Welcome to Gaia! ::

Emme and Ray have returned from Winter Holiday at Emme's homeland of Dragons Breath. Emme was happy to find upon her return, a warm welcome back at the shop and the shop patrons. Though she always missed home, Gaia had become her home as well.

She found many of the children had grown to teens, and little Kami was still looking for a play date! Aurora, had grown and left for greece, and it seemed that many of the children were just a bit too old, or two 'cool' to spend time with the sweet, pink haired girl in the adorable doll-like dress.

Ray, though he enjoyed his time among the elvin children, was anxious to spend time with one of his own, and Emme was sure they'd hit it off. She offered to arrange a playdate for the two as soon as possible.




The studio was stale and slightly dusty after their long absense. There esential belongings were still in bags and cases, which were quickly hidden in their rooms, and Emme rushed to file away the supplies she'd brought back. Ray was dutifully wiping down counters and investigating corners of the studio that he'd forgotten about.

Emme opened the double doors to the patio, and looked out over her winter worn yard. The grass was dead, and the rockgardens littered with leaves, the patterns long since blown away in the wind. The sune was nice, though, and the slight breeze helped to rid the studio of the dust in the air.

Emme had cleared a wide open area in the middle of the room, near Ray's fountain. She layed out a large thick rug, brought home from their trip, over the cool hardwood floors, and set up round, a low sitting, fold out table for the children to draw and play on. Ray's large plush bear sat at the table, slightly slumpled over it. Bloo, Ray's kitty, who was happy to finally be settled in again, was sleeping next to the fountain, in a narrow sliver of light let in by the open doors and windows.

Ray didn't have much in the way of toy, so emme got out as many art supplies as she could find to help occupy the children if they got bored. She paced about by the stove while she heated her tea, straining to remember all the great activies they'd come up with back at the elvin village while taking care of the children at the nursery and the younger children at school. Ray was such an easy going child, that she often forgot that other children may not have the same patience and quiet nature.

Ray played quietly at the table, having not spoken yet, he was always quiet, with six little carved figurines. Each had a name etched in at their base: Emme, Ray, Torrin, Eldin, Trile... and Raven. The names were bittersweet in Emme's mind, but to Ray, they were the closest to a real family he knew, and he'd played with nothing else since they'd returned.

Emme smiled, watching him mouth words he would not speak while he played with the wooden figurines, and waited for Pata and little Kami to knock on their door.

Ray looked up from his toys when he heard the knock on the door. Emme stood, turning down the stereo and brushed off her paint spackled apron. Ray giggled at her futile effort, and got to his feet to join her at the door.
Emme pulled open the door, revealing Pata and Kami. Kami held a little box, grinning from ear to ear. Ray, in a sudden burst of shyness, hid behind Emme's legs.

"Pata! It's so good to see you! Thanks for coming by!" Emme exclaimed, stumbling over her own words. She took Ray by the hand, gently pulling him out from his hiding. "Please, come in. It's been too quite around here since coming back to the studio..."

"Come on in, Kami. Ray's just being silly." Emme told the little girl, kneeling down to give her boy a hug. "You'll have fun with Kami." Ray nodded, stilly playing at being shy. "Why don't you show her your fountain, and your fish?"

He nodded again, breaking out of his shy shell. With out any more hesitation, he made his way to Kami, waving a little. He eyed the little box she held curiously as he guided her to the rug where his toys and table were set up.


Emme sighed, and stood to face Pata. "I've been busy..." She said, answering Pata's question. "It was a long trip, but it's nice to be back." Emme motioned towards the kitchenette behind the front desk of the studio. "Care to have some mint tea? It'll warm you up. I have some coacoa, too, I believe." Emme smiled, fetching her own tea cup. "How have you been, Pata? I haven't quite caught up on all the news yet, so I'm all ears!"

Ray clapped with excitement when Kami held out the box for him. He examined it intently for a moment before setting it down on the table, and then throwing his arms around the little girl to thank her.

As he stepped back from the enthusiastic hug, he signed "thank you" to her. He wasn't sure if she understood completely, but the pig-tailed girl certainly seemed patient enough to take the time to figure out his limited communication skills.

Ray took her hand, and guided her to his little indoor fountain, filled with tiny multi colored fish. It was his favorite part of the studio, so he was sure she'd enjoy it as well.



Emme got out a ceramic mug with blue flowers, and filled it with tea. Handing it to Pata, she reached into a cabinet and got out a few honey sticks and offered the sweetener to the other girl.

