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 Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2005 12:00 pm
Journal entry 1 - The means of which to beginI first learnt of Lab 305 from the newspaper, from a one Mr. Julian Sweet. But I never, in my life expected to find an ad from Dr. Kyou himself, the head of Lab 305, looking for help there. I was nervous, but of course I answered, I'd have regretted it all my life if I didn't. My initiative was rewarded! Dr. Kyou hired me! Not too long after returning home I received a letter: Letter Dear Miss Chloe Star, Again, I want to congratulate you upon being hired to the laboratory. We would like you to start working next month. You can already access most of the doors in the laboratory, so you could go to the cafeteria and into the staff resting rooms as you wish. But please note that some doors like the door that leads to my personal lab is still closed to most staff members. However, before you start your work, I have a little assignment for you. There will be a case left for you in the reception desk first drawer on the left row. You'll find a vial of fel essence and a soul bottle, along with a manual in it. Please follow what the manual says and collect a soul before you start your work. Thank you, yours sincerely, Dr. Kyou There are simply no words. I wasn't expecting something like this, I hadn't even thought of wages. I'm going to show Julian as soon as I can. ...A fel essence and soul bottle all my own. Mine to chose which soul to gather, mine to watch progress. Secrets to discover, secrets that are yet to be made. ~
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Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2005 11:37 pm
Journal entry 2(1) - The Mock RocChloe Star Chloe looked up toward the white and blue sky, dressed warmly in her large, comfortable black jacket, complete with faux-fur about the neck, scarf and snug leather gloves that were soft and warm on the inside but good for gripping on the out. She stood holding the black briefcase that Julian had given to her to use to hold the soul bottle and fel essence vial that Kyou had given to her so she may start her own project. She'd read the hand book, and was ready to reap her soul. A puff of white clouded from her lips as she sighed. It was cold up here, parked as far up along a very large, craggy mountain that Julian and she had tracked the target to. He'd told her to meet him here, and it'd taken a good long drive just to reach this place. Chloe kept her senses on alert, listening for Julian. Julian Sweet And then there was the whir of a helicopter. A ladder seemed to fall from the sky, the end dangling to Chloe's immediate left. It should have been no surprise it was Julian, but he did make a rather daring entrance as he carefully made his way down. Once he had touched ground, the ladder was pulled back up, and a rather large box was slowly lowered by several cables. Julian stepped back, motioning with one gloved hand for the box to be lowered farther and farther. As it neared them, the boy moved Chloe and himself out of the way, jerking his thumb up at the helicopter once the box meet slightly permafrosted ground. With one more hand motion the ends of the cables were dropped, and the helicopter started a new journey off into the sky. Fortunately, before anything could be said about Julian's impressive mode of transportation, he was already removing the cable and pulling at the sides of the crate. "I cooked up a little something to help us, Ms. Star." Chloe Star Chloe blinked, her gaze dead-panning toward the large box. "Wh..... What's that for? We're not going to transport it with us, are we?!" The thought of trying to take the subject away from the mountain toward people in a box was... alarming. She moved over carefully, the suitcase thunking lightly against her thigh as she moved to stand a few paces back from where Julian was attempting to dis-assemble the wood. "Do you need help?" Julian Sweet "No no, I'm quite sure," A grunt of effort as he somehow made the box sides all fall down at once. "That everything is perfect." Now Julian was giggling, and that was never a good sign. Of course, neither was the creation he had revealed. It looked like a giant... irregularly lumpy bird. Only not. To be frank, it was a huge, rather badly down, paper mache rendition of a female Roc. Or at least one could only assume. The brown haired boy patting the head-lump affetionately before gesturing for Chloe to come inspect it. "Can't you just smell the pheromones, Ms. Star?" Chloe Star "......." Chloe stepped up to the giant lumpy configuration almost fearfully. "Pheromones...?" She tilted her head to the wind and took a delicate sniff... immediately she began to hack, raising her hand to cover her mouth and mouth as her muscles gave a reflexive gag at the pungent odor. "Rhhn.. J-Julian that... it's..... th-thank you.." She took a few steps back, squinting her eyes in an attempt to keep them from watering. "What's it supposed to do?" She tilted her head all the way back to look up at it, taking note that where the birds beak should be, there was nothing. Julian Sweet Julian seemed... strangely ecstatic, which would make one suggest he might be on crack. He was pulling one of the cables off the ground and attaching it to the "bird's" neck as a make-shift leash. "Don't you see the brilliance?! The roc will see it and.. well. Carry it off, I'm sure! Wonderful." Chloe Star Chloe paused, letting her eyes wander over the slightly lumpy form of the fake Roc. "Ahh... I guess.. oh!" Her eyes lit as she caught on to Julian's frame of mind, setting down the case and pulling out the soul bottle and stood back up, daring the offensive smell to stand beside Julian. "It's much safer than trying to land the bird itself, and we can plant the soul bottle somewhere safely on this replica, so it can remain close to the actual bird so we can get the soul." She paused, biting her lip. "But... how are we going to find the paper mache bird and the soul bottle again if the Roc does take it away? Do you have some sort of bug device?" She looked slightly surprised at the idea, she'd known Julian was a mad scientist but she hadn't even considered that might include all manners of electronics of the sneaky variety. Julian Sweet "Tracker and camera inserted in the right eye," Julian said, shooting Chloe a rather devilish smirk. He was just begging her to ask why he had such things, if only to avoid answering. Steadily Mr. Sweet