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Date: 03.21.05
Location: The Garden and Study of the Silva Regia Tower
Synopsis: Sajhiri discovers a worn, half dead ancient fairy in her garden and becomes her bond to save her life.
Participants: Arae and Sajhiri
The Scene:


Sajhiri knelt in the tower gardens on a soft cushion, her hands enveloped in sturdy gardening gloves, as she pruned a rose bush. The plant had perfect white roses which were especially fragrant, and she had grown quite fond of sitting on a bench near it on warm evenings, breathing in the delicate perfumes. In the past week, however, strange weeds had grown up around it, thorny things which were throttling the bush and killing it. With shears and a trowel in hand, the earthbound Seraph was determined to put a stop to the destruction of the plant.

With the fate of the rose bush at the forefront of her thoughts, she set the trowel against the ground at the base of the centermost patch of weeds and was taken aback as the miniature spade slipped several inches down without much pressure. It was as if the earth the weeds were growing in was not hard packed at all. She blinked and pulled out some of the leaves from the ground cover and frowned down at the obvious signs of recent soil movement. "What the heck?! Don't tell me I have gophers in my garden. That's the LAST thing I need right now." She sighed and began scraping away the loose earth in search of signs of gopher holes or mole tunnels.

"help me." The sound was barely audible, muffled through the earth, but there, present. The voice sounded weak, in pain, and terribly close. Sajhiri froze and looked down at the spot where her trowel was still embedded in the soil. It was vibrating ever so slightly, as if something were...pushing on it from below.

"Last I knew, gophers didn't talk..." she murmured to herself. She drew the trowel back out and used her gloved hands to excavate the soil where it had been stuck. Soon there was a glint of green amid the brown soil, a bright green that was too strong a shade for any plant she knew. And of the texture of strands of hair. She dug further, more carefully now, and pale flesh color, and paler white greeted her eyes.

With extreme care, Sajhiri unearthed the thin and frail form of a female Feien. She boggled at the presence of the fairy, and her strange features. She had horns on her head and the tips of her batlike wings, and her fingers bore sharp looking talons, no doubt capable of digging up the soil and effectively burying herself. Her features were delicately beautiful, unearthly lovely despite the smudges of dirt on her cheeks and forehead.

With a small groan her eyes cracked open, revealing molten silver orbs which seemed to hold the wisdom of the ages in their depths. "Did not think...anyone would...find me..." she croaked out, her voice hoarse and parched. "Was prepared...to die."

Sajhiri swallowed and she carefully lifted the fairy, blinking for a moment at the fact she appeared to be wearing a skirt. That didn't seem normal. She'd never seen any Feien wearing garments, they seemed to find them distasteful. "I'm not going to let you die. Let's get you back to the tower."

The fairy shuddered in her palm and with trembling limbs forced herself to sit upright in the hand of her rescuer. "No...need a bond. Cannot...sustain...any longer without..." Pain wracked the tiny form and she curled in a ball. With great effort she reached into a pocket sewn inside the skirt nestled around her hips and drew out rolled up, feien sized parchment. "Bonding ritual..." she whispered, shakily setting the treasured pages into Sajhiri's palm.

The seraph grimaced and with utmost care took the pages between the fingers of her other hand. "I won't let you die, I promise. As far as I know, a human can bond to more than one Feien...I'll be your bond."

The fairy's eyes clouded with relief as she fell back once more in a faint. With a gasp, Sajhiri rushed into the tower and to her study. With the utmost care she set the unconscious creature down on a thick pile of tissues atop her desk, then scrambled for a magnifying glass and a pair of tweezers. She leaned forward in her chair, bracing her elbows on her desktop as she began to read the pages the dying feien had given her, detailing the ritual of binding. Her teeth sank into her lip at the mixture of blood and magic it required. She worried for a moment about the safety of the child in her womb, but she set it aside as the danger to the fairy was imminent. Something had brought this being to her for aid, and she would not turn her away.

Jhiri rummage in her desk for a straight pin, and drawing it out she carefully pricked her own thumb, making the blood well there. From her art caddy she swiped a 10/0 brush which she normally employed for painting the tiniest details on gaming miniatures. The thing was barely more than a few hairs width. With an artist's eye and a steady hand, she began to paint the runes scribed on the pages onto the fairy's body in her own blood. The symbols of binding were laid down across pale flesh from head to toe, spiraling down the feien's limbs in a deep scarlet hue.

