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"I'll take that as a compliment, sweetheart." So one side of him completely disagreed with everything he had just said--the side that had given Anisia the flower. But he wasn't about to admit that, and Jani didn't have to know it. His words applied to most women, after all. There could be an exception or two.

"Nah, Kilah's a b***h," he replied absently, lifting a large ruby from the mess on the counter and eyeing it appreciatively before setting it aside. "A dyke's, like... Like a f**, but a girl. A girl who ******** girls, yanno?"

Nodding, he plucked a few smaller gems from the assortment of odds and ends and set them with the ruby. "Well, yeah. Ah, you can be her friend, but she's probably not going to change at all. So if she pisses you off as she is now, be done with her before it gets worse."

The teen nodded absently, once again only half paying attention as he dug through the items on the countertop. "Sounds like me an' Kilah." Chuckling dryly, he spared Jani a glance, smiling. "Kilah and I fight just about every time we see each other... but we're still best friends. It just works."

Shrugging, he pulled at his lip, thinking. Then, grinning, he pulled a lump of glass from the dome as if it were putty, picked up the ruby and went to work.

He glanced up, qurking a brow, but almost immediately returned his eyes to his project, shrugging. "Really? I mean, I like it, but I haven't thought much as to..." he trailed off, losing his train of thought, and fixed his gaze on the forming sculpture once more.

"I like plants," he added after a pause. "Never had much of a green thumb, but I like them. So you can, what, grow them special or something? Your ability?"

"Well damn." He grinned, straightening up to peer down at the toddler. "That blows my ability out of the water. At least yours is useful. I just make glass stuff." He eyed the half finished sculpture, wrinkling his nose. "Sure, they're pretty, but there's no point to them--yet, anyway."

Smirking darkly, he drew a long, slender 'stem' from the body of the statue, and, from that, carefully plucked tiny 'thorns' along the stem with his fingernails. "Lace the thorns with poison, perfect little murder weapon. Riddle the black market with the stuff--s'why I like owning this shop."

Digging through the small pile of gems he had amassed, he plucked free a few emeralds, carefully wiping them clean of dust and pushing them periodically into the stem, leaving a couple centimeters of space between each. Satisfied, he passed his creation over to the girl.

The glass had been molded to form a rose, near perfect to the real flower--and it probably would have been, had he taken more time to work on it. An advanced form of the crude flowers he had begun with as a toddler, the roses composed of glass shards... This one was clear and smooth, though tiny thorns aligned the stem. At the center of the 'flower' lay the large ruby, catching the light and reflecting all through the rose head, just as the small emeralds did along the stem, giving the rose a truely lifelike appearance. "For you."

Lyrus grinned, pleased by the little girl's reaction, but quirked a brow as she hurried for the door, expression fading somewhat. Shrugging, he waved her away and returned his eyes to the counter top, muttering, "Yeah, yeah, see you, shorty. Careful bringing that thing home--anyone steals it, it's your head."

Those jewels were money, dammit. She'd better not lose them.

"See you, Jani."

The sun was setting when the bells tinkled above the door of Lyrus' new... 'Home' and an extremely tall blonde kid walked in, guitar strapped to their back, a polished mahagony box held in capable hands. Their expression was curiously blank as they walked further within the junk shop, and stopped at the counter, raising their voice.

".... Lyrus?"

The voice was low, soft, for a child, and could actually swing either way, along with their looks. Still, it was a girl. Sjajan, to be exact. She'd finally finished her gift for him; easier, once she'd grown.

Lyrus had finally gotten around to cleaning up the majority of the shop. All save for a small corner was neat and orderly, cleaned and dusted, and sectioned according to what possible use it might have. And, surprise surprise, he was actually making a profit.

The young man had been just about to close shop for the night, preparing for an evening out at the club, and groaned audibly when the bell jingled. Really, he didn't care if the 'customer' heard or not. He wanted to go upstairs, get cleaned up, and head out to the club. Not stay late at the store trying to help some brainless irritation pick through spark plugs.

"Yeah, yeah, what can I--" Stepping around a shelf, he paused at the sight of the child, raising a brow. However, after a moment, recognition dawned, and he actually grinned faintly. "Jani..? Ha, you grew! Hot damn."

