Welcome to Gaia! ::

Truding down the sidewalk with his hands stuffed into his pants pockets,Oni tried his hardest not to look over his shoulder even though he could feel the hole being stared into the back of his head. His mind shuffling through things he could say but throught better of. "..It wasn't my fault he didn't understand. You were so hel bent on not meeting other feien of course I forgot your papters. They're YOUR papers to begin with. YOU should have taken them with you." He finally grumbled, catching a glimps of Karma's house out of the corner of his eye. Normally he'd turn and head up the walk to her door but he wasn't much in the mood today.

Banana however, stung by his words figured it was just what she needed. Not that she wanted to go home with him right now ANYWAY. She punctuated this fact with a swift kick to the back of his head and made a beeline for the front door. Grasping at the air where she should have been angrily, he shook his fist instead and stalked off toward his home.

She tugged down one of her bottom eyelids and stuck her tongue out at him as she seen some characters from tv do from time to time when angered then looked up at the door. She fluttered her wings as she flew back a few paces and flew at the doorbell. Grinning as it sunk in with a muffled ring.

Karma jolted, wondering who it was THIS time as she got Zimma situated in the kitchen in front of a tiny bowl of pixa chow which the moggy kitty promptly sneezed confetti all over before attempting to eat it.

Reaching the door, she drew it open and reflexively lowered her eyes to feien-level finding, indeed, that someone was hovering there. She recognized this one, she knew, as she racked her brain for the name. This was--this was---Oni's feien! Yes!

"Hi Banana." she greeted the little yellow-marked fairy. "Didn't bring Oni today?" she asked, looking around for the unicorn boy and not seeing him anywhere. Hm...guess she -had- come alone. Oh well. She moved aside to allow her in.

Happy to see a friendly and familiar face, Banana smiled up to Karma. Glaring down the street where Oni headed before fluttering inside. She didn't wander too far only being familiar with part of Karma's home but she did however plop down on the back of the couch.

Closing the door to keep out the draft, she looked around briefly for the feien, spotting her on the couch and approaching, dropping to one knee until she was more or less at eye level with her. "What's wrong, hon? Not having a good day?" she asked. "It must be catching...Globin's been in shambles lately himself."

She raised her hands to sign to Karma, but thanks to her incident earlier she just let her hands drop back down into her lap and shook her head slowly. She tossed her braides out of her face and stood up again looking concerned at the mention of Globin and fluttered into Karma's hair careful not to tug or pull.

Karma blinked as the heat feien disappeared into her hair, a little confused by Banana's dejected manner but...but much everything involving the feien, it seemed, this was none of her business.

"Maybe you can help snap him out of whatever funk he's in." she suggested, heading in the direction of Meka's room. "He'd probably be more willing to talk to a friend than he would to me anyway."

She remained in her hair, remembering this path from her last trip here. Really unable to reply to her at all. People that couldn't talk shouldn't bother anyway, so she thought. Her little wings fluttering out of nervous habit every so often as she listened to Karma talk.

Weedling her way down through the strands onto her shoulder, she side stepped out along the curve of her arm and waited patiently.

Sweeping Meka's bedroom door open, Karma frowned a bit to find that Globin was no longer on the desk where she'd left him last.

"Globin...?" she called, looking around for him. "C'mon, I know you're in here." she sighed when she got no answer. There was a minute scuffle from the top shelf of the bookshelf and the foxcoon rolled her eyes knowingly, looking to Banana on her shoulder and pointing at said self.

Following the instruction, Banana fanned her wings and fluttered up to the indicated shelf. Looking about into the shadows there she sneezed covering her mouth with both hands as some dust kicked up from her fluttering wings.She weaved herself about the fronts of the books peeking around the corners in search of her friend.

Globin, huddled between Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy and Dave Berry Does Japan, had heard his bonded call to him, but couldn't summon the energy to respond. Instead, he enfolded himself in his wings and willed her to go away. He had enough on his mind at the moment...namely wondering what the hell Merri's cryptic note and the rose were supposed to mean.

He didn't react at all, in fact, until he heard a droning sound he vaguely recognized but had not heard in a long while.

".....Banana...?" he asked rhetorically, not sure if he expected a response or not as he unwound his wings from himself.

It was all she could do to keep from throwing herself at him. She did however step closer scurring her way under his wings as it unwinds to give him a tight hug. She heaved a deep sigh as she felt her face grow warm and all the stress from earlier finally came crashing down and she started to cry.

