A day on the town!

Giving Aven another sparking smile, Antoinette's spun off to make drinks for them. They followed her into the kitchen, she went straight over to the alcohol cupboard and began pulling out some of their good liquors. Sebastian jumped up onto the counter then onto Nessa's shoulder where he had a clear view of all the food preparation. Nessa quickly got to work at chopping the salad, tomatoes, cucumber, and other bits and bobs. She wasn't sure how big of a salad fan Aven was, so she prepared little mini bowls of extras like feta and avocado. She herself was a big lover of salads, she experimenting with them and creating different salad bowls to have with her meat. Her cousin always thought he odd as he loved meat and only meat. Speaking of whom, a little body had been peeking around the door, having heard the voice. Two youthful eyes stared at Aven in speculation.

"Well there's me, Aunty Ann, my Dad and-" Two arms suddenly darted around her waist, she smiled and looked round and Edward. Who was clinging onto her protectively, glaring at Aven suspiciously. "And this is Edward, he's Aunty Ann's son." Although Edward was only eleven, he was still very immature in nature and very protective of Nessa.

Antoinette came over with a glass of Rum for Aven, carrying a glass of pineapple juice for Nessa. She hadn't even needed to ask, her aunty knew her so well. In a split moment, Antionette went from flirty host to stern mother as she directed her words at her son. "Eddie don't cling so tightly to Nessa, she's using a sharp utensil and doesn't need to cut herself because you want a hug." She told him sharply, Edward hesitated for a moment, before letting go. Then with a teasing look she opened her arms. "You could always cuddle mama." He looked at her blankly before darting away. Back to the doorway where he continued to peek out at Aven.

After realising they were having a barbeque, Antoinette totted off to prepare the barbeque, dragging a reluctant Edward with her. Nessa had deduced that her father wasn't home yet, albeit she was a little relieved. Her aunty and cousin were intense enough without her father too. At least Aven was being spared a triple team attack from her family right now. Although that didn't mean one wasn't coming later.


At Aven's offer, Nessa began to get excited. The prospect of being part of a team, that sounded amazing. She had seen other teams wandering around the guild but hadn't actually considered that she too could be in one. "Really? I would love that, I mean are you sure you want to team up with me? There's a lot tougher members in the guild that would probably be more helpful" She said, doubting her abilities. Sure she had gotten stronger lately, but am I strong enough to be in a team... She wondered. She definitely wanted to be.

"I think all the food preps done, we can go set up the tuff in the garden now," She told him, leading him out of the kitchen, through to their back garden. Although they house was cosy, their garden was actually a decent size. Edward and Nessa had spent their childhood chasing eachother round it. Plus there was the lush flowerbeds neatly layering the fencing. Her aunty was a bit of a green thumb.   As they made their way over to the table that Edward was laying plates and cutlery on. Her aunty was too the side, lighting the barbeque.

Aven's words were like a cosy blanket of reassurance, despite all her self-doubt, he had managed to bat all that away with just few sentences. She felt instantly uplifted and ready to take on anything, the best team in Fairy Tail. It seemed like an impossible dream, but that didn't mean she wasn't ready to strive for it. Who knows maybe Nessa could truly become powerful one day, who knew what evil her and Aven would be able to vanquish from the world. Could they really make the world a better place? That's all she ever wanted. 

"You know what, I'm in. Let's take on this world together." She said holding her hand up for a high five. She looked over at her Aunty and cousin. Antoinette had a look of amused pride on her first, Edward on the other hand did not look so pleased. Nessa had the impression he wanted to be in a team with her, but he was still far too young and far too inexperienced for that. 

As they proceeded to cook the meats, the four of them were soon dishing up their plates. Edward had eventually stopped sulking and was deeply invested in his burger. There was the sound of a opening door and a deep sigh. 

"Now that's a pleasant scent to come home to," Nessa turned to the doorway, her father stood in his usual work clothes. Some beige trousers, a white shirt and a brown waistcoat. His brow hair tousled on top of his head, and his violet eyes shining in the sunset. His eyes were the one thing that linked him and Nessa the most. They were eerily similar. Sebastian lifted his head from his plate of fish and smirked, "This is going to be good,"

"Father, Welcome home," She said, putting her plate down, she hurried over to him for a welcoming hug. one he embraced tightly, before she took his hand and pulled him over to Aven. "Dad, this is Aven Alveron, he's my guildmate and now officially a member of a team with me." Richard looked Aven up and down not saying a word, as he took in the stranger her daughter had brought home.

Richard's inspection although not as invasive as Antoinette's was equally intense, he took in Aven's greeting without a word, raising a brow as the boy bowed in front of him. "Mr Alveron huh? Well, this is a surprise. Nessa hasn't introduced brought home any new friends in a long time." Although Richard wore a smile, he emphasized the word friends just enough for it to be noticeable. Richard wasn't oblivious to his daughter's looks, Nessa was dense to the attraction of others, but Richard saw it clearly. Richard cleared his throat.

