Welcome to Gaia! ::

((Kyocho and EmperialTeal! They're so surreal! Thread titles taste like chicken.))

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It was with great enthusiasm that Third set out in search of Vin and Arranos. He could have just as easily gone to see the Medium, but for today's questions, another Keeper made more sense. He was looking for the outside perspective, the caretaker's perspective. The Medium did not strike him as much of a caretaker in any sense of the word.

He had obtained a baby carrier for this purpose, adjusting the straps to their smallest possible setting and then, when the smallest setting was still a bit too big, cutting the straps and resewing them to fit. The stiches were not pretty, but they worked. Constant helped him test the adjustments to make sure it was safe for Aelinye. Then came the real test.

Aelinye watched the development of the carrier with some interest. She was getting used to her brother and his daemon quickly, instinctively imprinting upon them. She was quiet for a baby, except for bouts of whimpering and soft crying when things scared or surprised her or something required attention. Third could always tell which was which. He suspected he had more of an understanding about the bond with Aelinye than she did, thanks to his experience with Constant.

Constant took up the job of supply carrier, gripping the handle of an insulated lunch box in her teeth. The lunch box held two bottles, a small light blanket, a diaper, and sunscreen. (Which Sally had warned them was very important.)

When Third approached Emperial, she was again flustered by her outsider status, wanting to be some direct help with Aelinye. She had chosen to be the outsider, but now she felt guilty about it. Third very politely forced her not to interfere, asking only, "Can you look up the address of Vin and Arranos?"

A bit of annoyance showed through. "Why--" she began, but stopped herself. If that was the help Third needed, by golly, that was what she would give him. She brought up her level-three databases on her system and searched through the records for the information. The former Fleet had been very good at collecting information on Gaians, information that was not considered to be part of the technological downgrade required by the peace treaty. Emperial wrote down the address and handed it off, watching regretfully as Third, Constant,a dn Aelinye headed off to find an escort to Gaia.

They first went to Trant, but he was nowhere to be found, so then Third walked up the street to Windhall, Trion's home. Trion, too, was out, but his partner Alin-Maya was seated under the trees in the front garden. "I'm sorry," he called out to Third, "Trion isn't here. Is there something I can help you with?"

Third considered the question. He was not well-acquainted with Alin-Maya, but he trusted Trion's judgment of people, and Alin-Maya had been nothing but pleasant towards Third so far. So Third asked if Alin wanted to go to Gaia.

The fair-headed prince thought about it for a moment, glancing skyward. He was hesitating for some reason. Third almost told him not to mind, that he would go find someone else, but then Alin-Maya said, "I'd be happy to go with you! Just let me leave a note." He disappeared into the house and reappeared a moment later, carrying a delicate parasol which he opened to shade himself from the sun.

Alin-Maya was surprised to find a baby strapped to Third's back. "This is Aelinye," Third explained, "my little sister."

"I've always wanted a sister!" came Alin-Maya's polite reply. "Are you sure you can manage?"

Third expected that response from adults, of course, and nodded. "We're fine. We're just supposed to take an adult with us when we go to Gaia." It was more than a little misleading; Third made it sound as if he, Constant, and Aelinye made frequent trips to Gaia when in fact this would be their first with Aelinye since her emergence.

"All right, then," conceded Alin-Maya with a smile, and they set off.

Third knew the way quite well, walking carefully so as not to upset Aelinye too much. The Iridae was none to happy about the excursion. She was happy to be with her brother, but outdoors? Walking around? Bright lights and unfamiliar things? She spent most of the walk curled up in faint fear, wondering what was going on.

It was slow going. Alin-Maya was easily winded and carrying Aelinye proved to be a bit tougher than Third expected. Still, it was progress.

They made a strange little group, hustling along to Gaia. Third was quick to choose the quietest route possible, able to tell that Aelinye was disturbed by the noises and images. He began to think maybe the excursion was not such a good idea, but since they were almost there, he plodded on until they found themselves at their destination.

"I think this is it," Third said to Alin-Maya. Assuming the databases were at all reliable...

A tentative knock came on the door. Outside, Third and Alin-Maya shifted nervously, Alin-Maya most of all. Aelinye had given up all hope at this point and merely hung in her carrier, staring at the ground in near-despondence. Only Constant seemed at all enthusiastic, recognizing familiar scents on the air.

It was Alin-Maya who answered, brushing strands of blonde hair from his violet eyes. His cheeks were flushed with red at the exertion of the walk. "Thank you," he said as he followed Third inside, closing his frilly parasol.

Third was utterly without reservation as he entered, Constant at his side. "I hope you don't mind us coming over unannounced," he said, shifting the straps of the carrier on his shoulders. "I was wondering if I could ask you some more questions. This is Alin-Maya Mauritius the Seventeenth."

The flush on Alin-Maya's pale cheeks was too heavy for there to be any noticeable sign of blushing. "Alin-Maya is fine," he said softly, extending his hand and bowing his head respectfully. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Alin-Maya winced ever so slightly at Vin's vigor, too exhausted to do anything but weakly acquiesce. "Ah, is there somewhere I might sit down?" he inquired, glancing around.

"Of course, that will be fine!" said Alin-Maya. He gracefully made his way to the rug while Third carefully lowered Aelinye's carrier to the ground (with a little help from Constant). If Vin had any thought of trying to assist Third, it was quickly dissuaded as Third went about the task of pulling Aelinye free from the carrier with his back to Vin, Constant his only help.

"This is Aelinye," said Third, hefting the tiny girl into his arms. She seemed tired, her eyes half-drooping, already overloaded by the journey.

"A few days," said Third, purposefully vague, but since Vin was vague about dates during their first encounter, it seemed to be something he could get away with.

Aelinye gave a little yawn, stretching her mouth wide as it could go, which was not very. Third looked over at the rug, where Alin-Maya was daintily perched, and headed in its direction. Constant followed, still carrying the insulated bag.

"I think she needs a nap," said Third. He marveled at the size of the hut and lack of furnishings, wondering how Vin and Arranos slept and ate with only a rug and not even any of the pillow-leaves or fuzzy plant blankets he remembered from World Zero.

Third seated himself next to Alin-Maya, who seemed to be resting, and said, "My guardian has a lot of connections, she can find almost anything in her databases."

Actually, Emperial's boast was that she could find literally everything, but Third could only question the veracity of such a totalitarian claim. How could any computer find the secrets hidden inside a person's mind? Third set Aelinye down beside him and she draped herself across his lap, closing her eyes. Constant completed the trio, sitting down on Aelinye's other side and dropping the lunchbag on the mat.

"I didn't want to bother her further," said Third, still worried what sort of impression Trant had left the Death guardian with. He smoothed down Aelinye's hair with his hand. "I was just wondering if there were any differences between Iridae and normal children in how they're cared for."

Meditating quietly, Alin-Maya listened to the conversation with half an ear.