Welcome to Gaia! ::

Ice set up the tables in the back yard again, setting out feien sized snacks, skittles, chips that were easily broken, dip, and for the really hungry, mini sandwiches. She glanced over as Silva and Aleric came out of the window, headin for them, Silva had a slight scowl.

"They aren't using my pool." He said, automatically.

"Of course not, it's not warm enough yet."

"Um... might I ask what's happening?" Aleric asked hesitantly, noting how Silva looked to already know.

"It's a party! For you!" Ice said, grinning. "I invited all the other ancients over to meet and greet. I thought you'd like to meet them. Since you had things in common, you know?"

Aleric nodded, thinking it over for a second. "That might be nice."

It was Hari's first outing, she was alone, and it was just fine. Ryuusei had given her pretty clear directions.

She had flown all the way from Zero's place to Ice's without really stopping, landing nearby and peering, untangeling the lock of hairs that had gotten twirled up in her longer horn. There was two feien, yes, but not as many people as she could have thought... was she at the right place.

"Excuse me." She coughed, making sure she would be heard. "But this is Ice Queen's house, right ? The place for the party thing ?"

Aleric answered, smiling slightly as he headed towards her, his hand out. "Yes, it is. We've just... started, actually. I'm Aleric, and you are?"

Silva snorted, ignoring them and heading for the food. He figured he would eat then skip out. It wasn't like he had asked for this damn party, anyways.

Hari didn't pay attention to Silva at all, instead focusing on Aleric.


"Im Hari. My bonded's other feien told me about this whole thing... Im just curious about a few things. Where you reborn as well ?"

Aleric jerked slightly, then grinned. "Why, yes, yes I am. You're the first feien that I've met that was reborn, too. It's a little confusing, isn't it?"

"Is is... but hey, im not complaining. Hari shrugged, sitting on the table and enjoying the breeze, snatching a skittle. "I just tought I might not have been the only one, and this confirms it.

Aleric nodded, looking thoughtful. "I don't remember anything about before... but it's... difficult to grow accustomed to this world. The first time I answered a phone I nearly had a heart attack when someone started talking." He gave a slightly sheepish grin. "I'm still getting used to what they call music."

"I don't remember anything either, not even my name, but hey... There's no use crying over a world we do not remember, right ? I got to admit im not finding it too hard to adapt. Having things so much bigger than me is wierd, but we all face that. I like to concider this a new life, im not really caring weither or not I existed before. She made a small face when she bit into the skittle, visibely a little too sugary for her.

"An excellent point." Aleric said, nodding in agreement. "It doesn't seem so bad a life. The food is plentiful, at least. And so far the other feien seem... nice." Save for Silva, but that was another story entirely. "Do you have another feien in your household as well?"

"Yes, she is the one who told me about this. Hari nodded, finishing the skittle in despice of the sickenly sugar rush and reaching for something a little more sour. "My bond completely forgot to tell me about her, but she's very tolerable. Still a juvenile though, so she is... not watching over her safety as much as she should, but that would be what im here for, right ? That would be her big flaw. She thinks too much with her heart, and not enough with her head."

"A juvenile? That sounds nice." Aleric said, looking thoughtful. "My own housemate is an adult. It's hard to feel useful when he has no need for me, other than a sparring partner." He looked at her. "You seem to be up to the challenge of protecting her, though."

The sound of music filtered into the backyard and he glanced up, smiling slightly. "Have you found any hobbies to keep yourself occupied with?"

"A juvenile? That sounds nice." Aleric said, looking thoughtful. "My own housemate is an adult. It's hard to feel useful when he has no need for me, other than a sparring partner." He looked at her. "You seem to be up to the challenge of protecting her, though."

The sound of music filtered into the backyard and he glanced up, smiling slightly. "Have you found any hobbies to keep yourself occupied with?"

"Everyone has their own use, Aleric. Just because he doesn't need you, doesn't mean there isn't someone else who will eventually need you. It all come in time..." She trailed a little, then shrugged. "We are much like the juveniles, when you think of it. We're not quite sure why we are there, but like them, we will find out in time. One being useful can resume to simpely make another smile, you know..."

She shook her head. "Got carried away. I've been writing a little... My bond got me feien-sized paper, so it will be a little easier. I've been mostly keeping with Ryuusei, my bonded's other feien, since I've been somewhat weak since my rebrith... this is my first time out. She respect me and didn't insist on coming with me, which I like... She's very loud though, with her "videogames" of her's. Some time outside suits me just fine."

"Writing sounds like a wonderful persuit." Aleric replied, nodding. "I've been reading a lot. Mainly classics. I'm reading 'A Tale of Two Cities' right now. It's a very... large book." He shrugged. "But the tale is interesting."