was getting used to that sort of mental game. It was fun in a slightly mentally damaging way. "We won't have to go too far before the pheromones attract the roc. Then it'll grab onto the Mock Roc... and it's a matter of time." He noticed that she had the soul bottle out in her hand now. "That's the beak." Chloe Star Chloe had to cover her mouth to keep back the small laugh. "M...Mock Roc..? Ah.. yes. Of course." She held up the soul bottle and looked up once more at the giant thing. "The beak, hmm? I see, we can just place it inside so it'll be safe and the tip can extend and be open to take the soul, correct?" She clutched the bottle about the neck, walking around to the side of the paper mache creation, she looked back slightly toward Julian. Having something to work toward, a goal in sight and knowing what she had to do, as well as perhaps her desire for the soul she had chosen and spent so much time researching with Julian, whom she'd grown to be friends with, gave her just enough confidence to speak without hesitation. "Would you give me a leg up? I want to put the bottle in myself." Julian Sweet Julian grinned and knelt onto the ground by the Mock Roc's front. He looked rather nice, with wind blown hair, and... demented smile firmly in messy place. It was easy enough for him to help the girl up. "I got you." Chloe Star Carefully and as gently as she could, Chloe stepped up, balancing on his shoulders as he remained crouched, reaching out to press her fingertips against the great paper mache Mock Roc in preparation to keep herself balanced. "Alright, ready." Julian Sweet Julian slowly raised himself up, not an entirely strong individual but somehow finding it within him (like the lightning bug as it prepares to defeat the mighty beetle). He stopped when he was just a little stooped, Chloe at an appropriate height to insert the bottle where the Mock Roc's 'beak' should be. Chloe Star "Thanks." Chloe worked quickly so as to not cause Julian to hurt himself in his gracious effort to help her. She slid the soul bottle into the hole, finding a snug little mesh within the paper mache to cradle the glass gently - Julian thought of everything. She secured the bottle in place, jiggling it by it's neck a bit to be the utmost positive that it couldn't shake loose and fall. If it broke... she didn't know what she'd do, the thought alone caused alarm to jump within her chest. Carefully she slid the catch open and crouched low. "Alright, it's all secured, could you please put me down now?" Julian Sweet "Yes, Ms. Star," Julian replied with a small wince. His shoulders were definitely knotting, and it would take vigorous hours of rubbing them against sharp or roundish objects to make them stable once more. What Mr. Sweet would do for friendship. He stopped when he had safely knelt, coughing so Chloe would know it was okay to remove herself. Chloe Star Chloe slipped down lightly, almost leaning over beside him, her hands instinctively and apologetically swiping at his shoulders to brush any dirt she might have tracked onto his shirt away. "I hope I wasn't too heavy..." She stood back a few paces, tiling her head back to look at the great 'bird', hands on her hips. "This..." this was hair brained, "This looks like it might actually work... the pheromones are definitely strong enough." She sniffed lightly at her hands and wrinkled her nose, she'd have to scrub them as hard as she could to get the scent off. Julian Sweet Julian stood up, grimacing a bit at the audible pop that came from his back. He was going to need a bubble bath, but he was quite sure the only mix belonged to his cousin and well... she liked pink sometimes. That was rather dangerous. "It should be fairly light weight, so just drag it. I expect you'll see results rather fast... the unicorn didn't take us too long. Oh, and here," He removed a strange, very digital device from inside his jacket and handed it to her. "That should show you were the bird ends up. Have fun, Chloe." Chloe Star Chloe paused, taking the digital vice and staring down at it blankly. "Y.... You're not going to.. help me..?" She bit her lip, sucking in a quick breath and trying to hide the crushing disappointment that had suddenly and very unexpectedly crashed over her. Her heart felt like it'd wilted onto the bottom of her ribs. "It..Okay. It's okay. Thank you.. thank you for all the help so far. Uhm... how do I work this..?" She tried to keep herself distracted by thrusting the extremely digital device toward Julian. Julian Sweet "When it starts to beep, it has been two hours from right now. The real roc should have taken it by then, I suspect," Julian explained, tone suggesting he knew she was crushed. That he was about to address that issue, which he did, "You are a very capable young woman, Chloe. This is something you need to do on your own." "I... enlisted your help because I was unable to ... " The boy coughed slightly, making a decidedly unhappy face. "Do it myself. You are perfectly able to accomplish this task on your own. I think it's important that I allow you to." Chloe Star Chloe gave a slow nod, biting her lip. He was right, she didn't need him leading her around by the hand for everything, and in their friendship he'd been so kind to have done that so far. "You're right. Yes." She tightened her grip around the digital device and bit her lip, looking up at him with a new determined, if a bit tremulous, look. "Thank you for helping me this much, I can...." she faltered for just a moment, eyes staring up at the big paper mache creature before giving a firm not, "I can do this." Another pause. "Do... I really have to drag it..?" Julian Sweet "It has ski like devices attached to the bottom. It will be *fine*," Julian said, making a point on empathizing the last word. He smiled at the girl affectionately, and bent down a little to kiss her forehead. "You are my friend, Ms. Star. I do not surround myself by weak people. I have every confidence in you." Chloe Star Chloe flushes slightly, in part from the praise and in part from the kiss to her forehead. A warm curl of -something- swam it's way through her abdomen to her chest and she smiled in a way that told she was more sure of herself now. "Yes. I won't let you down. Thank you." She turned gently pocketing the electronic device and opening the suitcase that held her fel essence, slipping that into her breast pocket securely, shivering as she felt the cold seeping through the fabric quickly. She was ready, she could do this.