She looked pleased at his reaction, and took a seat on the counter-top, shrugging fluidly.

"Jan."

Waiting a beat, a quick grin flitted across her features, and she raised a brow at him.

"Ya commen'ed on me bein' short last time I was 'ere, so I decided be abou' time ta grow, yanno? Anny freaked, since we was sleepin' togetha. She grew too..."

A clearing of the throat, brown eyes flicking to the box in her hand, then back to his face.

"... Made yah this, 'ere..."

Holding out the slim, smooth box. Filled with twelve vials, each labeled with damage caused per drop. All different colored liquids. Beautiful. Poison.

"Jan," he corrected, nodding absently in apology. Distracted as he was by her changed appearance, it didn't occur to him to reply otherwise. He was polite at heart, really.

"Already sleeping together, hmm?" He quirked a brow, smirking darkly. "So she is a dyke, then?" He was obviously joking. But after an eye full of Jani's new appearance...well...

Abruptly losing interest with the presentation of the gift, he set the box on the counter and carefully opened it, eyes widening in delight at the sight that greeted him. Like a kid in a candy store he picked through the bottles, admiring each and skimming the labels. "Jan, sweets, if I didn't think someone would walk in and have me arrested, I'd kiss you."

Jan colored slightly at his first comment, then frowned, not knowing exactly how to answer, before realizing he was only joking around. That made things easier, definately. Still, she was also distracted by his attention on his gift, and she bit her bottom lip, hoping for a postive reaction. Each one was set in a slot in velvet like fabric, and it'd taken a bit to finish. But at least there was no real chance of them breaking.

At his comment, a grin broke out on her now usually stoic expression, and she slid down from the counter, sliding her hands into her pockets, coloring with pleasure.

"Ya? Glad ya like 'em. T'wasn' too hard ta do, really. I grow tha' stuff alla th' time, if ya ev'r need, yanno, refills."

The lamb Sin'aeis practically purred as he picked through the vials, murmuring exclamations of approval whenever something particularly delighted him. "Absolutely wonderful, this is--amazing, Jani.."

And then he was silent, remaining such for a good while. He almost seemed to have forgotten the girl's presence, studying the viles more intently, and even opening one ever so often to peer at the contents themselves, rather than through the glass--not that there was much difference.

However, after a time he reluctantly closed the case, heaving a sigh at having done so and staring thoughtfully down at it as if debating whether to simply open it again and continue... But he didn't. Instead, he pushed it to the center of the counter, returning his attention to Jani with a grin. "You spoil me."

"I'm sure et'll ben'fit me in th' future, yanno?"

She laughed happily, and now, collapsing into a chair, a troubled expression drifted across her face.

"... Lyrus... I've got a prollem... Y'see... These... Gals, they... Keep givin' me thurr nummers, yanno? An' I dunno wut ta do widdem."

Perhaps he could give her a hand, since he was in a good mood. These women, she didn't think they knew she was a GIRL. And they were pretty so... Maybe Lyrus would be interested?

Digging her hands into her board shorts, she pulled out a small accumulation of phone numbers on various objects; scraps of paper, match books...

"We'll just have to wait and see." He grinned, fingers inching along the countertop towards the poison box. But he restrained himself, pocketing his hands instead and leaning back against the counter.

His eyes widened in surprise as the numbers fell from her pockets, but he remained silent, waiting until she had fished the entire collection out before replying. "..Well damn, Jan. Sadly, I think they'd notice the difference if I called them. Wouldn't you?"

Jan's eyes widened briefly, and although her face was neutral and expressionless, you could see her flipping ideas over in her mind, suddenly, a few of the things the women had joked about hit her, and she smiled slightly.

"Ah...! They ask'd if I 'ad a brotha! ... Wut ef YA were my brotha...?"

And so, the alliance was born.

Jan sunk into thought, and Lyrus rolled his eyes, raising a hand to wipe down his face. Damn, Jan was still a kid and already she was getting more numbers than him. SHE. Goddamn, the world was turning gay. Freaking lesbians. Fun to watch, mind, but...

"Your brother?" he questioned, returning his train of thought to the subject at hand. Ahh, now this... This had potential. "Sjajan... Let's have a party."

