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 Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2015 6:17 pm
Who: Henry, Ethiriel and Oliver
When: Late June
Where: Gambino Grocery
Weather: Hot and humid The grocery store was an escape from the terrible June heat of Gambino; even Henry was dragging his feet a bit. The cool air surrounded Ethiriel and the nurse in a welcomed swarm as soon as they walked through the doors. Finally, they thought, getting out of the sweltering summer heat. Ethiriel didn’t look like herself today; having soaked in all of her silver to keep it from conducting the horrible heat outside, her crown and wings hidden within her body – if it weren’t for her ribbon lower-half, she would have looked like a regular elf.
They weren’t there for much; mostly just enough for dinner tonight, though they weren’t going to turn down any extra fun items like cookies or snacks. Ethiriel had no need for these, but as Henry liked to be ready for surprise guests she was fine with getting dragged along.
Aside from water, there really was no food for the Frei here at all.
”Almost got everything,” said Henry at the end of the aisle. In one hand was their shopping basket full of goodies, and his free hand rested on the Frei’s shoulder. Nedhudir was guiding her down the aisles, though he mostly led straight until directed otherwise – this wasn’t his domain.
”All is well,” Ethiriel said, her free hand meeting Henry’s.
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Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2015 9:31 pm
Oliver never felt quite right in shorts and sandals, but with the way the weather was heading this week, there was no sense in wearing anything that went past his knee caps. The humidity had been absolutely insane back at home and seemed to be even more so here, all except for this grocery store he'd stopped in on his way to his brother, Sherwood's, flat. After working in the garden all morning and taking the dog for a walk, his brother had made a barbecue at the beach sound like paradise. However, now that he was here, reading over a text message full of supplies, Oliver wasn't so sure he wanted to spend the afternoon outside.
He weighed his options while he read the ingredients on the back of a cracker box. On one hand, he could easily cool off by swimming, but on the other hand, the mosquito population had made a swift comeback. There would be plenty of food and company, but because of the heat, Sherwood would likely move the entire party back to his flat within the first hour. He placed the box in his cart with the shake of his head and turned to wander down the isle. Well, he didn't have much else to do today, and he'd probably head to the lake anyway if he were home right now, so it would be better for him to head over the Sher's regardless of the pros and cons.
"He wants four of these bags?" He muttered, holding a bag of chips at eye level. "He doesn't even like corn chips, what's he going to do if he has leftovers?"
Oliver would probably end up taking half of the food home at the end of the night, a thought that had him sighing. Oh, well, at least he wouldn't need to go grocery shopping for a few days if that was the case? He slipped the bags into his cart, glanced to his phone, and looked to the end of the isle. ... Was that... A Raevan? He paused, unable to stop himself from studying Ethiriel from his place in the isle, and quickly shook his head. Hadn't he learned his lesson from the meeting in Durem? It was impolite to stare! ... Still, he was curious, he had to introduce himself, and try not to make such a fool of himself like he had last time!
"Hi there!" He greeted, inching his way toward Henry and Ethiriel's side of the isle. "I hope you don't mind my intrusion, but... Are you a Raevan, miss?"
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Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2015 12:03 am
It didn’t take much for the Frei to notice the man as he made his way, though he just as easily could have been walking past them. Neither she nor her human paid much attention until a voice came from the same direction. Henry turned while Ethiriel continued to face away.
”Indeed, I am,” she said, offering a small nod despite still turning.
Henry, however, took a step forward and offered a hand. His other had its fingers loosely wrapped around Ethiriel’s. ”Hey! Yeah! This is Ethiriel, and I’m Henry!” he basically cheered, enthusiasm apparent. He seemed to be the opposite of the Raevan in demeanor, bursting with energy and all but short of hospitality. ”It’s nice to meet you, mister…?”
It was only when she was pulled along that Ethiriel turned. While she remained silent, she found confusion in the man’s question, figuring it was quite obvious – not that she exactly knew the difference between a human and Raevan, save for the ribbon and adornments. It was then that she remembered that her silver was away, putting the scene together.
But that still left the lack of legs.
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Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2015 12:27 pm
Oh, goodness, their reactions were certainly different, weren't they? Oliver paused, his eyes lingering on Ethiriel a moment, before his attention quickly diverted to Henry's greeting. He took the hand as offered and shook it firmly.