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Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2005 1:38 am
Journal entry 2(2) - Realization of a goal"I can't do this..." Chloe groaned, letting the lead drop. She hadn't pulled the mock roc too much further, just to a medium sized clearing boasting a small clump of shrubbery and a few tall spruce trees. This would be good enough, though, now all she had to do was to wait. Sitting, crouched behind one of the large trees, she realized she'd never noticed the sound of snow before. It was like the ocean, muffled a thousand times over and a million miles away. Seconds ticked by and melted into minutes as she stared blankly ahead of her, half blinded by the snow and drinking in peace until a half an hour had passed. Legend speaks of how the great roc could blot out the sun, merely by existing. Still, she was alarmed as she watched the edge of darkness creep across the clearing rapidly toward her. Her breath caught in her throat as she looked upward, blinking at the underside of a creature that shouldn't scientifically exist, much less be flying with those impossible wings so high up in the sky. Chloe crouched down further, feeling a moment of vertigo. It appeared to be still quite high in the sky but... it was so big. Panic crept into her veins as she watched it circle, all the old stories of Sinbad and Napoleon repeating themselves in a cacophony in her brain. It felt like she watched it turn and soar and circle forever, thinking again 'It can't get any bigger.' gradually pressing lower and lower to the ground until she was flat on her stomach, looking up in terror. 'Impossible' was the only word left in her vocabulary. The space she'd dragged the mock roc into was much to small for the gigantic bird to land. She felt a distinct moment of dismay as she realized this - the plan would fail, she would fail. The bait proved too alluring, however, and those talons - big enough to lift three grown bull elephants - lowered, extended outward, wings clipped close to the body and spread out and now Chloe was clinging to the shrubs for dear life as the powerful back-wind created a mini wind storm. She couldn't hear the sound of her shrill scream of panic as those talons curled around the mock roc, a powerful downward thrust of those impossible wings pressed all breathe from her lungs, flattening her to the ground, eyes shut tight. It was fifteen minutes until the shadow finally passed over her, the sun finding her still pressed flat on her stomach, staring at the space before her in awe and terror. What had just happened was possibly the most terrifying moment in her entire life and she hadn't even been in any real danger. Sitting up she brushed the snow from her with trembling hands, remembering the tracking device Julian had given her and switched the timer on. Two hours... and then she'd begin her search... Time passed indefinitely until the alarm went off, jolting Chloe from her half-aware state. She'd been staring at the spot that the mock roc had been, the indentations of the skis, the giant divots in the earth where the roc had drug them forward as it lifted back into the sky. "Oh... the hard part." She looked down at the small digital screen, getting to her feet and stretching her cramped legs. The tracker indicated that she was to head north-west. Looking up she gave a heavy sigh - ahead about the length of a football field, was the beginning of an incline. With a firm nod she set off forward, eyes half on the tracker, half on the ground in front of her. Frozen earth changed to cold rock, the incline gradually rose until she'd finally reached the point where she'd have to climb. "I should have thought of this..." she murmured to herself as she placed the device in her pocket, made sure her gloves were tight, and began to ascend. There were foot and hand holds abound and flat-ish areas where she checked the tracker. There had been one particularly terrifying moment when her foot had slipped out from under her and she fell a few centimeters, cheek sliding painfully against the rock. She took a moment to catch her breath, listening to her heart beating out a sharp staccato in her ears as she patted a handkerchief she carried with her tenderly against her cheek until she was sure she'd stopped the bleeding, and then she pressed on. Up, high, higher, highest. The tracker emitted clicks and buzzes that steadily grew in volume until she had to turn it off. Just above her she could see the tail end of the paper mache creation, just a bit more of a climb away. Chloe paused, crouched fearfully on the rock as she listened for any sounds of movement. Only the sound of snowfall reached her ears. Gathering her courage she moved upward, achingly slow and silent, her breaths unconsciously shallow. One hand, two, and then she was lifting herself up slowly to gaze over the edge of the rock. Her heart nearly stopped for the third time that day as the deadly curved beak of the roc lay inches from where she was. But there was something wrong, no wind, no movement. The eyes were glassy and still. Dead. Holding her breath she pulled herself onto the roc's ledge, amazed at the complex mass of tree trunks and miscellaneous other material that made up the creature's nest. She was tired of climbing by now, but she eagerly clambered up the nest's outer edge, finding the mock roc within, looking quite a bit worse for wear. Her eyes immediately searched at the head of the lumpy creation, catching a glimmer, a shimmer. The bottle! It's survived! With a new surge of energy she half slid down the side, hands extended outward eagerly to come in contact with the familiar glass, peering eagerly within to see if her effort had been rewarded... ~
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Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2005 8:40 am
Jounral entry 3 - Crisis
Not good, not good at all. It wasn't until I returned home that I realized a rather sizeable crack in the soul bottle. I'm not sure when it happened, perhaps during the time that I wasn't with it, or while I was making my way back down the mountain after reaping the Roc's soul.
Either way I'm going to try to catch Dr. Kyou as soon as I can to give it to him. It'd be too much of a disappointment after going to all that trouble to get the soul, not to mention I don't want to have to ask Dr. Kyou for another bottle, I can only imagine the cost it must be to make them...
~
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Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 12:29 pm
Journal entry 4 - The waiting startsChloe Star Chloe entered the labratory building, a rather large bandage on one of her cheeks and a smaller bandage wrapped about her right hand. She looked rather harassed and urgent, carrying a black suit-case that looked just a bit too heavy for her. She moved towards the back of the area where the sliding doors that would admit entry into the Lab 305, calling out louder than would be usual for her. "D-Dr. Kyou! Are you here?" Dr. Kyou "Yes..?" Kyou opened the cafeteria door right opposite from his lab doors, still chewing on the termometer although his migraine had went away weeks ago. Kyou had been staying in the cafeteria near the door, or in the first 'living room' in his lab during working hours. Because he's going to depend on his hearing to notice people visiting the lab. The lab seriously needs some sort of visitor tracking system that could notify Kyou when people visit. Or people should use the mic on the reception desk more. "Chloe! What's the matter?" Chloe Chloe gave a soft sigh of relief at seeing Dr. Kyou, carefully setting the suitcase down on the ground and flipping open the tabs. "Kyou I... I'm sorry, but I accidently... the bottle cracked while I was getting the soul. I don't know when it happened." She took the soul bottle out carefully, gingerly holding it out for Dr. Kyou to see and take if he so chose. Kyou "What?! The bottle cracked?!" Kyou gasps in shock. He took the