"Videogames? I've not seen those before. We... this household, that is, prefers real games. Like Soccer and Polo. Although it can be loud at times..."

"Our household is very technologic, ill have to say. But my bonded's elder child seems to like books alot, you might like him." She nodded. "He keep to himself alot, though. He's used to have others think he's dangerous, so he rarely ever tries to meet people outside our "family" anymore. Sutch a shame... If I meet the little asshat who made him think that, im breaking their nose for sure... if Zero doesn't beat me to it." She grinned.

"My bondmate's daughter is somewhat like that. She doesn't speak, and tends to avoid people. But she's quite gentle and loves to read as well." He replied, looking thoughtful. "The most technological we get, I believe, is the door that seems to lead to anywhere. But I haven't tried that as of yet. It sounds rather dangerous."

"That would, yes." She nodded. "Can't say ill'd recommand getting in there alone. While she knew Aleric probably could take care of himself just fine... Habits die hard.

"Ill'd recomend you get your baring straight first. So... what kind of books do you like ?

"I'm still deciding, actually." Aleric replied. He reached over for a sandwich, offering it to her. "I'm going to read a little bit of everything, first. That way I'll know for sure what I like and dislike."

"That's a very good way to do things, actually. Give everything a chance." She separated the sandwich with a few passes of one of her claws, and took one side. This was better than the skittle, at least.

"I might try that, I dunno."

Aleric nodded, eating his own sandwich and looking thoughtful. "I think that goes for everything. Like you said, in a way we're like juveniles ourselves. We need to figure out where we fit. And what we like."

She grinned, flipping a lock of curly hairs away from her face.

"Exactly. We need to get to know ourselves again. Then, and only then, we can start seeking out what we're supposed to do, why we're here for. I believe everything had a reason. It might not be a big reason, but there is always one somewhere, all you have to do is find it."

He nodded, then looked around. "I wonder if there ARE any more ancients... I assumed there must be since most of the people I've met have heard of them..." He shrugged.

"I figure there must, as well. My bond seemed to have heard of them prior, and seemed to quite know what was going on when I was reborn...."

Aleric nodded, agreeing. "So... have you figured out your element yet? It was a question tat my bondmate raised recently. I went to the shop to figure out mine." Then he paused. "Would you like a drink?"

"I didn't really think about trying to figure it out. I've been setteling and all." She shrugged, but smilled. "Sure, nothing too sweet, through, if you can."

He nodded, getting to his feet and heading to where the feien sized cups and various drinks were. Just to be careful he get two glasses of ice water, heading back carefully and handing her a cup.

"I thought it would be safest to get water." He replied, sitting down and taking a sip of his drink. "Have you thought of any... physical past times? Such as sparring, or dancing?" He lived in such a physical household it seemed a natural question to ask.

"Not really, so far." She admitted, after thanking him for the water and drinking some. "Both my bond and Ryuusei are pretty.... apathic. But I will have to do something, I feel ansty just watching them both sit all day. Not enough movement, you know ?"

"Actually, no, I don't." Aleric replied, a grin pulling at his lips. "This is a very... physically active household. The only one who doesn't know at least two forms of fighting and or sports would be my bond. She says at least one person has to be there to take us to the hospital if something is broken."

"Would you like to play a game?" He asked. "I can show you how to play soccer if you would like."

"Soccer ?" Hari rose an eyebrow. "Im afraid I don't even know what it is, But I can still try." She nodded, finished her water, then got up.

He grabbed the miniature flags from the edge of the table and headed towards the grass to set up two goals. Then he grabbed one of the cherries from the bowl. "The object of the game is to get the cherry past the other player and between the two flags, see?"

Then he paused. "But you can't use your hands." Although if this was the right way to entertain a female, he wasn't sure. But it was worth a try, and she HAD said she needed something physical to do.

"I get it." Hari grinned, stretching and readying herself. "Ready when you are !"

Thank god Hari was nowhere near a girly-girl.

Aleric nodded, letting the cherry fall and kicking it towards her. "Since this is your first game, I'll let you have the ball first." He said, looking forward to playing someone that wouldn't knock him into the ground.

She just nodded, tangeling the bangs of bicolored, curly hairs that could have felt in front of her face around her horns, then went torward the cherry, poking it with her foot a few times experimentaly, then kicked it and ran after it, giving small kicks. She had to get past Aleric, and she knew he was most likely faster than she was....

She attempted anyway, giving a stronger kick to the cherry as she tried to pass him.

He grinned, stealing the ball, but trying to match her speed so she wouldn't feel totally overwhelmed. He started towards his goal.

