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 Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2015 12:19 pm
He started to say that Yves should in no way feel or be sorry, but that one word broke a part of the dam the Frenchman seemed to be carrying around with him and Zeke stayed mum to let him speak his piece.
"That's right," the vet said finally when Yves gave him a spot to respond, "we all hit a tough patch sometimes, but we all see it through. I've hit my fair share as have every single Guardian in the Lab. They happen and hey, since you're smiling, I'd say you're winding your way out of yours."
The shove made him laugh and Zeke nudged the other man back.
"And you bet your scarf you have what it takes! The process an application goes through is a rigorous one, like, we're on par with the process you would go through to adopt a child." Perhaps even a smidgen tougher on account of the whole science-magic thing any Guardian was opening themselves up to. "So yeah, you made it through all of that and here you are today as a bona fide Guardian of Lab three-oh-five. You are one of the lucky few to make it and that's proof right there that you have what it takes."
He wasn't trying to give Yves a big head in the process of bolstering his spirits but if the other man got a bit full of himself in the process Zeke had no problem with it. It was something of an honor and a testament to just how fitting he actually was and it was clear the blond needed it. Zeke had seen the piles of applications given the 'no' and thrown away for himself. Yves might not know it, but he had in some way run a gauntlet to get to where they now stood.
"No danishes for Peanut, but I think the lil guy deserves some water." They arrived back at the cafe and Zeke opened the door for Yves to enter first. The gust of warm air that exited was a comfort but also made Zeke shiver until he too strode back inside. He pointed out an open seat in a more private corner and wound his way there, waiting for his companion to take a seat first before passing his puppy back over to him.
"Here is your dog, monsieur." He then took the seat opposite Yves. "Now then...Water for Peanut, coffee and danish for me, and what would you like, hm?"
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Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2015 1:17 am
With relief, Yves sat down and took his dog in his arm, the pudgy canine settling in immediately to his usual spot in his owner's custody. Peanut stared on with squinted eyes, his little nose twitching a mile a minute at the sudden rush of warm scents. Although he never ever got to try anything at the coffee shop or bakery, Peanut always imagined what everything tasted like and what life would be like if he grew legs tall enough to climb the counter.
Yves ran his hand over Peanut's ears and closed his eyes to gather his thoughts. He was used to trying to shoulder other people's problems, so he felt a little odd at having unloaded on Zeke like he did. It was a bit selfish of him, too - he felt bad at the thought of bothering his parents, he already gave his sister enough grief, but Zeke had his own problems, too, right?
"Erm, I already had a coffee, so... I'd best not have another, even though it's tempting." Yves cracked a smile at being addressed in such a way. Did he sound silly when he did it, too? "But I am a bit hungry. Perhaps a... bagel?"
He thought about it quickly before changing his mind. "No, I'd like a... a danish, too, please," he corrected, sheepishly. He loved sweet things, even if they weren't the best for him.
"Erm, so... Zeke." Yves bounced his leg, causing Peanut to jiggle a bit with each motion. "You work with the lab, right? Is it... is it fun? You must see so many amazing things there." Peanut gave a disgruntled sigh and stared blearily at Zeke.
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Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2015 8:29 pm
"Excellent choice!" As soon as a waitress came over Zeke placed their order, asking her for a plate of assorted danish so each man could have his pick of fruit or cheese. She returned as quick as she came and Zeke set about mixing sugar and milk into his coffee.
"I do!" His grin was luminous and the product of a man proud of what he did for such an establishment. "It's a great job. Has its slow points like any job but when there's a reason to be excited or on your feet it's always a damn good one." He winked as he pulled his cup up to blow some of the rising steam away from the surface. "I've seen the ins and outs of making Raevans, I know enough about the tanks and what goes into them that Dr. Kyou trusts me to start the creation process when we get Souls and Essences returned to us, I handle Raevans and their Guardians through all phases and stages and problems they might endure, and I can file paperwork in ways that would make you go 'wow this guy is organized' with just a glance!"
He laughed a little at his tease, even if it was a true statement nonetheless. Zeke did have some pride in how neat and tidy he kept his office, filing cabinets, and the desk out front in the Lab's lobby.
"Although I think you'd be surprised to hear it's not actually my full time job." He took a sip off his coffee, softly going 'mm' as it was made to his liking, and set the cup back down on the table. He looked at Peanut for a moment before raising his gaze to the pup's owner. He brought his left hand up to cover his mouth from the side so the chihuahua couldn't see and even lowered his voice a little too.
"Nine to five Monday through Friday I'm actually a V-E-T."