bottle carefully from Chloe's hands, running a finger across the small crack near the bottom of the sphere shaped bottle. "You know, the glass for this bottle is almost half an inch thick... what did you do to the bottle to make a crack like that on it?!" Aki Ana Hurrying down the sidewalk, sweater wrapped close around her, Aki smiled in the crisp air. Finally, the heat had given way....her nose and cheeks were pink in the slight breeze. Burrowing her chin down a bit into her scarf, Aki paused outside the lab doors. She hoped she'd come at the right time. Levi had been playing the messages on the answering machine...who knew if it had actually been Dr. Kyou that called! With that boy, anything was possible. Sliding her sling bag around to rest against her hip, she trotted up the few steps and strolled to the door. Aki pulled off her gloves, tucking them into her bag before giving her fingers a quick rub. Pushing the door open and slipping inside quickly, she tried to keep the cold air out and the warm air in. She was so excited, the thought of seeing Aria was enough to keep her spirits up. Pausing for a moment, seeing Kyou had company already, Aki smiled at the pair and wandered towards the sitting area. It looked like something urgent was going on, and she was in no hurry! Chloe "Ahh.. w-well.." She clasped her hands together in front of her, giving a sheepish look. "I let the Roc carry it away in a Mock Roc that Julain made for me and covered in girl Roc pheromones... and... then I carried it down a mountain.. I fell once, but I hadn't thought that it cracked. I didn't notice until I got home that it was like that." She gave another sheepish look up at Kyou before looking anxious again. "Is it going to be alright? The soul won't be damaged will it?" Kyou Kyou ran his finger over the crack for a second time, feeling the cool air slowly seeping out from inside. "This may affect your Raevan a little, but don't worry, the soul is still intact within the bottle... shouldn't be too much of a problem..." I hope... Kyou thought darkly. Raising his sight to the reception area at the sound of main doors sliding open, Kyou noticed Aki coming in. "Come with me." he simply said as he pulled Chloe by the wrist to the reception area, approaching Aki. "I want to introduce you to Miss Aki, she's one of the raevan owners." he whispered to Chloe, "I want you to interact a little with her before you start your job..." Aki Glancing up as the two approached, Aki's smile grew a touch wider...though she felt suddenly uncertain. Kyou was talking, but she hadn't been listening...had she missed the woman's name? Rising briefly, she offered her hand to the girl, noting the distraught lines that tugged at her features. "Hello! Good to meet you!" They'd been examining a bottle, hadn't they? A...soul bottle. Keeping her lips pressed shut in a smile, Aki didn't ask...she didn't want to pry. "If this is a bad time..." Chloe "Ah.." Chloe nodded to Dr. Kyou, still anxious about the state of the soul and the Raevan that would develop from the mix of them. Her stomach felt cramped tight but she turned and gave a small smile to the woman before her, ready to take the task. "Hello, Ms. Aki, I'm Chloe Star." She shook Aki's hand a bit shyly. "Oh.. Oh, don't worry." She gave a small, slightly strained smile at the other woman as she let go of her hand. "No need to leave, you must have come for a reason?" She absently reached into one of her pockets and pulled out a small hand notepad and pencil, flipping it open and making a small note to herself that read 'Ms. Aki -' Kyou "Now that we've known each other's names, maybe we could proceed into the lab for this grave matter..." he stared at the cracked soul bottle as he spoke. He had been putting his hand over the bottle's crack ever since he's holding it, the cold air feels very confortable but yet at the same time, it gives Kyou an eerie shiver as well. The Roc's soul... Kyou thought, the soul seems to emit a malicious aura through the tiny crack. "Oh um, and for Aki's case, it's something positively happier." he smiled apologeticly, afraid that he may had brought the entire atmosphere down. "Now if you please, follow me.." Chloe "Mhhhnnn.." The sound Chloe made was decidedly distressed. She bit her lip and followed Dr. Kyou, taking a moment to glance over her shoulder toward Aki to be sure the other girl was following. She couldn't begrudge the other her good news but she did feel a tiny bit of jelousy mix in with the worry and anxiety. Aki Adjusting her bag, careful not to disturb the contents within, Aki nodded and followed. Her eyes had wandered again to the bottle...this time noting Kyou's hand carefully and protectively over it. Chloe's stress was becoming clearer. The thought of good news warred with her empathy for the other woman. Falling into step beside Chloe for a moment, Aki gave her a small smile of hope. There was little she could say, not knowing the situation. Clutching the strap of her sling bag with both hands, she filed towards the door behind the others. She'd never seen the inside of the lab before! "Happiness can wait, if there is something urgent that needs taken care of." Her stomach was full of butterflies. She didn't particularly want to wait, but that didn't mean she wouldn't do it with a smile on her face if that was what was needed! Kyou With a small beep, the door to the lab opened. The small living room inside smells of lavender, a small burner was placed on a small table on the other end of the room beside the door that leads to the lab. Lately Kyou had taken up aroma therapy to release stress. Kyou walked across the room and unlocked the door to the lab. He hold the door open for Miss Aki to enter, "Go on, she's inside" he smiled. Aki Glancing again to Chloe, mouth half open in protest, Aki sighed and smiled. Simply nodding, she took a slow step forward. "Thank you!" There wasn't much else to say. Walking slowly into the lab, breathing deep at the scent of lavender, she stepped inside. Aki raised her eyes and took a look around, letting out her breath and the butterflies with it. What she saw...was beautiful. Kyou "She may look a little different from Aria, because she's 'reborned'..." Kyou said, concerned knitted on his eyebrow. He's worried and was wondering where is Lazarus as well. It doesn't seem to be natural for Lazzie to not be around to corrupt a newborn Raevan. He eyed every corner of the laboratory before deciding that Lazarus is hiding in his sleeping quarters. "C'mon Chloe, you wanna take a look at Aki's pretty Raevan as well?" Kyou ushered Chloe to enter the labroom too as he stepped inside himself. Chloe "Well.. I..." She bit her lip, torn between doing the polite thing and waiting and looking at Aki's new raevan and the anxiousness that had churned into a raging sick swirl within her stomach. "K-Kyou... you said that it was very dire... about my bottle being cracked. I... do you think.. we could do something about it?" She gave an apologetic look to Aki, her hands extending outward in front of her toward the other woman as if to say 'I'm sorry' Kyou The happiness Aki was feeling shone in her eyes like stars in the night, Kyou was actually feeling very relieved that he had did a good deed for both Aki and Aria. "It's my pleasure.." Kyou smiled sweetly, as he bowed in a gentleman-ly way in front of Aki, "...to serve a beautiful lady such as you." He stood straight back up and noticed that he's still holding onto Chloe's soul bottle. "Oh no!" he exclaimed as he quickly rushed to the nearest Raevan rank. He opened the hatch and immediately plopped in the bottle. "Chloe, could you hand me your fel essence?" he hold out a hand towards Chloe. Chloe Chloe paused, gave a sort of strangled sound of alarm, and shot out from the room toward where she'd left the case that had been holding the bottle, finding the essence still there and grabbing it in her bare hand. She winced slightly at the immediate cold that shot up to her wrist and hurried back, placeing the vial