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 Posted: Sun Aug 27, 2017 8:54 pm
Who: Nina (unohime), Sven (Yushika)
Where: A coffee shop called Spice & Coffee, Barton.
When: Monday, a few minutes passed one.
Weather: Hot, but not unbearably so.
+
Slowly the open liberties of summer were dipping back into the responsibilities of the school year, and with it, so went the thrill of Nina's soon to-be Raevan. It wasn't that she was displeased with it—quite the contrary, her excitement bubbled up with every thought of them—but the truth this would have to be someone she would provide for became a sinking realization. The brunette would pace her apartment as if her feet were being nibbled by ants; stopping so every while to wonder if the apartment was big enough for two, or if the corners of the coffee table would harm them in any way, if the knives in their holder were too close to the edge, if she had the funds to support a specialized diet, or if the detergent she used would make them itchy.
Her thoughts spiraled and spiraled in on her, filling a void that would send her reaching for a beer, only to retract her hand while under the predilection she didn't want to turn out like Remi. And speaking of her best friend, the woman could only offer a few words of validation before being blunt and informing Nina she was certainly Blowing This Out of Proportion, she would be a fine parent, and she should seriously Stop Worrying. Unfortunately, comfort and Remi were like water and oil, and it sounded as if she were reprimanding the brunette instead. This simply catapulted her right back to the start of it all, and there was only so much Nina could take of wondering what counted as a choking hazard before confirming, yes, she had a serious problem.
I need outside support, Nina thought, perusing the guardians' contact list she kept along with a few other trifling papers after sending out her package. Let's see...
Sven was the only one Nina sat down and took the time to shoot a proper email to. With such a strong preference for in-person interaction, the email came off painfully formal despite her best efforts. However, as long as it got her invitation across Nina was satisfied:
Quote: Dear Mr. Beyer,
Hello, my name is Nina Swannekke, and I am contacting you in regards to Lab 305. As another soon to-be guardian of a Raevan, I was hoping to extend an invitation to you to talk. My contact with other guardians has been quite limited as of late, and I do not have many connections that might be in the same position.
If you'd like to grab a coffee, I'll be at Spice & Coffee this coming Saturday a little past one in the afternoon. If you're unfamiliar with the place, I've also attached a map and directions. Please don't feel obligated to attend, I completely understand if you're too busy to do so. However, if you are capable, I'll be seated at table four on the left. Simply ask Tala, the woman at the counter, and she'll point me out to you.
Best wishes, and hoping to hear from you,
Nina
That Saturday, as per the email, Nina sat at her typical booth nursing a lukewarm coffee to no avail. For some reason, her gut had settled on the belief Mr. Beyer would be a no-show, and she would be heading home soon to take a nap and call Remi for a drink.
Ahh, give them more time, Nina, the brunette thought, glancing at her phone to get the time. You just got here yourself.
Yushika hope this is okay! if anything needs to be changed, do let me know~
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Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2017 2:27 am
It had only been a few days since Sven had received the parcel that would change his life, but he already felt as if he was drowning. The vial had been returned, delicately, to the suitcase after he woke one evening to his cat swatting at the poor vial on his nightstand. The bottle, however, was not as fortunate, often shoved into any pocket he had immediate access to whenever he woke.
Sven didn't like pulling it free from its confines, terrified that he'd either break it or end up capturing the soul of a living creature passing by. Years ago, the idea of absorbing something to later be reborn as his Raevan had been appealing, but now that he had finally been accepted and had the bottle before him it suddenly dawned on him that to do so meant killing something. Not only that, but also deciding for said thing that instead of enjoying their current life, they'd instead be reborn for his own whims, perhaps even in a body they never wanted. The idea was daunting, and had steered him clear of anything living for consideration. Stones could work, possibly. It was an idea, and one he favored over the other ones.
Nina's email arrived at just the right time of day; Research Time. It was a section of the day he had recently forced into his schedule, allowing him to pull himself from the awful task of fighting his writers block and, instead, focus on looking up grey things for his bottle to absorb. Research Time was only frustrating -- it was a lot to ponder over, and Sven never felt satisfied. He wanted to ensure his Raevan was happy, and doing so meant finding something that could end up benefiting them once reborn. It was exhausting, and frankly he was relieved when his laptop released a soft ping to alert him of an email.
