|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 6:15 pm
Featuring: Natsuki, Rivener, and Roux (sort of)
Location: Roux's Room at Natsuki's House Natsuki sat slumped against the wall; her face wet with chilled tears. It was Dr. Kyou's worried phone call that brought her home to Roux's snow globe and no trace of Chloe to be found. The summer heat beat down on the windows, yet the icicles stubbornly lingered like dredges of winter frantically clinging to spring. Work had kept her from brewing troubles at home, unbeknownst to the young café manager, it came to a head when she least expected it—on just another ordinary summer afternoon.
"Why… why did this happen?" Natsuki wept, gray eyes misty and distant. Her skin blistered from the deep freeze with the room, and her back ached from the shoveling of snow and mopping of water. She rejoiced when Chloe and Roux moved into her large four bedroom house because it made life that much more exciting and that large house a lot less empty. However, the tables turned again, and she was left with a incomplete puzzle. "Where did you go, Chloe?"
The ice progressively melted, leaving her with the same arduous labor, day in and day out. Along with running the café, passing out missing person flyers, cleaning up the house was taking its toll on her. She lumbered into Roux room again, dragging her fingertips wearily against the frosted window panes. Splaying her fingers, she laid her hands against the glass, the ice soothed her aching palms. The room's frigidness lacked the anger and frustration inherent in most of Roux's temper tantrums. The aura oozed with sadness and loneliness. The Roc's hands clasped over his heart, reaffirmed Natsuki's presumption.
Eyes burning from her tears, Natsuki stepped closer to Roux's icy cocoon. She stroked the ice affectionately, like a mother smoothing the wrinkles out of her child's shirts. Rising to her tip-toes, she pressed her lips against the ice above Roux's forehead. Looking at the window, she sat in the corner on an icy stool and waited. Someone had been breaking into her house in the middle of the night, and sleep deprevation was becoming unbearable.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 6:29 pm
Rivener was waiting outside for the lights to go out. As soon as he saw the darkness settle into the bedroom, he floated forward, eager to get in.
Would this be the day? Ever since Riv had started visiting, Roux's ice had melted more and more... Would this be the day he was there, awake, waiting? Heart beating fast, Riv slipped his claws under the windowpane, using the long, sturdy nail to flick the latch open. He then quietly, easily, opened the window and floated in, careful to close it again behind him.
As usual he wore a winter coat, and he had to pull on his gloves now that he was inside. He turned as he tugged the fingers tighter into the gloves, and blinked.
A woman was there! Natsuki, the house's owner! Rivener remembered her from the Vacation... He was discovered. He let his hands drop, wings dipping with inexplicable sadness. He felt like Roux and he had a secret, something just for them, and now it was all gone.
"...Hi," he offered lamely.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 8:31 pm
A shuffling at the window, Natsuki eye's widened in surprise when a hand snaked in and flicked the latch open. Clearly the windows would need replacing and a security system installed. The last thing she wanted was some yahoo to show up in the middle of the night and steal the icy raevan from her house. Her gray eyes flickered silver in the shadows as Rivener helped himself into her house. She crossed her arms deftly, looking at Scorpion with steely eyes.
"Good evening, Rivener. Glad to see I won't need to use a shovel on any intruders," Natsuki said, resting the stainless steel spade against the dresser. Rising up, she stepped forward, bundling her winter coat closer to her body. "I thought someone was trying to break into my house, but it relieves me to know that someone with good intentions is responsible. Can I ask you why you elected to sneak into my house in the middle of the night, instead of simply coming to me and asking permission, Rivener?"
Her eyes were pale silver in the moonlight, however, they lacked their usual clarity. They were mildly bloodshot and face looked worn and tired, and her facial expression was in stark contrast to the vibrant Natsuki the Raevan last saw at the beach.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 4:15 am
Rivener, who normally would look quite defiant and might actually refuse to answer simply to spit someone, let his head drop shamefully as he was being reprimanded. All the recent stress was getting to him, eating away at his usual disposition, making him... almost meek.
"I'm sorry, Natsuki." He said, his voice small and apologetic. "I didn't want to chance someone telling me that I wasn't allowed, either for my own safety, or whatever." He hugged his arms to himself. "I miss Roux." A knot was forming in his throat.
Suddenly it dawned on him what hurt the most; it was his pride! Before, he'd been sure he was the one causing the melting of the ice. He felt like he was the only one who was visiting Roux. But now, he knew that others could, and did, come and go. Rivener couldn't be sure of his part in the melting anymore. Had Roux even really known he was there? Was he just another presence to the icy Raevan?
Feeling like he was isolated in a large desert, Rivener lowered himself to the floor and kept his head down, so that the woman wouldn't see the tears that were threatening to fall from his water-rimmed eyes. He frowned at himself for suddenly being so weak.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 5:19 am
Natsuki's eyes widened as the dark scorpion refrained from taking his usual defensive tactics with her. When Rivener replied completely out of character, she knew the situation was like a pebble dropped into a pond, rippling endlessly and affecting more individuals as it continued. When he curled up, and huddled before her, Natsuki elected to throw caution to the wind and attempt a bold move.
"Rivener, I'm sorry I lectured you. I've just been under a lot of stress, as you can probably tell," Natsuki said, removing her glove, and lightly touching the raven and crimson streaks of his hair. Though the room was cold, her touch was surprising warm from her gloves. Like a frightened child holding her hand out to a large dog, she bolstered herself, testing the waters slowly. Her fingertips grazed Rivener's head with a deft nurturing touch. "I know you miss him, honey, and I understand your reservations about asking for help. I've felt completely helpless as all I can do is clear up the slush and wait for Chloe to come home."
