"Having the teams mix has more than just the benefit of getting to know each other for work." Jay said while justifying the cost of the party to his boss.

All eyes turned to Kurt as he stepped forward. Some of them turned to face him because they overheard the goading from Jeffery. A couple turned because the people they were talking to did first. Then the last focused on him because he was now standing in only his boxers, and they were eyeing him in either confusion or appreciation.

"Just step back a bit." Jay said behind him, probably ushering Jeffery out of the way. Kurt was a bit thankful that he didn't have to worry about squishing the dwarf and a moment later, let himself shift.

He once more felt his muscles ripple and move as his bones changed shape and relocated. He was thankful that the nanobots were working to suppress the pain since he wouldn't want to imagine shifting and growing so rapidly without them.

As he hunched and felt his snout lengthen, he could feel the hair on his body beginning to thicken and lengthen, rapidly growing out while shifting to its mottled grey and black color. It was after his hair began to grow out that the change in size really kicked into overdrive and he started growing, putting on a lot of mass.

A second after he stripped down, he was now looking down at the shocked faces of the other agents and their handlers. While Val and Kristi were smiling at him, Penny looked truly shocked. She had seen the video and pictures from the rift but it was a completely different experience when the monster was looming directly over her own impressive height.

"Oh, holy fuck." Piper gasped and took a step back. The words and movement caused Kurt to reflexively focus in on her. She froze when his head snapped around and glowing, amber eyes landed on her.

"Now that's interesting." Rupert said, stepping out from around Tig to get a better look. "Werewolves aren't supposed to be that big, right?"

"No, no they are not." Radis answered. He seemed to be torn between running and being upset about something.

Val walked over as Kurt crouched, half sitting on his haunches. "But isn't he beautiful." She cooed while wrapping her arms around his leg and rubbing her face into the fur.

"Fucking terrifying is more like it." Sif whispered to Sam who nodded dumbly.

"You know I can hear you and understand you, right?" Kurt said, shifting his mouth and vocal cords enough to approximate a deeper version of his own voice. The words came out slurred but it was as good as he could get without a lot of practice. He could not only hear them but also smell them. The room had a heady mix of various scents from terror to lust. Thankfully, neither of his mates were expressing the smell of fear.

Rupert came over, standing next to Val and looking up at him. "Is this the only form? Can you turn into a full wolf or is this it? Oh! Can you control your size at all?"

"No on the wolf form." Kurt said. He focused intently like he had in the rift. "But I can scale down a bit." He then shrunk, stopping at the point where his ears were brushing the seven-foot mark.

"Fascinating." Said the halfling. "Are there other wolves like this? Was your sire one?"

Kurt glanced at Jay who just shook his head. "Not that I am aware, but who knows. It's not something I can get into at the moment since I don't know much more myself." He was fine keeping the secret for a little while and was glad his boss agreed.

That seemed to mollify the halfling and he continued to inspect Kurt. He shifted back after Rupert had made a full orbit, stopping on the other side of Val who was still looking rather smug. A few of the other agents had stepped closer, curiosity drawing them in.

Glancing back, Kurt saw Jeffery had moved over to badger a now completely humanoid Penny about swapping teams again. She was holding him off but kept shooting glances over to Kurt. It looked like she expected him to suddenly snap and do something untoward.

Kurt had only just summoned his shoes back to his feet when Sam approached. She was keeping a respectful distance away, waiting until Val let go of him. Kristi was standing next to the vampire, answering her questions as they waited. It seemed the dragoness was keeping close tabs on their new friend.

"What's up?" Kurt asked, looking over to where they waited.

Sam stepped closer, but still keeping a fair distance back. "So… umm." She took a deep breath, wringing her hands and glancing over to where Piper and Sif were talking with Penny. "I had been thinking about an offer. You said that you do enchantments for trade?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"I was hoping you could make something for me? If it's not too much trouble! A-and only if you have time." She quickly added the qualifiers to the end of her request. "I can pay you in potions. If you accept that is."

Kurt and Val shared a look, both clearly confused as to why Sam was acting this way when she had been so confident before. "Why are you so…" Val gestured up and down the clearly anxious woman. "Nervous?"