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Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2015 3:42 am
His face was locked in its typical, deadpan expression, but Yves' brow furrowed deeper and his mouth did open slightly as if he had just gasped, although no sound came out. He made a show out of covering Peanut's floppy little ears with one hand. Peanut wriggled in his lap but didn't fuss.
"I feel like Peanut would say, 'How could you?!' right now if he had heard that. He hates the... you-know-what." He gave a great sigh and a shrug, and Peanut rose and fell with the motion. As he rose to table level, the terrihuahua's eyes locked onto the plate of danishes and his nose wriggled excitedly.
Plucking a danish from the plate, Yves gave it a once over to make sure it was one he liked before giving it a nibble. "This is very good," he confirmed with a small, tight-lipped smile. His sister had warned him that he almost always looked uncomfortable, upset, or sick to his stomach, and he was working to rectify that, although it was a long and awkward road. His eyes were still puffy from crying earlier, as well, so... so there was that.
Hooking Peanut to his chest with his arm, Yves leaned forward in his seat a bit, giving Zeke a pointed look. "It sounds very exciting, working with the lab and being able to help out like that. And working with animals, as well. I love animals." With a serious face, he lifted Peanut's tiny paw in a tinier wave. "But you sound like an incredibly busy man! To call you out like this..."
He slumped back in his seat and tried not to look like he was sulking, but he did feel pretty bad. After a quick thought, he perked back up and straightened in his seat. "I will make it up to you."
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Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2015 11:43 pm
Zeke chuckled at the display Yves went through to shield Peanut from the horrible news of his true profession.
"Most animals do; I've been bitten and clawed at enough times to know that for a fact!" And he had a few scars to prove it, given to him by some particularly surly patients who did not like what he did for their benefits. "Once in awhile you get the ones who seem to love to come down to the office. I think they know they get a treat afterward so that's why they're on their best behaviors with me." He grinned.
After the blond picked his poison from the plate Zeke followed suit and pulled a raspberry and cheese danish from the short stack provided. One bite was enough to make his face light up and followed with a sip of hot coffee? Heaven! He was glad to see Yves agreed, taking the man's expression for what he assumed it was - nothing more than the aftereffects of tearing up outside.
"If you like these, you should try out Vermillion in Gambino. Best anything around as far as bakery goods go and the owners are Guardians themselves! You'll be treated good there, trust me.
"Oh I love working for the Lab! I love both my jobs to be sure, but there's a something special about Lab I gotta say. Well...you'll see what I mean for yourself in no time." The vet winked and again was brought to soft laughter when Yves made Peanut wave. "Busy as a bee! Luckily I'm full of energy. Once I start, it's really hard to stop me! Just ask my Raevan or my better half; they have stories."
His grin was cheeky as he spoke but turned into a scoff with a wave of his left hand.
"I won't hear any of that now! You have nothing to make up for, believe me Yves."
He wanted the Frenchman to believe him on that one so badly. If it came down to it, he just might have to give him a shake or two.
"Let me put it to you this way: I'm the kind of guy who loves to get out and meet people. And just as much as meeting people, I love helping them. You're fitting both those bills right now. If this was an inconvenience for me or anything of the sort I would have rescheduled for some other time. You hear me? You're not putting a kink in my day or taking me away from something else I could be doing. You and me sitting here having coffee fits just fine in my schedule and I'm having a great time! Don't be so hard on yourself, man."
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Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2015 12:25 am
Yves perked up at the mention of Vermillion, and he made a mental note of it. If there was one thing he couldn't go without, it was sweets. Well, sweets, and... coffee. And tea. And books. And pomeranians, but he didn't tell Peanut that.
After Zeke had assured him the last time that he didn't need to mail him a check for his services or do his laundry for a year, Yves sank into his chair again, but looked more relaxed than defeated.
"I do appreciate that," he confessed, giving Zeke a wry smile. "I'm sorry for insisting so much. I have a, er... I stress myself out a lot over the little things. I don't like feeling like I haven't pulled my own weight, either. I didn't want you to think I was trying to take advantage of your time."
Peanut crawled up to sniff at his face, and Yves returned it by petting his back. His paws had gotten dirty running through the brush and, normally, Yves would mind having him all over himself. After that chase and embarrassing himself, however, a slightly dirtied outfit seemed a minor thing.
"Your Raevan..." he began, as if coming back from thinking too much. He looked up at Zeke, eyes curious. "What are they like? If you don't mind my asking."
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Posted: Thu Dec 31, 2015 12:14 am
Zeke gave another wave of his hand and relaxed himself against the back of his seat to show that everything Yves was worried about was nothing more than that - worry.
"You're fine, and I haven't once thought that! Hell, if I've thought anything about you, Yves, it's that you're good people. I like you and I don't think you've been a bother or an inconvenience or taking advantage or anything like that so please don't stress out so much. I might be high energy but I'm a wicked chill dude, you hear? Relax, you're totally fine."