She tucked her wings against her back burying her face in his chest just happy to be near SOMEONE that showed some symblance of understanding her today and wasn't a butthead like Oni.

Globin was a bit bewildered as he suddenly found Banana clinging to him...and even more taken offguard when she began to cry. His mind raced for how he ought to comfort her and in the end he could think of nothing.

Perhaps it was because this was the final uncertainty that nudged him over the edge, or maybe it was just that he had been caught in the empathy of how she felt due to his own problems, but he found himself clinging back to the dark-skinned little feien as he began to cry himself.

He was unaware as Karma silently left the room and swept the door gently closed behind her as she went.

A little settled by the comfort, she settles a bit, sniffling as she rubbed her eye with her fist, curling up to the taller feien tighter. It had also beein a while since she has seen him last, she was happy to know he hadn't forgotten her.

Getting himself slowly under control, feeling a little more settled now that he'd gotten it out of his system after days of festering there, Globin's quiet sobs wound down to occasional hiccups and sniffles, though his grip on Banana remained tight.

He was too tired, he realized, to waste time on apologizing for his outburst and it seemed that it had been a mutual thing anyway. Heaving a long cleansing sigh, the last of his tears drying on his cheeks, he drew back a bit to look down at the heat feien.

"I--" he cleared his throat, his voice husky from crying. "I suppose its pointless to ask if you've been having a hard time as well...." Globin said, sounding a bit sullen.

Banana gave a watery smile, chuckling at his comment with a faint nod of her head. She hesitated slightly before sitting back, still covered by the shelter of his wing as she signed to him about meeting with Fifth and how that went and just how stupid she felt unable to talk like other feien. She seemed to glare down at her hands as if it was their fault somehow.

Globin knit his brow, Banana's signing a bit garbled in some areas from her stress, but he got the gist of it. She'd been unable to communicate with someone. Really, it wasn't hard to understand her if you paid attention to what she was pantomiming, but he supposed some people just didn't have an attention span like he and Merri did.

"You're not stupid." he assured her, folding his other wing around her as well, drawing her into the feathery cocoon he usually reserved only for his own private angsting. "Banana, you can't help how you are...and if anything, you're more clever than the rest of us for having found a way around it."

He wasn't used to being the comforter...in fact, this was the first time ever. But, at the moment, focusing on something other than his own upset was doing him a bit of good...he hoped Banana might feel better in the process as well.

Looking up to Globin, her eyes slightly red from the crying and her rubbing at them. He was right though, she couldn't help how she was. That didn't make it any less fustrating to deal with though. She tugged the scarf from her neck. It seemed bulky and out of place on her for the first time since she had gotten it. [ It just hurt, I didn't know other feien could be so mean.. ] She signed with a disheartened sigh, [ Oni had dropped me off the day before and it.. I wasn't comfortable there. It seemed like I was just intruding. ]

"At the shop...?" he questioned, remembering his own encounter there and feeling his feathers bristle a bit. "Well...if it makes you feel any better, at least you made an effort..." he sighed, closing his eyes, looking somewhere between deeply upset and disgusted with himself. "I--I didn't even get past the threshold of the window and I started panicking. I didn't stop until Shalafi abandoned his friends and took me home." His ears folded back. "I don't think I'll ever go back, either...the shop just isn't -for- some people."

He was trying to comfort himself with his last statement, but it didn't seem to be helping much.

Straightening herself, her lips pursed in an almost upset manner. Insulting her was one thing, but to upset her friend when he clearly outshone most of them was another matter all together. That was all she needed to hear, she would not be convinced to return to that shop if she could help it.

She rested a friendly hand on Globin's shoulder, [ You shouldn't let them worry you, they seem to be stuck in a game of 'I'm better than you are' anyway. ] She signed with a snide smirk. [ I have friends like you and Merri and that's fine by me. ]

Globin looked up at her, studying her expression for a moment, looking like part of him didn't entirely believe her for a moment -- the same part of him that he'd inadvertantly trained to reject all praise and compliments upon hearing them. He pushed it out of hand and allowed it to, somewhat at least, register. She had no reason to lie about something like that.

"Thank you." he said softly, trying to smile, his mouth wavering, and failing. "I--I can't say I've met any feien I've been at odds with other than Talon, but according to Merri there -are- a few who are terrible. Whomever this Calico was that he dealt with was horribly cruel. I'm not sure who it was you met, Banana, but I'm sorry you did."