When the last was laid upon flesh, Sajhiri fumbled for an eyedropper and forced a drop of water down the fairy's throat, rousing her to consciousness once more. "The runes are inscribed...you have to perform the spell for the binding to work. Do you know it?"

The fairy's head nodded. "What...is your name? Your true name...?" the green-haired creature asked in a voice thick from weariness and pain.

"Sangariel..." Sajhiri replied. The fairies eyes squeezed shut as she nodded slowly. "So be it..." she murmured. Her voice then rose in a chant, strange words in a tongue Sajhiri could not comprehend. The only word she could make out in the repeated phrasing, which danced and lilted like a song on a spring breeze, was her own name. As the chant was repeated time and again, the bloody runes on the fairy's flesh began to glow. As the seraph watched in amazement, they began to sink into the being's flesh as if being absorbed and her whole form began glowing with a brilliant golden light.

When it winked out at last, the delicate creature looked better, not so frail, her eyes clearer, her voice stronger. She pushed herself up off the desktop and approached the amazed woman staring at her.

"You have my deepest gratitude, Sangariel, for you have saved my life. I am Arae, one of the ancient Feien fairies, and you are now my bonded. I had managed to sustain myself without a bond for so long, bolstered by my magics, but they could not hold me against death for eternity. The race has grown dependent on bonds to humans to survive, and that has caught up with even the most ancient of us now. The binding ritual was the last thing I had been able to obtain but the journey to find a bond suitable nearly did me in. I'd almost reached your home when I could go no futher. I burrowed into the soil to take my final rest, when you found me. That has me convinced you were fated to be my bond, dear lady." She sat down once more, looking exhausted.

"You need to rest, you've been through a lot, Arae," Sajhiri murmured. "And please, call me Sajhiri or Jhiri, as that is the name I am known by on Gaia. I will need to fix you a place of your own, but in the meantime you can rest here. I'll bring you something to sleep in and some food, but you can tell me the rest of your story when you are healthy and strong again. There is no rush."

The weary feien nodded her head slowly, and murmured her thanks, before curling up on the pile of tissues and falling into a deep and restorative sleep.

Date: 03.21.05
Location: The Silva Regia Tower.
Synopsis: Averno returns from the hospital to tend a house guest on Sajhiri's orders and discovers said guest is none other than Arae!
Participants: Averno and Arae
The Scene:

Averno slipped warily into Averno's study. In the throes of labor, her bond had ordered her to leave the hospital and return to the tower and bring some food and drink to a guest staying in this particular room of the Menagerie's abode. When the darkness feien questioned how on earth she would be able to carry a meal for a guest, Sajhiri insisted she'd understand when she saw the guest. Being as the woman darn near crushed her in her hand during a contraction the next moment, the fairy wasn't going to argue anymore. She rubbed sore arms marked with burgeoning bruises from Sajhiri's grip as she winged her way to the center of the room.

With a grunt she frowned at the seeming lack of any guest present. Sajhiri's words about understanding tickled at the back of her mind, however, and on a whim she focused inwardly and drew on her magic to cast a detection spell. Within her vision she was suddenly drawn to a power source on her bond's desktop. Circling once near the ceiling, Averno folded her wings to drop down at the mahogany furnishing, spreading them a few feet above it to slow her landing. Bare feet touched down and padded towards a lump of tissues nearby.

With an arched brow she drew back the topmost layers, then dropped them, leaping a foot backwards and skittering to maintain her balance. There was another feien in there. A green haired female adult with white markings from the brief glimpse she'd gotten. And something else. Horns.

"What the hell!?" she spat out, half shocked and half angry. Since when did her bond entertain feien guests? The lack of response piqued her interest further, and she drew the tissues back once more. The fairy beneath looked pale and thin, not entirely well, and most certainly in the depths of exhaustion. Averno snorted. "She makes a habit of picking up strays, doesn't she?" she muttered to herself. She replaced the tissue blanket and strode to the edge of the desk, launching back in the air.