His smile softened as he spoke and near the end he couldn't help but chuckle again. Okay perhaps he was being a little hard on Yves about relaxing as the guy had just come from having his puppy take off as well as having more weight on his shoulders than perhaps most when it came to his Guardianship and the perceived responsibilities therein. All the same, Zeke felt his words were true. Yves was a nice guy and that worry he had been having about souls and everything else was just example on top of example of how good a Guardian he was and would be. It showed the Frenchman cared and that was paramount.
When Yves asked about Anya, Zeke perked up and immediately reached into his pocket to pull out his phone.
"Would you like to see a picture of her?" He didn't leave much room for a yes or no, already flipping through his gallery for the most perfectly presentable shot of his Frei. He found one quickly and set the phone over on Yves side of the table. The photo in question was from the front and showed the lavender-haired Widow holding up a recent work-in-progress. Blue and black yarn poured from her palms which had been knit into something rather shapeless - a future blanket or sweater, perhaps. The needles she was using poked out from either side and the one closest to her face almost seemed to point at the line of extra eyes on her brow, which in turn were surrounded by the crown of legs that grew out from her scalp. Although she wasn't showing a smile she did look proud of what she was holding and perhaps it was clear why Zeke had opted to show Yves that one above all the rest.
"That's my Anastacia. Anya, for short." He puffed up proudly. "You'll probably be surprised to hear we're pretty much opposites but...she's amazing, that's what she is."
He leaned into the table, resting his elbows upon it and gesturing for Yves to flip through the photos at his leisure while Zeke viewed them upside down.
"She's a quiet one, but she's opened up a lot more since she was born. She's creative as heck and sharp as a whip, though I think a lot of my jokes go over her head. Might be intentional though..." He trailed off with a slight frown and thrust of his bottom lip before continuing. "She'll be five this April if you can believe that. She's a bit of an introvert and likes her space but she enjoys going out with her friends when she can. Unfortunately she's not suited for the cold so she's been cooped up inside since winter blew in. We take her out as often as we can but I think she really misses being able to go out when she wants and staying out for as long as she likes. Can't say I blame her; cabin fever's a b***h."
He took another sip off his coffee.
"Only a couple more months until spring though, so at least there's that. I'm sure she's counting the days now that New Years has come and gone." A guess on his part, but if he was like Anya, that's what he would be doing. And speaking of guessing... "Can you guess what her soul is?"
On the precipice of another sip, Zeke's eyes glinted playfully over the lip of his cup.
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Posted: Thu Dec 31, 2015 2:37 am
Although he felt nothing but gratitude toward Zeke - for his kindness, his patience, and his seemingly bottomless good attitude - Yves opted not to say anything more about the subject. Zeke had successfully laid his fears to rest for the time being, and Yves didn't want to try to insist otherwise or press the matter any further. Instead, he opted for a sincere and heartfelt, "Thank you," his face breaking into a smile. "Really, thank you. It means a lot to me."
When Zeke presented his phone, Yves' eyes were immediately drawn to the screen. He raised his brows at the image before him; she was beautiful, and dark, and... beautiful. He hadn't seen many Raevans just yet, but they were all most certainly unique in every way from each other and it seemed that the possibilities were endless. He found himself grinning at the image.
"She's so beautiful, Zeke," he began, and at his invitation proceeded to scroll through the other images. Hearing Zeke go on about his Raevan only made his smile grow more, and he listened to Zeke's story of her not handling the cold very well and it made him think of what his own Raevan would be able to handle, what their limitations might be. Whatever soul he came up with would surely influence that, but all of that seemed so far away.
At his question, Yves looked up and both eyebrows rose and disappeared into his bangs. "Definitely a spider," he said definitively, and then he scrolled back to the first image Zeke had shown him. Anya with her knitting creation. Yves liked that Zeke had shown him something like that, his Raevan participating in something she must have liked to do. What would his Raevan like to do? What kind of hobbies would they have?
"What kind of spider, I... am not sure." His brow furrowed and he leaned back in his chair. After a few beats, he looked toward the counter and then back, petting Peanut idly. "She looks very happy, doesn't she?" He broke into another grin, unable to help himself. So this was what it was like to live with a Raevan. To show off their photos like a proud parent, to live with them for years and to become family.
Using his index finger, Yves gently slid the phone back toward Zeke, his gaze cast down at Peanut. "You must be so proud. Someday, I'm... me, too. I'll be the same way. I just know it."
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Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2016 8:31 pm
"The picture really doesn't do her justice; she's even more beautiful in person!" And it was the truth, in his oh so humble and totally unbiased opinion. Anya was the most beautiful Raevan to ever come from the Lab. "We'll have to have you two meet, I think she might like you!"
