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 Posted: Wed May 30, 2007 10:35 am
Melisande stared at Zae with wide, blue eyes...as though she couldn't believe he was actually talking to her. Finally, with a little shake of her head, she answered both of his comments. It wasn't hard to sing in front of people, but no, she wasn't having a good time. Truth be told, she was eager to be anywhere but here.
A comforting hand on her shoulder jolted Pasha out of her dazed state. She glanced up at Aki, surprised, and followed her guardian's motion to the stage with her eyes. This song was over halfway over...but who was next?!
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Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2007 8:54 am
Aphismet finished the song with a shy smile, as though he only now realized that he'd been singing in front of a crowd. Ah well, it was all in good fun, wasn't it?
As Aph didn't want to just put the mic back down, he scanned the crowd to try and spot who might be wanting to go next, so that he could hand over the tool of the trade. A quick scan of the crowd showed that things might not be going so well; mostly, with Rivener brooding in a corner with Roux. At least when the two of them were together, they rarely paid attention to anything else, so maybe it would be ok.
Aph crossed Melisande's gaze. She was looking at him, did she want to sing next? The man remembered hearing that she was a songstress of some kind, so he mistook the strange glance as eagerness for going next. He offered her a bright smile and waved at her to come over, offering the microphone. "Do you want to go next?" he asked gently, reflexively wanting to be soft and careful with the fragile-looking girl.
Rivener sneered at his keeper. Of course, Aph was nice and kind to some Raevan he'd hardly ever met, just because she was a little girlygirl with curls in her hair and a dainty demeanor. Stupid, attention-hungry, acting all distressed, annoying... The strength of his hatred surprised him. She was everything he hated most in women. Ugh! Turning up his nose, he scoffed and looked the other way.
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Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 1:47 pm
Despite her trepidation, Pasha had just lifted her hands to clap...palms meeting once with a soft tap as Aphismet glanced her way. It was as though the gesture summoned his attentions, and she folded her hands against her slim chest as he offered the microphone graciously.
For a moment, she had no idea how to respond. Did she want to sing? No, and yes. Not here, not now. For what reason? All she wanted was to bring smiles to the faces of her friends, to inspire those around her to do the same...but Rivener's sharp snort made it obvious that she did anything but. He looked so angry, and Roux (as always) looked so cold...Melisande simply wished she was anywhere but here.
Aki's silent presence behind her gave her some strength, but did nothing to help with the stretching silence. She knew this silence, heavy with expectation. Some part of her assured her it was a good thing, but all Melisande felt was the pressure, prickling along the back of her neck. With trembling fingers, she reached forward, taking the mic and looking at it with wide, uncertain eyes.
It wasn't her turn. It wasn't her turn because no one really wanted her to sing. It was obvious, even to gentle Pasha, that Rivener didn't even want her in the same room. An apology settled like a lump in the back of her throat, but Melisande kept it silently. In truth, she didn't even know what she would be apologizing for, but the lump still ached. Instead, the museling drifted a slow, brave foot forward...holding the mic out to Rivener in the same gentle way that Aphi had offered it to her.
"For you." It was all she had to offer.
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Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 6:40 pm
Aphi stepped down from the stage when the mic was taken from him, offering the lovely young Frei a bright, encouraging smile. He walked back to Chloe's side and stood there, waiting for the next performer to begin...
Was Melisande offering the microphone for Riv to sing with, or was she dedicating her next song to him? Aphismet wasn't quite sure, but for some reason, either way, it pulled at his heart strings. "Oh, sweetie," he whispered mostly to himself, hoping that Rivener wouldn't ruin things for the young female Raevan.
As it was, Rivener noticed the gesture after a moment, and sneered. His frown darkened at the girl. What did she want, why did she keep focusing on him? If they both ignored the other's presence, things would be over much faster, and with less drama.
But of course this little Princess wanted her drama, didn't she? Well, Rivener could surely oblige. He floated a step forward and hissed at her: "For me, what? I don't want anything you have to offer! Why don't you just start crying about it, and then everyone will pay attention to you just like you want."
"RIVENER!" Aphismet barked, apalled. He stared at his charge for a moment before turning an apologetic smile to everyone else. "P-please don't... don't p-pay attention to, erm... to him. He's being a jerk." He accented this last word with a dissaproving glance at the Scorpion Frei.