Pulling up the email, Sven cocked an eyebrow as he read. Nina Swannekke? He had never heard of such a person, but suddenly it made sense as to why she would be contacting him when he spotted a familiar name mentioned; Lab 305. His mouth quirked into a side smile as he pulled up the text box to respond. He hadn't met many other Raevan owners, and he had only spent time with one Raevan privately only once. Like Nina, his interaction with other guardians had been limited, and he absolutely wasn't against expanding his address book. Especially now!
Unfortunately, a response wasn't typed, as instead Sven was interrupted by the loud announcement that Ellie Woods, his editor, was now in his house and about to rampage throughout the house until she found him. Laptop and email forgotten, Sven scurried off to defend his house from the small but dangerous woman.
- - - - - -
Saturday came in a rush and the email was never responded to. It wasn't that Sven forgot, it was more that he thought he had already responded. It didn't occur to him that Nina might be concerned. He didn't leave her waiting for long, entering the door of the coffee shop about ten or so minutes after she had sat down. He paused at the front, eyes flicking to the tables and counting them. Tala wasn't needed, as finally his mouth paused as a fourth click left it and his warm blue eyes lit up at the sight of the woman sitting there.
The pale man stuffed his hands in his coat pockets, checking his bottle was still nestled within them before approaching Nina, hands leaving his pockets as one raised to give a small, friendly wave.
"Ah, I'm sorry, did I make you wait long?" His hands rested on the back of the chair across from Nina, voice soft as he glanced about. It was a nice place, that was for sure! Maybe he'd stop by here again sometime in the future.
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Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2017 3:20 am
The brunette's hand would change from one item to another as she idly waited, fiddling with them in an attempt to occupy her mind with something to do. When it wasn't her phone, it was lint on her sweater, then a packet of sugar, turning about her now empty cup, to now her compact. Nina opened it and nearly yelped at the image that stared back at her. She wasn't a disheveled mess, but she was certainly beginning to show her age with the lack of makeup.
Maybe I should've been more specific with the email, she thought, clicking the compact shut. Should've mentioned to look out for the frumpy, one-armed chick. Maybe that's why no one is here yet.
Nina certainly felt inclined to leave, but then there was a voice, a voice directed at her, a voice greeting her, and it took everything in her being to prevent her soul from descending to another plane. The yelp that dare burst through before invoked itself as a croaky gulp, before Nina righted her face and dutifully reminded herself this was not the time for making a complete and utter fool of herself.
"Ah—! No, no, not at all!" Nina said, waving her hand dismissively. "Quite the contrary, I would say you're right on time. Mr. Beyer, yes? It's nice to meet you. Please, do have a seat. Would you like something? I could call Tala over here to take our orders, if you'd like."
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Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2017 3:38 am
The 43-year old man offered a light chuckle, pulling the chair out and settling into it. His fingers ran over the scar on the knuckles of his right hand absently once he had situated himself, a nervous habit. One of his many. Ah, good, he made it! What a relief!
"Please, call me Sven. Nice to meet you, too! I'm glad I made it." He laughed pleasantly, taking a brief glance at the menu that was settled perfectly where he had sat. "That'd be wonderful, I'm dying for a latte." He was a simple man with simple needs. An iced latte was exactly what he needed after the stressful week he had. He tugged off his jacket, placing it neatly on the back of his chair before looking up at Nina once again.
"This place is adorable! How'd you find it?"
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Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2017 3:54 am
"Then Nina for me. It's only fair. I get enough of "Ms. Swannekke" at school."
The brunette said this all the while flagging Tala's attention down, returning hers to Sven as the meek-looking woman waddled over and took their orders. Nina did the favor of including Sven's iced latte with her soy decaf mocha; the fanciest order she ever drink unless she was making something for herself. She cocked her head in thought as Tala returned to the counter, wondering just when Remi introduced her to Spice & Coffee.
"It must've been... say... two or three years ago? A friend brought, well, I should say dragged me here against my wishes because she wanted to try something "different."" Nina made air quotes, rolling her eyes at the implications. Honestly, she never understood Remi's odd tastes. "That isn't to say this place isn't quaint, however. They serve coffee and curry, hence the name. A bit of an out there combo, but not something I'd turn my nose up at. Especially a good plate of curry, which this place has never failed to serve."