"So Mr Alveron, you intend on joining a team with my daughter. Well then, as a concerned father who doesn't know you at all. I'd like to ask you three riddles." Nessa let outa load groan, whilst both Edward and Sebastian were snickering amongst themselves. This was her father alright, oddball extraordinaire, lover of riddles. It was so embarrassing, This is why I don't bring people round often, Nessa thought, her face turning red from embarrassment, she stared down at her salad. Hoping Aven didn't think her a freak for having such a crazy family.

"First, What belongs to you, but is used by others? Second, What is it that no man wants to have but no man wants to lose? and lastly, What can be broken without being touched?"

Nessa felt relief listening to Aven answer all of her dads questions smoothly, he seemed unabashed by her fathers questions. Her father had often baffled and confused her classmates back when she was younger. His quirky personality and peculiar love for riddles and brainteasers was odd to say the least. She loved him, but not everyone understood him for the amazing man he was. Richard grinned at Aven's answer, reaching out he gave him a pat on the shoulder. All tension gone, he spoke with a much more welcoming tone. "Nicely done Lad."

He moved towards the grill, and helped himself to food. Now that the awkward moment was gone, Nessa helped herself to the salad and chicken. "You can call me whatever, my names Richard so that'll be easier. Not Dick though, I've never been fond of that nickname. He said with a grin, Nessa choked on her food, coughing, she covered her mouth as she swallowed it down. 

"Dad!" She hissed, 

"Now, now, sweetie. Remember to chew." He told her with a teasing grin. Antoinette's decided to come to Nessa rescue and approached them. 

"Richard, try not embarrass my niece too much, this is the first friend she's brought round since... that one. We don't actually want scare him off, he's far too pleasant on the eye." she said, giving Aven another one of her flirty winks. Richard instantly picked up on Antoinette's flirtatious behaviour.

"Oh, so he's here for your benefit. He seems sturdy enough," He said looking Aven up and down, "Although, you could at least try not to break this one Annie." He said, Antoinette laughed before blowing Aven a kiss, 

"I make no promises." At that point in time Nessa desperately prayed for the ground to swallow her whole. 

Nessa took a deep calming sigh, this wasn't turning out as bad as it could be. Her father and aunty had definitely embarrassed her worse in her younger years. At least she didn't have to deal with the horror that was PTA meetings, they had attended in rotation and she honestly couldn't tell which was worst sometimes. But her education days were over, she was moving into the independent world now. She understood they had to get their kicks somewhere, so taking advantage of Aven's visit as an opportunity to bring our their crazy wasn't so much of a surprise. She was just glad Aven hadn't already gone running for the hills so far, he was proving to be a good friend. Nessa put down her plate, adopting a serious expression, she turned to her father and aunty, hands firmly on her hips. She had had enough now. 

"Okay, You've had your fun, can we tone it down a smidge please." Nessa asked the supposed adults in the garden sternly. The two of them exchanged looks with the expression of whatever does she mean. She rolled her eyes, dropping her hands, she turned to look at Aven, her face now apologetic.  "Sorry Aven, they just love to embarrass me, it's like a passion of theirs." Sebastian who had finished his salmon trotted over. 

"You handled yourself pretty well dude, " He told Aven, in a surprisingly easy-going manner, perhaps he had figured the guy had received enough jesting tonight. 

"Ha! Is that an invitation? Sounds good to me, get some payback for what you saw today," She replied with a laugh. She genuinely meant it, the idea of getting to know Aven better intrigued her. To see where he lived, how he grew up. It was a right of passage between friends after all. Opening yourself up to one another, learning to understand each other better. Maybe one day she would even open up to him about her past, about her mother, about her greatest loss.

"It's been a pleasure," Richard replied to Aven's farewell politely, Edward remained silent, still not sure on the guy.

"Come by anytime," Antoinette's said flirtatiously, blowing him a kiss. Sebastian gave him a little wave, laughing at Antoinette's behaviour. Nessa sighed, leading Aven back into the house and towards the front door.


"Thanks for coming round, It's been a nice change of pace.. You know I'm here if you ever want to talk about anything." Nessa said as they arrived at the houses entrance. "I'll see you at the guild, I suppose." She seemed to be contemplating something, then shrug as if making a decision. She reached forward and gave him another hug, she couldn't help it. A lot had happened to them today, it felt right to end in such a way. "I look forward to becoming a team." She said before letting go, and opening the door for him.

OVERALL GROUP WC:: 9287

B RANK WC: 7000/7000
1ST D RANK WC: 1000/1000
2ND D RANK WC: 1000/1000

287 Excess