Welcome to Gaia! ::

“Does Rivener mean a human brother?” asked Xiu curiously. He had never heard of two raevans being related before and had always seen a single raevan to a single guardian. The thought of Rivener having a brother made Xiu feel a tad envious of the Sigel. Even if the term ‘brother’ was used loosely, it implied that whoever that person was, he was dear to the scorpion raevan. “It must be fun, and I would love to meet him sometime,”

Which was true. Xiu wanted to see what this ‘brother’ was like. Hazeline and Joshua were related by blood and were therefore brother and sister but what about this ‘brother’ of Rivener?

“And no, I’ve never been to the planetarium,” said Xiu in response to the other’s question as he led Rivener to the astrology section. “ And I never would have thought that you feed on stars Rivener. How do you do it? I mean…stars are…rather far away aren’t they?” asked Xiu with a slight tilt of his head. It was interesting to know how other raevans feed and their abilities.

“Hmmm…what interests me most?” said Xiu quietly as he fingered the spine of a particularly thick book on astronomy and the universe. “Well…I guess my favorite for now would be legends and folktales; there’s a lot to be learned from there. The cultures, beliefs; even what makes their society run,” said Xiu as he justified his choice of reading material. “However, it is truly too soon to say. I have not really read all that many books yet and some of them contain words that I am unfamiliar with,”

“I’ll be sure to keep a lookout for Eiry then,” promised Xiu as he watched Rivener leaf through the book. The book had many pictures and diagrams of stars, galaxies as well as equipments and theories written in them. Definitely not a light reading material by anyone’s standard. Xiu was silent for a moment, content in allowing the other to browse through the contents of the book before picking where the conversation was left off.

“I feed on innocence,” said Xiu simply. “It tastes different from each individual and depending on different individuals; some are easier to digest than others.”

“But I’ve only fed off humans so far,” said Xiu as he gave a casual glance about to make sure that they wouldn’t be overheard by a passing customer. It would not do to scare them away from the store. “I guess it is possible to feed off animals and…raevans; if needs be but I don’t know…I never had the occasion to try it,” said Xiu with a shrug. “There’s more than enough humans about,”

“But umm…in regards to unfamiliar words, I guess that usually occurs in those books,” said Xiu motioning to the shelf containing books on computer programming and script writing “…and those.” This time the frei’s hand shifted to a shelf containing books related to DNA and molecular work. “There’s a lot of things I do not understand in them so…I am avoiding them at the moment,” said Xiu as he let out a soft laugh. “I fall asleep reading them. Hazeline says that’s because they are dry but she reads them all the same because it is required for her work,”

“Truly?” asked Xiu in surprise. “But I thought you told me that stars were your staple. Which raevan was it, Rivener?”

At Rivener’s grin, Xiu couldn’t help but wonder how did this particular Sigel obtain his meal. Did he just absorb the stars from that raevan like how Xiu absorbed innocence? Or…was a little physical help required?

At Rivener’s statement about him not being so innocent, a trace of a smirk could be seen on Xiu’s features. “I wouldn’t say that Rivener. There is innocence about you but one does not go about eating one’s guest right? It would not be…proper,”

“But as to the book,” said Xiu with a smile “It is yours to take. If Hazeline wanted to put a price on her gift, she would have said so. Would you like me to wrap that up or something Rivener?”

“Tea’s ready and I’ve actually managed to scrounge up some snacks,” came Hazeline’s voice from above. “Are you boys done yet?”

Xiu laughed as he was jabbed by the other raevan and shook his head. “That was carelessness on my part, I do not plan to repeat such a mistake again,” said Xiu smiling. Rivener was nice; a little intimidating but a nice raevan overall thought the the white frei remembering the Sigel’s flared wings during their encounter in the park and when he had confronted Hazeline.

“Here, let me just get you a new copy, that’s just the display version,” said Xiu taking the book away from the Sigel and floating over to the back office. Minutes later the white frei returned with a newer book in his hands. “Here you go Rivener and yeah, we probably shouldn’t keep Hazeline waiting too long,” said Xiu with a smile.



((Rivener has obtained BOOK! ))

Xiu nodded as the Sigel thanked him. It was an odd feeling though as Rivener was older and probably wiser than Xiu. The white frei shifted his wings in an amused manner before leading the way up to the living room above the bookstore once more and waited until both his guardian and Rivener had sat down before taking a seat himself.