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Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2017 4:04 am
"Nina it is, then." Sven agreed, looking up as the waiter approached and giving a quiet smile as Nina ordered for them, taking him by surprise. She was direct and to the point, or, that was the impression he already had. That was nice, especially for someone like Sven, who often faltered when he had to be the leader. Would that... hinder his ability to partner? Oopf, there it was again, that fluttering sensation in his stomach. He forced himself to swallow back the brief panic, giving a faint nod as Nina explained how she found the coffee shop, his eyebrow raising inquisitively. Curry? Oh -- he absolutely needed to try this place again sometime; he loved curry!
"Ah, I'll remember that the next time I have a craving for some curry." He chuckled softly, fingers sliding back into his pocket to habitually check his bottle was well and still. Oh! That's right! Nina was also a guardian! His curiosity peaked, his mind racing over the possible souls she could have selected. An animal, perhaps? Did she look like an animal person? What did that even look like... perhaps a mineral? His eyes drifted towards the nearby window absently before he returned his gaze, shifting nervously.
"So," He began, gently pulling out his bottle free from his pocket to expose it. "Did you carry yours around too, or am I the only one?" He laughed faintly, rubbing the back of his neck with his free hand. "I get nervous thinking of what could happen to it if it isn't with me, honestly."
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Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2017 4:22 am
Nina flashed Sven the barest hint of a smile, adroitly pleased that he would consider coming again. The woman was fond of Tala, despite her wordless personality and notion to drift in and out of conversations like a ghost—as she seemed to do when she delivered both Nina and Sven's orders and walked away with the brunette only catching the tail end of her departure. It was presumptuous of her to think herself a spokesperson for the quiet woman, but if she was ever out of a job as a teacher, she'd definitely have a solid base as an advertiser for undiscovered crystals in the rough.
Nina took a sip of her mocha, letting the burning hot soak on her tongue for a moment, before giving an audible gulp when Sven presented his soul bottle. For a brief moment she'd forgotten entirely that their description as guardians to Lab 305 was the common thread between them, and thought she was in the company of a co-worker wanting to have an idle chat over coffee.
Man, when was the last time one of the teachers even invited me out? Or I even invited them out? she thought as she stared on to the familiar vessel held within the man's hand and considered her own mailed out a few days ago.
Nina gave a brief laugh and said, "Actually, I didn't. By Gaia, I wanted to, but everyone kept warning me I shouldn't. They thought I'd drop it. I'd like to think I am the farthest thing from a klutz, but I listened to them anyway. I only took the bottle out for me, once—when I actually captured a soul." The smile upon her face waned just a moment as she continued, "Though I wished I had. My ma—erm, mother—nearly ran off with it to gods' knows where. I caught her before she made it out the door."
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Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2017 4:34 am
Sven was an observer, one to notice the smallest or quietest of things, made evident when Tala breezed past and he offered a faint, quiet 'thank you'. He immediately slid his drink closer, taking a glimpse of a second to press one of his palms against the cold exterior to cool himself off before taking a sip. Delicious. A pleased smirk graced his features, eyes flicking up to give Nina his attention as she spoke. The bottle rolled in his palm as he tilted his hand gently, a fondness taking space in his eyes as he looked down at the object. It wasn't even filled yet and he already adored the thing.
"You caught a soul already?" It was such an odd sentence, really! The fact that capturing the living soul of something was so natural for the nature of the project they were in caused a brief laugh from the man, fingers curling around his bottle as he took another sip from his drink. However, visible alarm flashed across his features as she mentioned her mother, head lifting from his drink sharply.
"She tried to take it?" He caught himself before asking why, mouth snapping shut smartly. He was sure his own mother -- if she found out where he lived and what he was doing -- would try and smash the bottle, herself. He wasn't fond of that thought, nor was he eager to share it, so his question kept tight behind his lips. He didn't want to put his potential new friend on the spot, after all.
"I caught my cat the other day trying to knock it right off my nightstand, actually. I'm not sure how fragile these are, but... I'm not eager to take the chance. What soul did you end up catching, if I may ask?"
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Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2017 4:53 am
The tenseness of Nina's face waned just a smidgen, but she masked it behind her conversationally airtight facade. "Yes, about... a week ago or so? It was all by chance, really, though the trip was made with the plans to capture something. A good friend—Noah—took me to his uncle's farm as a sort-of stress relief. Up by Lake Kindred. Odd place to have a farm, hm? With all of the Sycamortes and kin, it doesn't sound like the sort of place one would have a farm, but to each their own. I took a bit of a fall, and ended up accidentally capturing the soul then and there."
