"Hadn't really thought about it.  Can't be quite generous to say I was raised by tolerant people, so much as ones who don't care as long as they are a paying customer."  One bottle of mouthwash for the mindflayer coming up.

  "Though I guess 'who cares' when someone isn't causing problems is better than hating grandpa because he's shorter than me." Not to mention spectacularly hypocritical to comment on Vyrolka red hair, if we ignore 'Vyrolka +5 bonus to pass as human'.

Raichel says, "What about "monster races" like half orcs and shifters?"

  "Don't get as many of them around here, though when we do it's usually one traveling with humans on a job.  Most of them passed through dad's shop at some point or another to buy something." Kyle had facepalmed when Dad has asked if they wanted their change in coppers.

  "So, I'm sure there's some I'd dislike out there somewhere but what I've seen has just been pretty normal."

Raichel says, "I ask 'cause I'm a shifter. It's why I wear the hood and veil. Do you think me and my family will be driven out of town if it's found out we're shifters?"

  "Probably not.  There's always going to be some complaining, but any town a Minotaur barbarian has bought cupcakes from won't run out a shifter family just staying at the Inn.  Unless you really do steal something, it would be bad."  that last part stated Egon style.

  "Still, thanks for thinking I was worth telling."

Raichel pulls down her hood and veil, letting her kitty appearance show. Her tail unravels from her waste. The veil was needed to cover her cheeks, mostly, since she has those stripes on her cheeks. She smiles up at Kyle. "Say. Have I met you before? Something's familiar about you."

 Cute kid, maybe the Razorclaws would have better PR if they made their kids more widely known?  "Don't think so? Unless we were both too young to remember it."  He'd probably remember if he had to convince her not to continue on half dead into an enemy stronghold or something crazy like that.

When the pair arrive at the inn, Kyle can see a pair of cloaked adults and two cloaked children. Upon seeing Raichel unhooded, the family look stunned for a moment. But seeing Kyle isn't angry or scared, the family decide to trust what Raichel has done as a sign and they unhood and unveil. Kyle gets that dejavu again, once he sees little 12-yr-old Mittens and 9-year-old Timothius. The parents don't "ring a bell" at all.

  Kyle waves, "Hello, I'm Kyle.  I'm also starting to wonder if I've met you before?"  Raichel's question comes to mind again, considering how much apparent Dejavu is going on.  "I hope your visit works out."

Raichel and Timothius head to each other, giggling and hugging. The two immediately start wallowing in twinliness, invoking more dejavu. The parents get caught up on what all happened between Kyle and Raichel before finding out a bit about Kyle. They assure the guy they've never met him.

  Kyle nods, "Just a feeling.  If there was anywhere around here you wanted to be shown around, just ask.  I feel like there should be more to here than idiot brawls and accusing children of theft."

Raichel's parents spend the rest of the day having Kyle show their family around town. By day's end, Kyle definitely feels like he's met the children before and has the odd sensation of some kind of soldier brotherhood. The kids seem to be feeling odd too, but each react differently. Timothius mostly hides behind Raichel. Mittens increases her silly factor. Raichel glances at Kyle often and occasionally gives him ponderous looks.

  Kyle finds himself liking kids who are not annoying, the shock of it all.  "-And that's why there are cupcakes with peppermint stick horns now."  No we're not letting that tiny joke go.  "The little candy axes didn't work out."

  He looks over to Raichel, finally noticing look number fifteen through seventeen "Something on your mind, Raichel?"

Raichel says, "I can't get over the fact you feel familiar. And close... like someone I owe my life to."

  "What, people threaten to smack you enough that my stepping in stands out?  Or something weirder neither of us can figure out?"  He looks to the other shifter siblings, then back to Raichel  "Can't say that I'm not liking you all way more than just a few hours together would probably cause though."

Raichel says, "Something weird's going on. I don't know what, but definitely weird."

The day gets late and the twins yawn in unison. They wish Kyle a good night and head to bed. That night, Kyle has a dream of fighting alongside older versions of the three children. When he wakes, the dream seems to fade, but has the distinct feeling of being a memory, rather than a dream.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:13, Sat 07 Sept 2013.

  Kyle is wishing he paid more attention to scrying subjects at this point.  Ritual qualifications, sure.  But artificers only get a head start beyond their level for enchanting and disenchanting at all.

  'It's going to be one of THOSE days, if I'm already planning on asking insane sounding questions' he thinks.

  The process of morning perpetration and feeding take place, and out Kyle goes.  Approaching doors mindfully in case of the cliche of one of the Shifter Kids rushing into him on the way through to ask the same thing.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:22, Sat 07 Sept 2013.

Kyle's parents guide him down to the shop area. When he gets down there, all his friends, including the shifter family, are all there and yell "SURPRISE! Happy Birthday!"

  More evidence that Kyle is capable of smiling takes place.  "Thank you, everyone.  It was nice of you to set this up."  He's already working out how to arrange fruit punch 'accidents' to anyone who brings up the Girlfriend by birthday subject though.

One of Kyle's doofier friends does, in fact, bring it up. "I saw you hanging out with the shifter girl all day yesterday. She your birthday girlfri-hey!"

Raichel giggles, though also blushes.

  Raichel is a nice girl, but Kyle doesn't think he's at a point in his life yet where dating someone half his age is appealing.

  "You still have cake, so things could be worse." Today we learned that delicious cake can be a veiled threat.

Raichel slides her foot. "I wouldn't mind being your girlfriend, Mr Kyle, if it made you happy or was a good birthday present..."

Timothius looks at her with surprise for a moment, but then has an understanding smile.

Mittens, thankfully, was distracted.

  Even if it's probably just a crush, Kyle still appreciates the thought.  "You don't have to get me anything, Raichel.  Nevermind that It'd be selfish to expect something when you only knew about it less than a day."

  He smiles softly, then sighs,  "I can't believe I'm finding myself saying this, but maybe when you're older and still feel that way.  Even with what counts as my openmindedness, I wouldn't want to think of someone your age that way... Help me out here, does there even exist a way to say 'no, but I appreciate the thought' without hurting your feelings?"

Raichel seems to go back to being ponderous. "To be honest, I'm not even sure why I put you on the spot like that. Sorry, Kyle..."

Timothius says, "The weird feelings mix-up?"

Raichel says, "Yeah. But I wonder how we're supposed to get to the bottom of it."

 "It's fine Raichel, no need to be sorry about being nice."  Or is there!  You gave our health potions to the slavers what are you doing?

  "Most I could do is try and read through what books I have that even come close to the subject later.