She almost launched herself to the ground to grap the ball, but remembered in-extremis that hands weren't allowed. Instead, she tried to kick the ball from the side, and take it back.

Aleric blinked as the ball was stolen, then chased after her, looking for an opportunity to steal it back. "I'm going to come up with a flying version of this sometime." He told her, not breathing hard in the least.

"But the ball will keep falling down, and we'll have to go back to the ground anyway." Hari pointed out, giving an hard, lenghty kick, sending the cherry rocketing torward her goal.

He gave a short laugh, racing after the ball, only to watch it go in. "Your point, Hari." He said, recovering the ball and smiling at her. "And we would just have to grab it before it hit the ground."

With that said he headed towards the center of the court again.

"Its not a bad idea, through." Hari grinned a bit as she made a point. "It would work with a sport where you have to hold the ball instead of kicking it."

"Good point." Aleric agreed, letting the ball drop in the center of the field. "Football might work in mid air... Except Nick and Nack can't fly." He waited for her to join him. "But it would be interesting with a few feien playing."

Hari didn't know what football was, but nodded. Aleric knew what he was talking about. She made her way back to the center.

"Your turn to start with the ball, its only fair."

He nodded, kicking the ball, then "Dribbling" it as he headed for the goal. This was much quieter than the games he usually played, but he was enjoying it. Hari was a nice change from Silva. And refreashingly honest.

Hari bolted after him, trying to use her wings to boost her speed, but the cloth was a little heavy and did not flap as easely as other kind of wings.

He grinned as he noticed her chasing, but didn't slow down, intent on getting this goal. Then he kicked the cherry, falling on his bottom even as it went flying in an arc towards the goals.

He grinned as he noticed her chasing, but didn't slow down, intent on getting this goal. Then he kicked the cherry, falling on his bottom even as it went flying in an arc towards the goals.

Hari laughed when he felt, but did not distract from her goal, but did not manage in time as the cherry passed through the flags.

"Nice one." She said, extending an hand to help him up.

A slight red crossed Aleric's cheeks as he got to his feet, wiping himself off. "That seems to happen often. He replied, motioning to the ground. "I really need to learn to keep my balance when kicking hard."

"And I believe that makes it your ball now."

"Practice makes perfect." Hari nodded, heading back to the middle and waiting on Aleric to do the same before rushing torward her goal, making small but steady kicks in order to give him less room to steal the ball.

With the flap of leather wings heralding her arrival, Arae descended from above to perch lightly on one of the tables. She scanned the yard with a curious expression. She'd spent so much time avoiding humans, that with the advent of being bonded to one she found them rather amusing, especially how they lived. Her eyes settled at last on the pair of ancients amusing themselves, and she headed in their direction.

Aleric paused his chase, hearing the wings and turning. "Hello." He called to Arae, waving. "Would you care to join us?"

Hari had continued running for a moment, but when she had noticed that the other ancient wasn't chasing her anymore, she stopped, kicking the cherry up and holding it under her arm.

"Hello, how are you doing ?" She greeted the other feien, then turned to Aleric. "Or maybe it would be wiser to stop for now. No matter what we do, the teams will be inequal, and it wouldn't really be fair to whoever's alone."

Aleric nodded. "Good point. Again. You're quite good at that, aren't you?"

Semella rounded the corner of Ice's house rather late according to the date for the party. She was unsure about meeting the other anicents. She had yet to meet any of the others, unless you count Julius. But even that encounter was brief, and she was also just resurrected, mind you.

Rather timidly she looked around. She was hardly on her own since she was reborn. And she never came to the shop by herself. She found comfort knowing either Shux or Rislin was with her in case she was not liking the situation. But this time she had to stick out on her own. The party had called out for only ancients like herself. Shux and Rislin would be intruders.

She gave a half smile and flew to the nearest feien.

Aleric looked up again as yet another female showed up, a slight smile pulling at his lips. "It seems we've got several beautiful ladies that were ancients." He said, bowing slightly. "Hello, ma'am, I'm Aleric, and this is Hari. And you?" He didn't know the white feien's name yet, so couldn't give it.

Semella brushed aside a bit of her golden and purple locks. Complients hardly came in her direction. It made her feel slightly uncomfortable in the situation. She tried her best to hide this feeling.

Realizing she should introduce herself in return, she replied: 'I am called Semella. Pleasure.' She curtsied for the other two, thinking this was proper manners.

She began to notice there were many differences between herself and the other ancients. They both were quite unique in their colours and markings, but she, unlike them, had the purple skin and clothing.

'Were you all reborn as well? I've never come across another anicent. I know so little of our kind. I almost feel ashamed to have lived this long and still know so little.'

"I guess I am, am I not ?" Hari grinned, refering to the comment Aleric made earlier. "But it is only logic."

