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(( Anita - seating area with Duncan and Mordekai
Cruz - maze exit -> Melisande
Tag to Roo and Aki ))

The cool temperature of the shade assisted greatly in his comfort but the crocodile frei was still horribly exhausted. Though he kept his eyes shut, the low din of the party was enough to keep him on edge so that he couldn't drift off for a nap. Cruz no longer needed to pant to regulate his temperature but his body still felt uncomfortably warm and with his energy wasted within the hedges, not even that big slobbery kiss from the -- what was it called again, minnow-core? -- hulking creature in the maze was enough to sate him. At the thought, Cruz smacked his lips with a cringe. Its breath smelled foul and the taste was akin to how sour milk smelled.

Cringing, the mistletoe raevan allowed his head to loll gently on his shoulder. His tired, emerald eyes opened in time to see an elegant, pale haired raevan approach one of the nearby trees fitted with lanterns dangling from its branches. Her outfit was fancy, covered in frills, and her wings looked so ornate and fragile like shaped glass. Any lingering expression of distaste was replaced with awe as he watched her ascend the branches and drape herself along one with refinement befitting a princess.

His rune thrummed hungrily, its dulled colors brightening at the mere prospect. Cruz let out a quiet sigh as he forced himself up off the grass with his palms. Even floating was arduous now but there were so many possibilities in place if he just dared to approach this imposing figure; a meal, a conversation, company, a new friend -- anything was possible. Letting out a soft, throaty rumble, he hovered at half his usual height. His ribbon dragged along the ground, its tattered end blending easily with the grass. Upon reaching the tree, he smiled up at the lovely raevan, only for his rune and heart to pang with more excitement. She had a middle. Her frills and lace curved around, accentuating her form. Tentatively, his hands reached up and touched the bark of the tree, one resting upon the trunk and another wrapping around the lowest branch.

"Hello," he rumbled in case she hadn't yet noticed him, "You're very pretty. Who are you?" Only now did he notice the flowers and ribbons delicately arranged in her hair. His fingers pined to run through her silky locks, but oh she looked so delicate. Would his rough, clawed hands even be allowed near her? Cruz decided the easiest avenue was one he had been taught months ago and he smiled warmly up at Melisande. "Can I kiss you?"



Between the two men, Anita could hardly predict what either of them would do or say. However, Mordekai's apprehension was unconsciously rubbing off on her and when he crushed the plastic cup abruptly, she gave a start in her seat before continuing with the story. It was only understandable that when Mordekai spat out his next question that she did so again, clamming up and pouting when he accused her of lying. She didn't know how to react at all until Duncan lightened the mood, laughing quietly, but she didn't allow herself to follow suite until Mordekai laughed himself. While before her expression was quite chipper, the shift in tone from the younger man had left her somewhat crestfallen, as though he had stolen her thunder. In her lap she idly ran her fingers against her arm, smiling halfheartedly at her plate of food until Duncan's retort.

"It almost took my hand..." she mumbled, then lifted both of her hands and wiggled their fingers to show she was quite alright, "I told you guys, you're not gonna believe me." To say truth was stranger than fiction was correct in this case but it seemed pretentious for her to say aloud, somehow.

In this conversation, which would normally have been lighthearted, Anita found herself feeling vulnerable in ways she couldn't explain. Her mother always did say she was empathetic in the sense that other people's emotions readily affected her, perhaps it was all of Mordekai's discontent seeping into her. All that made her wonder was why he seemed to have such a bad attitude, especially about things concerning Lab. It was as if he absolutely loathed it. If that was the case, why was he even here? In comparison, Duncan was sweet and accommodating. He seemed to genuinely be interested in learning about Lab 305 and doing the best he could to not only help himself but also the Raevan that would result from his experiment. Biting her lip her lip, she tried to push through her convoluted emotions and get through the story. She had to brace herself from the negative reaction Mordekai would no doubt give.

"Anyway, I called animal control and when they came it was already dead. Its soul was in the bottle and everything. I mean, this was during Winter and they said it was old. Reptiles already have a hard time in low temperatures so it wasn't much of a surprise. I just... really didn't expect to have a crocodile, you know?" There it was, the bomb dropped on the conversation. Anita winced preemptively, waiting for Mordekai to spit out his food or shout in disbelief. It wasn't as though she went toe to toe with the creature, though she had heavily considered it at the time. For whatever reason, she always felt as though the croc was looking for somewhere to die. The soul bottle just quickened the process.

