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Aria flew into the shop, carrying her gemstone with her. She didn't know where this Julius lived, but Ian did. And he had tried to talk her out of it. He had said she'd regret not being able to have more kids, but she fired back. What had it mattered? The only one who did breed with her is going to merge as well. And he saw how their kids came out. There was no one else left who would have bred with her.

Ian had thrown his hands up in disgust and left. So she took the chance and left before Kira saw her and came with her. She wanted to do this alone.

She flew to the board, searching for directions to his house, or whereever the ancient stayed.

Aleric slipped into the shop again, this time through the window, noting the way that Silva dropped down on the outter windowsill to wait. The other male was in a... mood, he thought, sighing slightly. And he had put that cape on again. Aleric hated that cape.

But that was okay. Silva would do what he would do, and Aleric would see about meeting more feien. One of these days he was going to set up a real feien soccer game, he thought. He smiled slightly as he caught sight of a blue female, and flew over. "Hello." He said, alerting her to his presence.

Aria startled, nearly dropping her gemstone. But the voice was friendly, so she turned, smiling. She had never seen this feien before. "Hi," she said, her eyes looking over the feien. He was kina cute.

"Is that--" He stopped, moving closer to look at the gem. "Is that a feien gemstone?" Then he stopped, "I'm Aleric, by the way. I guess it's kind of rude to ask questions before introducing yourself."

"Nice to meet you." She glanced down at the gemstone, then nodded. "Yeah...it is. I was thinking about merging with it. Ianios, my brother, if you wanna call him that, is going to merge with his, and so I thought about doing the same thing with mine."

She sighed softly, thinking back a bit. "No point hanging onto it. We had kids already. I'd like more, but with Ian going to merge, and all the others I was close too moved away, well, might as well." She smiled at him. "Hadn't seen you before. Nice markings."

"Um... thank you." He said, his focus on the stone. He reached out, as if to touch it, then hesitated. "I'm sorry, this is the first time I've seen another--I mean a feien gemstone. I was reborn almost two months ago. It's kind of... strange." He finished.

He had been like this stone. And she was-- "Do you know who the feien was? I mean before..." He motioned to the stone.

Aria shook her head. "No, actually I don't. I wish I did." She glanced at the stone then back to him. "You were once a gemstone? Ian wanted to try to bring Cel back, he's a gem now, but he was afraid he'd fail, and lose it, so he decided to merge. They were great friends, and it just tore us apart when we found out he died."

Aleric looked up, nodding slightly. "I was. My bond... found me on the floor of the shop." He paused, thinking of her comment about her brother's friend. "Death is often hard to accept."

He turned, looking down at the stone in her hands, wondering if he had once known the feien it held. Even if he had, he wouldn't remember now. A small, accepting smile crossed his lips. "But life goes on. Forgive me for sounding foolish... but how exactly do you merge?" He had read the notes, but found them slightly vague. Perhaps she knew.

Aria shrugged. "I don't know, really. I heard it hurts though." She forgot where she had heard that though.

"What was it like being brought back? Do you remember anything about before? Ian said Julius told him if he did manage to bring Cel back, he wouldn't be the same feien. Seems odd to me. Why wouldn't he be the same?" She was curious. Maybe a feien brought back would know.

"It's not like..." He stopped, trying to figure out how to explain it. "It's like being a juvenile in the body of an adult. You have scars, and things you might have been able to explain... but you can't remember how you got them."

He flexed his wing, gently fingering the tattered flesh. "I remember nothing of my past. I'm not even sure I'm the same person I was... before. It might be more difficult if people knew me... but I didn't know them." He said, looking thoughtful.

"Sounds awful," she said, reaching out and patting his arm. She wondered how different she'd be if she had been brought back. "Well, you're a very nice feien. Seems a lot aren't, anymore. At least the few I knew. I don't leave home much," she explained, "and most I knew have moved. Never grew close to many anyhow."

She shrugged. It didn't matter now. She'd merge and keep on doing what she did, which wasn't much.