very carefully into Kyou's hand She watched anxiously as Dr. Kyou incerted the fel essence into another slot, closed it, punched in a number code and pressed a red button. It seemed as though all tension and anxiousness escaped with her breath as she exhaled deeply, watching a swirling cloud of gray-blue substance enter into the tank. Her body physically sagged in relief, leaning slightly agianst a nearby wall. "It.. It'll be alright now, won't it?" She was distracted further from her anxiety as her eye caught sight of the lavender beauty that floated, soft curls and ribbons swaying lightly in idle movement from her natural breathing. "Oh...my.." She couldn't say much more. Kyou "Phew.." Kyou wiped the cold sweat on his forehead with his sleeve. "That should do it for now... you just have to wait for a while for it to emerge then." He turned around towards Chloe, giving her a reassuring pat on her shoulder. "Don't worry too much... but next time, please be more careful with soul bottles..." Aki Aki watched silently as the process was started anew before her. Unconsciously leaning to the side, she was surprised to feel Meli press against her as well. Wide eyed, the two watched and waited, looking surprisingly like kin. Sighing as Chloe did, Aki finally smiled as the tension in the room seemed to ease. Melisande's cheeks dusted a bit pinker at Chloe's soft words...the Frei unconsciously drifted a bit closer to Ms. Star as her fingers slid from Aki's. Aki blushed as well, at Kyou's words...remembering her own careless incident with the soul bottle. Blinking as Meli's hand left hers, she watched the girl approach Chloe with a bit of confusion. "Melisande?" The Frei stopped, as though swayed by Aki's words. Raising a hand, she brushed Chloe's temple like she was reaching for flowers in the woman's hair. Ribbons swaying as she pushed back, Melisande left her with a just a reassuring pat and a ghost of a smile. Chloe "I.. I will.. I'm sorry, Dr. Kyou." She felt somewhere between tears and collapse and then... Her eyes widened as she took a soft breath in, the touch so light and faint that it didn't even cause the edgy lab assistant to startle. Her eyes stayed on the delicate Frei, the faint curve of lips and sway of cloth. A small smile of her own wearily appeared and she turned to look toward Aki. Now that she was in less of a state of panic, perhaps they could be a bit more chatty. She ran a hand through her hair. "Sorry.. for all the hurry earlier. M...My bottle got cracked, there was danger to the soul in it.." Aki Taking Melisande's hand gratefully once again, Aki shook her head and smiled in relief. "No, not at all! I'm glad everything is okay. He..." Sparing a fond glance for Kyou, giving him a smile that almost dimpled it was so heartfelt, Aki shrugged. "He is good at what he does." Aria had been given a second chance, and Chloe's hard earned soul was safe. Suddenly, Aki wanted nothing more than to be safe at home...warm tea and soft lights, and the crashing rush of the ocean. "Do you...want to come over for dinner? I understand if you already have plans, but..." Aki glanced to Melisande to see if the girl concurred. Little more than curiosity shone upon the Frei's face...her eyes still bright and settled upon Ms. Star. "We'd love to have you. Both of you, if you have time, Kyou!" She winked at her brother in law and gave Meli's hand a squeeze. The doctor looked a bit busy, but Aki wanted to be sure to extend the invitation. Not that he needed one...he was family! Chloe "Oh." Chloe had felt an instant liking for this women upon meeting her, but... "I.. I couldn't." She bowed her head toward Aki shyly. "I'm sorry.. thank you, though.." She gave a small sigh, letting her hands find their way into her labcoat pockets, finding her notebook and taking it out, jotting down the rest of the note she'd taken earlier. 'Ms. Aki - Song/Melisande' She wearily put the utensiles back. "Thank you, Dr. Kyou... I'm very sorry that this happened, I'll be far more gentle with the equipment from now on. Thank you.. so much." She sighed and turned to Aki and Meli. "Perhaps we'll see each other around again..? I work here, so.. It'd be nice." She nodded shyly - she didn't have many female aquaintences, or friends for that matter. "Goodbye." She waved politely to the other three before turning wearily and heading out of the labratory building, intent only on reaching home.
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Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 1:17 am
Journal entry 5 - Learn from your mistakes
Today was... not such a good day. First when Ms. Alexi came to pick up her soul bottle and fel essence vial (note: dragon lich breath), Dr. Tsu reminded me that I forgot to have her sign a waiver promising that she wouldn't try to steal any of the technology from Dr. Kyou's lab before I brought her back. He was very nice about it though, I must remember that he asked to borrow my Human Anatomy and Phisiology textbook.
And then, before all this, I had brought Dr. Kyou's fel essence containment case out into the lab... I'd thought it'd be easier to reach from there, and it'd keep me from bothering Dr. Kyou while he was in his room... I think he was very displeased with me that I'd done this...
I don't feel like I'm doing a very good job at being a lab assistant... but Julian was right when he told me I should try and keep trying for the things I want. I'll remember the lessons I learnt today.
But it wasn't completely bad, I did get to meet Ms. Alexi, she's a very nice and slightly pecular woman, she has wings! I'm not sure what race she might be, exactly, my suspicion runs toward the angelic beings, but I can't just assume. She was very kind although... That voice... it gives me shivers to remember. There's something that just feels wrong about having another voice in my head like that. My mind is... mine..
I also met Ms. Ballentine (note: supernova remnant), who was very nice too. She seemed like she was forgetful, a lot like me! She told me she has a lot of children, so I'm sure she'll enjoy having one more to care for!
Reminder to self: Send message to Ms. Shuura and Mr. Raife about the pick-up of their fel essence and bottles.
~
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Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2005 9:28 am
Journal entry 6 - Making preparations
Chloe gave a small sigh as the last item was placed carefully in the moving van, where it would be taken to a location and kept safely in storage (for only a small fee). In a sudden jolt one night, Chloe had realized that there was no place for her Frei to sleep or call his own within her tiny apartment once it emerged, and so the laundry/storage room had been cleared out, and washed from floor to ceiling to make a small, cozy room.
She hoped he wouldn't mind the smell of bleach and detergent for a while...
Afterwards was the more difficult part - decoration. What did she get for someone she didn't yet know anything about? She didn't know what colour he liked, what textures or what would interest him, and so it was all a tricky game of trial and error, partly due to the aformentioned lack of knowledge of whom she was buying for and partly due to the lack of funds she had.
She gave a small sigh as she tucked her checkbook into her bag and headed into town by foot. First stop was to get a bed - she had the measurements of the room written down on a peice of paper so she could be sure it would fit.
"Can I help you, Miss?" A pleasently smiling woman sidled up beside Chloe as she looked over one of the display peices.
Chloe gave a small start, having been lost in thought - soft or hard? Springy? What would ice like, what would a gigantic bird like? "Ah? Oh." She gave a small nervous smile. "I... I was just looking. For a bed." She looked back down at the single she stood in front of, eyeing the price a bit nervously - nearly half of the limit she'd given herself to buy the soon-to-be new... roommate? Family member? Hmm...
"M'am..?"