He hesitated and then tentatively added "I've....met a few friends since last we saw one another. If you'd like me to perhaps introduce you sometime, if you'd still like to meet others, they're very good people..."

Her strong manner faultering slightly at this offer. She did want to meet other people but didn't wish for another event like earlier that day. She balled up her tiny hands, the thumbs rubbing rubbing along the knuckles of of the other fingers as she chewed on this thought for a moment longer.

So far she wasn't too sure about meeting Calico or Talon personally, but if Globin said there were a few good people then there was still a chance. [ I would like that, though.. not in the shop. ] She replied, or as well as she could pantamime, Some words she still wasn't used to signing.

[ I'm sorry that I met that person as well, but I guess I can't be upset at my bonded too terribly much, he did try to introduce me.. I guess I took the reaction a little too hard. ]

"No. Not at the shop." he agreed. "Aileron refuses to go to the shop at all because he's had bad experiences there as well, in fact...and I'm not sure Yeande and Shalafi go there much as it is." He reached out, brushing one of her dreds away from her face. "You may like Shalafi, I think, we'd just need to figure out how the two of you would communicate. Much like you don't speak, Shalafi can't see. But also much like you, he's found ways around it."

As he shifted his weight a bit, the stem of the rose Merri had left for him earlier prodded into his tailbone from where he'd stuffed it behind his wings with the note when he'd gone up here to brood before Banana's arrival. Wincing, he reached back and drew it out, setting it aside and sighing at it as though it was the source of his own problems.

"But---but at any rate, I would be happy to take you to them one of these days, should you like." he continued, acting as though nothing had happened.

Blushing faintly as he moved her dred from her face, she couldn't help but smile at the simple gesture.It was a wonder what a good solid hug from someone able to do so could do for a person's mood. She huggled him again, blinking and sitting back again as she felt him wriggle about. Hoping that she wasn't making him uncomfortable but happy to see that it was merely because of a thorn in his side,no pun intended.

She tried to stay polite about it as she watched him take the rose from behind his back, shifting her gaze from him to the flower as she listened to him. She gave another quirky smile, finally caving under the weight of her curiosity. [ Where's that from? ] She signed pointing at the rose, holding out her hands expectantly.

"That's...." he trailed off and sighed, looking down at the flower again, his feathers standing on end. It was a wonder he wasn't continuously molting with as much worrying as he did. "....that's from Merri." he said quietly. Noting that she was holding out her hands, he picked up the rose and offered it to her to hold.

"He sent it this morning along with a note...we've--uhm--" a hand went behind his head to rub at his neck "....well....things have gotten a bit uncertain between us. And I suppose I'm not entirely sure what he's meant by this. I want to believe its something good, but...."

But he insisted on looking for the worm in every apple, he thought to himself sourly. Gods, he didn't know what was wrong with him...other than he hated making assumptions when they very well might be completely wrong.

Taking the flower delicately in her hands, she looked it over with a scrutinizing eye. It seemed to be in good health, not picked over and the scent was pleasent. There was some good that came of living in a green house at least. She offered the rose back to him. pointedly ignoring the note. That wasn't her business thought she did sneak a glance at first. Not enough to catch it.

[ It's very pretty. ] She signed, [ It doesn't appear to be damaged in ayway and it's read so that's a good sign. ] She offered hoping that the good news would cheer him up some. She thought a moment then grabbed her scarf from her lap and drapped it on his shoulders as best she could.

"Why is that--" he paused as she draped the scarf around his shoulders, blinking in slight bewilderment. "....why is that a good sign?" he continued, allowing her to fuss with it without protest. His wings came apart a bit, allowing some fresh air in with the two of them to counteract the muggy environment their body heat and the breath from his talking had created. That was the one good or bad thing about feathers, depending on how one looked at them -- remarkable insulation.

Banana had to blink through the light that filtered in from his opening his wings. The henna on her body easier to be seen now. Smiling a bit as she admired her scarf on his neck. It looked better in her opinion as he had the stature for it. She nodded her head and flexed her wings a bit. [ So what are you doing for holloween? My bonded told me about this fun thing called treak or treating. ]

Realizing she'd shifted away from the topic, he suppressed a sigh and tried to answer the new question. "Halloween...?" he said, knitting his brow. "I don't know that I'm doing anything, really...I'm not even entirely sure what it is."

