Farrington-Gores: Reunion in paradise

Our next update brings us to sunny Isla Paradiso and with it, a reunion between Roxxi and the kids and their loved ones from Sunset Valley.

An opportunity to meet new family members...

Or simply relax with old ones.

'This is just what I needed.'

'Maybe I should get some of that vampiric sunscreen and sunbathe.'

'You'd sparkle.'

'Yeah, but I could totally work it.'

'I don't think I'll be picking that option. I don't want to be a complete walking Twilight reference.'

'Thank God for that, because I won't accept any of the behaviours from that Edward.'

'It was nice that you were able to come along too, Madina. I've heard all about you from Tristan.'

'Aw, well thanks for inviting me!'

'Did you call home when we got here?'

'Yeah, don't worry, it was the first thing I did. Dad was happier to let me go when he heard you'd be here too.'

'We can go on a girly shopping trip at some point.'

'Ooooh, yeah! That would be great!'

'That'll put us men on childcare then.'

'At least that can combat the sexism, even though the gender segregation doesn't.'

'And you specifically can get to bug hunting in an entirely new place!'

'Oh goodness. There ought to be a bigger variety here, you'd think.'

'Yeah, the scarier and more dangerous ones. That's one downside to living here.'

'Vin would tell you that all bugs are beautiful.'

'I admire his enthusiasm, but I have to say I don't particularly agree.'

'Me neither. Still, he's useful as a spider catcher.'

'He tells me he wants to be a spider for next Halloween.'

'Better than Julius. He wants to be a fart for next Halloween.'

'...Oh. Well, at least if he pulls it off it'll be a creative costume...?'

'My dad went trick or treating last year.'

'What did he go as?'

'Gollum. And then, like, he got drunk just before and thought it'd be a "more authentic" costume if he went out wearing nothing but his loincloth...'

'Dear God.'

'Ooof, poor you.'

'Yeah, so that was embarrassing! Mum thought it was hilarious.'

'Did you dress up as anything?'

'Lara Croft. I've got the boobs for it.'

'Uhhh... That's... great.'

'So do I, but I think the kids would disown me!'

'Depends entirely on which outfit you pick!'

'So how settled in are you all now, anyway?'

'We're doing well, thanks. Zeus has a new friend he's been seeing a lot.'

'Oh good, I'm glad to hear it.'

'And I've managed to set up a stall at the local market to sell my sculptures. It's good fun. How about you?'

'Oh great! I'm not doing too badly either, thank you. But all the same, it's nice to be able to have some relax time.'

'Absolutely. Hey, Roxxi, can we try out the sauna?'

'Sure. I think Maria's already in there.'

'Oooooh, now that sounds like fun!'

'Agreed! I'm in.'

'I shall give that a miss for now. Have fun, the rest of you!'

'Just ask me whenever you feel like using it. Some people are more modest than others.'

'In some countries clothes are strictly forbidden.'

'And those countries are marked on my list of places to never visit.'

Later...

'The sea looks so pretty here.'

'You get some great views. Wish I'd moved over sooner.'

'"Better late than never" might be a cliché, but like, it's not wrong. So what d'you do around here, anyway? I'd be tempted to never leave the beach, not good for a vampire.'

'Heh, we do go to the beach a fair bit. There's restaurants, parks... They do their own festivals too. Mum's side of the family is originally from here.'

'So do you have relatives here then, or have they all moved?'

'No, they're in Riverview now. Not sure why they moved. It seems kinda boring in comparison.'

'Oh yeah, totally, my parents used to live there too. I mean, I guess it's nice if like, you're interested in cute little country places, but eehhhh... I kinda prefer more modern towns.'

'Me too. It's like one of those quaint little places that tries to look perfect... so it suits my grandparents in that way.'

'Sounds like it'd be the kind of place that'd be rife with idle gossip because there's nothing else to do. Like, you can't even fart without someone knowing about it.'

'God, yeah. What's it like in Moonlight Falls?'

'Pretty much the opposite, quite chaotic. Partly due to, like, an old man running around on all fours like a puppy even when it isn't full moon, partly due to my Dad's bestie trying to bang anything with a pulse and a dick, and partly due to regular visits from zombies. So, yeah. It's busy!'

'Wow. I'd like to see it some day. I've never been somewhere like that.'

'Well, I bet Mum and Dad would be okay with having visitors over, so long as you don't mind putting up with three noisy alien babies for a while. After Grandpa gave birth, Dad took his alien triplet siblings in, because, well, Grandpa would probably try and sell them for booze money.'

'Aww. Well, I'm used to alien babies. The only thing you'd need to worry about is me accidentally teaching them to swear.'

'Are you used to their volume, though? Because oh my God. Two of them are, well, from what I've heard, pretty average. But Banshee's been named Banshee for a reason...!'

'Oh, well that I'm not so sure about. That bad?'

'Yeahhhh, it gets pretty bad. My brother's looking for a place of his own. Although admittedly that's probably not just because of the triplets; while he's living at home, he can't get down and dirty with a girl without Mum barging in to throw glitter and condoms at them.'

'Oh dear God. I'm... glad it won't be me in that situation.'

'Yeah, I would never try and do it in the house with the family at home. All of them are far too embarrassing.'

'Yeah... though I can't see it being much better at mine, with Julius and Jinx around.'