She gave a slight bow torward Semela then, untangeling her blonde and blue locks from her horns.

"Charmed to meet you, Semela. Both Aleric and I where reborn as well, it seems... Fairly recently if I gathered the facts right."

"May I ask how long you've been reborn?" Aleric asked, noting her statement about living this long. "It would be nice to know how you've adjusted to... this." He motioned towards the backyard, meaning the world. "Although I suppose all feien go through that."

But there was a difference between them and the other feien. They had known something else. Something that they couldn't remember. As if a part of them was missing... really.

Semella twisted the ball of her foot on the ground, thinking of her rebirth. Even though it had been a while ago, she remembers much of it well. The confusion of it, mainly. 'Since last August. That would make... she paused a second to count on her clawed fingers. 'Roughly eight months if my calculations are correct. There really isn't much adjusting needed. I mean. I don't remember a single thing from before existing this world. My death, my previous life at all. Or even being a gemstone. None of those things are relevent in my memories. The only ones who knew me as a gemstone would be my bonded Valora and her first feien, Shux. Or as I like to call her, Hisa.' She paused a moment after the long spill.

Aleric nodded. "Like my bondmate knew me." He replied, looking thoughtful. "But even if we don't remember whether we knew each other from before or not... I don't see why we can't all be friends in this lifetime.

"Yes. I find it useless to cry and worry about a past we do not remember. There is none left that remember who we where, so it is as if our past selves are still dead." Hari began to idely kick the cherry up, catching it with each knees as it came down. "So all we can do is move forward, moving backward will be no use."

Aleric nodded, idly watching the cherry as Hari bounced it. "I don't suppose you ladies would be interested in a soccer game, would you?" He asked, moving closer to Hari, ready to steal the ball the moment she dropped it.

Hari seemed to well notice this, giving off a playfull grin and giving more effort torward not dropping the cherry, as it kept bouncing up and down.

"There's food if you aren't interested in playing." Aleric went on, politely. "We are here to enjoy ourselves, are we not?" He gave a slight bow to them before elbowing the cherry mid bounce and chasing after it. "And I believe that makes it MY ball, Hari!"

"And I believe it won't STAY yours for too long, boy !" Hari smirked, dashing for the ball herself.

Aleric flew into the shop, his hand lightly touching his jaw. It was healing, but still slightly yellow. The only thing he knew was that he needed some time alone... and away from Silva. Wherever the other male had gone to. He looked around, curiously taking in all the people, including a human with a bloom. Talking to Simon.

And a juvenile crying on the windowsill. Without a thought he headed towards the juvenile, dropping down beside him.

Driesan had very, very poor stamina - and the trip from couch-to-door for a Feien was a long one. He'd tried to fly the entire distance. He almost couldn't breath for crying, and couldn't talk at all for panting. He looked like he was about to pass out right then and there.

She breathed in relief. "Thank you, Simon. He must be the happiest bloom in the world, then."

The leaf waved in the slight breeze almost like a greeting. She hesitated a moment, good intentions wrestling with her own sense of proper.

"It....sounded like there were some unhappy Feien here, though. Is there anything I can do...?"

Aleric crouched down next to the boy and spoke softly. "Do you need assistance, young one?" He asked, reaching out but not touching.

The building was unassuming and small, but it was a place many feien called "home." Gaius was curious about this place, as Nero had told him about it on several occasions, and he found the thought of a place where feien regularly congregated to be intriguing. Was there a particular aspect that drew them? An unspoken rule, perhaps even a taboo?

Either way, his bi-colored wings gradually led him towards the shop, and he balked at the open window, hovering a fair distance away. He always observed his surroundings before entering a new room. There was a tree nearby - he quietly flapped his way towards it and settled in among the leaves, sticking out like a sore thumb, and craned his neck forward to peer into the window.

Strange looking feien - tattered wings, another crying. Curious. Very curious.

He dropped off the branch, making his way over to the sill, and settling quietly upon it. He immediately sat down, neither addressing or acknowledging either feien, merely staring patiently at them. It was if he were there to observe rather than talk - how odd.

Hari flew her way, slowly but surely, torward the shop. Something had happened, the young feien wouldn't talk, and weither or not it was due to an actual event or Ryuusei's overactive mood swings where still up to debate, and this would be the only way she could figure it out.

The first thing she spotted was a familiar purple figure, but then she was the crying juvenile, and she landed, croutching beside him.

"Shhhh, boy..."Well, this wasn't looking pretty at all.

Simon sighed, furrowing his brow. "Not particularly. I suppose the ratio of unhappy feien is about equal to the ratio of unhappy humans? It's impossible to please everyone. I think the most unfortunate feien are the ones that you never see coming around here. Very little can be done about that. It's their own choice to not involve themselves with others of their kind, or the choices of their bonds."

