadh offered a grin that told them just what he thought he could do, before glancing out at the dance floor, "that human should probably be rescued. Both from the damned demon as well as from Lucifer."

It drew their attention to where Baltha was still wearing the man's hat and offering what were amusing, but agitating statements to the human who was attempting to teach the next dance to the group of them, as well as all the others who had gathered.

Tim rolled his eyes, "if you can take on that demon asshole, let me know."

"What are you, may I ask?" The other one had turned back to watch him, murmuring the question before he could respond to Tim.

"Tuath De." Murchadh glanced towards him, flashing him a grin.

The man stilled for a moment, eyebrows raising considerably in surprise. "Tribe of the gods."

It was Murchadh's turn to be surprised, "well, that's the general translation for it, if pronounced properly. Tuatha De Dennan."

Tim frowned between the two of them, snorting softly, "so you know who they are, King vampire?"

"They were the gods before christianity came to Ireland. Relegated to being considered the little people, the sprites in the forest, those that lived in the earth, old wives tales..."

"First off, we're not sprites. Sprites are little folk. Now, Torix's people were probably more akin to what you're imagining. Her tribe could speak with the little people like pixies, sprites and fairies, all of which are very delicious for demons, by the way." Murchadh shook his head slowly, muttering in Tuath De about weird fucking vampires.

"Why are vampires so hated on your world?" Carbry narrowed his eyes. And it took several long moments before Murchadh realized he wasn't speaking common human tongue anymore.

Murchadh tensed then, returning the glare with one of his own, responding in kind."How the hell do you know Tuath De?"

"It's Gaelic."

"I'd hate to interrupt your... bonding over gibberish, but I know that asshole," Timothy growled, drawing their attention to Sarathiel who stood, watching the dancing with a curious expression on his face. The only thing glamoured about him, was the fact that his wings weren't visible, and perhaps he had toned down a little bit of the brilliance he had being an angel.

"Sarathiel." Murchadh frowned softly, glancing towards where Lucifer was either pointedly ignoring the angel or... no, Lucifer would know the man was here, but was watching the dancing. "He's... one of the more tolerable."

"Sarathiel... as in... the angel Sarathiel." Carbry sounded a little more concerned, drawing a grim expression from Murchadh.

Murchadh looked at the two men, both of which were wearing various expressions of disbelief. "Humans messed up the whole history in their religious dogma. How is it that you believe Lucifer is here, and not.... " Then it hit him, and he smirked, "you don't actually believe it, do you?"

"Is he a threat?" Timothy was tensed, coiled, ready to... to do what? Murchadh glanced between them, before offering a shrug.

"I don't think so. But there's a lot of unknowns about who our threats are." Both of them were fighters, as far as he could tell, though he grimaced, as he allowed himself to be a little more open. "Granted, most of the vampire population is suspected of being a threat, again. After they were decimated only months ago. And everyone pretends to get along currently."

He stood from the booth as the group finished their dancing, tensed, coiled and waiting for Sarathiel to do something. Surprisingly, however, the Angel focused on the human male, who still hadn't received his hat back from Baltha and looked like he was debating doing something about it. Baltha, clearly knew it was bothering the man and started walking back to the booth grinning and talking to Samantha and Ferya.

Shifting to the side as the group moved to sit down again, he found Torix standing beside him, also watching the Angel. "Baltha really should give that man his hat back."

She grinned slightly, "Lucifer prefers him without the hat on... Baltha is being a good general."

"Funny, I never learned, 'stealing a hat for my boss so that he can check out the cute boys' as part of my training as a General." Murchadh drawled, watching as the human glanced to the ceiling, muttering to himself as he turned. Right into Sarathiel, who was watching the man like a hawk.

"What the hell is it, with that human?" Murchadh cursed, glancing to the table, frowning when he noticed the Witch Samantha frowning as well. "If this is some sort of spell..."

"Mionphrionsa." Urdu narrowed her eyes on him and even as a human, he could feel her power.

"He was just supposed to come and realize that Lucifer was better off without him..." Samantha murmured softly, frowning. "The meanie is ruining everything."

"Oh god...Sam... you... invited Sarathiel to ..." Timothy looked to the woman in shock.

"Oh, this is going to be good. I'm glad I kept the hat." Baltha grinned wide as the poor human made his way toward where Lucifer was standing, Sarathiel walking beside him grinning and seemingly distracted.