She gave a small, wistful sigh; averting her eyes to an uninteresting scene outside of the cafe. "More of less, yes. Ma can be a understanding when she wants to be, but she doesn't like non-humans. She thinks they're dangerous. So the idea of her grandchild going to be something that isn't human didn't sway her. She thought she was delivering divine justice by taking the bottle away—for my protection, as she put it—but I stopped her. Thank goodness I did"—Nina's hand balled into a fist—"I wasn't going to let her jeopardize anything."
The tension that radiated from her was so palpable and thick one could cut it with a knife. Nina mentally rebuked herself for her emotions, especially when it the company of someone barely an acquaintance, and retraced herself back four or five steps to her trained, friendly tone. "It was a blackberry," she replied. "Not the most exciting or exotic soul, but hopefully something the lab could work with." She indicated the bottle in Sven's hand and tilted her head. "Do you have something particular in mind? By the color of the tag, you're on the search for something grey, yes?"
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Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2017 5:17 am
He nodded as Nina spoke, eyes trailing towards his glass, still listening intently to each word. Lake Kindred? He hadn't been up there yet, but he heard enough stories about how one shouldn't go there without their own kin to protect them. Sycramortes were beings of nightmares, apparently, as they boasted a vicious strength that could squash a mere human with one blow. As Nina described her soul capture he tightened his jaw in alarm; so all it took was a second to capture a soul. That meant if he wasn't careful... No -- that wouldn't happen, he was always careful. He wasn't going to be throwing his bottle around like a fool, but Nina hadn't, either. Foolishness didn't matter, he just needed to ensure the bottle stayed where it belonged until he figured out what he wanted to capture.
Nina's mother, however, was suddenly in the forefront of his mind as he listened. He gave a sympathetic hum, his smile sad. He hadn't expected Nina to actually explain what happened, but it did give him relief to know he wasn't the only one who had an... erm, troublesome parent. His eyes locked on her balled hands. He was sure he'd be just as angry, too. This bottle meant everything to him. It was everything he had wanted for years -- a child. He, too, wouldn't let anything jeopardize this precious life-to-be.
"That must have been upsetting, I'm sorry." He sympathized, looking down at the bottle. "If my mother... Mmm, it's safe to say I understand how you feel." He cut off abruptly, his features lightening at the welcome conversation change. A blackberry? How... cute. He didn't really have any other word to accompany with the thought; it was just cute! While it was an accidental capture, it wasn't a horrible choice. He just wondered what they'd take from the blackberry!
He was taken by surprise when Nina indicated his bottle. It was still so foreign to now be a part of the Lab, he often forgot that he had things to contribute now. He glanced down at the bottle, considering the ribbon. There it was again, the topic he was struggling with; what soul to pick.
"I don't know, honestly." He sighed heavily, sliding his hand further out for Nina to see the ribbon better. "I've considered coal, which can be a more grey color at times. But then... It doesn't seem to fit? I don't want to take the life of an animal; I know that for sure. I just don't have the stomach for it. Although, if I'm being honest, I did consider a husky previously before deciding animals were a no." He smiled warmly at the image of a Raeven with husky ears and a love for snow. They'd fit together perfectly with how much Sven loved the cold.
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Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2017 1:40 am
It wasn't common for Nina to string personal threads between herself and another she didn't know. She reveled in the normalcy of small talk, asking how a person's day had gone or how that fun was that fishing trip, not vindications between child and parent; especially over two decades later when her mother still hasn't change, and probably won't, and... was she honestly pitting a battle within herself right now?
She tapped a single foot and reclined in her seat, searching for the common ground between her and Sven again, and mustered up a smile to hide the fact she had strummed a very sensitive string. "Ah, yes, it was. I appreciate your concern, however," she replied, quick to dash away the topic, and her sensibilities, for something nicer. Her eyes remained trained on the bottle again, the safest topic at the moment, and she tilted her head the other way while considering the other's words.
"Oh, ohhh, I know what you mean," Nina said, nodding her head solemnly. "The thought of taking something else's life really... didn't sit right with me either. I mean, I definitely considered it if the circumstances deemed them necessary, but even that felt... icky." She sighed a little at the mention of a husky. "A husky definitely would've been adorable, gosh yes. Or any canine, really, if you were saving them from, say, being euthanized." Nina winced at the mention. "Oh, sheesh, that's a little dark... B-but I hope you get what I mean? To save an animal's life when it needed it. Whose to say what happens to their soul after its sent back to the lab, but at least it would get another chance at life, yea? Makes me feel I wasted an opportunity going with a blackberry, but one shot is one shot with the bottle, and I'd rather not seem ungrateful..."
