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 Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 4:25 pm
By the look in the Frei's eyes Zeke could tell that the Raevan didn't believe what he had said about love. Movies and television shows must have gotten to him first. That was okay though, he'd learn right in time, as the media only cast a shallow image of how the emotion sparked and grew between two people. It wasn't a good source, but it was a start, especially if said media put up or showed spans of time in the programming. This was done either by outright telling the audience or in subtle ways like changing seasons out a window. Effective if you were paying attention. Zeke chuckled at the tone given with the word before being nudged by his almost-sister, his attention going right back to her after mock-acting like he was about to fall off his seat.
"You're a good sister to him, lightening his punishment like that." Zeke said with a grin, tossing a wink in there too for good measure. He was about to continue on, remarking to the second part of her statement, but the sharp sound she made as he told her of his usual dinner plans made him flinch. He was in trouble for that, and a sheepish smile melted his grin. "You'll force me to sink under the table if you tell him that Alex." He was serious, just imagining the look on Brad's face when the older man was told made him worry. Zeke was certain Brad wouldn't be mad, but probably upset with him. He couldn't help it though; Zeke could not cook anything hot save for scrambled eggs and toast. Everything else burned under his hand and that made him lose confidence in himself and preparing heated food. Besides, toast and eggs got very bland very fast. The last part of the Italian's statement made a chuckle and flushing of red rise out of him, as well as had him relax when her smile came back, though he went back to Zul as the Raevan spoke up.
"You sure?" A wise smile came up and he turned to Alex to flash it at her, continuing on as he turned back to the Frei. "I dunno Zul, you look like someone who would look pretty decent in red. And besides, clothes are great, especially in winter when it gets really cold out. Cut dress though, huh?" He had to stop there at Alex's next outburst, hopping off the stool to embrace the woman around the shoulders while humor lit up his eyes. These two were quite the duo in Zeke's opinion and he was laughing quite a lot today because of them. "I'm sure you've got great legs Alex!" The younger man's cheek rubbed against naturally dark hair in a friendly way while his words coming out in a rushed half-whisper. Once they were passed over his lips he quickly released the woman, backing up and hopping onto his seat again before Alex had a chance to grab him or strike out.
"I'm glad you like the idea!" He quickly changed the topic over to the ditzy spelunking idea, grin showing that he was guilty of saying what he did before, and playfully so. "Maybe before we go we can have a huge bonfire out on the beach where we ritualistically torch all your unneeded papers and files. And-or my old textbooks that I don't need anymore and that were a real thorn in my side. Either way it'll be fun." He enunciated the last word in a sing-song voice as though he was coaxing the woman to think on his crazy idea, though it was general silliness. When Alex began to explain the reason why this Rivener Raevan had a full stomach, as well as the growth of all Raevans, Zeke found himself tugged further into interest. He looked at Zul's ribbon when Alex reached for it, cocking his head to the side. The attached part made another question come to mind.
"So that...Ribbon I guess would be the best word for it...Will curl upwards eventually and he'll grow, or form, more of a torso? Or am I in a completely different ballpark on this one?" Confusing, but fascinating. And a heck of a lot more interesting than reviewing anatomy and genetics in his graduate school classes for end of the semester finals. He'd definitely love to learn more about these beings, but as he waited for Alex's answer Zul spoke up again, causing his head to turn. The Frei's happy tone at the fact this other Raevan could take his top off made a weak, faintly uncomfortable chuckle escape him. "Well...That's nice Zul." As he spoke his hand reached over and gave a pat to Alex's shoulder, certain the woman was probably embarrassed by her charge's joy at something like that, especially if he was lusting after this other Raevan.
"Valentine's Day?" His hand kept patting but his face was back to Zul's direction, pausing to count off the months. "So...February, March, April, May...Three months you've known this other Raevan." Roughly three months and, judging by Alex's expressions through everything, probably not a lot of meetings in that time. And Zul didn't seem to understand it much at all. Oh dear. Yes, in some ways meeting on Valentines Day was romantic but...All he could do was smile at the Raevan. Like Alex had just said, he was practically a child at this time. Still learning, but still naive about things. "That's nice Zul."