"Lovely to meet you, Henry, Ethiriel!" He exclaimed, mirroring Henry's enthusiasm. "I'm Oliver, Oliver Kipling! ... I do hope I'm not being a bother."
He turned his gaze to Ethiriel and offered her a smile. She didn't seem as thrilled with his presence as Henry was, maybe she got this kind of question a lot? Or was she nervous? He couldn't say he was perfectly calm either, with this kind of weather. It was hard not to be a bit off-center with moods when you were sweating, after all.
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Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2015 12:43 pm
With a chuckle, Henry pulled his hand away. ”Certainly nice to meet you, Oliver! You’re not being a bother at all! We were just doing some shopping for supper!” The nurse was glad to see the man’s enthusiasm matching his own, for sure. He must have been a potential guardian, knowing what Ethiriel was, and that made the meeting that much more interesting. ”Are you trying to join Lab 305?” he mused aloud.
Ethiriel had no nervous reserves about this meeting – it’s just how she was. She held no bones about this man, nor excitement. The Frei allowed Henry to carry most of the emotions of this meeting. It wasn’t that she was trying to be rude by any means and she certainly wasn’t in a foul mood; it was just rare for her to show too much emotion in her expression, and she had no realization that she seemed off putting to the man, otherwise she would have remedied it.
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Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2015 1:54 pm
Oliver was relieved to know he wasn't being a bother. He allowed himself to relax and smile, and nodded along with what Henry was saying.
"Oh, good! I'm here picking some supplies up for my brother. He's planned a barbecue and, as usual, forgot the essentials." He said, rolling his eyes. "I swear, if it weren't for me, he'd lose his head."
His eyes widened a bit at Henry's next question, and he paused to consider it. Well, yes, he was looking to join Lab 305, but he didn't know exactly how to go about it. You didn't just walk into a place like this and announce your intentions, right? ... Actually, you didn't do that in any sort of establishment, but never-the-less, it was a hard question to answer. He puckered his lips and eventually nodded.
"Yes, actually, I am! But I haven't actually gone to visit for information, yet." He replied. "Do you have any advice? Like, who to talk to, what information to bring, and the like?"
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Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2015 11:10 am
Henry chuckled and reached a hand over to Oliver, gently placing it on his shoulder. ”Unfortunately, you’ve got the wrong guy for that kind of question. Ethiriel had already been a Frei by the time she came to me. I’m sorry I can’t be of help.”
”I was also a Frei before reaching my previous guardian.”
The nurse hadn’t known that much in regards to Ethiriel – the Frei had never spoken about it, and he didn’t pester Leo too much for information as their last meeting was less than ideal. Henry let out a small hum of interest before turning back to Oliver.
”As for advice, I think all I can say is keep your chin up, be able to take care of yourself – and, potentially others – financially, and basically just prove that you can be a good guardian.” he said, finally removing his hand from the other man’s shoulder. Unfortunately, that was all the advice the nurse could muster.
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Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2016 10:50 pm
The professor found his shoulders sinking slightly at Henry's explanation, but on the same token, all the more curious. Was the word Frei a term for new Raevans, like how humans started out as infants? If so, what came before that? He looked to Ethiriel as if he would find his answer and couldn't imagine her without any less of a body than what she had, so... What really went on in this Lab 305 place? He hummed.
"I see, but I also don't quite understand." He said, reaching up to rub at his chin pensively. "What do you mean by Frei, exactly? ... I mean, I know you've told me that you are one, but what does that mean as a broad term? Like, how does it differ from the term Raevan?"
He paused at Henry's next set of statements and nodded.
"Well, that should be easy enough. I'm already doing well financially, and I've got a good family set around me. I think that's a few things off the list." He replied, his lips puckering again. "Though, I know this might sound like a broad or loaded question, but I have to ask. What else do you need to be considered as a guardian? Anything unique you've experienced that you'd be able to pass on?"NeonMace I'm so sorry for this taking so long! D|
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Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2016 2:02 pm
"Oh, I'm sorry!" Henry exclaimed, though careful to keep from raising his voice too high in the aisles. "A "Frei" is one of the stages of growth for a Raevan. A Raevan is the 'species,' for lack of a better word. From what I've come to understand from others, they start as a "Fel Essence" and a soul -- once a bottle is filled with a soul, they become Freis. Then, after Frei, they're Sigels and have abdomens, while Freis only have from the ribs up. Valsaros have their entire bodies!
