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 Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2018 5:12 pm
Reuben listened well and hard to Zeke's words. He certainly hoped that she was some sort of apparition from the Lab, at least that way it wouldn't come home with him. But if, in fact, this Alice character was some sort of manifestation of his toadstool's power, that would be something of a different story.
Reuben took a deep breath and smiled. "Thank you for your help. I...think it'll be fine," he began, looking over his shoulder at his ward who still curiously floated at the window. "I mean, he does look just like a renaissance wizard, doesn't he?" a slight chuckle of amusement and pride escaped his lips. He was happy, very happy in fact, and he hoped that this would be the start of a fantastic relationship.
The frei turned around and floated over to the counter quietly, a quizzical look upon his face. "I...take my initial statement back. I do have a question," the frei began. "May I keep this?" he asked curiously, pulling forth from inside his massive overcoat a book. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
Reuben's eyes widened. "N-no, I-" Reuben muttered instantaneously. He didn't know what to say. Already telling his frei no? Was that allowed? Was he going to get in trouble? "Where did you get that?"
"It was one of the books in the room I was placed in. I had to do something whilst in there. So...Alice and I read,"
"Alice..." he said under his breath. Then it hit him. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland...and he was reading the book with Alice. The photo on the cover looked eerily similar to Alice from the room, if Alice had been crafted from a nightmare that is. "Alice from Wonderland...the woman I saw with him," he said quietly, turning to Zeke, concern quite apparent on his face.
Reuben looked to Zeke for guidance. What was he to do? It seemed as though his initial question was answered. His ward had definitely manifested something. And now he (and it) was coming home with him. This was something he now had to deal with, no matter what.
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Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2018 5:43 pm
Zeke squeezed Reuben's shoulder.
"I'm sure it will be, but you know that the Lab and I are here for you if you ever need us. We're all totally down for making house calls if required." His smile returned at Reuben's statement about the Frei and he nodded eagerly.
"Man back in college I would have killed for a hat like his. It would have been awesome for my D and D sessions!"
As if on cue from the change in conversation the Frei turned and came back over, holding up the book he had been carrying since they had taken him back to the lobby. He asked if he could have it and before Zeke could answer one way or another Reuben interjected and there was a brief back and forth between the pair that ended with Reuben looking wide eyed at Zeke once more.
"Oh," the vet said softly as he took in what had been said. "Well I guess that mystery is solved." Although judging by Reuben's hesitation and concern, Zeke had to wonder what the Frei's Alice had looked like. Would the tarotist have worried as much if this Alice from Wonderland looked like the Disney version? Perhaps she looked more like American McGee's vision instead.
Then again, seeing an unknown woman floating and then disappearing before one's very eyes would cause someone concern no matter what she looked like, so Zeke supposed that was moot. But then again, she was a creation of the Frei's. That was the best possible outcome of the whole situation.
"One second, kiddo, if you please." The vet held up the index finger of his left hand as he looped his right arm around Reuben's shoulders and led him a short distance away from the Frei. Once they were out of earshot, he spoke.
"I can see you're concerned but this is actually not as bad as you might think. This kid's Alice is just a manifestation of his powers. Think like...an imaginary friend maybe. It fits with his Essence, don't you think? Visible Imagination...He can make things he reads or conceptualizes into his head tangible. Now, I know it's alarming right off the bat and it is a shock he's able to manifest a full figure so early, but remember that powers aren't infinite. If he manifests her again, she'll disappear after awhile since he is still just a baby. This just means you two will have to work on control of his powers a lot earlier than most Guardians and Raevans."
He gave Reuben a sympathetic smile.
"I also feel like even though she is visible to you and him, she's probably not tangible in the sense that she can do anything to you or your home or things if that's something you're concerned about. Luckily Raevans only get stronger over time and through use of their abilities, and at this point in his life..." Zeke looked at the Frei and gave him a little wave. "He's still too young and inexperienced to cause me to consider not sending him home with you today. You're probably gonna have to brace yourself for some unexpected scares around the house but hey, a little jump scare now and then is good for the heart, yeah?"
Zeke chuckled.
"All the same, I'd like for you to keep a record of his powers and submit any new occurrences to the Lab. When they showed up, what they were, how your kiddo was at the time since power shows commonly erupt when a Frei is under some kind of emotional duress, what he was doing, that sort of thing. Is that alright by you?"