Her voice shook at the mention of Chloe's name. As a friend, Natsuki completely failed her roommate, by putting work ahead of helping around the house. She sniffled and choked back a sob that caught in her throat. "I am sure Roux's happy you are here, Rivener," she whispered softly, wiping a tear from her eye with the back of her sleeve. "He doesn't get much company these days because I have to work..." Taking a deep breath, she sighed deeply, keeping her gray eyes focused on the boy before her.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 6:23 am
Rivener hiccuped, and blushed at the overt display of weakness. His frown, though plastered on, lacked its usual fire-laden glare. He kept his eyes down, and allowed the contact, surprisingly relieved to find that Natsuki was suffering too.
"...Does he even know I come by? I used to think he was melting because of me, but now I don't know. Maybe I just happened to come by when he started to melt on his own. Maybe he doesn't really care about me much at all." His head lowered.
He was sorry everyone seemed to be falling apart over everything. He was sure Chloe didn't go missing on purpose, but Riv still found himself resenting her. She destroyed everything. Roux was locked away again, Aphismet changed beyond recognition, Isi and Eiry are always sneaking around together... Rivener felt so alone.
"Aphi is broken," he whispered. "Like you." Red eyes lifted up to glance at the woman for a second, before turning back down. "Everything is changing. I don't like it. I don't!"
For the first time in a long, long while, Rivener acted and felt like a small child. He just wanted everything to go back to normal, to how they were before!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 3:26 pm
"I think he does know, Rivener, but Roux's always had difficulty expressing his feelings," Natsuki said comfortingly, resting her hands on the young Frei's head. When he looked up at Natsuki, she merely let the tears stream down her cheeks. She wasn't ashamed to cry, especially when others are hurting so much. "I don't think its merely time passing that is melting that ice, Rivener. Until you started sneaking into the house, this room was a glacier. I haven't been able to watch over him at all, so it makes me happy to know that you cared enough to come and find him."
Then Rivener mentioned Aphismet. With all the confusion and craziness of Chloe's departure, Natsuki had completely forgotten to contact her roommate's boyfriend. She could only imagine the selection of words he had waiting for her on their next meeting. 'Broken' was certainly an interesting choice of word, but she smiled gently, confident the fledgling scorpion would soon learn, as people grow, all sorts of emotions can develop. Without realizing it, her hands subconsciously took to stroking the frustrated raevan's long hair. Perhaps, it was because she found the gesture soothing, and she wanted Rivener to understand, that he wasn't suffering alone.
"That's the beautiful thing about life, Rivener," Natsuki whispered softly, leaning closer to him. "Everything does change, like that ice melting. If nothing changed, he'd stay in that block forever. Unfortunately, we have to be patient and wait for Roux's return, but I am sure when he does come back, he will be happy to know you've been here all this time."
It was her instinct to call Aphismet, being Rivener's guardian, but she felt torn between parental responsibility and patient responsibility. Rivener's frustration was clearly understood, and she didn't want to betray him in his fragile state. "You are welcome to come over whenever you want, Rivener. I'll give you a key, so you don't have to come in through the window," she said, nodding in affirmation to herself. "But you need to tell Aphismet you are coming here. He probably very distraught without Chloe, and he doesn't need to think that you've disappeared as well, okay?" Her words were firm, but her voice was laced with concern and sadness.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 3:43 pm
She had a point. Aphismet would worry his face off and yell at Riv if he ever found out about the Scorpion's nighttime disappearances. Since the secret was no longer a secret, Rivener couldn't think of a good reason to keep it hidden from his guardian any more. "I'll tell him," he agreed with a nod.
"Changes are always happening, it's true, but this time it's... It's too much of a change. Aphi is very different. His hair is white. He doesn't smile as much, not all the way to his eyes." Riv found himself leaning into Natsuki's hands as she caressed his hair softly. "I don't feel comfortable around him anymore. It's like he's on edge all the time, waiting for something."
Rivener shrugged, pulling himself away from the woman's touch after a moment. "I should go, then... You'll get me a key, really?" he asked, glancing over at Natsuki after wiping away a few errant tears. He also, without thinking, reached up and wiped the tears from the red-head's face too, gently.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 6:36 pm
"If you are too scared to tell him, I can be there with you when you do, Rivener," Natsuki said reassuringly, but her smile drew thin as the raevan described Aphismet's metamorphosis. She hoped it wasn't entirely due to Chloe's disappearance, but she didn't want to pry at all. Natsuki hoped that she would soon meet with Rivener's guardian. Her embrace grew warmer as the raevan leaned into her arms, and she gave him a light hug. "I want to help you any way I can."
Giving a small sigh, she let her hands fall from Rivener's hair to rest on his shoulders. Her smile returned a bit when he gently wiped the tears from her own face as well. "You can stay as long as you like, Rivener. I'll give you and Roux some time together," Natsuki said reassuringly, rising to her feet slowly. "I'll leave a key on the hall table for you, when you are ready to leave, just lock up behind yourself, okay?"
Before she took her leave, she leaned over and kissed Rivener atop his forehead, like she previously did to Roux. She touched his cheek lightly and tapped him on the nose playfully before, turning on her heel and slipping out the door. Pulling the door shut, she wished the pair a good night, set the key on the table as promised with a note:
Rivener,
Here you go. Stop by anytime. If you need anything give me a call. I always have tea and dessert in the house.
Sincerely,
Natsuki
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 7:13 pm
It was about two hours before Rivener left Roux's room. He'd had lots to talk about this time, his voice carefully hiding the emotions he was sure Roux wouldn't approve of. He talked about Aphismet's changes, about their secret being revealed, about how tired he was inside.
When he left the room, he used the door this time. He found the key and pocketed it with a reluctant smile. He locked the front door behind him when he closed it.
This Natsuki wasn't so bad after all.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