She would get this stranger a meal and a drink and leave it there for her, but she needed to get back to the hospital rather than babysit an unfamiliar feien. She had promised Cervus she'd look after Sajhiri, and though normally a promise meant nothing to her, the idea he might not make it back guilted her into keeping her word...this time.

Date: 04.01.05
Location: The Silva Regia Tower.
Synopsis: Averno and Arae both pay a visit on their bond's newborn daughter.
Participants: Averno and Arae
The Scene:

Averno perched on the rail of one of the pair of cribs in the nursery. She looked down at the sleeping form of the tiny infant lying there, enveloped by fluffy bunnies and fuzzy chickies on the bedding. The dim moonlight glinted off the pale, hairless head of little Rebecca, and made the feathered wings above her ears seem to glow in the darkness. the Feien cocked her head to one side curiously, wondering how something this large exited the body of her bond.

The birth had not been a pleasant experience for her. She had sensed the fear and pain in Sajhiri as she covertly watched the mess happening through the small high windows set in the delivery room doors. Blood...there was so much of it. But thankfully Sajhiri had survived the ordeal as had her daughter. A small flicker of jealousy rippled through the dark fairy and for a moment she felt an urge to cover the child's nostrils with her hands.

"So sweet and serene...not yet able to sense the horrors of the world or the cares of a human..." a soft, musical voice offered near Averno's shoulder. The feien leapt into the air, wings spread to hold her aloft, and wheeled on the source of the voice, her plastic cocktail rapier drawn and leveled at the intruder. She frowned when she discovered the OTHER feien Sajhiri had sent her to check on during her delivery.

"Forgive me Averno. I did not intend to startle you so," Arae murmured apologetically. She gestured for the other woman to return to where she had been. "I just came to see our bonded's child. Innocence rare which fades by day cannot be recaptured as it is in youth."

The rapier was cautiously lowered as Averno sank back onto the crib rail, gazing down as the infant began sucking her thumb in response to the air displacement and quiet voices. "I don't understand the whole fascination with her. Seeing that thing come out made forever thankful to have come out of a bloom and not made someone scream in agony and nearly die in order for me to enter the world."

Arae sat down on the rail and propped her chin in one hand as she gazed at the child. "What is worth having that has not been bought at great price? What value can one place on breath and body, animate with spirit, and granted free will for the span it walks the earth?" Green hair tumbled around pale horns to cover the ancient's arms as she hunched over to study Rebecca.

Averno in turn studied Arae. If she intended to comprise every conversation with her in those 'deep, meaningful phrases', Averno would go absolutel batshit. Five minutes with the Air Feien actually made her long for Silva's company, and that was a terrifying thought. "Riiiiiight..." she murred with a tint of sarcasm. "Last I checked I didn't make my bond bleed all over the hospital and nearly die, and she seems to find me pretty darn valuable."

"But you are not her flesh and blood, Averno." Arae responded, closing her eyes to feel the currents of air in the small nursery. "Rebecca Koryn is her daughter, you are merely her Feien, cleaving to this earth for only a short time. You could not even enter it without the bond she provides you, and even that cannot sustain you overlong. You will be but a memory when her child is still in swaddlings. I may as well. I have avoided death for so long now, but even I could no longer sustain without a bond."

Averno's eyes sparked with rage, an anger fuelled by the desparate fear she felt inside. "I'm not going to die. I've heard that there's a way to become immortal. If there is, I'm going to find it. I have no intention of making my time here a short vacation from oblivion. Being trapped in that flower was bad enough." Leathery wings twitched in irritation as the Darkness feien restrained her anger and panic.

"Ah yes, of course. You do realize such things never come easily, always a price is required, and always it may be high enough to make you regret living forever with it." Arae's voice was calm, but there was a lilt of humor in it, as of a cat toying with a mouse, or a Matador with a bull. It was as if she knew the wisdom she imparted would fall on deaf ears in this case.

"A price that isn't death should be good enough for me," Averno retorted. She frowned deeply, though, as the threat of immortality being more horrific than dying settled in. "I have things to do," she muttered, before spreading her wings and launching into the air, winging her way out the door to the depths of the tower.

Arae watched her depart before she spread her own bat-like wings and drifted into the crib, pressing her hands to the infants forehead. "Sleep well, little one, and dream of happy things," she murmured, before making her own way out of the nursery.