You dressed up as something outlandish...the television told him that much. Why anyone would go to the trouble was beyond him. Never the less, he cocked his head questioningly, awaiting her to explain.

Noting his sigh, she clonked herself upside the head with the butt of her palm. [ I'm drifting aren't I? Sorry about that but what I mean was that since the flower was in good shape then I'm sure that he's not thinking anything bad.. Else he would have send you a flower that had some bit of neglect just to pacify you. ]

She smiled sheepishly to him, almost like a guilty puppy. [ As for trick or treating, as I was told, we dress up in costumes and shake people down for candy. Those unfortunate to have candy we dress up their houses with toilet paper or draw on their windows with soap and eggs. ] She grinned happily. It seemed like innocent fun to her. What better way to spread such a giving holiday with those that couldn't take part.

A silver brow quirked in confusion. "So...you...demand candy from strangers and deface their homes if they say no...?" repeating what she'd just said with his own bleak outlook on everything. Catching himself, he gave himself a swift inward kick for it. Why did he have to constantly rain on everybody's parade? If this was a widely-recognized human tradition and Banana wanted to take part in it, just because he didn't understand it, he had no reason to try and dissuade her.

"It---It sounds a bit odd, but I suppose I can see how it would be fun..." he said hesitantly. "...but what would you dress as?"

For a moment she gave him a look like someone told her puppies grew into dogs, rainbows had no golden pots and there was no Santa Claus. But she shook her head. [ Nono not all of the houses. For you see, there are some people that are so sad they cannot participate that they are angry. It is our jobs to bring out the spirit of this holiday of giving by returning the joy! Eggs and soap all wash off and toilet paper is too flimsy to be harmful anyway. All harmless. ]

She grinned, having returned her own faith in this activity. [ Me? I'm going dressed as a honey bee! ] She signed proudly. She had no real dealings with these creatures and only had the happy bouncy cartoon representations she saw on television as her guide. Surely if she knew what they REALLY did she would think otherwise..maybe. [ Oh you should join us, Globin! It will be alot of fun! Peggity could help you with a costume and everything! ]

Globin shrank back a bit into his wings "Mnh...I don't know...." he said quietly, looking down and to the side, moreso uncertain than dismissive. He tried to envision himself dressed up and accompanying Banana and whomever else was going and was having a hard time doing it. He'd never even -worn- clothing...

And what if people didn't like him there? What if he ruined everyone's night? For that matter, what if someone remarked on the fact that he wouldn't NEED a costume to look outlandish? He chewed his lip thoughtfully at this.

She gave him a playful nudge and gave him a winning smile, [ It'll ve fun, I promise. We'll get alot of candy. It'll be a chance to kick back and not worry about what the other feien are doing for once. ] she took his hands in hers, swinging his arms out a bit as she looked about, drawing her hands back to sign again,

[ So why are you hiding up here anyway? Wouldn't it be better to be down there where you could see things better? ] She nodded toward the edge of the book shelf and snapped her fingers, [ ahaha! You remind me of this tape Oni has. It's called The Last unicorn! ] She accentuated her comment by whistling the opening credit music for him, maybe he'd seen it.

Globin hadn't seen it...he'd never even heard of it. Perhaps Talon had, though. He and Berra seemed more keen on watching television than he did. "I remind you of a unicorn?" he said, a split second before remembering the protruding white horn in the middle of his forehead and feeling stupid. Well, that would be why, he supposed...

"I suppose I've been doing a lot of hiding lately." he said truthfully in regard to her earlier question. "Every time I feel like I'm ready to face the world, something happens that sends me straight back in here, a little further than before. Talon used to be the reason I hid here all day, now that he isn't bothering me any longer, its been this ongoing struggle with Merri. The shop was the final straw, really..."

He smoothed his bangs from his forehead "Berra's told me I need to stop this before I waste away. I agree with her, but I just don't know -how- to stop. Hiding comes naturally to me, I guess."

