Welcome to Gaia! ::

The last thing he had expected was a hug. While not remotely as opposed to them as his nephew was, receiving one in the first place was a rare occurrence and something he wasn't prepared for. Still, Tel's first response was to grin over the ghoul's shoulder at West, satisfied with the knowledge that even if the boil wasn't responding right now, the sight of him busting up West's happily anonymous life would stick with him for months to come.

He gave Levi's back a light tap, clearing his throat into his hand as she moved away. "I do have a life," he directed at the side of West's stupid, unresponsive head, "but I'm not doing anything then. Next Spiderday's fine by me too." It gave him plenty of time to inform certain people that he wouldn't be around to answer when they called. He let out a long, cleansing sigh. A vacation. He hadn't had one of those in a while.

"And you're very welcome, Levi," Tel said, pushing the default twinge of sarcasm from his voice. He really did mean it, even if his nature didn't easily allow him to sound as if he did. "I think there's a directory of which portals go where on the interweb," he suggested, rubbing at his jaw. "Or we can just go through the one here if you want to start simple." He hadn't been to many spots in the human world that he hadn't been given strict directions to, so he had no real recommendations. Where they went and how they got there was up to them. "Once you decide, West can text me."

The tatzel would look at her boilfriend with sudden surprise. West was already looking towards paying his family back for their borrowed home expense? Levi couldn't help but feel a sense of prideful awe. She would need to give him more credit, perhaps, when it came to saving seeds and making ones own way. It was just hard to believe given, well, she'd always seen him with seeds to spare. Ah, right! I best git on my way with'it too. Don't nobody like a hangin' debt. Wonder if they got any fields hidden 'round them alleys... It was a joke; for once, Levi didn't actually think there were fields in the city, but some tinge of her wished there was. What could she do in the city? Wash windows? Maybe! Tend to mending clothes? Not her first choice… whatever it was, she'd make sure to do the job well and earn her keep honestly. That was the way her Ma and Pa taught her and, darnit, she'd show the city her tatzelwurm pride.

The ghoul's spine aligned perfectly straight, her head held high, when West proclaimed her steaks to be of "damn good" quality. His inclusion of near-profanity was like giving the rating an extra plus. Levi smiled at the boil, perhaps even tinted a bit in the facial area, and nodded to toot her own horn along with him.

Getting back onto her feet, tail curling up behind her, the ghoul peered around the open office area as if Tel had meant the portal was in plain sight. Once she'd come to the conclusion that it wasn't, Levi considered the possibilities.
Well if there's one 'ere already n' won't be a bother. I mean, we all know how ta get 'ere so- She rubbed at the front of her form with her thumb, scanning over all the fields they were required to fill in and wondering if she lacked any information she might need to call back home for. Luckily, all the questions seemed pretty straightforward. If it's possible fer us ta' do this now, why not? Her first move was to pat at her own pockets, half expecting a pencil or pen to be magically hidden away in there somewhere; no luck.

The white haired ghoul once again glanced around the space, this time looking at each of the cubicles and whether or not anything was visible on their counters. Without a word, Levi sprinted over to a stall where a small balled chain hung over the side of the countertop, edging her head into view of the person inside. It was true that this government employee was tending to folks in line at the moment, but Levi had no intention of interrupting for long. Mind if'I borrow this? Be right back with'it! The employee would have given some form of consent anyway, had the ghoul stayed long enough to accept it, but Levi was already rushing back over to the wrath demons in an excited hurry.

Pen with hanging chain in hand, the taztel presented the utensil to Uncle Tel, deciding that she and West could fill out the rest easily afterwards. She didn't want to inconvenience the older demon in case they were holding him up somehow with all their chattering. He was clearly too gentlemanly a fellow to simply dismiss himself during such important matters. We can fill out tha'rest after. Sorry, Uncle Tel. Sometimes, I git ma Ma's habit a'jabberin', kekeke. I'm sure yer a busy fellar after all. So it's back ta'business. West's earlier crack at his uncle would be met with the ghoul's complimentary belief that Tel was surely a hard worker too. She was certain he was just being polite by idling in this government office for their sakes. We'll be seein' yew soon anywho, right? Levi beamed up at her new uncle, genuinely excited to learn more about her extended family and this man she'd mistaken for her own boilfriend moments ago. They didn't look so much alike now, upon closer inspection, but they were really quite similar. She'd need to be more attentive come their trip to the human world.

West folded his arms in a nonverbal reply to Tel's glare, leaning closer to Levi.

"We'll find ya a field," the boil said, his voice barely audible. "Even if it's someone else's yard." As uncomfortable as this simple visit to the passport office had become, it seemed to finally be heading toward a satisfactory conclusion. He had hoped to keep details about his family out of this new life he had made until it became absolutely necessary to reveal them, but as long as his uncle behaved himself, West supposed Tel wasn't that detrimental. He would have been the first of his relatives to be introduced to Levi anyway. So what if it happened a little sooner than he'd planned. So what. So. What. Every time he repeated it, West felt a little more of his embarrassment leach away.

The smirk that had silently overtaken him at the tatzel's faint flush went sour when Tel demanded his form. The older demon's smile didn't help. It felt forced. At least now he'd have some questions of his own to counter with during their great meeting of the minds. His uncle had certainly seemed happy enough to help until it came down to the actual helping.

"Here."

He watched Tel's back as the other demon turned to sign the form, listening to Levi apologize for things that didn't warrant an apology. When Tel handed the paper back, West nodded.

"Yeah. Be seein' ya." Sooner than next week, if he had anything to say about it.

