Michelle sits and listens quietly, the wheels constantly turning in her head. She shifts as Janessa tells her story. First side to side and then finally leaning forward, her elbows resting on her knees as her chin rests on her folded hands. Michelle’s eyes start to David when Janessa says ‘my generation’ and then back to her daughter. “I’m so sorry you had to go through that honey.” She sighs. “Thank God your father broke his self imposed exile in time. There was no trace of anything else out there that I could see.” Michelle studies her daughter for a moment. “I’m sure there is more to your story, but I think you should wait to tell me any more. Janessa you know if you’re not up to riding tomorrow, you don’t have too. I don’t want you to feel like you have to push yourself to do it.” Michelle looks at David, there’s a sadness in her eyes when she speaks. “And David, I do hope you’ll join me tomorrow to cheer her on, if she decides to ride. She hasn’t ridden in this particular rodeo for a couple years now. Maybe you’ll bring her some good luck.”

David listened with care to the story Janessa conveyed, her own encounter with the Grey men. It did bear similarities to his own. Cultural training? Or was this case a specific instruction? Another piece.
David also had his attention on Michelle, how she would take in the touch of the Shadow that she had seen the aftermath of. When she looked at David, he merely nodded  to confirm what had been said.

"I will be there tomorrow to cheer her on, as I'm sure Alec and Jack will. Besides, it's Janessa who's helping me with the invite." He said while nodding at Janessa while mentioning her. "There are important people there that I need to see."

"I look forward to meeting them." Michelle says with a smile. "Wantin to meet the Governor or the Mayor?" She asks as she leans back into the chair.

Janessa sighs. "I forgot that Mayor Orr will be there too. Hopefully it won't be too tense between them."

David sighed at hearing the news, another person to contend with. "I hope neither of them have an issue. I intended the Governor, I need some things made A-OK if my plans are to work. Which might be across more than one state based on what Ralph finds for me." David was not leaving this shadow behind, that's for sure. Too much here.

Michelle nods in a way that says 'Ok, but I don't understand'. "Well after their spat last month, they've been keeping their distance. Mayor will be there to say hi and do some photo opportunities before heading over to the Air Force Base for their openin ceremony." She turns to Janessa. "You might wanna get those perishables put in the fridge dear. Don't need your milk going sour." She says as she points to the cooler.

Janessa looks at the cooler. "Good idea. " She looks between her mother and her cousin. "Be right back." She grabs the bag and the cooler and heads inside.

Michelle looks at David. "I know I don't know you and you don't know me, so please don't take offence to this but I need you to be completely honest with me." She leans forward again. "How dangerous is it out there? In the other shadows I mean."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:40, Thu 22 Aug 2019.

Before Janessa vanished, David had Ralph go inside. Some excuse like "checking out the specs again". Which left Michelle alone with David as intended.

"To answer that question, it's hard to give a definitive answer for all shadows, as I've only seen a handful."
He leans in a little. "The Black Road makes things more difficult where it's found, I wouldn't go into it without reinforcements." At least not without being quite reckless while doing so, David admitted to himself.

David sighed as he read her intentions. "But to answer your real question, is Janessa safe? More than most, she can handle herself. Plus she is the one with spells.
If we aren't isolated we should be fine."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:21, Sat 24 Aug 2019.

Michelle smiles and chuckles softly. “Perceptive.” She leans back with a sigh. “Thank you for your honesty. I’m glad she’s got someone to help watch her back. I got the feeling from her father that he didn’t really trust his family. Hopefully the next generation can do better by each other. Is there anything I can do? For her or you for that matter?” She asks.

Janessa brings the stuff into the kitchen. She unloads the cooler, putting the bulk of meat in the fridge and the rest in the freezer. After manipulating some items , she gets the milk, eggs, cream, and cheese in. Janessa pokes through the produce her mom brought, setting the them to the side. She refills her coffee and adds some cream. She heads to the door only to stop when she hears David and her mother’s conversation.





She leans against the wall, not wanting to interrupt them.