"Wh.. oh! I'm sorry! Ahh... I think, yes. I'll take this bed. Do the blankets and pillows come with it or is it just the mattress, box-spring and frame?" At the employee's nod she gave a small sigh and nodded. "Oh good, then yes. I'd like this, please."
"Alright!" The woman lead Chloe over to a counter where she rung her up, pausing before pressing enter on the register to finish the transaction. "M'am? We have a service that will deliver this to your house if you'd like."
"Is... it any extra charge?"
"Yes."
Chloe paused, biting her lip before nodding. "Yes, I'd like for you to deliver it, please."
The woman smiled and nodded. "I'll just need your address, please." She slid a peice of paper and pen forward for Chloe to fill out, finishing the transaction. She gave the recipt back to Chloe and smiled. "Thank you, have a good day!"
Chloe sighed as she walked out of that store and into another, finding a nice array of soft blankets and pillows, picking out a blue and white scheme. This was starting to get expensive... "I'm glad I saved that desk that was in the room before." She sighed, standing a moment to wonder if she shouldn't head back home and save buying more things for him until after he arrived.
She gave a slight nod to herself and headed back home. It'd be best, she really didn't have the funds to afford it... and besides, she could be happy she was able to get him a bed all his own. With a satisfied sigh, she headed back home to where a pick-up truck waited.
~
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Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2005 11:06 am
Journal entry 8 - Visiting hours are from 5 - 9
It was late. Outside was dark and chilly, autumn leaves swirling listlessly around the feet of those passing by. Within the building, Chloe sat at her usual spot at the receptionist desk. She was hired as Kyou's assistant, but this is where she found herself most often.
It was something she had set for herself as a challenge, in a way. Being at the receptionist desk meant she had to interact with the people that stepped through that door. In doing this she was widening her horizons, she'd become a better lab assistant for Kyou, and a better friend to everyone else.
But it was late. Darkness fell sooner as winter drew closer, and nobody wanted to be out at this hour. The silence of the lab pressed down around her. She really had nothing left to do, she'd finished her book, she'd sorted, organized, and completed all files, and there was nobody here. Stretching slightly, she stepped back from the desk, edging just slightly toward the door that lead into the lab.
With her luck someone would probably... but she wanted... what if someone...
She shook her head to untangle the anxious knot of thoughts in her mind before glancing toward the front doors. Nobody ever came in this late. With a deep breath she stepped in front of the Lab 305 doorway, watching as the glass and metal slid open before her, as though she'd silently whispered 'open sesame', and she stepped through.
Back through the front portion, past the doorway to Dr. Tsu's ward, through another set of doors, and another and then...
The lab, soft beeps and churrs of electronic equipment were a melody to her. Familiar, soothing. Her shoes slapped softly against the tile floor as she found herself walking towards a tall glass cylindrical tube. The glass surface was obscured by a thin layer of ice and thick, swirling fog on the inside, on the outside an even thinner layer of frost.
Without thought she reached out to press her hand lightly against the cold surface, feeling the heat of her palm instantly burning a mark into the frost. A small smile curved her lips upward as she leaned close, her voice an alien whisper in the quiet of the lab. "Roux."
Leaning back, she let her hand drop softly to her side, watching as the frost ate away at the hand print she left behind until it was gone completely, turning as quietly as she had come and leaving the lab, returning once more to her post at the receptionist desk.
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Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 12:59 am
Journal entry 9 - Round-aboutI had a fun time with Aki and Meli, I'm really very sorry that I got called away as suddenly as I did. An Outing With Aki and Meli.I wonder...
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Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 1:00 am
Journal entry 10 - Hello, Roux.Chloe Star Chloe paused a moment, figiting eagerly with her scarf before tossing it over her shoulder and hurrying inside of the building, heading toward the back door that lead into Lab 305. Just that morning she'd recieved a call from Dr. Kyou. A very important call, a very exciting call. Roux had arrived. She stepped past the first set of doors and toward the other, heading inward toward the lab cafeteria where she finally stopped and waited, pacing back and forth in a fit of nervs and excitement. She was still quite a bit nervous about what side-effects there might be from the cracking of her soul bottle. Dr. Kyou With a loud SLAM Kyou leapt out of the lab door, wearing a thick scarf and desperately rubbing his hands on his arms in a failing attempt to keep himself warm. Small freckles of frost could be seen at the tips of his long hair. Is it snowing in the laboratory?! "Oh my God Chloe!! You're finally here!!" Kyou beamed gladly as he saw Chloe. Immediately he ran towards her and clasped her hand with his ice cold freezing hands. "Please help me!! Your Raevan is causing the room temperature in my room to drop drastically! Even my cup of hot coffee had turned into a coffee ice cube!!" ChloeStar Chloe gave quite a start of surprise as Kyou rushed up to her, grabbing her hands. She gasped in surprise at the chill of them, instantly moving to clasp her hands over his in an attempt to try to help warm him up. "Oh.. Oh my goodness! Dr. Kyou, you're freezing! R-Roux did this...?" She looked a bit taken aback and a bit delighted all at once. She began to head back toward Kyou's lab, looking back toward him. "Roux's already able to.. he can... he's dropped the temperature? Really?" She carefully peeped back into the lab, a visible shiver running through her as the wintery chill blew completely through her scarf and labcoat. Kyoupiruchi "Y...yeah.." Kyou shuddered at the freezing air in the room. "Some Raevans... are able to... use their powers even when they've just awaken... Lazarus used to be like that... but he wasn't able to control it..." Kyou explained as he huddled closer towards Chloe's back for warmth. "Maybe the ice fel essence... had a lot of pent up energy in it? The same theory could probably apply for.. Lazzie though..." "Go in Chloe, he's there by the window... get him out of the lab please!!" Kyou said, half begging. Lazarus was no where to be seen, he had probably ran away to somewhere else due to the low temperature. ChloeStar Chloe gave a nod, swallowing nervously before stepping into the lab, shoulders instantly haunching forward as she brought her hands up to hug her arms, giving a little shiver. The temperature was absolutely frigid, which was most likely dangerous to the delicate lab equipment. She made her way slowly toward the window, breath puffing out in front of her face in a vapoury gray fog. There, hovering above