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 Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 12:19 am
Kumoru blinked at the prerecorded message on his telephone, then set the receiver down. It struck him as rude, on some level, to call someone up on the telephone and give them nothing but a recording. Every time his bank called with a new offer described cheerfully but mechanically on tape, the necromancer could not help but seriously consider sending armies of undead after them all. Well, as soon as he could master the "armies" part.
This message's saving grace was that it was honestly important. Though Kumoru was still not completely sure what to expect from the lab's combination of his owl ghost's soul and their own ice rose, he could at least take comfort in the knowledge that he would find out soon.
For some strange reason, today also felt like a good day to try to get the Anima Arlyn to socialize a little, too. Kumoru sought him out in his room, and extended the offer to join him to the labs; the offer that was promptly and predictably rejected.
The necromancer had known the red-skinned boy long enough to be fully aware of his need for exchange. With practiced words, Kumoru talked Arlyn into a corner, and managed to convince him to come along. The boy seemed unable to go anywhere without his brother Donat, so this could be a learning experience, too.
And so the mage and the Anima (sword and all) hopped onto the local bus to head downtown, to see what was going on at the labs, to see who this potential new addition to the family would be.
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Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 7:14 pm
There was an all-consuming air of contentment hovering around Julian Sweet as he sat at the Lab's entrance atop a distinctly out of place, leather clad office chair. His fingers were neatly intertwined and his legs crossed as he waited with infinite patience for the man he had contacted to arrive. Finally, all of the little scraps and bits the young scientist had been providing were being knit together; at last the doctor had requested the student's vague assistance. The proffered job was a simple one- Julian was merely to collect any fel essences or soul bottles dropped off, or conduct the process of a potential owner picking up his or her new charge. Working through either activity would not be even slightly difficult for an individual of such concise skill, but it was the meaning behind the temporary occupation that mattered.
Kyou was beginning to bend to the inevitable wind that breezed through and proclaimed Julian was something close to trustworthy. A slight victory such as that was nothing short of delicious. The young man felt it was completely respectable to wear his triumph on his sleeves, which is why that particular day found him in high spirits and casual clothing. For once in his life, he allowed himself to simply experience an hour or two with absolutely no expectations other than at some point a self-proclaimed necromancer would be paying the brilliantly damaged lab a visit. Julian felt ridiculously refreshed.
"Gage," he said with no notable coldness, but rather an almost affectionate tone. "I'm sure our guest will be making his appearance any moment now. Go inside and fetch the lady, will you?"
The radioactive frei, who found his guardian's recent surge of an emotion akin to happiness disturbing, hurried to comply. While he had no idea what "lady" Julian was requesting, he would take the presented escape without argument for his own dear sanity's sake.
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Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2007 10:42 am
Arlyn sat on the bus with his knees and sword huddled up against his chest for the duration of the ride to the labs. He looked as though he wished to sink completely into the battered cushions - but at least he was out, and about, and not showing off his fear by attacking anyone.
The numbers of people on the bus forced Kumoru to stand for the whole ride, but it had happened to him enough times in the past that he was not the least bit bothered. Being able to finally see the completed Raevan for which he had gathered a soul seemed enough of an occasion to the necromancer to wear his newest robes; while most people aboard the bus were used to strange dress for any number of magical professions, there were still a few who seemed to want to stay away from the mage. As a result, Kumoru had some space to breathe in spite of the crowd on the bus.
As the bus reached the stop a block down from the labs, the mage took Arlyn's hand and led him down the narrow aisle and down the two steps to the pavement. Then they both started walking towards the... rather burnt-out looking laboratory as the bus pulled away.
Even though he could not see the unfamiliar man seated in front of the laboratory door, Arlyn somehow sensed him anyway. He stopped as soon as he and his guardian crossed the last street between the bus stop and the labs.
"We're here to see this person?" he asked, then wrinkled his nose as he caught a faint wiff of charred smell from within the laboratory. Hopefully they would not have to go inside....
"I guess," Kumoru said, watching the man and the satisfied look on his face as he approached the leather chair on the sidewalk. His expression betrayed little, if any, of the confusion at seeing someone sitting in such a nice chair out of doors; even though his sense of smell was not as acute as the Anima's, though, it was obvious by looking that the inside of the labs were less than hospitable.
The necromancer walked up to the other man a bit slowly, as Arlyn seemed a bit reluctant to approach. "Hello," he said with a small bow as he drew close. "You called for me?" Not for the first time, he was reminded that not all the habits he had been taught - always answering summons, for instance - made for strange situations more often than not in Gaia.
He ignored the passers-by who slowed to stare at himself, at Arlyn, and at the man who had been waiting to meet them outside. Take care of business and leave. It was all he had to do. Not his problem what had happened here to bring on these strange arrangements for the new receptionist.