The Frenchman was nervous and in over his head at the moment but Zeke found him to be likeable and kind. Certainly, if the circumstances were different he could prove to be the sort of people Anya flocked to. He thought of Cesc, Revontulet, and Eth although their meeting had been brief. Calmer sorts. She liked those who were like herself.
And even if it turned out she wasn't a fan of Yves, Zeke figured she couldn't deny his style at the very least.
"A spider is right! Well...I guess I'd look at you weird if you didn't pick that. I mean...it's pretty obvious." He chuckled and waved his hand over the image Yves had scrolled back to. Spindly bits aside, their was no mistaking those extra eyes as something arachnid. "The kind she is...well that'd be more obvious if I had a picture of her back." He chuckled but demonstrated the location of the spider queen's special mark by leaning forward and pointing at roughly the right spot on his own. "She has a red hourglass here. Her soul is a black widow."
His eyes glinted as he said those words, taking back the phone as it was passed over. He did not immediately pocket it, choosing instead to look at the picture on the screen. When Yves said that Anya looked happy - very happy in fact - he couldn't help but look at her image fondly and agree.
"Yeah. She really does." It was a recent photo too. Look how far my baby has come.
With a happy sigh of his own he pulled himself from the photo and pocketed the phone, lest he get caught up in his thoughts about her. He then beamed at the blond again.
"You totally will be! I know you're nervous now but trust me, you'll do just fine."
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Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2016 4:18 am
Yves relaxed back into his chair, Peanut tucked closely in and toward himself. He knew he would enjoy meeting Zeke's Anya; at the same time, he couldn't help but feel nervous about the idea, as if he might make a fool of himself in front of a Raevan in his excitement. They didn't seem to be all that different from himself or Zeke or anyone else, but it couldn't hurt to make sure he didn't offend anyone by acting... well, moronic.
Passing a hand gently over Peanut's ears, Yves smiled over at Zeke. "I know I must have said this a hundred times by now, but thank you, Zeke. Really. You... you helped a lot. I guess I just needed someone to listen to my fears who understood what I was going through. It's hard, you know? My sister doesn't really get it..."
He trailed off, his smile lingering but his eyes falling down to the plate of danishes between them.
"I think I'll be okay," he finally said, as if to the pastries. "I mean, you think so, and I believe it, too. Is this how parents always feel?" A short chuckle followed that, and Yves shook his head. Peanut sneezed unceremoniously.
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Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2016 3:07 pm
He smiled sympathetically as Yves thanked him again and then spoke of his sister. Unlike the blond Zeke hadn't had that particular trouble given the circumstances of everything, but he was still glad he could be the friend Yves needed to help him work through some of his anxieties.
"You're welcome, man." He fell silent as Yves did, waiting patiently for the other man to break the silence. When he did, he chuckled. "I think so; it's nerve wracking to say the least. And you will be okay because you are going to be okay. Even though things are a little scary right now, they all work out."
Zeke smiled at Yves, then at Peanut when the pup sneezed.
"Bless you!" He reached across and scratched the top of Peanut's head. It was then it felt as if their meeting was slowly petering toward its end with very promising results. Zeke couldn't be happier by that notion. "See? You just said you believe it yourself! That's fantastic! But you know, if you ever need to talk again or anything, you have my number. I'm more than happy to talk on the phone or meet up again like this if you want to. God knows I love hanging out with people!"
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Posted: Thu Feb 18, 2016 8:49 pm
"And God knows I need to get out more," Yves admitted with a short bark of a laugh. With that he stood, Peanut held close to his chest, and gave Zeke a polite dip of his head. He sometimes felt that he should get some kind of purse for that loaf of a dog. If Peanut had been a little smaller...
"But honestly, I will keep that in mind, Zeke." Yves held up one of Peanut's paws and made it wave at him. In a tiny voice, he added, "Thank you for all of your help!" Peanut looked unimpressed but, perhaps, just a little less so this time. His tail quivered like an incredibly fast metronome.
Yves cleared his throat. "I owe you next time, alright? Perhaps when my Raevan is born, we can... we can all do lunch. Or something. I would love to meet Anya." He smiled sheepishly; despite Zeke's invitation, it still felt weird to impose.
Once they had parted ways, Yves had worked Peanut back onto his leash and the two walked side by side, Peanut surprisingly not wanting to tug at the leash for once. Apparently, they were both exhausted.
And there was still so much work to do. Yves puffed out his chest with a big breath of cold air and let it out at once, leaving him a bit winded.
At the very least... at the very least, he could admit that he already felt a little better. And that was a fine start, he thought.
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