[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/w18T1S3.png[/img] [@Krayzikk] [@Kaithas] [@NarayanK][/center] Her father wasn't underneath any of the team's beds, or in the closets, or hiding in any cupboards or the stove. Lauren searched the bathroom, knocked on the ceiling tile, tested for loose floorboards, and even in any of the large duffel bags where the black dragon of Bastille hid her slowly-growing treasure pile. She combed high and low, even turned to her mother with a quizzical stare, and found no response anywhere from her father. For a moment, her face started to fall-- --before lighting up again wickedly and cupping one hand around her mouth. [color=8882be]"Ayyyy [i]yooooooo Pooooooooops![/i]"[/color] she called out. Costa Negasi rolled her eyes imperceptibly and turned back to Sangue with a warm, maternal smile. [color=92278f]"That's a very honest answer,"[/color] she noted comfortingly. Lauren's mother wasn't quite sure whether her daughter's teammate was just shy or somehow impeded, but the affection the snake had for Lauren was still clear enough to see why Lauren got on her with her so well. [color=92278f]"I haven't met anyone who could control her in a long time. She's always been a happy child. Always too excited for one body to hold. So she makes friends to--"[/color] [color=8882be]"--ep forward, you ol' [i]dusty ass[/i] nigga, you--"[/color] [color=92278f]"--try and share in the fun. Normally it gets people in trouble, but she seems to have taken a real shine to you all. That's good. I used to think..."[/color] Costa trailed off before shaking her head, smile widening slightly. [color=92278f]"But I'm musing out of turn. Sorry. It's hard for a parent not to worry about her little girl; you ladies will understand some day. [i]Lorena,[/i] child, relax. Your father is--"[/color] [color=8882be]"The Goddess of Guap summons this ashy nigga Pops, this klepto-ass, old head-ass, lotion-starved brother who hails from the plains of--"[/color] [color=92278f]"[i]Lauren.[/i]"[/color] Lauren turned to face her mother with the devilish smile of a troll doll. [color=8882be]"Nah he ain't from there, Moms, Pops grew up in--[i]WAAAAAAAAAAUGH!"[/i][/color] Costa Negasi audibly sighed when the great square window in the back wall of the dormitory flung open, and a tall man with sharply carved features swooped in as though he had jumped from a plane to reach them. Lauren hardly heard the noise before she was caught in a hold, a tight headlock that left her mouth wide and her eyes wider - and that was [i]before[/i] they grew positively massive as the man who could only be Lauren Negasi's father started dangling her out of the window. [color=8493ca]"Caught you lackin', you mouthy brat,"[/color] the man challenged, with the iron tones of paternity. Lauren's hands were tapping at his arms. [color=8493ca]"What's up, Lorena? Say somethin' else funny. I missed those jokes of yours."[/color] [color=8882be]"I ain't ever lackin'!"[/color] Lauren gasped defiantly. [color=8882be]"C'mon, Pops, I was just talkin' that--"[/color] [color=8493ca]"Yeah, talkin' that good shit. I was waiting for you outside, heard everything. How are you gonna be a Huntress if you let an [i]old head[/i] like me choke your ass out?"[/color] [color=8882be]"I ain't gonna tap!"[/color] [color=8493ca]"Tap,"[/color] Lauren's father said calmly, as his daughter's long, toned legs flailed for purchase in the air outside the dorm. [color=8882be]"[i]Aaaaaaaaargh Amy what the fuck help me, Caaaaaaap, [b]Caaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaap[/b][/i]"[/color] [color=92278f]"Ladies!"[/color] Both Negasis turned in surprise to look at Costa, whose hands were on her hips. The smile had left her face, but her eyes were still warm; she seemed annoyed, but not surprised, at the antics of her other half and her only daughter. [color=92278f]"If you two had the wits that Allah gave a turkey, you wouldn't be doing this in front of Lorena's friends. Sweetheart, look at them, they're white. They don't know discipline from battery. And you, Lorena, child. You're screaming loud enough to interrupt every family reunion on this floor. Both of you get inside, [i]now.[/i]"[/color] Lauren looked up at her father, who looked down upon her with a mix of bewilderment and sheepishness identical to his daughter's. Lauren was hoisted inside promptly and set down on her feet for all of a third of a second before she had leapt up around her father and wrapped her legs around his tightly, arms clinging tightly to his neck. The Negasi patriarch was a Big Guy. From the ground, it was clear he towered at least half a foot over Lauren, if not a couple inches more than that, and he was clearly no stranger to gains; if Lauren was the spitting image of Costa, then it was clear that her mysterious father must have been the archetype for her similarly mysterious brother Sloan. Lauren lifted off the crooked Atlesian Paladins cap her father was wearing and ruffled his close-cropped black hair with a rakish grin, which he returned after a second with a kiss atop Lauren's own thick head of hair. He had a statuesque face, jaw and cheeks strong underneath skin lighter than his daughter's or wife's, but the family smile was the same. Lauren's chastisement was wearing off; when she started to speak, her voice was once again the loudest in the room. [color=8882be]"Gang, [i]thiiiiiiiis[/i] nigga--"[/color] [color=92278f]"Lorena."[/color] [color=8882be]"--grrr, [i]this guyyyy[/i]"[/color] - Lauren droned the replacement word out in a nasally monotone that must have been a relic of her pre-Ben white guy impersonation - [color=8882be]"is my [i]daaaaaaad.[/i] Say hi, [i]Daaaaaad.[/i]"[/color] Her father's eyes went over to the only white guy in the room first, and then searched the redhead beside Costa before landing on the redhead currently wearing a leather jacket that had been in the family for four generations. Then they landed on Lauren again, just as Costa's stare had before him. [color=8493ca]"[i]Assalamualaikum[/i],"[/color] he said with curt politeness. [color=8493ca]"I hope you're all enjoying my daughter."[/color] [color=8882be]"Giiiiii-ggity!"[/color]