"And you are a very nice feien, as well." He replied, giving her a little smile. "I've met several nice feien, actually. My friend Hari was reborn around the same time as I was. And her bondmate's other feien, Ryuusei is quite nice as well."

He glanced towards the window, catching sight of Silva watching him in amusement. "Although not all feien are easy to... get to know." He finished lamely. A lazy smirk of amusement crossed Silva's face and Aleric looked away, turning back to Aria.

"I don't believe I've caught your name?"

Aria blinked. "Oh! How rude of me, I thought I had told you! I'm so sorry! I'm Aria." She held out her hand after shifting the gemstone in her arms.

She was kinda forgetful at times, and honestly thought she had said her name. She blushed. He was cute, especially when he smiled. She glanced the way he had, seeing another feien she didn't know.

"Who's that? A friend of yours?"

Aleric took the hand, bowing slightly as he bit back a laugh. She was very sweet and bubbly, if a little silly. But he didn't mind. "It's very nice to meet you, Aria. And that's..." He stopped, glancing over at the bored looking Silva. "One of those feien that are more difficult to get to know."

"So what brings you to the shop today?" He asked, changing the topic.

Aria giggled. She liked Aleric a lot. "I was wanting to see if I could find where Julius lived. Ian wouldn't tell me. I guess he is worried or something." She figured it was because he knew she wanted lots of kids and by telling her, she'd merge and that wouldn't happen.

"What brings you here?" She asked, setting down on the counter. Holding that gem for a while made her arms hurt.

"Julius?" Aleric asked, going still as he thought. "I might be able to find out for you." He turned, walking towards the boards and reading quickly. "I've come to look up some information." He told her, then pointed.

"He's at the same place Simon is." He told her, pointing at the picture. Another ancient... interesting. He paused looking thoughtful.

Aria looked, then grinned. "Ah...thanks. I'm a bit of a slow reader. Don't read that often. Rynn's books are too big for me to handle, but that doesn't stop Liliana. She's another fairy, but not a feien."

She flew up to look, leaving the gem on the countertop. "I guess you haven't met him? Neither have I," she admitted.

"Not yet, no--"

"You don't want to." Silva called, making him turn. "He's a stuck up b*****d."

Aleric blinked, then looked over at Aria. "I'm sure he's exaggerating." He told her, trying to sound reassuring. Silva was a little biased in his opinions of others, after all. "I'm sure he'd be willing to help."

Silva snorted then went back to his relaxed observation.

Aria turned at the sound of Silva's voice. "I find a lot of feien are, actually." She shrugged. She was starting to be a little jaded on most.

The water feien looked back at the purple feien and smiled. "Perhaps. One doesn't know until one asks. Ian never really told me what he was like though. So he could be right or not."

She hoped Aleric was right. What good would the stone be if he wouldn't merge her with it?

Silva stood and stretched, revealing his long, lean length before looking over at Aleric. "If you're not going to read--"

"Give me a minute." Aleric replied, moving towards the other scrolls. Silva nodded, looking over the female for a second. He had met her before... seen her around. He shrugged it off, getting impatient.

He stepped in, heading for the scrolls as well. He wanted to read up on immortality. And maybe breeding.

Silva stood, stretching and heading in to read for himself. Aleric was obviously busy flirting. He snorted. The old man liked females, that was for certain.

"One to five... love?" He muttered under his breath, looking over at Aleric. Were they friends? He shrugged, chewing on his toothpick. They worked well together, talked well enough. They knew each other pretty well. He wasn't sure he knew how to love, actually.

Aleric glanced over, already reading Silva's mind. He han't wanted to say anything, which was why he had been so easily distracted. Were they friends? It felt like it to him. He enjoyed talking to Silva... as well as training with him. The other male was honorable, in his own way. And Kisa was who she was because of Silva. And he loved Kisa...

Silva looked over at Aleric, a slight smirk on his lips. "No regrets, right? Hell--"

"Yeah." Aleric replied, already knowing what Silva was going to say. He turned, looking at Aria. "We live short lives. We should do everything we can. No regrets."

