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Aphismet, perturbed as he was by the current situation, couldn't hear what Alex was talking about; the noise outside. He simply nodded to attempt to look like he knew what was going on, when in truth he was more confused than ever. H-had Alex just invited Chloe and himself to a picnic? B-but he was supposed to go on a picnic with Alex only, sometime, too! Maybe this counted as that?

Gah, all this dealing with females is so complicated! Aph sighed and gave Roux and Rivener a mournful glance. Maybe Riv had the right idea when he swore off girls.

Shaking his head at himself, weirded out by the thought of being with another guy, Aphismet tried to pay more attention to the surroundings. Chloe was trying to convince Alex to... To let Lorenzo hang out with Roux? A dangerous idea! But still, Aph felt it was not his place to offer an opinion.

"Erm, I, uh..." He'd passed the point where he could offer a thought on the picnic idea... If he mentioned it now it would sound very late, and hesitant. And so, wisely, Aph just shut up and smiled sheepishly at the two girls, following them.


Rivener frowned slightly in concern. Roux seemed more concerned with his looks than his health! Hopping off the counter, Rivener approached the other and ran a hand softly down Roux's cheek, making sure he placed himself within the other's view, locking eyes.

"Roux, you're still very beautiful. I still like you just as much, you're gorgeous. I just want to know if you know why? Then maybe we can fix it, and you could fly again." His expression, while serious, held a great deal of sorrow for his dearest friend. "I want to help if I can. Yes?"

Rivener hoped he wasn't treading on dangerous ground, but he had to ask! He had to find out if there was something he could do to help. Perhaps the other never thought of it, and that was part of the reason it didn't get fixed... Someone would have to ask Roux these questions eventually, and Rivener liked to think it was safer if he did it, instead of some doctor Roux hardly liked. The doctor would be likely to get frozen to death.

Alex stopped when Chloe touched her shoulder, turning around to face the woman. She couldn't help but admire the receptionist for all her patience and love of Roux; even now, Alex could tell Chloe was concerned and wanted him to be happy. When the pink-haired lady turned her blue eyes onto the Italian, Alex could feel the weight of the sincerity and earnest nature that made Chloe so remarkable. It was that same feeling that had told her that Chloe would make an excellent mother to the Gwee; Alex did not doubt her decision.

Gently accepting the small dragon, she clasped Chloe's hands, willing her to stay just another moment. "Lorenzo," Alex murmured to the dragon on her shoulder, her tone stern and meaningful, "do as she says."

Lorenzo chirruped, "Arut!" before leaping into the air, landing on Chloe's shoulder delicately with the stuffed animal still in his clutches. Alex smiled at the other woman, somewhat charmed by her honesty and kindness. "There is no danger in making sure no harm will come to those you love," she said with open admiration, giving a squeeze of the pink-haired woman's hands before releasing them, the baby Gwee snuggled into the crook of her arm. She took a few steps back to allow Chloe to pass, noticing that they were missing part of their trio.

Alex waited by the door for Aphismet to come, extending her free hand to clasp his shoulder. She turned her gaze upon him, unable to refrain from smiling at the shy young man. "Are you sure this is okay?" she asked quietly, her smile warm, not wanting to put him on the spot. "You and Chloe, seem--" she hesitated a fraction of a second, "--close, and I don't want to intrude." It was the kindest way she could put it without making it sound like she was jealous. Are you jealous? she wondered, surprising herself a little. Best...not to think of that right now!

She was about to take a step back when the crash sounded, making her nearly jump into Aphismet. "What in the--WOAH," she exclaimed, moving backwards too quickly when the green Raevan came through the doors, releasing Aphismet's shoulder just in time to cup the baby Gwee to her chest. Alex turned and tripped over her own feet, falling squarely onto her butt, using her hands and other assets to make sure the baby dragonette was cushioned in the fall.

Aphismet had been following the two girls when Alex turned back to fetch him. Aph blushed fiercely at Alex's words, and what they implied. He quickly brought up his hands and shook them in a No-No fashion, but was also thankful Chloe wasn't around to hear him deny all this so vehemently.
"A-ah! Oh goodness, I-! No! I mean, Ch-Chloe's a friend, sh-she works here a-and helped me with Rivener when I'd just g-got him... We're not th-that close! Not THAT close!" He ran a hand through his hair and stopped walking, concentrating on not putting a foot in his mouth. It was hard. "I m-mean we're good friends and all... And th-this isn't intruding at all. I... I hope this d-doesn't replace the picnic we're supposed to have?" AH! He just came out and said it!