"Oh, umm… well because I don't want to be eaten?" She said in a small and squeaky voice. "I'm sorry I don't mean to be insensitive!" She then blurted, having realized her comment might be offensive.

Val reached out and grabbed the vampire by the hand, patting it gently in a calming way. "Why don't we all go get some refreshments. Kurt doesn't eat peop- Well, I haven't seen him eat anyone." She looked back to the still confused Kurt.

"Yeah, I don't eat people." He confirmed. Though he had threatened to do it… he just hoped nobody called his bluff on that one.

That seemed to help mollify Sam, though she gratefully accepted the jack and coke that Val handed her as they swung by the drinks table. They then moved over to a table and sat. Kurt was on the far side of Sam with Val and Kristi sitting to one side of her.

Pulling out a pad of paper and a pen, Kurt flipped to an open page. "So, what is it you are after?"

Sam took a long pull from the glass and seemed to relax, despite not actually being able to digest the alcohol and get drunk. "Since I have this slight… affliction." She tapped at the fangs in her upper row of teeth. "I kinda have a problem with my shifting."

Sif and Piper sat down at the round table next, with the former moving to sit a bit closer to Sam. "What kind of problem?" Kurt asked, hoping that she would be comfortable sharing to a large group.

The Tacoma team then filled him in on the issue that Sam was having. Apparently, she, or they or he, Kurt wasn't sure how to refer to Sam in past tense, hadn't always been a vampire. She had once been a common changeling but was mimicking someone and got turned in a case of mistaken identity when a vampire thought they were converting one of their subjects.

The vampire in question was naturally upset but also very apologetic about the problem and quickly tried to make it right. That led to Sam being cut loose with a month of hasty learning, a hefty sum of cash and absolutely no commitment to her vampiric sire.

What they didn't know was that some of the vampiric strengths mutated when introduced to the changeling version of DNA. Normal vampires were only moderately inconvenienced by bright sun, suffering from extra UV sensitivity and burning easily. The same could be said for regular fire, and severe burning. That burning was usually not too much of a problem as it healed rapidly when they consumed lifeforce via blood.

Sam's condition was that burns didn't heal in that way. If she was burned, it would take weeks or even months to heal, often being worse than a human in that regard. Before she was infected, any injury could be dealt with by shapeshifting, and that was still the case, but burns were a consistent issue that prevented shifting like she normally did.

"…That's why I was hoping for a protection from burns." Sam finished. "My potions are only moderately helpful, and I can't really rely on them to fix the issue since all they do I boost my own regeneration."

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Kurt thought about it, tapping his pencil on the notebook he had been writing on. Sif was the one to speak first after Sam finished. "Is there an amulet or charm that would help with this? We can pay you whatever you need."

He held up his hand. "Hang on." He said and began scribbling in his notebook. He looked up after a few moments. "I think I can do something." The other three looked hopeful at his words. "But it won't be a protection from burns."

"Why not?" Piper asked.

"Because that would take an enormous amount of energy to prevent burning. Mostly it's because it relies more on using your internal energies to rapidly repair your cells as they are damaged." Kurt explained. "So, what I need to do is figure out a way to alter the energy being imparted."

"How?" Piper asked again.

"Well fire is easy, I can make a… something, whatever bauble you want. And that something will use the heat, which is a form of energy, and pull that out and shunt it to something else, another spell or effect."

"What about UV?" Sam asked. "I really hate having to constantly cover myself in long sleeves and pants when the sun is out. Even reflection off water or snow is bad enough to cause burns."

Kurt shrugged. "Probably something similar but less of an effect. Low level or ambient radiation is actually rather easy to disperse or harvest. I just have one important question."

"What that?" Sam leaned in.

"What do I put it on?" Kurt said. "Like a ring or necklace or bracelet. Whatever it is, it needs to not interfere with your shifting and will have to be in contact with your skin."

"Why does that matter?" Sif asked.

"Well, an earring would look weird if you shifted to a male figure and some bracelets might look strange." Kurt replied, trying to think through the issue with the perspective of blending in.

"Yeah, a dick piercing definitely wouldn't work." Val said in an overly serious tone, clearly trying to make light of the situation, and getting a snort from Kurt and a deep blush from Kristi.