Date: 05.08.05
Location: The Silva Regia Tower.
Synopsis: Averno and Arae bring Mother's Day gifts to Sajhiri.
Participants: Sajhiri, Averno, and Arae
The Scene:

Mother's Day. That wonderful celebration of those who nurture and love, who unflinchingly defend and protect, and who earn grey hairs for putting up with children of all shapes, sizes, and species. Sajhiri is among those honored on this day, and were it not for her angelic nature there is no doubt that her hair would be riddled with greys.

Especially considering the diverse and divisive natures of her two bonded Feien. Averno, the bitter, antagonistic, rude and manipulative darkness fairy came first, but is still in fragile youth compared to Arae, the mysterious Ancient. Sajhiri lives in a state of perpetual puzzlement over the former's snarky behaviors and the latter's peculiar habit of talking in riddles. However, with two infants to care for and a plethora of other children and pets, the woman cannot spend overmuch time contemplating either one. She is ashamed of the slightly neglectful behavior but, after all, both Feien are considered adults of their species and shouldn't need constant supervision.

It thusly surprised her when Averno arrived the morning of Mother's day with a long package in her arms, wrapped in a paper napkin and tied with common kitchen twine. Her leathery wings slowed her descent onto Sajhiri's stomach as the woman slowly woke. "Well it's about time. I thought I'd have to wait an eon for you to get up today. Here..." the tiny creature dropped the package in front of her as the groggy Seraph began to parse the fact that she was not alone and was having a gift delivered to her.

Jhiri picked up the package groggily and eyed Averno, trying to hide the suspicion that it might not be a pleasant surprise. Picking up on it the feien snorted. "Oh please. Don't look at me like that. With Cervus having gone walkabout I figured someone had best get a gift for you on his behalf. At least I've been assured that this bizarro holiday has nothing to do with kissing...just with that dreadful manner in which you people reproduce." Averno folded her arms over her chest and sniffed disdainfully.

Sajhiri grinned and murmured, "Thank you Averno." She untied the string and removed the napkin, revealing a trio of paintbrushes. "For your portrait work..." Averno explained. Sajhiri beamed down at the feien on her stomach and her eyes teared up.

"That was very thoughtful, Averno. I love them and they'll see good use, I promise." Jhiri set the package aside and held out her hand so Averno could step into it. She then pushed herself up into a seated position. "You didn't need to get me a gift, but I truly appreciate it."

Averno merely harumphed and opened her mouth for a retort when a musical chuckle startled her. She leapt to her bond's shoulder and wheeled in the direction of the sound, only to scowl at seeing Arae hovering in the air with an armful of flowers from the garden. "Of course you deserve gifts on this day, Friend Sajhiri, for motherhood is the gift of life, and life is the greatest gift of all..."

The green haired ancient descended to Sajhiri's side and laid the bouquet in her lap. "For you, on this glorious celebration of fertility and nurturing! Though you do so in a manner strange to our kind, you should be honored as SUmmoners are, for you create new life as they do. Perhaps you should be honored more, for your means of doing so is painful and dangerous to you, yet you persevere. That is deserving of respect and admiration."

Averno rolled her eyes at the flowery words of the flowery ancient and she launched herself towards the door. "What...EVER! I'll be helping the Sphinx make your breakfast Sajhiri. Come and get it when you're ready." In a huff the black marked feien flew out.

Sajhiri sighed and looked to Arae with a grimace, "She's still that unhappy about my bond with you I take it?"

Arae watched the spot the Averno had turned the corner and vanished before nodding her head slightly. "She wrestles with the monster inside of her, which roars in anguish when ere it is not feared or followed."

The seraph pondered the words before venturing, "She's jealous? She thinks I like you more, or that I give you more attention?"

The smile on the Feien's face was sweet and sad. "Indeed, she imagines slights upon her that could not be further from the truth. But do not lose heart, my friend, for the fact that she is pained over such is proof of her caring for you."

Sajhiri pushed her coverlet aside and stretched before getting out of bed. "Well, that's something I suppose. We should go get some breakfast. The children will be up soon, so this may be our last few moments of peace for the day."