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Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 10:31 pm
The very corner of Julian's left eye probably would have twitched had he known the other man believed him to be a mere receptionist, rather than a rather chivalrous temporary hired hand. Really, the student had far better things he could be doing with his time than waiting around for Dr. Kyou's associates to collect their Raevans or leave behind the proper materials to create such creatures. The only reason he had so readily accepted his new duty was the symbolic nature of it; the implied trust and what it meant for his own affairs. As things stood, the student's lips split into a nearly warm smile as the ever awaited Mr. Kumoru made his presence known. There was a question on Julian's lips regarding the strange garb the lab's guest was clad in, but it was not so pronounced that he felt any obligation to speak it aloud.
"Asashi Kumoru, I presume," he began, fluidly rising to his feet if only because it seemed a little rude to remain seated when he had no accommodations for a second person. "My name is Julian Sweet. The doctor requested that I assist you today. I think you will be quite pleased. She really is a lovely specimen."
Julian slid his hands into his slacks' front pockets before they checked the back pair. Obviously he was searching for something on his person, though what exactly the object might be was momentarily up to debate. He did not keep the mage in the dark for long. "I'll require your signature as soon as I can locate my pen and the release form. Gage will be out with your Frei momentarily."
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Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 12:08 am
"Asahi," the necromancer corrected him gently, and nodded. "And yes, that is me. Pleasure to meet you, Julian." He bowed again, and rested a hand lightly on Arlyn's shoulder.
The red-skinned boy bobbed down a little in a bow of his own, but made no introductions. He edged closer to his father after that, clutching his sword in both hands and turning his head slightly from side to side to catch the sounds. Especially any possible indications of just who is new sibling might be. Arlyn lashed his tail behind him in anticipation and a bit of anxiety; he dearly hoped he would not end up with another sister like Serif.
This was - or had been, anyway - the same building she had come from. It followed in Arlyn's mind that the place only turned out girls.
The mage glanced upwards, thinking for a moment, then he produced a pen from one of the pockets of his robes. "Ah, I have a pen on me, so you won't need to worry about that, at least," he told Julian. "Just my signature, or is there more paperwork?"
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Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 3:46 pm
“Asahi,” Julian repeated, committing the proper pronunciation of the other’s first name to memory despite the fact he would probably never utter it aloud again. Idly, he gazed at the strange child before his attention returned to the man and the fact he was all too familiar. Julian was certain he had glimpsed the necromancer’s profile some time ago; the student simply knew Dr. Kyou was not the first one he heard speak that name. Logic would say that Gaia was not the largest of lands, and it was fully possible he had simply seen Asahi, but no. Even before the moment they stood within the same space, déjà vu had assaulted Julian’s mind quite forcibly.
At some point in the past, Julian had marked up a piece of paperwork having to do with the individual. The when and why of it all were two very different issues altogether.
“Signature and initials,” he remarked guardedly, moving back a pace or two so that he could bend over and scoop a clipboard off of the slab of sidewalk. With a cursory swipe, Julian cleaned the top sheet of any debris, and held the item out a little more stiffly than he normally might have.
It occurred to the young man a moment or so later that Asahi Kumoru was probably an associate of his mentor Dr. Koyuki’s. That made a fair amount of sense.
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Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 4:17 pm
Kumoru stepped forward to take the clipboard, and clicked the pen open. He felt some deja vu, himself, signing his name to bring home another child, though it had been quite a long time since Serif had come home with him from this same place. He half-wondered if he even really should be taking on this additional responsibility - he already had several children at home, and they put enough of a damper on his study time. Though... the necromancer supposed he was not really on any sort of deadline, exiled as he was from the elder mages who would ordinarily have been the ones to impose one upon him.
He caught Julian's eye as looked up from his signature, and wondered what the other man was thinking. Kumoru did not think he had met this Julian before, but the other seemed to regard him with at least a tiny bit of familiarity. Somehow, though, it felt as though it might be rude to ask about it, just in case the flicker of recognition had been his imagination. So Kumoru simply bowed slightly as he offered the clipboard.
Unable to contain his vague anxiety any longer, Arlyn broke the silence by asking quietly but firmly, "Is it another girl?"
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Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 4:58 pm
Julian silently watched as the new guardian signed the only required paperwork, acting the perfect witness before the clipboard was returned to him for review and eventual processing. A split-second passed in which he scanned the sheet, making certain that only the one signature and mark of initials was required for identification purposes. “Well, Mr. Kumoru, it appears that everything is in order, and you are free to take home your Raevan today. If you have any difficulties in the future, I’m supposed to tell you to contact Dr. Kyou. However, as the state of the lab is…”
The look he threw towards the building behind him was considerably meaningful. “You may not want to waste your time with the answering machine. I’m sure your Frei will be able to tell you most of what is required—“
Whatever Julian meant to conclude with was cut off by the child’s crucial question. The student arched a single eyebrow as he replied, “I believe that should be fairly obvious as soon as Gage returns. He is normally a bit prompter than this.”