Hazeline poured some tea into two cups before looking up to Rivener and smiled. “How many lumps of sugar would you like Rivener? And I am glad that you have chosen a book. Books are wonderful things to give and to receive. You shouldn’t let the price bother you. What’s the book about though?” asked Hazeline, curious to know what the Sigel read. Rivener did not actually look like the bookish type but Hazeline guessed that looks could be deceiving.

Xiu was silent as he observed the small talk between Hazeline and Rivener. The tea and biscuits were probably nice but the frei had no interest in them. Flicking his wings a little, Xiu allowed his thoughts to wander and wondered what Rivener’s guardian looked like. And Prajna. Rivener had met that raevan but Xiu had missed the opportunity to talk about it as Rivener has decided to jab him at that moment. Xiu frowned. Rivener has said that Prajna was an interesting raevan but as far as Xiu was concerned, Prajna was just…a spoilt child. Perhaps the Prajna Rivener had met had improved itself? That too was something to think about…

“I’m glad that you do,” said Hazeline with a smile. “I find coffee a little too strong for me at this time of the day but oh, how interesting Rivener! You eat space and stars? Or is it…the galaxy?” asked Hazeline with polite interest. It was always fascinating to find out what the raevans actually ate. “Xiu eats innocence but…I have yet to see him show any interest in it; aside from it being a food source,”

“That’s…no-oh well, yeah,” agreed Xiu with a soft laugh. “I never really thought about it, not until this moment at least. I mean…most people wouldn’t think twice about the chicken they had would they?”

“And by all means, Rivener, do not let me spoil your appetite merely because I can’t eat human food,” said Xiu sitting up a little straighter at the other’s comment. “I am just prone to having my thoughts wander, that is all. I like tea, or at least the smell of it,” said Xiu as he gave a glance towards the dainty teacup in Rivener’s hand. “It has a very calming smell, at least in my opinion it does,”

“Not that you aren’t calm most of the time,” laughed Hazeline at Xiu’s answer. “I often wonder how you managed it Xiu. Do you keep bags of tea about you?”

“Surely not,” exclaimed Xiu with mock horror on his face. “Imagine if I were to get wet then. The stains would take forever to wash out,”

“True, true,” laughed Hazeline before the sound of a door opening down below was heard. “Oh dear…looks like we have customers,” said Hazeline getting up. “You boys go ahead and chat alright? It is rare that we have a raevan over,”

“Yes, she is,” agreed Xiu nodding at the other’s statement. “She does research in a plant laboratory but the exact place…I am unfamiliar with. Mrs. Bediever usually takes care of the bookstore then so…that’s probably why she is indispensable,”

At Rivener’s offer, the white frei visibly beamed with delight. He had never been invited to another’s house before and to be invited by a Sigel no less!

“Truly? That would be simply splendid Rivener! But I am sure your guardian is a wonderful person,” said Xiu laughing softly at Rivener’s suggestion that he should berate the Sigel’s guardian. “I mean…he must have had a hand in raising you to what you are now; an impressive Sigel,” said Xiu with just the right amount of awe and envy in his voice. “ Makes me wonder I could ever be a match for you… and oh!” said Xiu floating over to a writing desk and rummaging through the table’s drawer. Finding a pen and paper, Xiu smiled and handed them to the Sigel. “To prove that I am seriously considering your invitation Rivener, I would need an address to go to wouldn’t I?”

After having successfully secured an address from the older raevan, Xiu waited patiently as the other answered his phone call; which surprised Xiu. Rivener’s guardian was actually that worried about the Sigel’s safety? That thought alone was enough for Xiu to eye Rivener incredulously. If that was Rivener’s guardian, it was no wonder that Rivener had thought that Hazeline was being a little lax with him. Floating over to the Sigel, Xiu chuckled. “Allow me to accompany you to the door then. We mustn’t worry your guardian too much,”

Floating down and past the counter where Hazeline was entertaining an elderly customer, Xiu opened the door for Rivener and bowed slightly. “It has been a pleasure having you here Rivener,” said Xiu meaning it. “I hope to see you soon then,”

From the counter, Hazeline smiled and gave the Sigel a farewell wave before turning towards the elderly man once again as he enquired about some book or another.