[[Rivener and Aphismet >> Maze Exit and OUT ]]

Rivener made a few more bows and smiles and praises, mostly directed at the lovely green Frei, delighted to meet such a well-spoken newborn. Then he excused himself: time was flying, and he had to get to work at sundown. He'd need a few hours to prepare properly... "It was a pleasure to meet you all. I hope we'll see each other again. Zeke, give my regards to Anya. Good evening, everyone!"

The Scorpion wandered off to find his guardian, locating him not far off, by the drinks counter. There was a quick, soft exchange of words between the two, with Aphismet blinking softly in confusion then nodding his head with a smile. The pair walked towards the exit, clearly ready to leave. Aphi crossed Ebony's gaze and waved goodbye to her, making the motion of a phone to his ear, mouthing quite blatantly: Call me! It had been entirely too long since he'd spoken to her properly, and it would be good to catch up.

Riv, for his part, found Melisande already engrossed with another Raevan on the way out, her dainty hand extended for a greeting. Riv had never met the green-haired Frei with the sharp hands, but he seemed non-threatening. With a final smile and incline of his head for the Muse, Riv turned out of sight, round the bend of the garden's entryway.

"That was rather nice wasn't it?" Aphi asked as they headed to the car. "I had a very nice time. Did you?"

"Yeah. ...You know what, I did. I had a great time." He sounded surprised and enchanted by that fact, but said nothing more about it on the drive home.

(( Cruz - tree, near maze exit with Pasha
tag to aki ))

When the elegant sigel registered his presence, she seemed even more fetching. The alertness in her pale blue eyes perked his brows and he smiled fondly, though kept his mouth closed while doing so to hide his pointy teeth. Perhaps due to her delicate appearance, she seemed the sort who might be skittish and shy away from that sort of thing. Cruz's excitement in meeting her, despite his calm tone, caused him to speak a bit too fast and interrupt the poor girl. He glanced up apologetically, left hand gently tracing his fingers against the rough bark of the tree. Her voice was soft, melodic even without music, and Cruz was quickly entranced.

"Apologies."

The frei tilted his head, forgetting briefly what that word meant as she stretched her hand out. He wasted no time in gingerly wrapping his fingers around it, but looked up at her with rapt interested. "You are Apologies?" No matter if it was, any name upon her would sound fine to the crocodile and he continued to smile despite his confusion. "Am Cruz," he nodded, left hand against the tree digging its claws in the slightest bit to offer him some leverage as he floated higher to close their distance. As far as he understood, she hadn't actually answered his question about the kiss but he held her hand tenderly against his chest, her his heart, and hovered just below eye level with her.

"You are beautiful," he rumbled again, pressing his luck. Even if she declined, the feel of her skin against his was pleasant. His rune pulsed hungrily, adding a bright green hue to her purple light below.

Cruz let out a contented sigh, closing his eyes and smiling as he pulled her hand up to brush against his cheek before giving it a short kiss. Warmth spread from and to his lips at the point of the kiss for the briefest of moments. Her skin felt like silk against his lips, a mere teaser -- a sample -- of what her own could offer. It only served to make his rune more desperate but if she had ignored the question, did that mean she wasn't interested? He would hate to put her off or cause the lovely sigel any discomfort, and so he lowered himself some to spare the energy it took to keep floating high and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "Here alone?" Cruz's eyes wandered, looking around for a nearby human but with no face in mind it could have been anyone. He did, however, spot his Anita who had yet to notice him since she was facing the opposite direction, sitting at a picnic table and speaking with two men.

((Cesc and Vivi --> C U L8R))

"You are very brave."

They were the first words out of Cesc's mouth, and although Xiu looked amused by the end of his writing, Cesc's own expression was one of respect. There was a self-depreciation in the writing, a humility, a resignation to having been left with only a sword in place of a voice, and it spurred Cesc with an eager, a deep desire to somehow offer his own help. And it lifted Xiu in the stag's estimation; Xiu had helped him in the maze, yes, and here was proof that he helped others.

"I would be happy to see the sword sometime." A wry smile returned to Rhedefre's face as he contemplated having the sword in the maze: they could have cut through the overgrowth, or the vines, or hacked out an exit in the storm... The stag shook his head and laughed briefly. "Well, we managed alright without it, I suppose..."