Sam smiled. "Well, it could." She winked back at Val.

"WHAT!" Val nearly shouted, leaning over to the side and trying to look at the front of Sam's pants. "Dude, no way! That's so cool."

"VAL!" Kristi hissed, grabbing the kitsune by the ear and hauling her back upright.

"Ow-ow-ow-ow, ok, ok." Val squealed while getting hauled upright.

"Anyway…" Kurt said as Kristi began to not-so-quietly scold Val. "What would work best. Just know it has to be a metal and a transition metal at that."

Sam frowned in thought for a while, taking her time and trying to figure out what she wanted. "What happens if it is in my body?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean like, if it were absorbed into me on accident when I shifted. What would happen?" Sam asked and completely stumped Kurt.

"I don't know." Kurt said. "My assumption would be that it would act like any foreign body, but the enchantment would keep the item stable, and it should still work. Why?"

"Because my skeleton doesn't really change much, and I can adapt my organs to whatever I need to. I can literally make a pocket inside my stomach or something to hold it and I wouldn't be afraid of loosing it or it going missing when I shift my exterior." Sam explained.

Kurt had no idea if that would work but also thought it might be possible. "How about I look into it and let you know? I don't want to give you a definite answer since I can honestly say I have never thought about it before."

Sam agreed and both teams exchanged phone numbers. The Tacoma team got up and moved off, talking animatedly while Kurt began to ponder on some of the ideas floating around in his head. He was so distracted in his notes that he almost didn't notice the possessed elf staring at him from the seat that Sif had just vacated.

"Oh, hey, Tig, Rupert." Kurt said when he looked up and saw the pair of black eyes staring at him from way too close. "Is there something on my face?" he joked.

"I'm curious about you." Tig said while his short companion nodded along. "I saw many things when I wandered as a whisp. Many interesting things but none so odd as you."

"Thanks?" Kurt said, looking to the girls for help but finding them still engaged in a whisper war. "You are rather curious yourself. I didn't think an elf could be possessed."

"I didn't think an elf could become a were-creature." Rupert pipped up. "But here we are."

"I-ah, fair enough." He wanted to argue that point but decided to just move on. "Anything in particular I can do for you?"

"Well, we originally wanted to socialize but after listening in to the last conversation, I was wondering if you might be able to assist me?" Rupert asked.

Shrugging, Kurt flipped to an open section of his notebook. "Sure, what do you want enchanted?"

Rupert waved his hands. "Oh, its nothing like that." He then stopped. "Well, not yet at least. I would like to talk about that later since I am only just getting started."

"Oh, ok. Sup then?" He put away the notebook and reached for his drink.

"Val mentioned you are kinda into guns?" He asked, scratching at his scales as Kurt nodded. "Well, when we handle rifts and other, ahmmm… tasks, we want to use them, but I have a bit of a problem." He then waved his hand over his front and pointed at his extended arms.

"Hmm. A regular M4 is a bit long, and you don't have a place to store magazines?" Kurt guessed.

"Yes, well, I can shorten the stock, but it doesn't fix the logistics of the rest of the gun."

Tig weighed into the conversation at that point. "Also, she mentioned you can make them quieter. I am terribly sensitive to the noise." He pointed at his ears.

Kurt was still thinking about the gun issue when the noise issue was brought up. "Yeah, I can fix noise, no problem." He summoned his rifle and detached the blast can before stowing the gun again. The entire action took less than two seconds. "Here." He offered the device to Tig.

"This doesn't look like a quiet-er." He said.

"Silencer, hun." Rupert corrected before taking it from him to examine. "How does this work?"

Kurt explained how his enchantment used the energy and heat of the muzzle blast to auto cast a 'zone of silence' spell in a small area. Both the agents were fascinated by the workings of the silencer while Jay and the other two handlers made their way over. Penny was still entangled in a discussion with Sam about shapeshifting as she chatted with that team and wasn't among them.

While the gathered people looked suitably impressed, Val decided to let Kristi win their argument and hopped into the other conversation. "Oh, that's nothing. Here." She handed Rupert the glasses that had a night vision setting. "Put them on and tap the temple. Left side is night vision and right side shows thermal."