"... A party?"

Well, she saw no reason to turn THAT down, although she wasn't sure about it, and folded her arms across her chest. Jan was silent for a moment then looked up at him, a grin sparking across her face.

"... Lyrus... Let's 'ave a party."

Who would they invite?

"A party," he repeated, smirking.

Straightening up, he stepped over to the girl's side, draping an arm around her shoulders and kindly explaining. "We'll have it in a few nights... Short notice, but no one will mind, I'm sure. I'll supply snacks, the club'll supply drinks... and we'll invite all of your new friends."

Sjajan's eyes lit up, and she peered up almost adoringly at Lyrus. He was an amazing friend. Quickly squeezing him around the middle, she moved away to scoop the numbers into her pockets once more, and slid her guitar strap over her shoulder.

"'Kay! I'll call 'em all 'n stuff."

Pausing, she scribbed something on a notepad on the counter, and grinned.

"'Ere's my nummer, call me lata, when y'know th' day, aight? I gotsa go."

Waving, she darted out the door and into the darkness.

Like the wonderful 'big brother' that he was, Lyrus returned the girl's smile and hug, stepping back to lean against the countertop once more as she started for the door.

"Lovely," he purred, sparing the number a glance and waving briefly in goodbye. "See you later, Jan."

And the girl was gone. Smirking, Lyrus stepped over to the door, locking it behind her and flipping the sign to close up. He headed towards the back--and from there, the stairs--snatching up the notepad as he passed it and retreating to his flat to change.

He had a party to plan. And how better to plan a party than with the help of a few lovely ladies from the local club...

Lyrus had once again braved the mansion, his unusually good mood gradually sinking as his search of the building proved fruitless. Empty. Not even so bloody toddler to amuse himself with tormenting. How irritating.

To entertain himself, the young man had settled in the backyard and was busy with a small glass disk, focusing on manipulating it into an exact duplicate of a flower he had found. Much, much easier said than done, especially without his 'tools', but at least it passed the time.

It was better than spending the afternoon in that dusty junk shop.

Blowing a bubble, Mignon re-adjusted her earphones. The AC was broken at the house, making everyone inside four times as crabby. If she had to listen to Rene complain about how hot her chains were for one more second, she'd have to kill something.

Pigtails bouncing, she started out for the backyard, bouncing up and down to the beat of the music. Ah. Much nicer.

Crunch. Crunch. Footsteps on the grass. Distracted, Lyrus slipped--knicking his thumb on the glass flower and breaking off the petal he had been working on. Snarling, the lamb Sin carefully stuck it back on--though it was still crooked--and, cradling it in his hand, rose to his feet, sending a glare towards the footsteps. "You could ********' well ann--Mignon?"

He blinked, anger fading to surprise in a sudden mood swing. He stared, open mouthed and momentarily lost for words, then caught himself and grinned, striding over while adjusting the petal. "I'd been wondering when I'd see you again."

She caught movement from the corner of her eye and turned, getting an eyefull of Lyrus. Wrapping her headphones around her neck she smiled. "Well! Look who got all hot while I was away."

"And what have you been up to latley, my dear lamb?" She asked, looking him up and down. Damn.

"I could say the same," he drawled, giving her an approving once-over. Lifting his eyes back to hers, he grinned, absently twirling the glass flower between two fingers.

"Ah, you know. Stealing diamonds, pinning the blame on old fat guys, gettin' my own flat and clubbin' every other night. Same old same." He quirked a brow. "Aside from the occasional visits here... And why haven't I see you sooner, hmm? Weren't avoiding me, were you, sweetheart?"

"Avoiding you? Now, whyever would I do that? Sounds like you've just been too busy to run into poor, boring old me." She gave a sigh of long suffering, rolling her eyes. "But it sounds like you've been having fun, at least."

"Fun? Without my Mignon?" He laughed, stepping to her side and looping his free arm around her waist, with his other hand presenting the glass rose, carefully crafted once more with not a flaw to the once-broken petal. "Quite the contrary, my dear--I'd been searching for you. Where else to look but among jewels and dancing? I've been absolutely miserable."


TBC

RP w/Anny and Jan