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Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 5:18 pm
Alex grunted softly in return to Zeke's words, green eyes rolling with good humor. "I'll force him to move in with you is what I'll do." Her threat was only half-hearted, but the half of it was still more a promise than anything. "I always thought it was women who were difficult in a relationship, but you two have given me a whole new understanding on such complications."
A roguish grin formed at her playful words, shaking her head with amusement; her mirth was cut short as Zeke jumped up and embraced her, her own arms curling around his back with slightly hooked fingers and a soft, teasing growl. "If you saw them, you wouldn't think so!" The woman gave an indignant huff, eyes sliding to the side; it was quite possible that their innocent topic of conversation had struck a nerve with the way her cheeks flushed, left leg rubbing against her right unconsciously.
"No," he replied slowly, but perhaps as the nature of demons were, his mind wandered. He wondered if having Rivener wrapped up around him was the same as wearing his colors; the idea made him positively grin, looking more the part of his soul in that moment. Bemused blue eyes turned over the two humans, replying in a perfectly neutral tone, "Less is more." Zul actually laughed as his woman scoffed at him, the sound rich and full.
A thoughtful nod followed Zeke's words, green eyes on the ribbon while Zul was finishing laughing. "I surmise so. Because Rivener's ribbon didn't seem to shrink so much as it did fill out, it may be more that the body fills between the curls rather than the ribbon itself moving." Her gaze flicked up to her charge's eyes, which returned her stare with a knowing silence. "I guess only they'd really know. Those of us that take care of them, we document their changes and learn what we can. Kyou - the doctor I work for - he has one too, Lazarus, who is also at the second stage. I've only seen three so far out of...possibly a dozen or so, that have grown." Alex thought she was fairly lucky to have known all three before their growth, finding the changes both tremendous and fascinating as a doctor herself.
Zul fixed his eyes then to Zeke, and in an expression Alex recognized from their previous disagreement, the Raevan's face lost most of his childish naivity. He smiled, and while the look he gave the man was no where near condescending, it held a type of understanding. "Three months," he agreed, adding on in that knowing tone, "I am seven months old, Zeke. I've known him half my life." His gloved hand rested over his partially formed chest, eyes closing while his smile remained. "We Raevans...are not the same. Not like humans. Not at all."
The Italian lowered her eyes while the Raevan talked to Zeke. She was grateful that his words weren't as angry as they were when he'd spoken to her, as if, perhaps, he'd come to some kind of peace with himself over the matter. Her gaze then shifted to her friend, giving him a light smile, "He likes to remind me how young he is, but how much wiser he is than me most of the time." Reaching out, she gently pushed the Raevan's shoulder, earning a wide grin in return. "I think he learned that from my brother too."
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Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 7:13 pm
"I dunno how that would be punishment, well my apartment is freakishly small so there is something there, but I'll gladly take him regardless." Zeke beamed at her and shrugged, caramel colored eyes alight with good humor. "I dunno how difficult we may be, personally I think we get along splendidly, but you love us both either way. Admit it!" He leaned forward on his stool slightly, searching her face for the admittance he was looking for, no matter how she might try to playfully deny it.
When he embraced her, Zeke didn't see her sideways glance but didn't tread any further on the topic, easing back into his comfortable position. There were much better things to talk about than legs, which Zul promptly gave them. The 'less is more' comment from the Frei and the scoff from his caretaker made the young man laugh outloud again. Zeke was literally tickled pink by this conversation and all its twists and turns into different areas of topic, his cheeks and neck practically glowed with the color. "I see. Well then, you've certainly got the most out of all of us Zul!" Zeke's hands clapped together once, the sound bouncing off the cabinets and walls of the kitchen. His laughter ebbed to soft, good humored chuckling, and his mouth shut to keep the sound inward as Alex answered and explained to him what the people at the Lab knew so far about Raevan growth.