Date: 06.05.05
Location: The Feien Shop
Synopsis: Averno brings Arae to visit the Feien shop for the first time. They run into Aleric, Aria, and Ianios
Participants: Averno, Arae, Aleric, Aria, and Ianios
The Scene:

Aleric slipped through the window of the store, looking around curiously for a second. He could only take so much time with Silva when the other feien was in this mood. It was like running into a thick, vine covered wall. It didn't hurt you unless you got close enough, but when you did you wound up in ribbons. Bloody ones.

He had been like that since the flower comment, actually. And the only way Aleric knew how to deal with it was to get out of the way until he relaxed.

Although, now that he thought about it, it might have had something to do with Ice's watching The Phantom of The Opera again... Silva seemed to hate the movie with a passion...

Averno flitted in through a window , flapping her wings hard to stay aloft as she coasted backwards, staring at something through the portal. "Come on Arae...I don't have all day. This is the shop in here."

A musical voice from outside called back, "Inside high walls and hidden from the sky...no wonder so many have lost touch with the world..." A soft sigh preceded the vibrant green and white creature who entered in the darker fairy's wake.

Averno snorted and moved to alight on the countertop with Arae trailing.

Aleric looked up at the sound of voices, smiling slightly as he caught sight of the second female. He hadn't gotten the chance to speak to her as much as he would have liked the last time they had met.

"Hello." He said. "I was wondering when someone would show up."

Ianios flew into the shop, quickly followed by Aria. Kira had been left at home, helping Rynn sort through some stuff. He landed on the windowsill, looking around, A couple of feien he hadn't met before. "Howdy," he called.

Aria landed beside hikm, smiling when she saw Aleric. " Hi," she said shyly.

Averno blinked over at the unfamiliar voice. "And who in the 9 hells are you?!" she sniped, her first reaction a hostile one after being started by the unexpected.

Arae landed beside her and set a hand on the other Feien's arm. "Don't be so rude, Averno. Though I do not recall the name, I do believe I met this fine fellow at a...what was it called again...pic...nic?" She smiled at Aleric warmly.

Aleric looked startled for a second before giving a slight laugh. "My apologies. I am Aleric, bondmate of Ice Queen, brother of Silva. And you are?"

He glanced over at Aria, giving her a warm smile, then nodded at Ian before turning back to the first two females, since they had appeared first.

Averno's wings twitched with impatience at the touch of Arae's hand, but she finally folder the leather appendages behind her back and pulled away from her companion. "Whatever. I told you I would show you this place and I did. You CAN find your way back without a babysitter...right?"

The vibrant ancient bowed her head to Averno and pressed her hands together beneath her chin. "The paths home are many, and winding, but all lead home in the end."

The darkness feien rolled her eyes and quipped towards Aria, Ian, and Aleric, "I hate it when she starts talking or wise and Yoda-ish. So I'll just leave her to your company."

Without any further delay, Averno launched into the air and headed for the window to escape her 'sister' of sorts.

Arae turned to regard the others and she smiled sweetly. "Youth does carry with it the dual weights of impatience and intolerance. I am pleased to see more Feien walking this strange world. I have been sequestered far too long."

Aria blushed, ducking her head a bit. Ianios glanced over, blinking. "What's gotten into you?" he asked, his voice low enough so only she could hear.

"I think he's cute," she replied, glancing back at Ian.

The green feien smirked, shaking his head. "You're a flirt, you know that?"

She looked at him, a little shocked and offended. "I am not...Ian, take that back!"

He laughed, then flew over to the bulletin board. "Perhaps later..." Then he turned his attention to the board, reading.

Aria just stood there, smirking to herself. She flew down to where Aleric was just listening to the conversion.

"Then it's a good thing for you to be here." Aleric replied, smiling at the white female. "I've met many nice feien in this very spot. Isn't that right, Aria?" He looked over at the blue feien with a grin. "Aria, this is another ancient, um... I'm afraid I haven't caught your name?" He said, turning to Arae with a curious look.

Arae puzzled a moment and seemed to be deeply lost in though. "Many names have I had over the years, but most are lost to me as I to the ages. The last I recall is Arae, and such I am called it still, good Aleric."

She looked curiously towards Aria and Ian. "And by what names are you called?"

