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Roux really didn't want such a -tight- hug but Rivener's presence wasn't unwanted. In fact the delicate looking Frei wrapped his thin arms loosly around Rivener's shoulders, floating just slightly lower than him but high enough to be able to rest his cheek on his shoulder. Roux stared blankly ahead, imagry flashing before his minds eye.

A swirl of emotion went through him when he thought about it all... some he didn't understand but there was the familiar rage holding his hand tightly. Unlike usually, however... it derived from things that did not pertain to him directly. It was anger toward the intruder, toward Chloe for leaving.

At the mention of Julian's name Roux's eyes narrowed, sliding sideways to look toward Aphismet. Did Julian hurt Chloe? What a stupid question, that loathsome creature wouldn't have made it to the door, particularily if Gage had been present - which he usually was. "No."

He sighed, his breath cool but not frigid, as it slid over Rivener's collarbone, and he closed his eyes. He felt that familiar weariness... the tired feeling that made him want to curl back up in an icy prison once more and sleep uninterupted. He tightened his arms for a moment around Rivener, feeling his warmth and able to appreciate it for once.

No... sleep wasn't the answer. He'd slept enough. "Riv'ner." He said the name in a murmur, not a question but a statement, as though just to hear the word said in his own voice.

"It must be someone she hasn't told us about, maybe someone not related to the Lab," Isi muttered. He made the motion to reach out for Aphismet's hand and wrap a childlike grip around his fingers, but Isi hesitated and stopped himself. He needed to be a grown-up for this situation. So Isi laid his hand back in his lap and massaged his palm awkwardly, and he snapped, "Aphismet, don't even think such things. We have to stay positive. Thinking like that will get us nowhere." Then he sighed and let his voice soften, " Perhaps it's someone from the orphanage...No, that can't be...Perhaps someone her brother knew...? Or maybe from where she worked before..." Isi's brain chugged furiously, like a steam train on tracks. He didn't know his destination, but he knew that he had to get there, that he had to find it. But with each hypothesis spewed from his lips, he felt less and less coal to run on.

Rivener didn't have to be asked twice; he followed after the other, smiling softly, reassuringly. "Everything will be fine eventually, really." He didn't know where Roux was going, but he'd follow along and be a presence the other could cling to. Riv could easily imagine what it must be like to feel so all alone... If the Scorpion could help in any way, he would.

Aphismet hadn't seen the look Roux gave. He had let his head fall to the table and he concentrated on breathing, half-listening to all of Isi's theories. He didn't know anything, even Isi knew more about Chloe than he did. Even if he ever did find her, what would that mean? He told himself he and Chloe were seeing each other, but really they had only had the one kiss that night on the Balcony. They'd run into each other a few other times and smiled, stood near each other, felt warmth and acceptance... But that meant nothing.

Aphi hardly knew Chloe, he realized. She was practically a stranger.

The man couldn't find the energy to speak, so he just lay there with his head on the table, waiting.

Roux looked at the green Frei with indifference. A bubble of anger floated up from somewhere within and Roux felt the encompassing urge to attack the innocent Frei. Eiry took Rivener away and with Chloe having been taken away it only seemed fitting that the Whisp should now take on the sins of all others and suffer for everything that had been done wrong lately.

He floated where he was, eyes unblinking, giving him even more of an apperance of a bird-of-prey than usual.

Isi furrowed his brows in concern. It pained him to see Aphismet in such a weak vulnerable state, but in the end, he was only human. Isi knew how it felt to feel like that, to feel powerless. His crippled legs made it even more a daily routine than a once in a while mental breakdown. In fact, he felt powerless too right now.

Isi made up his mind. He had to pretend to be powerful, but Aphi's sake because the man needed someone to lean on. Isi decided that he would be that person, because it was his duty as a brother.