Taking the paper back, the tatzel looked down to examine the John Hancock provided by her sponsor. It seemed more dainty than that of his nephew's usual scratchings. Though Levi couldn't recall ever seeing the boil's signature on any school forms before, she couldn't imagine the older demon having West's two-line-high writing if his calligraphy looked this neat. Uncle Tel's initials were identifiable, but the rest was a linking of swirls and whirls she couldn't make out. In West's case, Levi gathered every letter would be well defined; prominent. Otherwise, it would be a mess of lines crumpled into a thick blotch. Not that her writing was any kind of fancy... she'd just been struck in the knuckles enough times in grade school to understand the difference between capitals and lowercase letters. Perhaps West's teachers gave up after breaking their rulers on his knuckles, she concluded. Mighty nice.

The ghoul looked up to watch the two wrath demons exchange looks with silent speech, mostly waiting for West's form to be signed so she could return the pen to the proper authorities. The tatzel ghoul brightened again when Uncle Tel dubbed their meeting a positive influence on his day. What a gentlemanly thing to say. Same ta'yew, Uncle Tel! Given the close proximity of her boilfriend by this point, Levi opted for a regular farewell in turn, wiggling her fingers back to her uncle, and instead curling her tail with West's again. The tendril squeezed lightly and sharply as the older demon disappeared outside the exit.

Once her hand returned down at her side, Levi nudged West with her shoulder, a smile full of teeth beaming at the boil in enjoyment of her new findings. So from yer Ma's side, eh? I like'im! Kekeke~ Still connected by appendage, Levi took steps in the direction of the clerks, hoping West would follow. Was a right lucky meetin', really. Now we got ourselves a shaperone. It was what the professors called themselves on trips or at dances; she knew what it meant even if it was troublesome to pronounce. Gonna git ta'spend time with yer Uncle. Hear 'bout some old stories of yew growin' up… maybe I'll bring along some Rations. It was the Levi equivalent of bringing out a fine wine to celebrate a special occasion. When the tatzelwurm involved aquatic foodstuffs, it meant she was feeling particularly enthusiastic about something and West knew this well. Busy week ahead of us. Thoughts of the future and preparing for her new life in the city filled Levi's mind, but it was the pen in her hand that caused her to cease. Her tail swung low and lightly to signal a stop in movement, peeking into the cubical they arrived at. Thanks! Levi lowered the back of the pen chain-first on the counter, excusing herself with a nod to the patron who was being attended to and turning back with West.

She opened her mouth and moved her feet to continue on forwards, but Levi suddenly froze in place and hissed between her teeth. Dangit, almost fergot we need ta'fill tha'rest out. They'd be needing that pen back. That or they'd need to make the trip back here again to hand in their forms; but they were already here…

West's revelations about his family belated caused a look of perplexity on Levi's face to appear. Wait- So yer sayin' he's not got a good kinship with yer folks? Eventually the possibility kicked in…

West's father "didn't let" Uncle Tel around? But why? Levi spent many a morning, afternoon and evening with Uncle Vern and Cousin Enis. The merchant tatzelwurm had even brought her on a handful of excursions outside the town's walls to see new and strange things; it was like exploring new worlds when she was a scarling. Why had Papa Duran not allowed his brother in law to spend time with West?

Must've been disappointin' not bein' able ta talk with yer uncle back then. The mere fact that West had used the word "cool" to describe the other pink-haired demon made it that much more of a sad tale of his scarlinghood. Levi's ears flattened and she perhaps looked at the boil with more sympathy than he would've cared to accept in a public space, but it came to the tatzel automatically. Can't imagine what I would'a done if it weren't fer ma'Uncle Vern. Guess I'd go so far as sayin' he's tha'reason I'm here. The ghoul looked back down at her paper, pausing before she folded it up and placed it in her pocket with a solemn expression. Clearly, her wheels were still turning on the question of West's relationships with his kin.

An audible breath was taken before Levi decidedly responded about the forms. Er- yea, yer right. I reckon that'll be just fine. So long as we don't ferget ta'bring 'em on tha'day, don't see them shooin' us away. She creaking in a smile when the boil mentioned address changes. Supposin' we find what we're lookin' fer in tha'bunch. You feelin' relaxed about it, boil?



Weeell, don't matter too much. If it don't seem right, we're just gonna have ta keep lookin'. Folding her arms at her back, grasping her elbows in her hands, Levi watched West grab the new form with little suspicion. Mistakes happened; it was actually rather thoughtful of the boil to consider taking another form. Would be a shame fer Uncle Tel ta'have ta sign 'em 'gain, but sure. The tatzel ghoul took out her form again and folded it up with a newly acquired sheet of her own in case of unwarranted mishap, placing them both back into her pocket while heading towards the door.

Aye, so ya'wanna fill tha'rest of these out in yer place or mine? They'd be less likely to encounter errors if they used both their noggins, right? This was an important government form, after all. It was best to try for a proper fill-out the first time.

Levi's ears stood straight, staring at the boil as he admitted to being anything but relaxed. Her lips parted for a typical cackle in surprise. Kekekekeke! They hadn't quite left this public space yet, so she held a cupped hand to her mouth to keep from anymore looks coming her way. Be glad ta' oblige if it's what yew want, boil. Won't say it ain't an interestin' prospect. Of course the tatzel didn't actually want West to yelp meekly there- unless she got it out of him whilst she pinned him effectively to the dulled out carpet.

No, probably not.

Yer right, m'place might be tha'best then. If yer still excited, well, we'll just have ta'see 'bout that. She paused, opening the door to exit, her tail lingering after her feet had passed through the threshold to keep the door ajar for West to follow as well. M'sure Sweets could do with'a bath right'bout now. Minipet chores were always the wrath demon's favorites; Levi's sly grin, however, would cut through her ruse. They both knew that wouldn't be the case.