Aria smiled. "Most I meet here at the shop are pretty nice. I am Aria. His is Ianios, but everyone calls him Ian."

The green feien turned, and smiled. "Pleased to meet you."

Aleric glanced over at the male reading the board before turning back to the females with a gentle smile, letting them get acquainted. Aria and Arae both seemed to need more friends, although he would never mention that. But it would be nice if they were to become friends.

Arae smiled "A pleasure to meet you." Her green eyes darted about the shop as she spoke, taking in everything with curiosity. "How long have all of you been self aware in this world?"

Aria thought a moment. "I have been alive for over a year now. Ian's first year summonsday will be soon, I believe." She walked closer now that the dark feien was gone. She seemed sort of rude, but then again, maybe she was having a bad day.

Ian flew down from reading the board. Landing near the green-haired feien, he smiled. "Yeah, in about 4 days I believe. How about yourself?"

A pale finger stroked across Arae's chin as she considered the question presented to her. She frowned. "I am not certain. I have never measured the days as so many of this world seem to. A long time...is the best I can offer." She glanced out the window.

"Sadly, though we've only just met, I must take my leave of you. I have to aid a friend back at my bond's home. I hope to see all of you again sometime."

The green-tressed female smiled one last time, then she launched herself up and out the window.

Aleric nodded, watching her go before turning to Ian. "Then happy early summon day." He said, offering his hand. "I've only been alive again for... two and a half months, I believe. I don't recall how long I lived before this time. I don't suppose it matters."

Date: 07.18.05
Location: The Silva Regia Tower
Synopsis: Arae shows Averno the draft notice from the Feien shop. The pair decide to investigate.
Participants: Averno and Arae
The Scene:

Arae streaked through an open window in the tower, clutching a piece of paper in hand, her green eyes wide as she scanned the area. "Averno! Averno where are you! Hurry, this is urgent!" She zipped down the hallways, calling for the Darkness feien in a strained tone. So intent was she on finding her bond sibling she nearly flew right past her.

Averno was perched on a pile of apples in a bowl in the kitchen, carving off tiny feien-sized slices with her plastic rapier. "What on Gaia are you blabbering about, Arae?" she asked in a disgruntled tone.

Arae skidded to a halt in mid air then winged her way back to the other fairy. "There you are! We're being drafted or some such, by some Admiral so and so. I think they may be taking us away from Sajhiri and from the planet in general!" The ancient looked devastated and moreover deeply worried. She shoved the paper at Averno on which she had had copied the notices in the Feien shop.

Averno snatched the parchment from Arae and scanned it with a narrowing of her violet eyes. He vague expression grew darker with each word she poured over. "This is precisely what you read?" she queried, glaring at the older feien.

Arae's head dipped in the affirmative, tossing her mane of vibrant green locks about wildly. "Word for word, I copied it exactly. What are we going to do? I don't want to leave this place and Sajhiri, do you?"

Averno grimaced and folded up the paper. "I don't know. I'd need to find out more about this 'draft' of theirs and determine what exactly will come of it. Sajhiri has been so busy lately, maybe if it were just temporary, it'd be helful to her if we were gone for a time. I'm not really keen on some human schmucknut ordering me about though. We should go to the shop and find out more."

Arae nodded nervously, wringing her hands, all thoughts of being cryptic and wise in her phrasing having gone out the window. "They can't make us, can they? Leave? Wouldn't our connection with our bond weaken? Might we not die?"

Averno scowled. "I don't know, you're the wise ancient one, not I. Let's head to the shop and investigate." Without further adieu the dark fairy leapt into the air, and flew out the kitchen window with Arae flitting close at her heels.

Date: 08.24.05
Location: The Tall Tales Tavern (Sajhiri''s Tavern)
Synopsis: Arae opens the tavern and Aleric arrives to introduce her to Ice''s new bloom. Making blooms are discussed, and someone gets a kiss (sort of)!
Participants: Arae and Aleric

The Scene:

Arae drifted in through the window of the tavern, humming a merry tune. Sajhiri trusted her to open the place herself, unlike Averno who their bond seemed to believe might burn the structure down if left to her own devices.