Zeke was greatly surprised when his questioned idea was stated to be fairly spot on, eyes widening ever so slightly as that was made clear and explained. He sat in polite silence during Alex's talk, nodding here and there to things but mostly just absorbing information like a dyed and pierced sponge. A couple things brought more questions to mind and he spoke. "Since you said 'possibly a dozen or so', there's quite a few Raevans out there huh? And since this place is called Lab three-oh-five and you speak of general science stuff like documentation, studying, and the like, I take it Raevans aren't created like humans and animals are? Not through copulation, pregnancy, and birth, or sometimes egg laying?" His eyes flicked to the Gwee still sitting squatly on the counter top. Since it was a dragon, a reptile, it'd lay eggs and looking to Zul, Zeke couldn't fathom an egg being large enough to hold the Frei in, though the image that popped up in his head did amuse him.
A toss of his head cleared the image as he felt blue eyes on him from the side, so Zeke turned to look at the Frei. The look made his pierced brows tighten together in mild puzzlement, but at the Raevan began to explain Zeke found himself amused again. The Frei was quite the character and the young man found himself liking the Raevan more and more. He was quite the witty one. "Seven months huh? You really look older than that, but like you said, Raevans are not the same as humans." He smiled warmly at the Frei. "But that's what makes you unique and that's always good to have or be. You stand out in a crowd!" Alex's words brought an even wider expression to his lips, chuckling as she explained one of Zul's likes to him.
"I see. Well Zul," Back to the Raevan again. "You gotta remember that you don't know just about everything yet, but it's good to know you seem to be so willing to learn things. Seems that my darling boyfriend has already taught you a couple things." He winked to the Italian woman, chuckling bubbling up and his teasing tone starting again. "I think Brad can use it efficiently, he does have a couple of years on you, though he acts ten years younger. Since you're siblings, that gives you every right us flip it around and use it right back on him too!"
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Posted: Fri May 29, 2009 5:54 pm
A soft scoff followed his inquiry, eyes dubious as she peered into his own light brown ones. "I love you guys sometimes. You more than him it seems." Alex grinned widely, unable to help but tease the younger man that she'd already practically adopted as a younger brother. It was true that the elder Italian drove her batty sometimes, but she was guilty of doing the same to him - especially when it came to Zeke, but that was her little devious secret.
She laughed at his comment with good humor, amused by Zul's pleased and proud smile that formed at the off-handed compliment. The woman was grateful that the demon preferred to take most things at face value, not easily rankled or upset by little teasing words. "Yes," she replied to Zeke's first question, her smile softening, sitting a bit more upright on the stool as the questions took a professional turn again. "There's...over a dozen," she confirmed, not sure she was allowed to give an exact number, "new ones being born as Kyou has the time and means."
Alex looked briefly to Zul, who was suddenly not paying attention to either of them, looking towards the front door. As he floated off towards the foyer, she gave a shrug and lowered her voice; the words weren't a secret, but she still didn't like to speak of it so freely, so scientifically around Zul as though he was nothing more than a product of two items. He meant more to her than that! "It's kind of hard to believe until you see it," she explained, leaning over her legs. "Raevans are composed of two elements - a fel essence, which isn't of this world, and...a soul. One that the Guardian chooses." It almost sounded barbaric to her own ears, to hear it said as she was. "Zul was given to me, so I...I had no say in his...but it's just as well. I couldn't do that, you know?"
"I see. You have me leave for a few hours so you can charm my boyfriend. You're a very devious woman, Alessa." Brad rounded the foyer, a couple of plastic bags in his hands. He wore a pleasantly surprised smile to see the bi-colored haired man in his sister's home, putting the bags down by the entrance to the kitchen before unabashedly moving between the two and scooping Zeke up into an embrace. "Other than suffering my dear sister, to what do we owe this surprise?" he murmured softly, stealing a brief kiss.
The woman rolled her eyes with mock-disgust and moved out of the way as her brother attached to Zeke, instead picking up the discarded groceries and carrying them the rest of the way into the kitchen. "You're making dinner," she informed her older siblings matter-of-factly, drawing the ingredients out of the bags and putting them in the appropriate places. "Think of it as an excuse to keep Cakes here a little longer." Alex smirked, knowing she already won that battle.