Driesan mouthed something unintelligable, coughed, and started panting again - trying to get his breath back. For him, it wasn't an easy thing to accomplish. Tears still streamed down his face, and he was shaking badly.

Aleric sighed, finally reaching out and touching the boy's shoulder, trying to calm him. "Hello, Hari. We seem to have a distraught friend here." He said, not very good at this comforting thing. "Shh, boy, try to focus on your breathing. Everything will be okay."

A lie, most likely. But he liked to believe it.

"Perhaps you should back away and allow him room to breathe, as he seems to be straining for air," Gaius pointed out mildly. He then returned to quietly sitting, three eyes blinking in an eerily uneven sequence.

"That will never be my choice." she replied softly, holding the leaf closely again.

He had a point... Hari backed to the other end of the windowhill, but still close enough to give assistance.

"Oh, I believe I have two of them, but this one's problems seems to be a little more urgent than Ryuusei's." Her eyes did not leave him, worry apparent on her face.

"That's good to hear." Simon looked over at the window sill, recognizing Aleric. "Would you perhaps like to meet some of the other feien? You might be seeing more of them in the near future."

"Of course! It's already been wonderful to meet you." she replied, glancing to follow Simon's gaze to the others she'd politely tried not to overhear. Tiny sobs, but impossible to block out.

"Until he has calmed he will not be able to breathe." Aleric said, reminded of how he had almost drowned earlier. He glanced over at the three eyed boy curiously. "And you are?"

He starts to calm - to swallow. A good sign - means he's able to pause from panting long enough to do it. He was still crying, a little, but he was starting to calm down. He rose to his hands and knees, almost shocked, and slumped into a sitting position. Simon. This was all Simon's fault...

Well, that was an improvement...

"Shhh, boy. Yes, that's good, please calm down... Then you can tell us what happened, maybe ? But calm down, first..."

"Gaius. Might I add that it is never wise to crowd a hysteric, as you may only fuel the condition."

Gaius has, of course, made the conclusion that the sobbing feien was a hysteric. What other reason could there be for carrying on as such? Gaius found it to be most puzzling.

Simon led Tara over towards the windowsill, taking stock of the sobbing feien with vague interest, but more interested in the three-eyed juvenile and the two Ancients. He nodded to Aleric.

"I doubt he is a hysteric." Aleric said, noting the way the boy calmed after a second. Then he glanced up as Simon approached, a slight smile pulling at his lips. "Hello, Simon. It's nice to see you again."

Gaius' attention was drawn by the appearance of a large person - he assumed it was a human - and another feien. He cocked his head towards them, but his third eye remained locked on Aleric, lest he speak again. "What's that?" he asked politely, pointing to the glasses sitting on Simon's nose. He had seen an eyepatch, but never something like those...

Hari did not notice Simon right at the moment, her worry was on the crying boy, and the protective side of her personality taking over. She was about to speak when Aleric did for her, and she found herself glad, being able to keep full attention on Driesan just in case something happened.

"Yourself as well," nodded Simon. He gestured towards Tara. "This is..." Then he realized he had not only forgotten to find out this human's name, he had also forgotten to introduce himself! He turned red and stammered to Tara, "I'm sorry, I forgot to say, I'm Simon, the shop owner. This is Aleric."

"Doubt is relatively meaningless in the long run. If you are certain he isn't a hysteric, then you are certain, but I invest little faith in 'doubt.' " Gaius replied coldly, and losing interest quickly in Aleric focused his third eye solidly on Simon.

"Ah, these?" said Simon, torn momentarily away from the introductions. He raised his hands to his face. "They're my glasses."

The division of Gaius's eyes was unnerving, to say the least.

"What purpose do they serve?" he asked, face grave. "Glasses" was an entirely new term to him, and while he could make assumptions as to their function, he found it easier to base things on fact rather than inferences.

"They help me see," said Simon, his own eyes flickering towards Tara's glasses. He offered a smile to Gaius for the interest.

"I'm Tara. Heh....it's all right, Simon, you've got a lot on your mind, here." she said gently. "What happened here...?"

He finally got his breathing back under control. His eyes narrowed. There was only so far one could be "nice" to someone else. And Simon had just pushed that limit. Drie remained sitting, calming himself further, trying not to let anger consume him.

"What a marvelous invention," Gaius replied sincerely. Something that allowed people to see? How brilliant. Gaius' eyes - all three of them - were in perfect working condition, perhaps even better than some, but maybe these glasses would be able to improve them even further...