David leaned back, considering the offer a little. "If you want to help, well. David sighed as he got rid of the sleepiness from his face.
"There will be some adjustments going on here and at the barn. Panic rooms, escape tunnels and that like, for extra protection. Being OK with those would be helpful."

David knew he would want his family safe, he hoped Michelle would see his side of things. "I planned to get a secure mansion for my family. So I extended the offer of fortifications to Janessa." He explained.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:30, Sun 25 Aug 2019.

Michelle nodded as David explained. "That's a good, solid plan. If it helps keep Janessa safe, you can put in a lava moat." She sighs. "Thank you for thinking about helping keep her safe. I know you said 'family' but I'm guessing ya didn't know yall were family until recent. So thank you."

Janessa steps back on to the porch.

David knew where Janessa was, but it was only polite that he nodded to acknowledgement her return. He then turned back to Michelle. "You're correct, similar story to Janessa really." He admitted, suppressing the urge to make a nervous chuckle over that matter. He had a large family of motives to contest with, a fear of a sudden strike to those he valued and a reasonable paranoia that he was being played by experienced manipulators.

He didn't want to spill all the details to Michelle, but if she kept visiting with food, she was going to know soon anyway. "You might have to contend with a few shadow denizens here for a while. I need to sort out the security detail I want at a new home. Now I know what enemies our lot tend to make, well, I can't be everywhere at once." He explained.
And I can't afford to lose any more family. Not like that. David thought to himself.

Michelle nods. "Fair enough. Family is important. Very important." She looks off to the distance. "Especially their well being." She looks back at Janessa. "So, we ok kiddo?"
This message was last edited by the player at 23:41, Mon 02 Sept 2019.

Janessa follows the brief conversation with her eyes darting back and forth. She nods at her mother. "Yeah. I guess we are. You were just doing what dad told you to do and was protecting me." Janessa sighs. "Just no more secrets. I'll try to keep you updated on the amount of people up here. Explain to Michael anyway you can."

Michelle smiles."I'll figure something to tell him. You get some rest, big busy day tomorrow." She stands, walks over and hugs Janessa. "I love you Nessa." Michelle releases her and steps off the porch. "David, it was nice meeting you. I'll see you tomorrow as well. Should be here bright and early, say 5:30. Might have Will in tow, just a heads up."

Janessa returns the smile and the hug. "I love you too. I'll sleep, promise. Can't have my first ride in years go wonky because I didn't get enough shut eye. Good luck getting him off the ranch. He's turning into a hermit. Tell him I want him there, might work might not."

Michelle nods. "I'll try that." She says before she heads to her truck. She gives a wave before driving away.

Janessa looks at David as her mother's truck disappears down the road. "Thanks David. For everything." She turns to look at the setting sun. "So, what would you gentlemen like to eat for dinner? I've got steak, chops, chicken, ground chuck. We could do breakfast for dinner?"

David had a modest shaking of the shoulders at the question of food."I can go for just about anything really, a bit of protein and maybe a balanced meal. Those are the only requirements for me." David said as he hoped his body wouldn't grumble.
David looked to the sun himself before getting up. "I'm a bit more concerned for the fact that those two haven't come back yet." Not that David could help those two now, to do that he would have to find them first. Which felt like a needle and haystack, if the stack was as large as a planet and filled with individual needles of differing metals.

Janessa sighs."I agree. I had hoped they be back by now. Don't suppose you got a card for either of them?" She asks as she heads to the kitchen. She starts cooking some chicken breast, fresh peas, and brown rice. The peaches her mom dropped off get sliced, tossed with some honey and put under the broiler.

David had a shrug as he completed an online purchase through his phone. "Regrettably I don't. So they are quite disconnected from us." He got up to see if there was any table prep to do and occupy himself.

As he eventually found the utensils David added "If they struggle to return and we get concerned, I think I have a way to track them down."

Janessa finished up dinner, package up two servings and plated up the rest for David, Ralph, and herself. “Oh? Do tell.” She looks at him. “Do you wanna eat inside or out on the back porch?” She places the full plates on the long counter before opening the refrigerator and pulling out a beer. “Also, what can I get ya two to drink since I’m here?”