[ That shop seems to be a breeding ground for ill will if you ask me. ] she sighed turning up her nose a bit. She set about preening some of his closer feathers. She remembered her own bit of hiding at finding out about Oni's past a while ago. She understood what that feeling felt like all too well. [ I hid for a little while too actually. It was for a different reason though.. ] She seemed to trail off pondering a moment or two before regailing him of what happened between he, Oni's diary and Nhu. [ I want to learn how to defend myself.. I have some knowledge but just enough to get myself hurt I learned. But enough on that.. ]

She furrowed her brow in thought though. Another name she hadn't heard of before. Cocking her head curiously at the mention this Talon person again as well as Berra and scratched her head. [ You seem to run into this Talon fellow quite a bit. Does he live year him? What of this Berra person? ]

He listened to her as she told her story, not sure what to make of it, and even more unsure of what he ought to contribute to it....and so, those uncertainties in mind, he thought it best not to say as little as possible. He was relieved when she quickly changed the subject, making it unnecessary for him to say anything at all.

Realizing he'd not really elaborated on his housemates, Globin looked over, watching her preen his wing feathers with distracted interest. He'd been hugged, he'd been petted, but nobody had ever -groomed- him before...

"Talonfaust and Kookaberra are the two other feien who live here." he told her. "Talon was here before me and he's--well--he's Talon." he said as though that would explain everything. "Kookaberra is his daughter and she's, thankfully, nothing at all like him." He squinted a little, as though trying to decide something. ".....in fact, Banana, she's just about your size. Almost exactly, I'd daresay."

Looking up from straightening his feathers, she raised a brow to this, A feien that didn't tower over her for once?? That was amazing in and of itself. She bounced a little with excitement.[ They live here? Really? In this room along with you? ] She half crawled half wriggled from his side to the edge of the bookshelf to look about. Pressed down on her belly as if she was trying to sneak a glimpse of a wild animal from the safety of a safari van.

Crawling free from the haven of his wings brought about just how much cooler the air in the room was in comparison and she huddled slightly letting her wings flutter wildly a moment.

"No--No they live two doors over from me in their own room." Globin explained, crawling after her. In spite of his miserable spirits, he was unable to suppress a trace of a smirk at her behavior.

"They should both be here, I think, unless--"

"GOD DAMN IT! I don't WANT to go!" a male voice squawked in protest as footsteps headed past Meka's door and receded back toward the kitchen.

"Oh, stop whining. You'll have a good time." Karma's voice replied faintly.

"....unless Karma plans on making good on her threat to make Talon go out with her and her husband today for his summonday." Globin finished, wincing a bit at the punctuating slam of the garage door as his bonded officially left the house with Talon in tow. "....but Berra still ought to be here."

Hoo, What a mouth that one had on him. It was no wonder he and Globin seemed to be at odds.

She wasn't sure what was bad about going out on one's summonday.. unless it was to that Chucky place. The stuff called Pizza was yummy but they had giant people eatting rat monsters. He should have nothing to fear unless that's where Mrs. Karma was going to take him. In that cased she couldn't blame the poor fellow.

Listening to the noise diminish down the hall before sitting up to wipe the dust off her front, She smiled up at Globin ready to try again for his sake. [ Can we meet her? ]

Globin's ear twitched as the distinctive noise of the car starting up could be heard and, deciding it was safe and that Talon and Karma were as good as gone, he shrugged a bit.

"I don't see why not." he told her, gathering his feet beneath himself and standing, his knees wobbling a bit from having crouched for so long. "She's a bit exciteable, just to prepare you...I imagine she gets it from her mother."

Joining him in standing, this bit of news gave her a pause. A Mother. She didn't have a mother of her own. Just the little flower that she crawled from if that could be considered a mother. Either way she nodded and wondered how this may go.

[ Well, if you say she's a nice person than I trust you. ]

"She's very nice, yes, just a big too eager at times..." He wandered to the edge of the shelf and gave his wings a flap, taking to the air with only a little difficulty. Karma, thankfully, had not closed the door all of the way and he wouldn't have to bother with the knob as he paused in front of it, nudging it open and motioning Banana to follow as he slipped into the hallway in search of Berra.

Giving a testing flap before buzzing after him, Banana lazily zig zags out the space of the door to catch up to him. The trip giving her time to look about the house a bit better and become familiar with everything.

Karma's house seemed a bit more lived in properly than Oni's. It actually felt as if someone with some decorative sense put the place together as opposed to posters of half naked women and various anime posters barfed on the walls at random.

"Berra?" Globin called softly, looking for the little pigtailed feien. Strange, usually she was zipping around the place at breakneck speed when nobody was around to tell her not to. "Berra? Are you--uff!!" he grunted, rounding the corner into the kitchen just in time to be careened straight into.