"Here," Zul reappeared into the dining room and kitchen, carrying the rest of the bags and settling them next to his woman's own. "He brought me ice." The Raevan sounded absolutely delighted by this fact; it was a simple, favored past time of the Frei, to out-freeze the cubes or melt them, sometimes in different shapes or to build something out of what he had etched. There was a reason he liked the man so much, one who catered to his joys without it being a means to spoil him.
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Posted: Sun May 31, 2009 12:40 pm
A perky grin lit his features as Alex enunciated the word 'sometimes' in her admittance. He knew she was teasing him and also knew she loved himself and her brother more than than she was playfully letting on. He laughed with her at Zul's smile, the demonic Frei continuing to amuse him even when he spoke very little. Zeke shifted in his seat, hand reaching and tipping the glass at his lips. When the cup was set down again, it was drained of its liquid contents, and the soft clink of ice cubes against one another was momentarily audible. Once that was set aside he too straightened in his seat, looking interested as Alex answered his first question.
"Wow, so quite a few then. Kind of surprised I've only come across Zul, but then again I haven't been leaving my apartment for anything other than work and school." The idea that there were so many Raevans out there was making a part of him itch to get out a bit more, especially if there was an off chance he'd run into another of them, even if the encounter was just a brief pass on the opposite side of the street. He nodded to her last part, though there wasn't any real reason to other than to prove he was paying attention, wondering how long the span of time between Raevan births was. In any case, he figured, it'd probably have to be lengthy. Whatever means this Kyou person uses must have been exhausted each time and then taken some more to replenish what had been lost. "I see..."
He trailed off and mused to himself for the moment to wonder what exactly made the Raevans and how the process of creating a living thing like this was actually done. He was drawn out by Alex's leaning in movements, causing the young veterinarian to lurch slightly and suddenly before he regained himself and leaned in too, also watching Zul depart towards the entryway. Judging from her actions, Zeke had a feeling what she was going to tell him was either top secret, or something her Frei charge hadn't yet learned or been told. Maybe both, but either way, he situated himself over his own legs, arms crossing and supporting himself from toppling over accidentally. The first thing she spoke of, the "Fel Essence", confused him.
"Not of this world? How can that b--" His mouth snapped shut as the Italian woman spoke of the soul. Zeke's head cocked to the side, searching her face for a moment before fully settling on that she was serious. The first confused him, the second worried him. How did one just choose a soul and how was that getting a soul into a Raevan done? Those chewed at his brain but Zeke didn't dare ask, and merely nodded that he understood at her question. The topic went from lighthearted curiosity with informative answers to serious and something he didn't want to pry on about to his companion. She didn't appear to like that part.
"Brad!" The arrival of the Italian woman's brother made him jump with sudden surprise again and made the vet sit straight up with a lighthearted grin on his face. The man had impeccable timing and Zeke could feel the tight air caused by that last explanation already start dissipating. The young, pierced man was about to hop off the stool and go to his loved one as the other man set his bags down, but before he could Brad had already made his way over and Zeke was already wrapped up in a warm embrace. "I'm not suffering!" He said as face lit up at the stolen affection. He tilted himself back in the hug after briskly returning it himself, head shaking while he reined in some chuckling. "I came to surprise you with a visit! And by looking at your smile, my plan seems to have worked. Victory!" The gift was forgotten for the moment as Zeke looked up at his loved one with the proud happiness that always filtered out of him when Brad was around him. Then it finally came back to his mind and an expression of 'oh right!' crossed his face.
"Also to surprise you with a gift." He spoke that as Alex moved to get the discarded bags and Zul returned with the rest of them from outside, delighted at the ice he had been bought, his hand un-twining from around the older man's neck to gesture to the vase still sitting stoic in that pool of light on the counter top. His demeanor took on a twist as he coyly looked back to Brad, waiting for the older man's say on the white lily. Alex's words about her brother cooking dinner and using Zeke as an excuse made the young man laugh in his demure state, probably giving away that he had agreed with her on wanting the older Italian to cook, as well as blackmailing him into it; playful as it may be.
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Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 6:15 pm
The smile the larger man gave Zeke was full and warm, the giant of a man tilting his head to the side. "You're a stronger man that most, to put up with her. Goodness knows I hardly can--"
"You're an a**, B."