the ground, face looking out the window over the snowy white landscape that could be seen was the Raevan of Eternal Ice. "R-R-R-Roux..." Her teeth chattered as she edged forward more, emotion swelling up in her chest as she saw him, her Raevan. Her's. "O-Oh R-Roux!" The frosty Raevan turned slowly, gray wings giving a twitching flap as he turned his icy blue eyes on Chloe, face blank although his eyebrows were slightly creased as though he wished to frown but didn't exactly know what it meant to do it. "Oh, R-Roux... you're here. W-Welco- H-Happy Bi-... H-Hello!" So long had she waited for his arrival, dreams and daydreams and worries and look, it didn't even seem like anything was wrong with him even though the soul bottle had been cracked! A few paces forward and her arms were out, not even putting thought into it as she wrapped them around Roux and hugged him out of pure joy. The hug caused the cold air to stop as the Raevan seemed to be taken off guard, looking completely shocked that he was being touched. He was still a moment before his arms raised and he brought his hands to Chloe's shoulders lightly and... pushed. Chloe was forcefully detatched from Roux, blinking in startlement up at him as his lips curved downward in a disapproving frown. "Roux?" "Roux?" His voice was fluty and light to match his whispy, almost ghost-like apperance. Chloe beamed. "Yes, you are Roux!" "Roux..."The lab assistant looked back toward the doorway, the air in the lab beginning to warm up as Roux had obviously stopped freezing the place. "Dr. Kyou.. I th-think it's safe now." Kyoupiruchi Kyou somehow crawled onto the sofa and had a thick blanket wrapped around him when Chloe turned around. "Oh.. good..." Kyou sighed in relief, a light white cloud emerged from his mouth as he breath. "But it'll take a while to clean this place up..." he looked around his lab, once again in a huge mess. "I wish these Raevans would stop messing my lab up..* ChloeStar Chloe smiled at Kyou with his warm blanket wrapped around himself. "I'm so sorry Roux did this... I'll help you clean it up, Dr. Kyou." She glanced back over her shoulder, undable to keep her eyes from the wintery cold Raevan. He turned to look at her as she stared up at him, silvery hair falling in front of his face as he watched her with a blank gaze. Kyoupiruchi Feeling a little awkward at the situation, Kyou jumped out from his blanket. "Alright then, we'll start cleaning up tomorrow morning! As for now, I think it's best if you bring him home first..." he (tried to) smiled warmly, as he pushed Chloe's shoulder lightly, gesturing her to get out of the lab. Tiny cracking sound could be heard as the frosts on his hair started to fall off. Before going back into his lab though, he took Chloe's hands into his and gave it a few soft pats. "Oh by the way, you get an A for your first assignment as the lab assistant! Congratulations Chloe!!" he beamed. ChloeStar Chloe got the distinct feeling that she was being rushed out, feeling ashamed that her Raevan had caused Kyou so much trouble, but when he paused and took her hand and spoke everything vanished and she felt elated and giddy again. "Oh... Oh!" She flushed and smiled. "Thank you, Dr. Kyou!" She hadn't realized she'd been tested but it was wonderful to know she'd earned an A! She turned, reaching out to gently tug at Roux's elbow, earning a frosty blank look from the Frei as she lead him out of the labratory into the winter world outside. He seemed to instantly flourish and brighten as he began to pass over the snow, the ice crystals disappearing as the Ice Raeven absorbed the essence, leaving damp cement and grass in his wake, following Chloe home.
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Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 1:01 am
Journal entry 11 - Welcome home
"Right this way, we're nearly there."
Chloe stopped at her apartment door, trying her best to ignore the blatant stares that were coming her way. It was Roux that was currently drawing all the attention. His thin, wispy apperance and the fact that where his waist was supposed to be, he promptly ended in a vapourous cloud of blue, a glowing rune visible through the spiral of cloth.
She fumbled a moment with the key before turning the lock and swinging the door open, stepping inside and motioning for the Frei to follow. He followed quietly and she shut the door behind her, sighing as she locked it.
She smiled and straightened back up, holding out her hands slightly to encompas the room. "Well, Roux... Welcome home!" Along the cealing a banner was streatched saying just those words 'Welcome home, Roux!' A few balloons floated limply from where they were anchored on the kitchen counter.
Chloe and the Raevan were still a while. She gazing in admiration, interest and pride - he in blank, barely visible curiosity. He was like a clean slate, something new for her to mold and shape and show right and wrong. For a moment she was struck by the sudden fact that she could almost officially be considered a mother.
"W...Well. The grand tour, then?" She stepped forward, shrugging out of her labcoat and setting it on the back of a chair as she stepped into the living room area. "This is the living room." She paused, wondering how in the world she should even begin trying to explain everything. "I watch the news out here, on the TV, and if I have a guest we sit out here and I entertain them. To entertain is to... keep them occupied. Like I'm doing right now with you! Sort of." She pushed her glasses up along the bridge of her nose as she smiled to Roux.
"Uhm... ah, yes." She turned, and walked into the kitchen area. Roux floated behind, looking down at the counter and lightly resting his hands on the surface, sliding them along the foux marble. "This is where I cook meals, breakfast, the most important, lunch, and dinner! Three squares a day... I hope you like my cooking.." Once more she stood, letting Roux roam over the different objects. He touched the stove, the sink, finally coming to the refridgerator.
Chloe smiled, stepped around him and opened it up. For the first time Roux's expression changed from faintly disapproving to surprise. His eyes widened and his lips parted slightly in surprise as he felt the cold. He moved forward, reaching his hands inside and holding them up, almost like one might do with a fire.
Chloe chuckled and closed the door. "Alright then... onward?"
Of course Roux didn't reply, his expression had gone back to that beautiful, vacant gaze. She wondered if he was learning anything, he didn't show signs of it.
As she lead him down the hallway to the bedrooms she was struck by a moment of alarm. What if he wasn't intelligent? What if that had been the reprocusion of having the bottle crack? She'd been relieved at the time of recieving him, for he hadn't appeared to be disfigured in some manner.
"Roux?"
The Frei's eyes moved to focus on her.
She gave a sigh. He seemed intelligent. He was certainly able to recognize his name and pay attention when it was spoken. Then perhaps his silence and curious stare were just how all Frei were when they first emerged. In a sense he had just been born.
"Alright... here, Roux." She opened the bathroom door and showed him in. "This is the bathroom." She paused awkwardly. "I... don't suppose you'll need it too much yet save for washing."