Aph walked a step towards Melisande and smiled at her with ill-concealed shame. He leaned forward and whispered to the young girl: "I'm really sorry. I'll leave now, and take him away so you can have a good time. Don't worry about his words; no one can please the whole world... Some people just don't mesh." He went to pat her on the head, but seeing her usual demeanor he thought this might be a tad too intrusive, so instead he simply bowed his head.
Riv didn't care when Aph turned that annoyed glare his way. He was getting out of here now, and for that he wore a victorious smirk. He'd been tricked into coming here, after all. Roux would be fine on his own, he didn't need Riv's presence.
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Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 10:15 am
Aki watched in near disbelief, one hand over her mouth in shock. She wasn't sure what Rivener was so pissed about, but the sheer venom was overwhelming. Suddenly, she realized why Melisande's petals littered the floor beneath their feet. "She....she didn't even want to come. I..." What could she say?
Pasha was silent, eyes wide, microphone still in her hand. This wasn't any different than the looks he gave her, or the feeling when she was alone in an entire room of people. No, this just had words as well, but the sting was the same. Two spots of pink settled high onto her white cheeks, and she drifted lower to set the refused mic gently onto the floor.
"Attention." Her gaze settled on Rivener again, and she flinched involuntarily, though she didn't look away. Suddenly, it seemed to her to be the answer. She floated back until she bumped into Aki, hunching against the curve of the elf's stomach. Her ribbon fluttered, as though the entire length of her trembled, but finally a tiny smile settled onto her barely-pink lips. "I didn't mean to take it away. I'm sorry."
Finally, she knew what to apologize for. The admission lifted some weight from her, though she floated all the lower for it. That was why Rivener hated her, or so she now understood. That was why he floated so close to Roux, and glared at her so fiercely. She'd been taking attention away from him.
Aki didn't take the admission so gracefully. "You haven't done anything wrong, Pasha. Don't apologize." Something cold had settled into the pit of her stomach, and she gathered the weak Raevan into her arms. Was this what Pasha went through, every time she left? Meeting Aphismet's eyes for a moment, she nodded to the door.
"We'll be leaving as well. Enough for one day. If you'd like to stay, please do, otherwise we'll walk with you to the front." Pasha was right. This had been a bad idea. Nodding briefly to the others, Aki shifted the wilted Frei in her arms and reclaimed her purse from the table. Pasha just rested, white curls against Aki's shoulder, and watched the other Frei quietly. They were so pretty, all red and blue and dark and light.
It was heartbreaking it would never be red and blue and pink.
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Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 12:38 pm
Rivener practically bristled at the girl. His smug smile at her reaction remained even though Aphismet grabbed him by the arm and gave him a glare that clearly meant "you and I are gonna have a talk later". He let himself be dragged away from Roux, turning to give the Icy one a slight wave.
Aphismet kept blushing hotly and nodding at Aki, apologizing profusely. "I really am sorry, I didn't mean to ruin the evening..." Even though HE didn't ruin it, he still felt immensely responsible. He should have been keeping an eye on his Raevan's mood. "Erm, y-yes. To the door."
Aphismet hurried out with Rivener, the Scorpion shooting the wilted flowed another poisonous glare. In a rare display of his true age, Riv stuck out his tongue at the girl before turning away from her completely.
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Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 8:22 pm
Though she listened, Aki wasn't quite sure what to say in response to Aphismet. She didn't understand, and it wasn't okay...leaving her with little choice but to simply nod.
Pasha kept her head against Aki's shoulder, the glow of her rune barely staining the hip of her guardian's dress. She was tired, tired from shaking and worrying and wondering, and home had never sounded so sweet. His wave reminded her, though, of everything she was leaving behind, and Melisande picked up her head long enough to glance at the others.
One cheek pink from where it had been pressing against Aki, the fading Frei looked back to Roux and Zavier. She'd barely gotten a chance to speak with them, not that Roux seemed particularly inclined to speak. She'd been so excited to see Zae, though...she remembered his kindness in the lab clearly, and had been hoping to share at least a smile. Pasha watched as long as she could, until Aki turned in the doorway.
"Chloe, Tsu...I hope your evening can continue. We appreciate the invitation..." Trailing off, Aki pressed her lips together and shrugged. There wasn't much else to be said. With a nod to both of them, she slipped from the small room and followed the echo of Aphi's footsteps...ears dipped with troubled thoughts.
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