"--and we're blood relatives." Brad's smile faded a little in curiosity at the mention of a gift, giving Zeke a playfully chastizing narrowing of his eyes. "You know very well you don't have to..." A pause. "Zeke..." The name was whispered with utmost fondness, his indigo eyes softening at the sight of the familiar lily. One hand left the veternarian's side to touch his large, work-worn fingers against the petals, uttering a soft sound of pleasure; the playfulness eased off of his features in favor of something more gentle, touched. "Thank you, darling," he purred the nickname softly in his deep voice, leaning in to seal another kiss to Zeke's lips, this time lingering.
The woman's scoff could have been heard throughout the house. "For cryin' out loud B, go use the guest room!" Alex couldn't help but tease; she didn't really mind that they were affectionate in front of her, she found it rather endearing that her brother was able to be affectionate at all. "Or at least wait until after dinner, that poor man walked all the way here for you..." The sly smile that curved her lips was not in the least bit friendly, clearly taking joy in picking at the two.
"Walked, was very thirsty. Took care of flower first, too," Zul chimed in, picking up on his Guardian's playful nature, already twirling a melted cube of ice around his thumb.
The look the architect gave Zeke was slightly less than thrilled. "You could have called one of us," he murmured softly, worry creasing his brow. "And for that, yes, I will make dinner and insist on taking you home if you wont stay the night. Deal?"
Alex was absolutely smug.
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Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 7:47 pm
"I didn't "put up" with her. I had a good time talking with her and Zul." He grinned at Alex's interjection, turning his gaze over to the Italian woman; his smile widening. "Yeah, but he's my a** so---Wait...Lemme think on that wording..." A look of 'I really didn't think that one out' passed over his face, but at Brad's words of him not having to bring the older man a gift he wiped it off and looked back over and up. "I know I didn't have to. But I wanted to Brad. So I did."
The tone Brad used made him blush like before when he was talking to Zul about how he felt about the older Italian and Zeke found himself trying not to squirm around in joy. This was not only to not dislodge himself from Brad but to prevent Alex or Zul from making teasing remarks; though they would probably make him laugh rather than embarrass him. The veterinarian practically cooed as he returned the kiss he was given, looking bright eyed and bushy tailed once it was broken, the nickname only darkening his cheeks. "You're welcome Brad."
He was practically swept away from the setting and into his own little realm of ecstasy by all those small, surprised-yet-happy emotions, but Alex's resounding scoff cut the trip short and he blinked, almost dazed, as he remembered he was still standing in the woman's kitchen. Her teasing exclamation made him release a shaky laugh, cuddling into her brother's chest while sheepishly looking over the counter at her and her Raevan charge. Their talk, especially the final part before Brad came in about souls, was still in his mind, but was being engulfed and pushed back by the presence of his boyfriend and the knowing that both of them would be teased to their wits end by Alex. Still, that part stuck out, and though he didn't know it now, he'd be thinking on that cut-short section a lot in the days to come.
"I guess we can wait until after dinner. That's pretty fair, wouldn't you say Brad? That way those two won't be suffocated by all the loooove.~" The sing-song voice returned as he stuck his tongue out at Alex, the ball stud piercing he had implanted there fully visible to her and Zul should the demonic Frei decided to look their way. "I wasn't that thirsty was I?" Zeke looked puzzled at the ice twirling Raevan and his statement then shrugged. "But yes, the flower did come first. It really needed it." The young man looked up at Brad then and the concerned expression on his beloved's face made his own smile falter, but only just.
"I know I could have. But then that would have ruined the surprise and the beauty of my scheme! That would have been no fun, plus the walking is good for my legs, thighs, and glutes, so it's okay babe!" He was back to being perky in less than a minute's time, using one of his favored pet-names for the larger man while attempting to make that worried look turn into a smile again. At Brad's agreement to make dinner he looked to the man's sibling, bent his arm at a ninety degree angle and shucked it back once, uttering a soft 'Yes!' while tossing a wink her way. His attention was diverted back once more and with a playful, borderline flirty smile coupled with a tilt of his head, he just had to ask.
"Is that an invitation?" Knowing full well it was and already accepting it with just his tone of voice.
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