An uncomfortable minute passed in which Julian’s positive outlook on life darkened and he kept checking a silver pocket watch attached to his belt.
“Hurry. Your owner is here. Now. Do not be worried,” Gage hissed fervently as he held open the barely standing main doors oft he laboratory and led one of the youngest Raevans out to meet her guardian. “Say ‘hello.’ He will like you. Do not worry.”
For all intents and purposes, the green Frei sounded as though he was the one about to die from pure nervousness, but that was of little consequence. The situation was not about him.
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Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 5:15 pm
The ice rose Raevan drifted out through the busted door, squirming out of the way every time Gage tried to touch her. Her brows were knit in a slightly worried look, and her lips were slightly parted but she was not at all sure what to say to the other Frei.
When she saw the trio waiting for her outside, though, she stopped her struggling and just kind of gaped at them.
Even after having seen a few of the Raevans, and knowing that they grew from the top down rather than from young to old, Kumoru was still quite surprised to see the one for whom he had gathered ingredients. She was... well, quite simply breathtaking.
"Hello," the necromancer said, bowing and offering her his hand to invite her to join him.
The Raevan girl looked confused for a moment, then mimicked the gesture. She was either unable or unwilling to speak, though, so she said nothing as she gave Gage one vaguely bored look over her shoulder and floated over to Kumoru. She considered his hand a moment, then took it.
Under the robes, goosebumps shot up the mage's arm when Lucretia touched him. He tried not to act bothered, though, and studied her up close.
"D-does she have a name?" he asked of Julian, not taking his eyes off of the girl.
"'She'?" Arlyn repeated, then crossed his arms. "Hn. As long as she's quiet...."
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Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 5:36 pm
Gage had not realized that he would affect the female Raevan adversely until after the first time he tried to garner her attention by pressing three of his left hand’s four fingers to the middle region of her forearm. Since then, he had tried his best not to accidentally brush against the icy Frei, but his efforts were a little futile. The laboratory’s state of disrepair left little room in the hallways due to both destruction and inevitable construction. While the two had known each other for a remarkably short amount of time, they were already not on the best of terms.
The radioactive Frei floated around his junior and her owner, drifting over towards Julian so that he might hover at his side and at least appear useful. They conversed in hushed tones as Asahi gazed upon his newest charge, allowing the two to visually assess each other without interruption.
“You took long enough, Gage.”
“Yes. It was hard.”
“You need to learn to be a little more trustworthy.”
“At least he is wearing pants.”
“… Touché.”
Julian responded to the other man’s question quite promptly when the information was requested of him. “No. You can title her as you see fit, Mr. Kumoru.”
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Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 5:55 pm
"A regal name for a regal lady, no?" Kumoru mused quietly, as he subtly tried to move the girl's ice-cold hand from his bare skin to his forearm where the robes covered it. "How does Lucretia sound?" he suggested after a moment.
The Raevan was entranced by the mage's voice, and, though she did not understand a word of what he said really yet, she took in all of it. He sounded as though he sought her approval, and so she nodded, a smile spreading across her blue lips.
Of course, of course, whatever he said!
"Do I need to write that down for you anywhere?" he asked Julian, rubbing the spot on his palm where Lucretia's hand had been to help the skin warm up again.
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Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 6:55 pm
Julian appeared faintly amused at the process of the necromancer naming the Raevan, and privately he approved of the title. If memory served, it was a saint’s name at some point, or possibly an alternate version had been. Either way, it was a rather “regal” name, which was apparently what the man wanted. What an eccentric person.
“No, I can record it myself,” the student said lightly, for once deciding to be a little kind. The scene of a Frei accepting their new guardian was not exactly touching, but it surely meant something special. It marked a day of importance. “If you have no further questions… Gage, bring the chair inside. If we lock up quickly, we can stop for a latte and bouquet.”
With a slow winding swirl of his loose end, the older Lab 305 product grasped onto one of the office chair’s arms and began to drag it behind him towards the collapsing structure.
“A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Mr. Kumoru,” Julian claimed with a secretive smirk. The gaze he settled on the female Frei was almost sly. “Lucretia.”
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Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 7:21 pm
"None at the moment," Kumoru told him. "But I will call or otherwise be in touch if I have any later on.
"Pleased to meet you, as well. I'm sure we will meet again." He bowed again, taking Arlyn by the hand, and started to turn to go. This Julian fellow seemed interesting, and he was curious as well about his Raevan. Gage, he was called?
The Anima, knowing that it was time to be polite again by what everyone was saying, bobbed in a quick bow of his own. He shivered a bit as well as Lucretia passed near him, looking a bit confused, but said nothing. His new sister was not talking, and he was content to keep it that way if he could help it.
Lucretia followed her father in bowing to Julian, and turned to go with him, still holding to his arm like a lady being escorted by her knight.
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