"I'm sure everyone can relate to beign busy." She said with a wink. "Life doesn't come with REAL vacations. It is nice to be back at my studio, and at the shop..." Emme continued, "though returning to my homeland is always somewhat bitter sweet. Ray LOVED it though. He's not at all concerned by silly grown up stuff. "

Emme took Pata's hand as she showed her the brightly sparkling engagement ring. "Congratulations, Pata! How wonderful for you! Weddings can be so much fun. How's the planning coming along?" Emme said, quickly getting ahead of herself. "Are you ready? Do you have honeymoon plans? OH! what's your dress like? Oh my goodness! Kami's going to be a flower girl, right? HOW CUTE!"

((OOC... I always feel so weird rping... I'm not very good at it. sorry! ))


Emme's jaw nearly dropped when Pata mentioned she hadn't gotten a gown yet. "I always thought that was the most important part, the dress. " Emme said with a smile. "You have something in mind, right?" Emme said, prodding for details, and winked. "Don't mind me, I'm nosey... But do tell me all about it."



Ray simled at Kami, happy to have a new friend. He vaguely remembered meeting this girl before, but it seems so long ago. The fish hadn't been fed yet... he'd saved that chore purposly, knowing that Kami might come by to visit. He found the little can of food and held it up for Kami to see.

He gently pried the little lid open and demonstrated sprinkling a little bit of food into the fountain. All the fish quickly rippled at the surface, nibbling at the food. Ray smiled at Kami and held out the can of food for her.

((Aw! that's so sweet! Seriously, though... I never rped before we started working on this shop. I used to be part of a writing group, but not quite like this. ^___^ ))

"I can see them pretty well from here... " Emme said over her teacup, keeping an eye on Ray across the large open studio. "He's showing Kami his fish." Emme said with a smile.

"It's funny," She continued. "I hate to seem like an unattentive parent... but he's so good on his own. Don't get me wrong, I spend every moment I can with him, but he always finds ways to amuse himself, and he never really gets into trouble." Emme cocked her head to the side, thoughtfully. "But I guess every parent thinks their child is perfect."




Ray responded by nodding enthusiastically. He patted the low round table on the rug, showing Kami where his bear already sat at the table. Then he turned and picked up a blue stripped kitten, holding the cat akwardly under the it's armpits. With a splay legged walk, he made his way to one side of the table and sat Bloo down to join the tea party.

Bloo, the kitten, well used to Ray, sat where he was put, patently, licking his paw.

"Oh, really? Ray loves to draw and paint too! I'm so glad I got out the art supplies... I've even got a couple of little smocks so Kami won't get her beautiful little dress dirty." Emme glanced over Pata's shoulder again, watching the children play.
"Though it looks like they're more than happy playing... Is that a Tea set Kami has weith her? How cute!" She met Pata's eye again. "You want to come sit with me over in lounge area? We'll be able to see the kids between the shelves really easily from there."

((man, I need to make a floor plan for my studio... I KNOW what it looks like, but it's hard to explain! ^_^))
Emme walked across the wide open studio from the tiny kitchenette to the stereo, motioning towards the dark blue, over stuffed couch.
"Any preference in music? I always have to have something playing the background. I've got a lot of different stuff... mostly mellow celtic, new age and trance stuff, but if you have something in mind, I might have it."



Ray clapped, watching Kami get out her tea set. He'd had tea with his mother's family before, but Kami's tea set looked a bit different... and he wasn't sure what to do first. So he sat next to Bloo, petting the kitten and watching her set out her dishes.
Then with a sudden spurt of inspiration, he got up and ran over to kitchenette, finding a box of animal crackers he'd been saving. They could have tea and crackers!

Emme nodded at Pata's reply, and put on a Loreena McKennitt CD and a few other random mellow discs in her cd changer.

"So, what else are you up to Pata?" She said, her mind drifting with the music. As much as she enjoyed having company, she never felt she was much of a hostess. She either chattered mindlessly, or left the conversation hanging akwardly. Emme sipped her tea, watching the children play. Ray had run into the kitchenette, leaving poor Kami blinking in wonder.
She shook her head slightly, wondering if he'd ever speak. All the children were quite patient with him, but how would his silence effect his relationships in the future? She silently scoulded herself, knowing that she shouldnt' worry about such things. He was happy. That's all that mattered.




Ray made his way back to Kami, presenting the box of cookies to her like a treasured box of gold. He then found his place at the table next to where Bloo had sprawled out. Ray sat down with his feet tucked underneith him, waiting for Kami to make the first move.