The Ancient set about tidying the place, conjuring a gale force wind to sweep the dust out of the place from it''s recent disuse. Sajhiri had been so busy with the babies that the tavern had not had it''s sign set to open in some time.

Aleric looked up at the sign again. Ice had told him this might be a good place to find Arae, but how she knew that, he had no clue. He reached down, situating the bloom strapped to his chest with thread again, making sure she was comfortable. He needn''t have bothered. The bloom seemed quite content.

Then he flew in, pausing to let his eyes adjust to the dim lighting. He sneezed. "Oh... huh..." He said, wiping at his nose. It was very dusty, wasn''t it... "Hello!" He said, picking up on the emotions and magic symbol of Arae before he saw her.

The vibrant haired feien turned towards the familiar voice and her smile lit up her face. She calmed the winds down, carfeully skirting them around the guest and his bundle and out the door, carrying the last of the dust and cobwebs with them.

"Aleric! What a pleasant surprise! Do come in. Would you like some tea?" With a flap of pale wings Arae alighted behind the Feien-sized bar and wiped out a pair of cups.

"I would love some, thank you!" He said, following her to the counter. He ran a hand over the bloom in front of him. "But I must admit, I have ulterior motives for coming here." He went on as he took the straps over his arms off and gently placed the blossom on the bar. "I was hoping to show off the latest member of our household." He smiled at the lovely feien. "And I could think of no one better for her to meet first."

Second, he thought, there would be Aria and Ian and-- But she didn''t need to know that.

Arae''s cheeks tint pinkish with a soft blush as she puts a drop of hot water into each cup from a tap and adds a pair of tea leaves to each little vessel to steep. "I am most honored, Aleric. And what a lovely bloom that is! I''ve not seen a bloom in so long, I''d forgotten how pretty they can be. Have you a name for it yet?" She looked at the blossom admiringly.

"Actually..." He said. "I know that Ice has something in mind for her. But she has yet to tell any of us what it is. I think she came up with it yesterday when we were seeing what type of music she liked." He said. "I must admit, even I didn''t know Ice had so many... varied CD''s."

He motioned forward. "Would you like to touch her? So far she has quite enjoyed physical contact, if what my empathy says is correct."

Arae looked thrilled at the prospect of touching the bloom, and she set the cup of tea in front of Aleric and rounded the bar to sit beside him. "I would love to. I''''ve always found a bloom to be comforting. Though Sajhiri said that as a bloom Averno was anything but." She reached out a tentative hand to touch the red and black petals carefully.

"She''s been wonderful." Aleric said softly, smiling as he watched Arae touch her. "We have two boys, they''re feien sized but they aren''t feien, in fact one''s part wolf, the other part skunk... well, thay''ve been doing everything they can to make sure she''s comfortable. They even helped me set up a large fishbowl with dirt and rocks for her. Since she''s an earth element."

He didn''t mention Silva''s reaction. He already had a good idea of what she would say.

"They sound like very thoughtful boys indeed. And earth elements are so lovely and well...stable." She chuckled. "I fear as an air element I might come across a bit flighty." She continued to pet the bloom gently, casting her eyes sidelong in a glance at the other ancient.

"What about your sibling...the less than...cordial one?"

He really should have seen that coming...

For a second he hesitated, reaching out to touch the very happy bloom for a moment as he thought of the proper reply. "Silva... feels that he would not be a good influence on the bloom. So he''s leaving the raising of the child to me. But I can''t help but think she might be a... calming influence on him if he came to care for her."

"Well if half the things Averno has said to me about Silva are true, I must say I''m a touch relieved that he''s being hands off with this lovely bloom. I think you will do a splendid job raising the feien within, Aleric. I''ve thought about being a mother someday myself..."

"Surprisingly enough he''s the one that raised Nick and Nack." Aleric told her. "The Silva we know and the Silva known by others is not the same." There he went, defending his brother again. He shook his head. "But I have no fear of her growing up happily. Whether he interferes or not."

He paused at her statement. "The breeding system has changed somewhat. We have to leave Gaia in order to breed, and then we have little control over who it is with. But I feel it is necessary for me to assist... given that I have genes from the past." He paused. She was an ancient as well. "But that is for you to decide."