Rupert did as he was told, marveling at the sight for a few moments until Teg pulled them off his face and put them on himself. He was perplexed for a moment, flicking them up and down before shrugging and passing them off to someone else.

"Absolutely fascinating." Jeffery said when he got a turn.

"Yes, yes, but back to Rupert's original issue." Jay said and looked to Kurt. "What advice can you give?"

"Honestly you are between a rock and a hard place here bud." Kurt said. "I don't know about much that fits the limitations of your stature. I can see the reverse being true for some larger races like orcs and what not." He scratched at his chin for a minute.

"How about this…" He tapped Kristi on the shoulder. "Can you pull out that TP nine?"

Kristi summoned it from her ring and dropped the magazine before running the action a few times to make sure it was clear. Kurt motioned for Rupert to follow him to a section of the garden away from the others.

"Something like this solves the reach issue but has its own problems." Kurt began while handing it to Rupert. The halfling took it and looked it over while Kurt talked. "First off is caliber, most of the time it's a pistol round like nine mil but some can have other exotic offerings like this one in six-five CBJ." He showed the small bottle-necked round.

"The next problem is real estate; you don't have a lot of room for lights and lasers so that limits your options. Then there are parts, if you break this, you might have to get creative with fixing it." Kurt finished off his quick rundown of the PDW type guns.

"Is this the only kind?" Rupert asked, he seemed to like the design and Kurt had to admit, it fit him well.

"No, there are many others, Russia made a couple, this one is from B&T, I think there are some civilian models, HK makes the MP7 chambered in a nearly useless four-point six cartridge." Kurt answered.

Rupert handed the gun back to Kurt and they began walking back over to the table where Kristi quickly took it back. "I wish I could try them, just to see if I like it." He said with a sigh.

"Why don't you come over?" Val offered and Kurt readily agreed.

"Yeah, I can call a buddy that I know who has a couple other examples and you can try some." Kurt explained. "I can show you pictures and even let you hold them but until you actually put rounds down range, it's all theory."

Looking shocked, Rupert looked from them to his handler, Radis. The elf just shrugged. "It is up to you. If you want to accept the invitation, we can make arrangements. Our hub is only across the hall from Penny's so its not a long trip."

Tig looked like he was about to burst from excitement. "Oh, yes! Can we please?"

Val laughed at the excited possessed. "Haha, sure. Kurt, what do you say to having them over for a while? Then they have a place to stay while they move houses."

Kurt wasn't opposed to guests but figured that it would be more up to the discretion of the handlers and Jay. "It's up to the bosses but fine by me. I guess you can run missions out of our place?"

Jay stepped in. "It is possible. They would essentially commute via the Order, and we can find a way to get an altar set up for them temporarily here in the Order if they don't find a house before they sell their old one."

Radis didn't seem to have any objections, likely thinking it would make his job easier if he didn't have to work with them out of their cottage in France.

"Well, I guess it's decided." Kurt said. "Rupert, just let me know when you have a firm date in mind, and we can get the guest room ready."

Kristi wandered back over with one of the cupcakes that Val had brought. "You should give him a ring so they can store everything and make moving easier."

Kurt thought about that for a minute. He had enough to make two more rings and his reorder was due to be ready any time. "Yeah, you know what, I think I can do that." He looked to the now very hopeful looking halfling. "Give me a day or two and I can send one to you."

He then thought about something else and mentioned it to Val. "I should probably make one for the Tacoma team too. Then at least each team will have one."

Once more, Jay decided to weigh in. "Kurt, while I am astounded at your generosity, perhaps you should at least get something from them in return? No offense, Rupert, but these are both rare and extremely valuable."

Apparently, Sam had been eavesdropping because she popped up right behind Val. "I will trade you potions! A lot of bespoke potions or alchemical concoctions of your choosing!" Her sudden appearance made Kristi flinch, but nothing came of it.

Kurt spent the rest of the evening planning with Rupert, negotiating with the Tacoma team and fending off Jeffery's attempts to sway him to his team. All the while his girls kept close, getting more and more handsy as the night wore on.

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