Hm. A thought to ponder. Gaius felt wonderfully sated, and returned to staring unblinkingly at Simon, as he was prone to do.

Hari simpely sat.

"Are you going to be allright ?" She asked, her voice stil tinted with worry.

Aleric glanced over at Hari, sure that she would be able to handle anything that might happen, then stood, stepping forward. He ignored the three eyed child, deciding that Simon was now the boy's focus, and bowed slightly to Tara.

"We are not quite sure, honestly. He hasn't told us." Aleric said. "As Simon said, I'm Aleric, my bondmate is Ice Queen. And you are?"

"Tara. And it's good to meet you too, Aleric." she replied softly. Her eyes were drawn back to the distraught Feien. She hated seeing anyone unhappy, and this one was keenly so.

Driesan stood without saying a word, having completely caught his breath now. His eyes were murderous. He still said nothing, but turned to glare daggers at Simon - whether the other could see the glare or not.

The constantly roving yellow eye did, however, notice the icy look.

"You seem upset." Gaius concluded. Very good, Gaius. Pat on the back. "Perhaps you should go outside and take a deep breath? I am told that helps." he offered helpfully.

Simon looked at Gaius. "Are you perhaps one of the offspring from Ares and Arturo?" he asked.

"A pleasure to meet you as well, Tara." Aleric replied calmly. He glanced over at Hari, then paused, distracted by the look on Driesan's eyes. He followed the look, glancing over at Simon. A slight frown pulled at his lips as he tried to figure out how to calm the oncoming problem.

Gaius' attention snapped back to Simon with a smooth sideways glance. "I am, though I have not met Ares herself. I'm assuming you're familiar with one of them?"

"Fine, have your way..." Well, as long as he wasn't choking, then she could hope the worst had passed, which was all that mattered, really.

"Now if I could have a lead on what's going on, that would be nice." She mumbeled.

He said nothing, but launched himself into the air, and towards Simon, drawing back a fist to attempt to land a punch in the vicinity of his jaw. It took a LOT to get Driesan mad. A lot. And apparently Driesan was now furious. Angry enough to fight.

Simon nodded. "I know Arturo fairly well." In Simon's book, fairly well meant he had spoken with Arturo more than two times. He wasn't exactly renowned for his social prowess.

Driesan wasn't very fast, though, and Simon saw the punch. He could have dodged, but he was too shocked and merely braced himself. The impact sent his head to the side but did little else. He didn't even budge in the air.

Aleric let out an uncharacteristic curse, chasing after the boy and grabbing for him after the punch landed.

Well, so much for THAT.

She didn't act in time to stop the first punch, but she managed to grap him before he could attempt another.

"Calm DOWN." She hissed, not mad but damn well intending to be listened to, holding him back as hard as she could while not hurting him. "I am not letting you go till you do. This can happen the easy way or the hard way, You decide."

A fight was unfolding in front of his eyes and for a split second Gaius found himself somewhat surprised by the seemingly unprovoked nature of the violence. But his mind quickly calculated the best manner in which to react, and concluded that it was best to prevent further violence.

So Gaius sprung into the air and, clumsily but firmly, managed to wrap his arms around Driesan's torso, thus locking the feien's arms at his side. It made flying difficult to keep up, however, and Gaius scowled in spite of himself.

"Perhaps we should go outside," he insisted, a bit of urgency edging into his normally emotionless voice. The nice purple feien seemed more shocked than angry, but he did not want to see matters escalate further.

Drie struggled with the one holding him, wildly squirming, and trying to get free. He was screaming, words directed at Simon.

"What the hell did my father ever do to you, huh? What did he do to that b***h that she didn't deserve?! She was trying to FORCE us to leave our bonds. He protected us! And what do you do!? You ******** BAN him from the very people he was trying to protect!? WHY?! Why, dammit!?"

Simon blinked. He had his hand to his cheek, rubbing the area, but there was no real pain to it. He seemed ot be having some trouble organizing his words. At last he croaked out, "Forced?" He wasn't there. It was hard for him to be certain. But as he understood it, no one had been forced to leave their bond. They had simply been given the option.

Aleric moved, seeing the other two grabbing the boy, and set himself where he could easily move between the two. He said nothing though, allowing Simon to answer for himself.

Gaius was right. The feien was a complete and utter hysteric. More amused by the situation as the seconds ticked by, Gaius gave Driesan a small squeeze, knuckles driving ever so slightly into his stomach. Not enough to hurt, but enough to make one feel mildly uncomfortable.

"Easy," he muttered, wings flapping wildly to keep him and the other feien aloft. "You are behaving foolishly."

After a moment, Simon managed, "Unless she physically picked you out of the air or told you to leave or she would kill you, I believe the forceful party was the person I asked to leave." Who, he was beginning to think, was a very bad influence indeed, if this was the sort of violence he was teaching his feien.