Aria nodded. "Well, I kinda regret some things already. But they can't be helped." She glanced to her gemstone. "I would regret not being able to have more kids, but can't breed on one's own, either."

She took a look at Silva, noticing the way he chewed on that toothpick. She was getting strange feelings off him. She wasn't too quick to judge though. Most, however, judged her. "I'm Aria," she offered to him, in case he hadn't heard earlier. "And you are?"

Silva looked over.

"His name is Silva." Aleric responded before Silva could say anything. "He's my... brother."

Silva grunted, then spoke. "We've met before. When I was a kid." He turned, looking at Aleric. "You ready?"

Aria nodded, trying to remember. "Oh, we did, I remember now." The blush returned to her cheeks.

She turned to Aleric. "Leaving already? Well, it was nice to meet you." She smiled warmly at the ancient. "Hope to see you again soon."

Aleric smiled and nodded in return. "You too." He told her, taking to the air. He followed Silva out the window, looking thoughtful. "Do you think it will work?" He finally asked.

"Hell if I know." Silva replied, shrugging. "But if it doesn't, no guilt trips, alright? I might get over this giving mood. Starting to think Snake's smoking messed with my head."

"I hadn't thought it got to you." Aleric replied, looking close to laughter.

"You're worse than a mother." Silva replied as they headed home.

Aria watched the two feien leave, giving a wave. She wondered if they were going to breed or something, just from the way they spoke. She shook her head. She should get back home herself.

She flew down, picking up her gemstone. She hugged it tight, then headed out the window herself, going the opposite direction.

Aleric slipped through the window of the store, looking around curiously for a second. He could only take so much time with Silva when the other feien was in this mood. It was like running into a thick, vine covered wall. It didn't hurt you unless you got close enough, but when you did you wound up in ribbons. Bloody ones.

He had been like that since the flower comment, actually. And the only way Aleric knew how to deal with it was to get out of the way until he relaxed.

Although, now that he thought about it, it might have had something to do with Ice's watching The Phantom of The Opera again... Silva seemed to hate the movie with a passion...

Averno flitted in through a window , flapping her wings hard to stay aloft as she coasted backwards, staring at something through the portal. "Come on Arae...I don't have all day. This is the shop in here."

A musical voice from outside called back, "Inside high walls and hidden from the sky...no wonder so many have lost touch with the world..." A soft sigh preceded the vibrant green and white creature who entered in the darker fairy's wake.

Averno snorted and moved to alight on the countertop with Arae trailing.

Aleric looked up at the sound of voices, smiling slightly as he caught sight of the second female. He hadn't gotten the chance to speak to her as much as he would have liked the last time they had met.

"Hello." He said. "I was wondering when someone would show up."

Ianios flew into the shop, quickly followed by Aria. Kira had been left at home, helping Rynn sort through some stuff. He landed on the windowsill, looking around, A couple of feien he hadn't met before. "Howdy," he called.

Aria landed beside hikm, smiling when she saw Aleric. " Hi," she said shyly.

Averno blinked over at the unfamiliar voice. "And who in the 9 hells are you?!" she sniped, her first reaction a hostile one after being started by the unexpected.

Arae landed beside her and set a hand on the other Feien's arm. "Don't be so rude, Averno. Though I do not recall the name, I do believe I met this fine fellow at a...what was it called again...pic...nic?" She smiled at Aleric warmly.

Aleric looked startled for a second before giving a slight laugh. "My apologies. I am Aleric, bondmate of Ice Queen, brother of Silva. And you are?"

He glanced over at Aria, giving her a warm smile, then nodded at Ian before turning back to the first two females, since they had appeared first.

Averno's wings twitched with impatience at the touch of Arae's hand, but she finally folder the leather appendages behind her back and pulled away from her companion. "Whatever. I told you I would show you this place and I did. You CAN find your way back without a babysitter...right?"

The vibrant ancient bowed her head to Averno and pressed her hands together beneath her chin. "The paths home are many, and winding, but all lead home in the end."

The darkness feien rolled her eyes and quipped towards Aria, Ian, and Aleric, "I hate it when she starts talking or wise and Yoda-ish. So I'll just leave her to your company."