Leaning down, Isi wrapped his arms around Aphi's shoulders and held him tight. He placed his hand on the back of Aphi's head and cooed the way he dreamed mothers do. "Aphi," Isi began softly, "At least these clues are something... But I believe that in order to save Chloe, we will need something more than solid facts. We need heart, we need connection; and we have those things in you. I don't have that connection anymore. It lasted only three weeks in the orphanage and then things change. We're as much as strangers as you are her. That information I pulled from the owners list from the Lab. But I believe that as long as you hold that connection tight, it has an invisible string that's tied snugly to Chloe. These feelings you're feeling...They're tugs on that invisible line and it means that you're still very strongly connected. If you can follow that invisible line...You can find Chloe. I know you can do it, Aphi. You have more power than you realize. Hush now...Let it out."

Furrowing his brows worriedly, Eiry would train his eyes in deep fixation at Rivener, but he found them drifting to Roux's icy cold stare. Rivener's words came out as a blow to Eiry' heart. He thought that his brother would be able to trust him enough to tell him these kind of things as they happened and trust him to keep them a secret. At least, that's what he was told that brothers do. Another blow came from when Rivener explained that to Roux that he, Eiry, could be annoying. Eiry knew that it served as a warning, but he couldn't help but feel offended. He also felt as if the comment that followed afterwards was just to cushion or sugarcoat the blow.

As each word spilled from Rivener's mouth, Eiry felt his innocent face sag more and more with grief and disbelief. He didn't understand the entire story and he didn't piece the parts together with his childlike mind. He knew that Chloe was missing and it was destroying the mental state of the two humans in the household, and that Roux belonged to Chloe. But in all honesty, Eiry just didn't understand and he saw this event as something he didn't deserve. He didn't mind the idea of Roux staying here, but he did mind the potential disappearance of Rivener as he tended to Roux's needs. Just a few moments ago, he was excited to play hide and seek with his brother.

So, not knowing what else to do, Eiry slowly backed away, his foxfire wings flickering softly from where they still recovered from previous injury. His red eyes were wide and misunderstanding.

Aphismet could only nod as Ilias held him, feeling guilty that he'd forced his brother into being the responsible, strong one once again. At the same time, Aphi felt incredibly comforted, and relieved, to know that he could rely on someone.

"Thanks, Isi. I feel- I feel better now." He looked up slowly, smiling timidly. "Sorry I- Well. You understand, it certainly looks like." He sighed, and returned his brother's hug. "I love you, Isi. Thanks for being my brother."

Rivener had smiled and nodded at Roux's words, and the Icy Raevan had floated ahead. Riv's eyes followed as Eiry's cheek was brushed by cold fingers. Once Roux had floated into the room, Riv approached his little brother and frowned lightly. "What is it, does he scare you?" He couldn't figure out what Eiry's expression meant. Rivener didn't want to leave Roux alone too long, but at the same time he wanted to make sure Eiry was alright.

Aphismet nodded, smiling weakly. "Alright. Thank you. So, I'm hungry now. L-let's make breakfast, shall we? What would you like?" Aphi got up once he was sure Isi had a handle on his crutches, and he headed for the counter once again, picking up the knife he'd dropped earlier, giving it a brief, concerned look.

Rivener, of course, understood Eiry's single word as meaning that yes, he was scared of Roux. He sighed and floated forward, placing a hand on Eiry's head and ruffling the wispy hair, like Aphi often did to Eiry. It was a Big Brother thing to do. "Don't be scared. He's just here while Chloe is missing. He's feeling very alone, so be nice, okay? He said he wouldn't hurt you." Riv offered a consoling smile.

Aphismet startled as Isi caught him looking at the knife. "Oh, uh... It's nothing. I'd dropped it earlier, and I was just worried that I might have hurt myself." He chuckled and placed it back in its block. "Okay, pancakes it is!" Aph fished out the wooden mixing bowl and began gathering his ingredients, hoping that Isi wouldn't press the matter.

Rivener nodded at Eiry. Something was eating the ghostly Frei, but at least he was being nice about it. Riv would talk to him more later, when Roux was settled in properly. The Raevan floated over to his bedroom to regain the other's side before he got too lonely.

"Hey," he greeted again as he entered the room, smiling softly.