This only made Hari more confused about whatever the heck was going on, really... but at least it seemed like no more violence would happen as long as they kept him in place.

"The person you asked to leave was my damned FATHER."
He started struggling wildly again, not enjoying the pressure against his stomach.
"All Xander was trying to do was protect us! He was trying to protect us! The woman made the offer. And then she told all the Bonds that they'd regret not taking advantage of this! That's when I grew terrified - and Xander got pissed off - just like a bunch of the other Bonds. The only thing "wrong" with Xander was that he had the GUTS to threaten her if she didn't leave!"

Simon took a deep breath. "A threat requires no courage," he said slowly. "A threat is a function of cowardice. A truly courageous and strong person does not need to threaten another, for they are confident enough in their own abilities." He fell silent once more.

"Excuse me, sir," Gaius called out over Driesan's rant. "But perhaps you should leave, for a bit, while this feien regains his wits. Clearly your presence is upsetting him, and since you seem to possess a better grip on the situation, it is probably best you go. This one appears most unstable."

Curious curious curious! Who was this Xander? Was he a feien also if he was this strange feien's father? Gaius felt no connections to his father himself - Arturo was almost as distant as Gaius - and was surprised to see such a strong bond cropping up. Clearly it led to silly things. Gaius was glad he was not influenced by such a bond.

Aleric sighed, realizing that neither would give on the subject. "Maybe we should take a second to calm down before we continue with this discussion." He said quietly, his tone calm.

He fell silent, and his eyes dropped to gaze at the floor, then closed.
"Let me go."
It wasn't an inquisition, or a request - it was a direct order.
"Let me go. Now. I won't hurt him."

Simon removed his glasses and pondered them gravely, turning the little wireframes over in his hands. Perhaps he should leave. Perhaps he should address this feien's anger, assuming the attempt wouldn't be futile. Which was the better choice?

With a frown, Simon slipped his glasses back on and crossed his arms with a humming noise, halfway drawn into his own thoughts. He wasn't entirely certain of Driesan's mental state. Attacking another feien without provocation, or the flimsiest of self-justification... that was really a sort of Corvus thing.

He fixed Driesan with a level stare and nodded to Gaius and Hari to release the juvenile. Simon decided to take his chances. He was faster, assuming that charge of Driesan's had been done at full speed. He could dodge if he needed to. Besides, it was his shop. That was a good argument towards not leaving.

Gaius was impervious to the firmness of Driesan's words, but released him anyway in order to maintain flight. He was glad to be rid of him, really. He did not enjoy the sensation of touch; not that he was opposed to it really, he just found it to be something he wouldn't want voluntarily.

With a shrug, Gaius drifted back to the windowsill, commencing his usual sit-and-stare activities.

Hari pondered for a moment.... but let go, while seemingly ready to grap again should he attempt. And beside, the 3-eyed juvenile seemed to be enough to restain him if need was.

"A threat was made." Aleric said, looking at Driesan. "Don't try to say otherwise, I was there. And if the shop owner feels it necessary to ban your owner from the shop, you have no choice but to go with that." His tone was calm, even slightly sympathetic. "He is not taking you away from your bond, nor is he threatening your relationship. Or attacking either of you physically."

His tone was calm, but he was ready for an attack. Living with Silva it was stupid not to be.

Simon kept still, watching Driesan for any sign of violence. There was a vaguely unapologetic air about him. he seemed ot be waiting for Driesan to talk.

He shrugged off both sets of hands holding him, and landed on the sil, still looking down - it was obvious that he was trying to keep his cool.
"He is not my -owner-, he is my -father-, and I'd appreciate it if you -treated- him as such. And now, if you -please-, I have a novel to finish writing."
He muttered something that suspciously sounded like "******** you, Simon", and picked his manuscript - miniscule though it was - from where he'd dropped it on the sill. That done, he made his slow way over to where the shelves were - not trying to move fast, and seated himself on one of them, flipping to a new page, and writing furiously.

Simon looked at Aleric. Despite the fact Simon had been around some eleven or twelve months longer than the reborn ancient, he seemed to be wearing an expression that just begged for advice. He also seemed to be not much interested in offering up a new start in the conversation: he hung in the air mutely and waited for some sort of a sign as to what he should do next.

Hari, likewise, seemed pretty lost, but was begining to piece pieces together to come to some kind of understanding, since visibely not a soul would bother explaining it. But what did all of this have to do with Ryuusei coming back upset ? Bahhh....

"He needs time to cool off." Aleric said softly, intending only those closest to him to hear. "He seems quite offended by the banning, even though it wasn't his own."