Arae nods her head slowly, continuing her petting. "yes I''ve read the mandates, though they make me sad in that respect. I would love to raise a bloom of my own. But I''ve offered my genes to the cause to propagate the species. It just saddens me that I may never see or know my own blooms."

"We can only hope that if we are... borrowed for that purpose, that one of the blooms we produce comes back to Gaia." He said simply. His hand stayed on the bloom in front of him. "Or that if they go to the Fleet that they are as well loved as those we bring here will be."

Arae smiles softly at Aleric. "I suppose you are right. I wonder what would happen if they crafted a bloom from the genes of two ancients like ourselves?" She finally takes her hands off the bloom to take a sip of her tea.

"I''m not sure." He replied thoughtfully. "It would be interesting to see." He wondered if the Fleet would even think of that, though. He reached for his own cup, taking a drink.

Arae went back to stroking the petals of the bloom. "Perhaps we could...suggest it to one of the personnel of the Fleet? I''ve yet to meet them. Perhaps we could even volunteer?" She winks at Aleric at that.

He paused, thinking of Hamada, then Antipov... and finally M. "I''m not sure that would do anything, actually. The new owners of the shop are quite... unique."

A techman, an ex-revolutionist, and (as Silva put so bluntly) a psychopath. "But I suppose we could ask. Next time I see one of them, that is." Unless it was M. Something told him not to ask M.

Arae smiled and sipped her tea some more. "That would be great, Aleric! Perhaps Sajhiri can aquire another bloom to bond with at some point and I can help raise it to get past this motherhood inclination."

"A bloom is always a good thing." He said with a slight smile. From his experiences and personal views that was true. A new bloom meant new life. "But I really must be going. If I stay away too long, my bond and the boys could very well get worried." He stood, reaching for her hand. "It is, as always, a pleasure talking to you, Arae."

Arae took the hand but used it instead to lean in and kiss Aleric''s cheek. "Take care of yourself and that lovely bloom, dear friend." she murmured in his ear before releasing him and picking up her tea once more.

He nodded, tongue tied for a second before turning and gently picking up the bloom. He slipped his arms into the straps and took to the air. "Be happy, Arae. And I... we will come see you again, soon." He said, heading out the door.

He was almost positive his face was bright red. Man what a woman...

Date: 10.10.05
Location: The Silva Regia Tower Garden
Synopsis: Arae and Averno, under the influence of the mysterious cupcakes, duel to the death.
Participants: Averno and Arae
The Scene:

Averno hissed as the vibration rattled up her extended arm. The end of her plastic cocktail rapier was lodged firmly in the grout if the tower wall, having missed Arae's throat by a handspan. The darkness feien jerked the blade free with an enraged growl and wheeled on her co-bond with hatred in her eyes. A myriad of cuts and welts marked her skin, and a tear or two let the light glint through the leathery texture of of her flapping wings, keeping her aloft 20 feet above the garden. "Damn you!" she shrieked, madness in her tone, as she launched herself at Arae, her rapier aimed to run the ancient through.

Arae smirked, her own skin bleeding from several gashes from the sharp plastic edge of the blade. "Enough." The word was clipped and angry, as the air feien wove her arms in a mystic pattern, then made a throwing motion at the oncoming female.

A powerful wind battered into Averno, sending her tumbling over and over, her wings unable to correct her, and slammed her forcefully into the wall of the tower. Her head hit the stone with a sickening crack, and she plummeted from the sky, towards the ground below.

Arae watched the fatal descent with insane glee, a sheen of sweat beading on her fair brow, her green locks floating about her in her conjured winds. Her glee subsided, however, as Averno's descent slowed, then stopped, above the outstretched hand of a VERY. ANGRY. SAJHIRI.

"What in the nine hells is going on here!?!?" the Seraph shouted, cradling Averno's unconscious form in her palm. Her other hand whipped out in a gesture and Arae felt herself bound and unable to move. She was drawn down into Sajhiri's other hand and held firmly. "I don't know what's gotten into the two of you, but you're both being put under lock and key until I can puzzle it out."

Arae struggled futilely in her bond's grasp, caterwauling and yowling like a furious hellcat.

Sajhiri entered the tower and placed the two Feien in separate rooms, firmly contained in terrarium's normally reserved for the Aduthule twins collection of frogs and lizards.