"So, right now, Ethiriel is a Frei!" he exclaimed again, gently placing a hand on the Raevan's arm with a nod.
Ethiriel nodded along, as well.
Henry's shoulders lifted at Oliver's new set of questions, but he gave the man a smile in return. "Just prove yourself a competent parent, I would suppose. It's like having an unusually mature child in your home -- at least, that's what it's like for Ethiriel. She's only a little over three years old."
"My advice," the Frei started, placing a hand over Henry's, "is to be as good a person as you can do them. Make them feel welcomed."
A smile spread on the nurse's face and his fingers curled against Ethiriel's.
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Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2016 11:29 pm
Oliver's mouth formed a soft "o" shape as Henry and Ethiriel answered his questions. Now he was beginning to understand the terms they were using. Freis, Sigels, Valsaros, those were stages of growth that happened with the soul and Fel Essence combined, sort of like how humans were made, but faster? Right? His brows furrowed and softened again. Maybe he wasn't getting it as much as he thought he was, but then again, he did have plenty of time and opportunities to learn.
"I see, alright." He replied, nodding, before finding himself gaping. "Only three years old? Goodness! Could've fooled me!"
He laughed, then paused, embarrassed.
"I mean, not that she looks much older. I thought she was a teenager at the very least!" He corrected, rubbing at the back of his head. "I suppose looking older than a child has it's benefits, though, doesn't it?"
He paused again, this time to listen to what Ethiriel was saying, and nodded again.
"Of course, I wouldn't want to be an unwelcoming guardian." He said, rubbing the back of his head. "... Do you mind me asking what soul and Fel Essence you are? I'm not sure if that counts as a rude thing to ask."
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Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2016 5:03 pm
Oliver's subtle changes in expression as he thought weren't lost on Henry -- but nurse figured they were just that: in thought. Henry's own smile stayed in place as he watched the man ponder things over. His own laugh was subdued, more like a soft chuckle, as Oliver corrected himself.
"How kind of you to say," Ethiriel responded, lifting her chin just a tad. She didn't know what toddlers looked like, or really how humans differed from Raevans save for their (mostly) lack of magic and full bodies. "Perhaps it does... Though it is obvious that I am not human in one way or another, so age is not important."
Ethiriel let out a soft hum at Oliver's next question, her chin lowering just a tad. She shook her head gently, though her expression remained neutral. "My essence is something called "unoxidized silver," and my soul is a tea plant. Green tea, to be precise. You are not the first to ask, so please do not feel ashamed."
"There have been far ruder questions, so it's fine!" Henry confirmed, beaming at Ethiriel. He took a quick look to his watch and double-took before returning his attention to Oliver. "Apologies," he started, "We've gotta get our shopping finished soon -- I got called in today so I've gotta have enough time to go home and change. Here's my number!" he said, pulling out a card from his pocket. He'd met several other lab goers, both with Raevans of their own and without, so cards were easier than writing it out each time. "Contact me any time you need!"Lavender Hues Either we can end it with your post or I can write another after, whichever's easier! Figured that since this is before your bab you wouldn't want to drag it out.
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Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2016 8:23 pm
Oliver listened to Ethiriel carefully, but still couldn't help but look amazed. So, her soul was a green tea plant and her essence was made of silver? It hadn't occurred to him that a plant could have a soul, but now that kind of thought sounded rude. He wondered, as Ethiriel and Henry spoke, what she might have looked like if her soul had been another plant instead. What would have changed about her? Which part of a Raevan dictated appearance? Was it a mix of both? He still had so many questions to ask!
"Oh, yes, look at the time! My brother's probably wondering where I am." He said, reaching for the card as it was handed to him. "I'm sorry for keeping you so long, but thank you so much for answering my questions! I'll give you a ring sometime if I think of anything else!"
He adjusted his hold on his bags and turned to leave, but not before looking back and smiling.
"It was lovely to meet you, Henry and Ethiriel!" He exclaimed. "I hope we can meet again soon!"NeonMace It's up to you if you want to write one more post, but I think this is a good close on my end! Let me know if you want to start anything else sometime! I'd love for them to meet again! 8D
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