Once more Chloe moved to leave the room but Roux had stopped - eyes fixed firmly on his reflection in the bathroom mirror. He reached up, eyes following the hand that also reached up in it's reflective surface. He half turned to Chloe, mouth open as though he wished to speak but saying nothing because he had no words.
"It's a reflection, that's you, Roux!"
"Roux."
"Yes!" Chloe clapped happily, moving so that her reflection was visible as well. "See? It takes the image that is in front of it and reflects it back, except it's backwards. You're left hand looks like your right and vice versa."
The Ice Raevan watched himself for a while before turning back to Chloe, a signal that he was finished with the mirror. Chloe lead him out to the door directly across, opening it carefully.
"This.. this is my room, Roux. I sleep here. When you sleep your body is in a relaxed state and can revivify and rest! When you wake up you feel.. well more awake, I suppose. I like to work in here as well."
The Raevan looked around the room quietly, hovering over toward the bed and running a hand along the comforter, moving to 'sit' down on it. He looked up at Chloe, head cocked to the side. She smiled gently at him before reaching forward to lightly touch his shoulder, motioning for him to get up again. "I have a surprise for you."
She lead him back out and down the hall, motioning for him to open the door. He reached down, looking back toward Chloe for a moment before taking the knob and turning it as he'd observed her dooing and letting the door open, floating inside.
"This is your room, Roux!" She beamed as he floated over to the bed that was in this room as well and lowered himself over it. She remained outside the doorway, smiling in. "You can come here to be alone if you want to. Keep special things here, keep work here, whatever you like!"
She was about to explain more when the phone rang. She hurried into the living room to pick it up. It was Aki, and she was inviting them both for breakfast...
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Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 10:39 pm
Journal entry 12 - The Call of the HuntAki invited Roux and I to breakfast with her and Meli. I've been declining her of this offer too often and was happy to accept this time, and now I had Roux to bring with! It was exciting to be able to let Roux meet another Frei, Melisande, the Raevan of Divine Song. It was wonderful, it seemed interaction with another Raevan had brought Roux around a little bit and he talked! The call.
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Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2006 4:56 pm
Jounral entry 13 - Mirror, mirror on the wall
Chloe gave a soft sound of distress as she knocked lightly on the bathroom door.
"Roux? Roux... could you please unlock the door? I need to take a shower, I'll be late at the lab. Roux, please?"
Chloe shifted awkwardly from foot to foot as she once more tapped at the door. Roux had developed quite a fondness for the bathroom mirror. Chloe suspected it was not because he was vain, but something else, though what she couldn't know.
Gradually he began comandeering the bathroom more often, delaying her in the mornings, scowling at her when she asked him politely to leave so she could get ready, and down-right going into a foul mood when she pulled him out of the house to take him to work with her, resulting in a cold front lobby and a moping Roux for the first few hours of the day.
But this was a new first. He'd actually locked her out of the bathroom and the time for work was drawing closer and closer. Not to mention another type of emergency was surmounting. Chloe took a deep breath and leaned her forehead against the door, voice pitching upward slightly in alarm.
"Roux, please? Let me in..."
And then an idea struck her. Of course, why had she been so foolish as to not think of this before? She licked her lips nervously, hoping it would work. "Roux, would you like a mirror of your own? Hm? You can have it in your room, and I won't bother you in there."
Silence...
"Y-You could... have a .. a full length one... if you wanted."
Silence...
Chloe didn't know what better of an offer she could make! She was about to give up and try pleading again when the lock clicked and the knob twisted, Roux peering out through the crack. His expression was wary.
"I?"
Chloe paused a moment, a look of concerned sadness on her face as she pressed her lips together. "I, what?" She spoke gently, encouragingly.
The Frei hardly ever spoke and she'd only ever heard him utter a few words, most of the time it was his own name. However whenever she'd attempted to teach him or urdge him to say more he'd get angry and retreat into his room with a slam of the door. She tread carefully.
As it was, Roux scowled and seemed to consider locking te door shut again before giving a huff of exasperation. "I want. Yes."
A thrill of excitement went through her. It was small but it was a start. She nodded. "Alright then, we'll get you a biiiiig mirror after work at the lab today. Please let me in the bathroom now?"
Roux opened the door fully and floated out, allowing Chloe to enter. She rushed inward and closed the door behind her, giving a soft sigh as she went about getting ready for work.
She'd have to think of Roux's obsession with the mirror some other time.
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Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2006 5:34 pm
Journal Entry 14 - Mind like a sieve
Oh my, it's so good to have access to my computer again! I forgot my password and had to wait until I had enough gold to hire a profesional computer person so he could fix it. I have a new password now and I've written it down... but it's also something I'm sure I won't ever forget!
It's Roux1215!
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Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 10:19 am
Journal Entry 15 - Flowers on the sand (A Vacation Memoir)
The time had been taken off as a vacation, and for the most part it was spent that way. She took Roux with her, a trip to a meager rental home in the luxuriously tropical and bright Island of Gambino. Days were spent along the beach, exploring the shops. She bought Roux some of the things he had decided he wanted, even though she knew she was only assisting in spoiling him further.
A parisol decorated with pastel blues and white snowflakes to block the sun, a pair of rather expensive sunglasses, countless helpings of snow cones and ice creams and of course a particular shiny piece of jewlery that had suddenly caught his eye. It was a silver trinket, probably meant to be a woman's brooch, with a polished jade stone set into it.
Over time the outings slowed, Chloe allowed Roux to float about the house or outside as he pleased (though he often pleased to stay inside where it was air conditioned). Even the badly-tempered, self-indulging ice Frei noticed a change. He never bothered to confront her about it, instead simply leaving her alone so he could inspect himself in the mirror in peace.
The second to final day of their vacation Chloe brought him to the beach at dusk. Roux came reluctantly, scowling darkly at the rolling waves and being sure to hover well above them to avoid getting wet. She was so distant and so silent that he was too intristed in seeing what she wanted to completely rebel.
Chloe carried a bouquet of flowers, an arrangement of all colours, as she walked down along the sand barefoot, looking out at the water quietly. No stutters... no nervous attempts at a soon to be failed conversation. She stopped and watched the water for a long time, Roux hovering behind and slightly less patiently behind.
After a while she dropped the flowers on the sand, giving a small sigh. She turned back to Roux, smiling wanly and waving for him to follow back to the hut. They were packed, and would leave back to the labs the next day.
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