Just as he was blushing again, Eiry floated in and saved the day. Aph had never been so happy to see the bumbling minty darling, and let out the breath he'd been holding in one long, relieved sigh. "Ah, Hello Eiry! What are you doing here?" Aphismet walked forward to meet the Raevan, and at the same time peeked outside; Chloe was rubbing her face and Roux was dragging Rivener to behind the lab. What was up out there?


Rivener saw the conflicting emotions in the other's face, and sighed. "I can't help at all?" he asked. "I'm sad. Do you prefer if I just be quiet with you? Would that be helping?" If his presence was all he could offer the other, then at least it would be something.

Rivener looked up when the familiar sound of his little brother's voice came closer and then crashed. Riv made a face. Why was the little brat always following him around? He really was like a little brother. When Roux began pulling him away, Riv didn't resist much. He loved Eiry, but sometimes a little brother would just be a third wheel; right now was one of those.

Lorenzo blinked at Chloe, his red eyes fixed on her face. Why did she look so sad? Even her smile didn't quite touch her eyes. Zoe's little face lit up as he realized he was clutching something that made him happy. Turning on Chloe's shoulder to face her, using his tail to balance himself, he lifted his stuffed panda, offering it to her proudly. No one can resist the squeeze of a plush toy!

Alex grimanced a little, glancing down to make sure the dragonette was okay. Gently stroking the top of the Gwee's head, she looked back to the Raevan - Eiry, was it? - who had startled her. It was him who had shocked her, after all. It had nothing to do with the conversation with Aphismet. Nothing to do with what he said. No sir.

The woman slowly pushed herself to her feet, casting a puzzled glance towards the yelling outside. Still cupping the Gwee against her collar, using one hand to brush off her cargo pants, Alex tilted her head at the mention of "Uncle Isi." Wasn't that the name of Aphismet's brother? Then this would be...his Raevan? What on EARTH was singing out there? Alex felt very out of place at the sudden happenings, slowly moving towards the door as Eiry was talking about crashing a radio flyer.

Her eyes widened as she realized what the Raevan was implicating. That was Isi raging out there, the smiling boy she'd seen at the festival? Barely waiting for the door to open before she hurried towards the source of the protests, Alex paused momentarily, spotting the pink-haired receptionist just outside. "A-ah, Chloe." She blinked at the woman, glancing over her shoulder to see if Roux and Rivener were around. It seems they had left when the shrieking boy had--

"Oh! Where's Isi?" Alex asked, concerned. The rustling and singing finally caught her attention, making her look in the direction of the boy tangled in the bushes under a window. Carefully tucking the baby Gwee tightly to her body, Alex waded into the bushes, stepping on the larger branches to break them so they would not tangle the boy further. She leaned down with the intent of putting her arm around Isi so that he could use her as leverage to get out of the angry foliage. "Are you all right?"

Aphismet blinked at Eiry's words, and frowned. He was about to berate the minty Frei when Isi's voice came booming out of the bushes outside, made all the clearer by Alex opening the doors. Aph followed, tugging Eiry along by the arm. "Eiry, you know you shouldn't have done that, you could really have hurt Isi! What would you do if Isi was broken, hunh? Do you ever think of that?"

Aphismet was hardly ever strict, but when it came to keeping his family safe, the usually soft-spoken man became quite serious. He rushed over to the bushes, bypassing the two girls. "Give him room, he can get up on his own... You're all right, Isi?" He asked, knowing Isi wouldn't like assistance in standing, but his big brotherly concern needed confirmation that he was ok.


Rivener tilted his head at the other. He frowned while he considered. "Remember... Remember, but at the same time you're not sure?" Riv said, thinking of his own strange feeling just now, while he was on the rock. Or rather, the kiosk... "I think I know what you mean... I sometimes almost remember something, too." He floated closer and nodded, lifting up a strand of his own hair to play with.