"It is not a worry, to say too many true and good things, ah?" Vivi said to Rivener with a bright smile, her soft fingers touching the Scorpion's bicep lightly. She seemed bound to say more, but a passing fluff of pink hair and a familiar laugh caught in her ears. She turned to look for the Frei, ready to wave him over and introduce him to the group, but she was stunned into sudden silence. Cesc's arms were scratched, his hair mussed, his clothing wrinkled and damp. His shirt was torn at the seams and stained. Xiu seemed hardly the better off, and although they were both smiling, they were both clearly on the losing side of the battle with the maze.

"Ah, pardon," said Vivi to the group, still distracted by the sight. What on earth could they have gotten up to? "I see that Cesc has finished with the maze. I will go and see him, yes? Have a lovely time, my darlings, it has been the pleasure."

And she darted quickly away, her sage dress flouncing behind her prettily as she went.

It was a moment's work for her to catch up to the frei, her hands encircling his forearm as she approached. "Cheri, what on earth..."

"Vivi." Cesc sounded pleased to see his woman, and he leaned forward to kiss her on the top of the head. "We have just left the maze. Here -- this is Xiu; Vivi, my guardian." He gestured between them. "Xiu was.... ah, invaluable in the maze."

"It must have been quite a maze! You both -- forgive me -- you do not smell like the roses, I am afraid. It is that a bath is quite necessary to be in company, I think!" The Frenchwoman pinched her nose in illustration. She then laughed, dropping her hand and putting it out to Xiu. "Forgive my silliness, lovely one. It is a pleasure to meet you. I am sorry the maze seems to have been rude to you both!"

Cesc laughed, shaking his head. "It was well worth it."

"Ah, but now I must beg your forgiveness again," said Vivi to Xiu, curtseying sweetly and offering the sigel a bright smile. "But I think it is for me to usher this one home to a bath, yes?"

"I would not complain." Cesc bowed his head slightly, grinning. He took his guardian's arm, placing a hand over her's, and Vivi leaned into him slightly, stinky though he was. He would be happy to get home, to sink in the bath... "Xiu -- thank you again. It was a pleasure. Let's meet again soon."

((Pasha - Maze Exit -> EXIT
Tag to Snoof
Mentions to Kyou and Wasa!))

Melisande tilted her head, smiling at how well he pronounced her name. It took many people longer than that! "That's it!" Delight rippled through her tone, and she covered her mouth for a moment as he shortened it to Lisande, her smile dimpling. No one had ever called her that before. "You can call me whatever you'd like, Cruz."

The Sigel nodded once as the Frei rumbled his own understanding of the delicate message she was trying to impart. It was a bit difficult to linger and discuss...Pasha's cheeks were already warm, and one of the flowers at her temple had opened shyly. Thankfully, Melisande was spared by the sudden arrival of Cruz' guardian.

Pasha's eyes went wide at the explanation. The green haired Frei hadn't misspoken when he said he was hungry. Kisses actually fueled him! The Muse bit the tip of her thumb in shock, tiny fist pressed against her mouth. What strange twist of fate had shaped the dear thing, that he had to find kisses to survive?! "I didn't...understand! Apologies~" She breathed, to the guardian and (for the second time) to Cruz. The entire concept left her in a full blush, but she had the grace to curtsy.

"It was a pleasure to meet you both." The poor Sigel was startled enough that she excused herself without a proper introduction to the woman. Her lips parted, and though the Sigel wished to say, 'Perhaps next time, a kiss!' she simply couldn't make the words manifest. It was...complicated...for Pasha herself to feed, and she knew the cruel weight of hunger perhaps better than most. But a kiss?

She was suddenly very grateful that Cruz had such a caring guardian! With a sad, sweet smile and a lift of the hand that Cruz had kissed, Melisande excused herself, and ducked out from the canopy of the lovely tree. She hoped her embarrassment didn't read as rudeness! Truth be told, the Muse was ready to leave, if only she could find...

...Wasa! The woman had made it out of the Maze! Pasha started her way, delighted, only to be drawn up short. Wasa was speaking with Dr. Kyou. The Muse slowed, and paused, unwilling to interrupt. She held a particular reverence for the Doctor, and had no wish to interfere with whatever business the two might have. Instead, the Sigel drew her parasol from the bucket and opened it with one graceful slide.

She would wait for Wasa just down the trail, and indicated as much with a tip of her head when she caught the woman's eye. Now that she had the shade of her parasol, the day was much more bearable...and the Muse had had more then enough excitement for one day! This had been the only group event in her memory that hadn't ended with one kind of sadness or another, and Pasha took one last fond look as she left the Garden Party.

She would have to send Kyou...and perhaps, Rivener?...a thank you note!