Aleric decided it was probably a good time to change the subject, allowing the blue feien something new to think of. "Have you made any progress with the letter?"

"Now, if one of you could explain me what in the living hells is going on, then it would be VERY nice."

"Oh, yes," remarked Simon, surprised. "Cleared the whole thing up by the next day. It was for Djerod, just as I thought. He offered some advice to Ms. Adams, she found a feien to go with her, and went back to where she came from. It turned out to be a minor matter, really."

"A... month ago we had a woman interested in trading feien come and visit. Some of the bonds took offense to the idea, and an... argument occured. The male that the boy considers his father got... defensive, and threatened the woman. Because of that he has been banned from the shop." Aleric explained calmly, looking at Hari.

Then he looked at Simon, a slight smile pulling at his lips. "Perhaps we should spread word that the matter has been resolved, then."

Simon realized he had dropped the roll of paper when he was punched and swooped down to the floor to pick it back up. "When the man threatened her, he wouldn't give his name," he said, "so she drew this picture." He unfurled the paper to reveal the photo-perfect portrait of an angry Xander.

"Perhaps we should, but I've been told to expect another representative from where Cerratine hails in a few days." Simon sounded a bit put-out by the subject.

Ahhh, FINALLY. ...Still had no link with the younger feien. Can't win em all.

"Thank you." Her face turned pensive. "...Was Ryuusei present during that, Aleric ? Do you remember ? She came home huffing and wouldn't say a thing at all."

"I wasn't here for the banning, actually. But she was here for the argument... and she might have been offended by the banning if she was here at the time." He looked thoughtful, thinking of the the yellow feien in question. "Was that the other problem?"

He glanced over at Simon, still not knowing how to respond to that statement. "Then nothing has been resolved after all..." He replied softly, nodding. "Can another be found as easily as the last?"

"Sounds like quite a matter at hand... And she might have been. Expecially if the boy happen to be her friend... She's very... emotionnal." Hari shook her head a little, untangeling bangs from her hairs. "It may get her hurt someday."

"I suppose it depends," said Simon. He shrugged. "It wasn't particularly easy for Ms. Adams to locate a feien interested in going with her. It might be easier now that a feien has actually come from that place... which I think is the problem..." Simon dissolved into inaudible mumbles.

"It won't with you looking out for her." Aleric said firmly.

He turned, nodding at Simon's comment. "I hope you're right. To keep those who are not willing to go from worrying, that is."

"They have the choice, that's all," said Simon ruefully. "The rules of the arrangement prohibit anyone being forced."

"There are thing I cannot protect her from, Aleric." Hari hated to admit it, but it was true. "...And mistakes she will need to make in order to learn. I hope she has at least learn something from tonight... And I do hope things go smoothly. I don't think she might show up in the shop again soon, so parhaps she will not be present when this other representent comes."

"But it would take calm thinking to understand or even bother to learn that fact." Aleric said. "As much as it pains me to say it, I have not met many feien that have those... skills. In fact the only two I know are standing right here."

He turned to Hari, reaching for her hand. "Things will work out. And she'll learn. She's still young. But I should be going. My own bond might get worried."

"Indeed. It was nice to see you again, Aleric," said Simon, and looked at Hari, wondering what her name was.

"I doubt she will ever... but she'll learn a little, at least. We all do." She took the offered hand. "I should as well, if only to make sure everything is allright. Not that I am too worried... Ryuusei seems more prone to brooding and words than actual violence." She turned to Simon. "I apologize if she has insulted you, and I hope you can forgive her. I think she's going trough a though time... There are dozen of questions in her head, I know for a fact."

"You as well, Simon." He gave them both a slight smile, before turning to Hari. "We'll have to play another game of soccer next time we meet, Hari. Ryuusei told me you've been practicing." He squeezed her hand slightly before letting go and taking to the air.

"Certainly not," said Simon instantly, "and I understand. It wasn't my intent to upset her or..." He looked over towards the shelves where Driesan was writing. "... Driesan. Merely a matter I was obligated to see through, I owe it to the person who requested it."

"I am sure that she will understand this in time." The ancient nodded. Then she chimed. "It keeps me busy !" She grinned.

"Oh, I don't believe we've been properly introduced ?" She remembered, right before she took off in the air. "My name is Hari. I hope to see you again soon. Until then, stay well."

And with this, she took off, but would probably have enough time to hear Simon's answer, since her flying was slow.

Aleric nodded, then flew out the door, ready to go home.

"Yourself as well," Simon said after her, rolling up the drawing again. Now that its purpose was completed, he could tuck it away in one of the office drawers. He floated past the shelves and into the back office. Those resupply orders wouldn't write themselves!