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Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2018 6:38 pm
The frei nodded to Zeke, clutching his book closer and tighter to his chest now than ever. Even though he had just been told no, and somehow understood the meaning of that, he wasn't going to just let that hesitant 'no' from his guardian change his mind. At this point, he was now determined to keep this book, regardless of what his guardian said.
As Zeke wrapped his arm around him and walked him away, Reuben felt the man's sympathy and could tell that he was quite intrigued, yet not weary of his frei's so-called power. Reuben quietly listened to Zeke speak, just as he had been doing all day. He was trying to absorb as much information as he could, without becoming overwhelmed. But maybe Zeke was right? Maybe this manifestation was just something that was temporary? His charge seemed fine, though, no signs of tiring out, just quiet. His affinity for magic was already off the charts, but what went up, must come down, right? Reuben took that knowledge and definitely agreed that keeping a record would be handy. The tarotist chuckled with a nod at Zeke's 'jump scare' joke, even if it was bound to become a daily, weekly, or monthly experience for the man over time for the rest of his life.
"Of course. I'll do my very best. I'll email you with my first impressions, as well as his name as soon as we come to terms on that. I'll also keep note of anything else that comes up in the meantime and get back to you," he said, making a mental note of what he was to do. He turned back to see his charge, who had floated back over to the window and was staring out of it, book to his chest.
Reuben sighed. "Is it alright for him to keep the book?" he said, a snicker escaping his lips just a moment after.
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Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2018 5:09 pm
Reuben seemed to take all the information Zeke threw at him in stride and was agreeable to everything that had been said. That was a good sign, especially for Reuben and his Raevan going forward. The new Guardian would have to be open and flexible now more than ever, early active powers or not.
"I'm sure you will." He patted Reuben on the back. "And good! I look forward to knowing his name! And feel free to email me anything that comes up but if it's something that makes you question 'should I just call him?' please call." His job would be so much easier if people bit the bullet and called him up. He always extended the offer to everyone but he was sure people felt like they could be bothering him for things that might not seem important. However, to Zeke, everything regarding the Raevans was important and he'd rather be grasping for the phone in the dark than hearing about something potentially alarming the next morning via email.
"As for the book...It's not a first edition so I'm not scrambling to get it back, but probably not a good idea to say 'hey you can keep anything you lay your hands on anywhere you go' right?"
Zeke chuckled again.
"But I'm willing to compromise." He winked and moved toward the Mushroom Frei.
"Hey kiddo! I see you've taken a liking to that book!" Zeke was all smiles as he stopped a foot or so away from the Raevan, hands on his hips. "I'm a big reader myself so I totally get not wanting to be pulled away while you're in the middle of a really great part. So how about this? You can borrow that book for awhile, but when you finish, you bring it back to me. Sound good?"
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Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2018 2:44 pm
Reuben smiled, nodding at every word Zeke shared. "Thank you again, so much. Already this has been an exciting experience, and it is just beginning. I'll be sure to email or call you with any further updates to this predicament," he said, taking a deep breath as he continued, "Of course, of course. You're right. I'll get it back to you as soon as I can. Maybe I'll head to the bookstore to pick up a copy for him."
The tarotist concluded and the two began to walk back to the frei who continued to float a few meters away, staring out the window, rather curious to find out what it was like out there past the glass, imagining it to be a world just like Wonderland.
As the humans approached, the raevan's attention was brought back to reality by Zeke's voice. His head snapped back and a smile grew upon his countenance as he registered the words 'you can borrow that book'. "Yes, of course! Thank you!" he called out, clutching the book in a loving way. He couldn't wait to finish it now!
Reuben joined back with a smile, still curious to know what exactly that creature was with his newborn frei in the room. If it was a power of his, he definitely had his work cut out for him. "So, I guess we're all set to head out." Reuben stated with a smile as he headed towards the door, patting his charge on the back, ushering him out to the car.
As the two made their way out to the car, Reuben opened the door for his frei and turned back to Zeke. "Thanks again, and I'll definitely give you a call if I have any questions whatsoever and when we figure out his name."
Reuben made sure every bit of his charge was inside the vehicle before closing the door and turned around, taking a deep breath, his heart racing. He was now, officially, a father.
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