Welcome to Gaia! ::

Tarot's face was as expressionless as ever, but her eyes seemed interested.

Sev had taken to parenthood with gusto, and was determined to make his daughter experience all that life in Gaia had to offer. Some of his ideas like arcades and candy shops hadn't gone over too well with the reclusive girl. People just didn't seem to be her thing, which baffled Sev since she was so good at understanding them.

Their latest destination was a butterfly house. Tarot had to admitt, she actually kind of liked this one. There weren't many people here, to start with, and there were lots of corners she could hide in. The whole place smelled deliciously like plants and flowers, another plus. Even the butterflies weren't that bad.

Tarot wandered around a little while Sev tried to get a butterfly to land on him. As she walked she noticed a strong aroma in the air. It was very pleasant and somewhat floral, though Tarot couldn't place what kind of plant it might have come from. Half the flowers in the building she'd never seen before!

The black-clad toddler poked around the building, sniffing and tracking like some odd bloodhound. She was determined to find the source of that smell, and then make Sev buy whatever plant it was to put in their garden!

Tarot blinked her deep blue eyes. She hadn't quite seen this coming, but it was a trend in her power that it was more active the grumpier she got.

Even without knowing what was going on, Tarot was fairly unfazed. Unusual skin coloring was rare, but not unheard of. Tarot had tattoo-like markings on her own body, though not as flashly as the multi-colored child.

The nakedness was what made her pause. Sev had made such a fuss about it the first day she met him. She didn't really get the big deal about clothes, but complied anyway because she enjoyed the dark colors. And it made Sev stop nagging.

Tarot tilted her head, looking down at the bright child at her feet. They seemed about the same age. More importantly, the sweet smell seemed to be eminating from the girl. How odd. Tarot blinked.

A few butterflies had come to settle in her hair. They probably liked the scent of Tarot's shampoo. She didn't really notice. "Why you smell like a flower," she asked, crouching down to better examine the girl.

Tarot sniffed at the new smell. "It's nice," she admitted, "but I like the flower smells better."

The idea of hiding was an intiguing. It was a game she was good at, or maybe Sev was just really bad at it. Sounded like a good time to her though.

"Sure, I'll help ya hide." She crouched down and shooed butterflies away from the bright girls legs and toes so she could stand. "M'name's Tarot. Why ya don't wear clothes?"

The lime and verbena scent had Tarot very relaxed and agreeable, so when Faiya dragged her into some bushes she went along with it. They both made it just in time, for as soon as the leaves stilled from their passage a woman rounded the corner. Judging from the irked expression on her face and the clothing she clutched, it seemed like Faiya's momma was now on their trail.

Faiya seemed like the type to giggle in a situation like this, so Tarot held up a figure to her mouth in a "Shhh" gesture. Her giant blue peepers peered around a giant red flower. Faiya's momma didn't seem wise to them yet, but they weren't far in the foliage. One wrong move and she might check the bush and find them!

Tarot let her mind blank and tried to call her powers. Her markings got the tiniest bit darker; all she could call up was a feeling. If they stayed still and quiet them she'd pass, and they could hide better! She moved her head so it was close to Faiya's and whispered very quietly, "Don' move!"

A small smile crept up on Tarot's face. "Fer now," she corrected. "We can win even more if we find a better hidin' spot. Wanna keep playin'?" Tarot didn't know about Faiya's momma, but Sev was used to Tarot wandered off when they got to a destination. Since she never left the building, he didn't worry. So this game would be all against Faiya's momma. And there were some promising butterfly bushes that connected to some other plants. It would be like a mini safari for toddler!

Severus was so busy staring at all the pretty butterflies as he moved around that he didn't notice the woman he almost collided with 'til she dodged him. "Oh, I'm so sorry," he gushed, green eyes apologetic as strands of black hair fell forward. He brushed them back behind his ears as he fully took in the sight of the woman. She was clutched children clothing, and looked quite distgruntled. He raised an inquisitive eyebrow. "Lose someone?"

Tarot clapped a hand over Faiya mouth. "Shhh! Gotta find a better hidin' spot afore we kin make noise!" She removed her hand and poked her head out of the bushes to check the coast. "Follow me."

Tarot slipped out of the rushes with hardly and rustle and quickly walked down the path to the much bigger set of bushes against the wall. She'd learned that things against walls usually had a gap, so they'd be able to move around. The more antisocial part of her brain asked her why she was even doing this, but Faiya followed close enough behind that her pretty smells easily chucked the voice out of her head.

Sev chuckled. "I know how that feels. My girl does the same thing, though thankfully I'm managed to teach her to keep her clothes on." In all honesty he could understand why some parents kept their small children on leashes. He didn't dare try it with Tarot though, and she always came back when when it was time to go. Speaking of....

"I seem to be missing my girl as well. Perhaps they found each other? I could help you look, if you would like?"

Tarot shook her head. "This is m' first time here. But they're to big to follow us if we go far back in the plants." Tarot knew this from experience; Sev still couldn't find her to make her come inside for the night unless she wanted to be found.

Sev laughed nervously, hand going up to rub the back of his head. "That's probably Tarot's doing. Chances are they've escaped to a clutch of plants big enough that we can't follow them in." He paused, thinking. "The best thing would be to lure them out. Trouble is, not much can lure Tarot. What about your little girl, Faiya, was it?" A thought seemed to occur to him. "Oh, I'm being rude! My name is Severus, Severus Goodman."

The tiniest of frowns creased Tarot's brow. "Walls are better for keeping people away from a place than for hiding," she pointed out. "Sev and your momma are already here, so it can't keep them out."

As she finished speaking a butterfly with bright blue, black-edged wings fluttered over to land on the tip of Faiya's nose. It seemed she wasn't the only one who enjoyed her new friend's scents.

"How's your momma gonna catch you if you sneeze? We're hid good!" She raised her hand as if to poke Faiya's nose. The butterfly, not as thrilled with the less colorful child, chose to flutter off in search of another yummy smell. Not that it did much good, more butterflys perched on the leaves all around them.


Severus thought for a moment. "There are so many smells in here already. That might not work so well." He looked around, searching for inspiration. "There are several pretty metal decorations that might could as shiny." He held up his wrist to reveal a silver chain bracelet. "This is the only shiny thing I've got on me. Would it work?"