"You look like you remember sky, yes?" Rivener looked up. Clear blue yonder... Roux did look like he was made of a bird, perhaps that had something to do with it? Aphismet had once admitted, after much prodding, that Rivener was made of night sky and scorpion... It seemed like a strange combination, half of him loving the sunlight and the warm, the other half feeding off the night and the cool darkness. But the scorpion part, the one that loved the sun, might be what Rivener was remembering?

That would mean Roux was remembering being a bird?

Riv turned back to Roux. He smiled apologetically. "I wish I could help more, but I don't know how to help you remember more." He looked down apologetically. "If you need me to do anything, just ask."

Alex froze where she was. She couldn't decide if she was more shocked by Aphismet's sudden forwardness or that Isi was angry that people were concerned for his well being. She didn't quite understand what the problem was; it didn't occur to her that Isi would spurn any type of aid. Alex would have extended the help to anyone in this manner, no matter if it had been a stranger or a friend. Subconsciously she knew he used crutches, but that wasn't why she was trying to untangle Isi.

Quietly, feeling more out of place than before, she used her free hand to yank the flyer off of Isi, tearing out a few more branches in the process, carefully dropping it beyond the bush. Alex didn't understand how leaving the boy in the jaws on the plant would do anyone ANY good, so she systematically used her one hand to tear apart branches, stepping on the larger ones. Her green gaze wandered back to Isi as she removed the detrimental boughs, ready to offer an arm if he needed it.

Lorenzo hadn't understood why Chloe didn't want the stuffed panda - who doesn't want plushies? - but he didn't have time to think about it. He clutched her shoulder firmly, careful not to use his claws, finding curiosity in the odd predicament of the boy and his bush.

Aphismet walked away to fetch the crutches from the snow, and returned with a half-smile, offering the end of one to Isi, so that he could pull himself up with the proffered tool. Surely Isi would be able to manage that, and it would still feel like he did it himself. The man turned his attention to Eiry and nodded at Isi's words. "I'm sorry I yelled at you, Eiry. I was worried that Isi might be hurt, yep. Please be more careful where you let the radio flyer go, okay? Isi can't go through walls like you can."

Aph turned a shy smile to the two girls, suddenly realizing that he'd been quite rude to them, disregarding them and giving orders... "Sorry for that, Alex, Chloe... I get a little protective sometimes, and Isi can be a little snappy when he's in trouble," he gave his brother a smirk, knowing that Isi wouldn't appreciate his predicament being brought to light further.


Rivener sighed and nodded, watching the other float there, ever graceful. He still seemed so majestic. "Beautiful," he muttered to himself.

Trying to think of a way to change both their minds, Rivener floated over to the half-melted snow, and "bent" to begin playing with it, mounding it and attempting to form it into some kind of statue. "Roux, can you sculpt things with your hands too? I know you can with magic..." He looked up, smiling. Surely, Roux would enjoy touching the cold snow, yes?

Alex was completely baffled at Isi and Aphismet's actions. She didn't feel she deserved that angry glare from the boy, least of all when she was just trying to move the bush off of him. Of course, it would do no good to be angry at him. He was young, and she chalked the incident up to his growing independence.

Wading out of the now badly demolished bush, she started to wipe off the stray leaves and sticks that attached themselves to her clothes, unintentionally leaving little blood spots on her khaki colored cargos. Still curling the baby Gwee against her body protectively, she glanced over to the two brothers, offering a kind interjection, "Good to see you're all right. I'm Alex." She was a little hesitant to offer her hand to Isi; she was afraid she wouldn't get it back in one piece.

Instead, she waved at Aphismet in a dismissive motion. "Don't apologize, you're just being a big brother." Impressively, she added mentally, her lips curling into an amused smile as she winked at the young man. Actually, she quite liked the assertiveness. "So! What shall we do for lunch?" Alex tried to push forward to happier subjects, as it seemed a quarrel of Isi's behavior - whether true or not - could take a while. That, and she was still here on business; she and Chloe still needed to talk, and time was ticking.

Lorenzo released a soft noise not unlike a purr, putty in Chloe's hands at her sweet treatment. It was only as he was quite content and relaxed in the woman's embrace that he heard the baritone of something nearby. One of his red eyes cracked open, surveying the gathered curiously. He wasn't quite interested in leaving the warm nest of Chloe's arms just yet.