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Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2017 1:56 am
He nodded thoughtfully. Of course, he considered that; "saving" the life of an animal by capturing their soul right before death. However, how did one approach that topic? You couldn't just walk into a shelter and ask for the nearest animal about to be euthanized (the morbid horror that image brought was something else, entirely), and he didn't know anyone with a pet. Well, there was his own cat, however she didn't fit the color scheme and, first most, he would never! Not in a million years! Still, the idea was a good one — honestly, if the chance arose he might even take it.
"Right? It'd be adorable." He agreed, taking another long sip from his cup. "I wouldn't say you sound ungrateful, really. I don't suppose I'd be particularly delighted myself if I caught a soul I wasn't originally keen on, but to have entered this project you clearly are someone who would love whatever it is the soul created, yes? One doesn't enter Lab without knowing the risks." He paused, smiling sheepishly as he shrugged. "That actually reminds me that I shouldn't fret as much, heh. Whatever this bottle catches, it'll still become my kid, and that's good enough for me." Actually, that felt better, even. This talk with Nina had certainly directed him to a more peaceful conclusion that, no matter what he selected in the end it'd still by okay — he'd still be a father. It didn't matter if the soul was coal, or a husky, or even something not intended. All that mattered was that he caught something, and that something would become wonderful.
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Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2017 7:28 am
Risks? Nina lips pulled back into a wry, almost comical smile before a small huff of laughter escaped through them. "More or less, I guess that would be applicable to most people, but I don't think me," Nina said, drawing a long drink from her mocha and averting her eyes again. The compulsion to apply to the lab was on a whim, something not wholly planned, but most certainly desired. The brunette didn't want to think of family, but the nights were lonely, and lovers took too much effort. What was wrong with taking in a child, especially one she would know best? But her one decision to raise a child ricocheted across the people in her life like a pinball; starting with her mother and ending at Remi. "I honestly feel as if I went into this just thinking about, well, me. I didn't think how this decision would affect everyone I know, even though I keep convincing myself that, like, it shouldn't matter to them. It's my choice."
The weight of this realization hung across her shoulders like an albatross, but she shrugged it away come a moment's hesitation, and returned her attention to Sven. Her smile pulled back to something genuine then, and Nina felt the weight of herself flit away back to the deep chambers of her mind. If anything, a person's enthusiasm for something was utterly infectious. "I'm glad to hear that," she said. "And you raise a good point, though it still makes me curious as to what they'll be like... Maybe if I concentrate on the entirety of them, I wouldn't be drowning in other parent-y things." Nina lowered her head to the table, and through a muffled voice, added, "Clothing, furniture, toys, whether to home school or enroll them into the school I work at... Whether if I will have time to home school them. I don't want to think about any of that stuff, I just want to see my kid, ughhh..."
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Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2017 8:22 am
Her smile was infectious, his own crookedly twitching across his lips. He nodded softly in understanding. His decision for a child had been selfish, too. Although, Sven didn't have family to speak of. Not a family that mattered, at least. There was Ellie, his editor, but ultimately the decision had been his and his alone. Ellie didn't even know about the child yet, and he was sure if she turned away from them he would continue on his path.
A groan left him as Nina reminded him of his own plights, his head lowering and gently tapping against the table. "Ugh, school." He echoed, resting his cheek against the table. "What grade do you even enroll them in? Aren't they.... already past preschool stage by the time they're born?"
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Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2017 8:02 pm
Nina hummed out a note. "That is a good point... If they're born a looking like a child, elementary or middle school would be a viable option. But if they're born looking older, at least high school? College might be a little..." It seemed like such an asinine thought to send a being less than a few days old to college. She could barely Adult when she was in her mid-20's, let alone now. Imagine a Raevan in such a circumstance, unless they were engineered to be complete philomaths.
The brunette rose her head and clutched her chin between forefinger and thumb. "There's always the offset of hiring a private tutor. It might be expensive, but at least they could craft a curriculum that would be suitable to a Raevan's developmental level. Or"—Nina cocked her head to the left—"you can always do it yourself? If you have the time? It was an option I considered, even though I would like my Raevan to attend the academy I work at for, at least, a little while."
Yushika i'm sorry i took so long to get back to youuu!!
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