Without any further delay, Averno launched into the air and headed for the window to escape her 'sister' of sorts.

Arae turned to regard the others and she smiled sweetly. "Youth does carry with it the dual weights of impatience and intolerance. I am pleased to see more Feien walking this strange world. I have been sequestered far too long."

Aria blushed, ducking her head a bit. Ianios glanced over, blinking. "What's gotten into you?" he asked, his voice low enough so only she could hear.

"I think he's cute," she replied, glancing back at Ian.

The green feien smirked, shaking his head. "You're a flirt, you know that?"

She looked at him, a little shocked and offended. "I am not...Ian, take that back!"

He laughed, then flew over to the bulletin board. "Perhaps later..." Then he turned his attention to the board, reading.

Aria just stood there, smirking to herself. She flew down to where Aleric was just listening to the conversion.

"Then it's a good thing for you to be here." Aleric replied, smiling at the white female. "I've met many nice feien in this very spot. Isn't that right, Aria?" He looked over at the blue feien with a grin. "Aria, this is another ancient, um... I'm afraid I haven't caught your name?" He said, turning to Arae with a curious look.

Arae puzzled a moment and seemed to be deeply lost in though. "Many names have I had over the years, but most are lost to me as I to the ages. The last I recall is Arae, and such I am called it still, good Aleric."

She looked curiously towards Aria and Ian. "And by what names are you called?"

Aria smiled. "Most I meet here at the shop are pretty nice. I am Aria. His is Ianios, but everyone calls him Ian."

The green feien turned, and smiled. "Pleased to meet you."

Aleric glanced over at the male reading the board before turning back to the females with a gentle smile, letting them get acquainted. Aria and Arae both seemed to need more friends, although he would never mention that. But it would be nice if they were to become friends.

Arae smiled "A pleasure to meet you." Her green eyes darted about the shop as she spoke, taking in everything with curiosity. "How long have all of you been self aware in this world?"

Aria thought a moment. "I have been alive for over a year now. Ian's first year summonsday will be soon, I believe." She walked closer now that the dark feien was gone. She seemed sort of rude, but then again, maybe she was having a bad day.

Ian flew down from reading the board. Landing near the green-haired feien, he smiled. "Yeah, in about 4 days I believe. How about yourself?"

A pale finger stroked across Arae's chin as she considered the question presented to her. She frowned. "I am not certain. I have never measured the days as so many of this world seem to. A long time...is the best I can offer." She glanced out the window.

"Sadly, though we've only just met, I must take my leave of you. I have to aid a friend back at my bond's home. I hope to see all of you again sometime."

The green-tressed female smiled one last time, then she launched herself up and out the window.

Aleric nodded, watching her go before turning to Ian. "Then happy early summon day." He said, offering his hand. "I've only been alive again for... two and a half months, I believe. I don't recall how long I lived before this time. I don't suppose it matters."

Ian took it, shaking his. "Thanks. Dunno what my bond will do for mine."

"I heard she was going to throw a little party," Aria said. She looked to ALeric. "Would you like to come?"

"I would love to." Aleric said, grinning slightly. "You can have your bond drop a note to mine when and where it will be?" He assumed their bonds knew each other, or at least how to get ahold of one another. Ice helped run the place, after all.

"Sure, she can drop a note to your bond. Should be held at our house." She smiled. "She got us a pool so we can go swimming. But she'll leave a note with directions. It'll be nice to have you there."

She blushed brightly. She had a hard time hiding her attraction.

"Thank you." He said, nodding slightly and looking over at Ian. "Congratulations on living a full year. It's harder than it seems." He paused, looking thoughtful. "I should be going now, it's been a pleasure."

He took to the air, heading for the door, wondering if Silva was over his funk yet. He felt like a game of football.

Aria watched him leave, still blushing. She looked to Ian. "Perhaps we should return home as well?" she asked, sighing softly.

Ianios nodded. "Sure. And maybe I can make it up to you later," he told her, smirking.

She giggled, flying out the window. "Only if you can catch me."

"You're on!" With that, he chased her out the window.