Kookaberra did a clumsy backward saumersalt in mid-air from the force of their impact and paused, rubbing at her forehead and blinking at Globin a moment. "Oh! You came out! Are you feeling better?" she asked, immediately fixing herself with a smile when she realized who it was.

"A bit, yes." he nodded. "I've someone I'd like you to meet." he added, gesturing behind him to Banana as she caught up with him.

A little worried as she saw him jolt to a hault in the air, but relaxed as she watched a separate feien hover before him. She had the angle herself upward to stop just short of crashing into either of them. Catching just the tail end of Globin's introduction.

A nervous pang gnawed at her stomach as she waved meakly at Berra, mouthing the word Hi unsurely at first. Hoping the gesture didn't look as awkward as it felt.

If Berra was bothered, she certainly didn't show it as she zipped forward immediately. Unlike Globin or Talon, she loved meeting new people. "Hi there!" She chirped, stopping a short distance in front of Banana. "Its nice to meet you! I'm Kookaberra, what's your name?"
"That's Banana." Globin said softly. "....take it easy." he added hesitantly. "She's a bit nervous." He decided not to mention Banana's muteness. Berra would find it out on her own as, thankfully, despite being a bit hyperactive, she was quick on the uptake.

Putting on her most pleasent smile she gave a inward sigh of relief as Globin introduced her. Of all the things that were a pain to sign her name seemed to be the most perplexing to translate she learned.

Hoping for a better reception, she thought to mouth out her words as she signed this time. [ It. is. nice. to. meet. you. ]

Berra cocked her head a bit at the strange introduction. "Its nice to meet you too." she said after a brief pause and a nod of her head. Noting her silence, the red and white feien fluttered a little closer and a sympathetic look came into her eyes though she was still smiling.

"Aww, did you get the same cold daddy did?" she asked. "He lost his voice for a couple of days too."

"Actually..." Globin, again, gave himself an inward kick for not sticking to his guns. "....actually, Berra, she's unable to talk."

"Not at all...?" Kookaberra inquired, looking from Banana to Globin, watching as the blood feien gave a brief shake of his head, hoping he wasn't offending Banana by answering for her. "Oh! All right then." she said just as off-handedly as she might have if someone were telling her what the weather was like. Clearly, this was not a big deal to her. "So you're a friend of Globin's, Miss Banana?" she asked, turning her attention back to the yellow-marked feien.

The mention of having a cold she found was actually amusing. She nodded to affirm Globin's words pantimiming as if she were trying to yell, cupping her hands either side of her mouth and giving a shrug when not even a stale peep came forth. She was so happy to not be stared at like she had three heads she could help but grin from ear to ear.

She nodded and returned to her half lip synced signing. [ I. Met. Him. Shortly. After. I. Came. Out. of. my. flower. ]

"Oh! So you've known him for awhile then!" Berra said, sounding happy with this news. "I was starting to worry that Merri and Aileron were the only friends he had." As she spoke, she flew a slow circle around Banana, investigating her. This was the first feien she'd seen who wasn't larger than she was. In fact, they were exactly the same size.

"You're a very pretty color!" she announced randomly. "I've never met a yellow feien before. Most have been black or white."

This time it was her turn to blush at a compliment, she watched Berra circle around her figiting slightly as she does so. [ Really? That's a bit odd. Must be fairly common colors then. ] She couldn't help but feel a little better by this if even a little bit.

Berra nodded in agreement as she came to rest in front of Banana again, hovering on the air. "Must be. Aileron's white, Shalafi's white, Daddy's white, my sister Irisa is half-white..." she looked thoughtful. "Lots of red feien too, now that I think about it."

Globin looked down at himself as Berra spoke, realizing he was all three of the colors mentioned....did that make him unique, or did it make him three-times overdone, he wondered?

"Do you have any idea how long Talon will be gone?" he asked, forcing himself not to think that way.

"Nope!" Berra said, briefly buzzing her bat-like wings in a furious flurry of movement for no reason whatsoever. "Miss Karma said they were going to lunch and then to a movie so they'll probably be gone all day." She paused, looking concerned about something. ".....I hope daddy wasn't serious when he said he was gonna commit seppuku with a cocktail toothpick if they took him to Denny's...I don't even know what seppuku -is-, for that matter..."

Maybe there was something to be said for being common colors. For she realized that most of the black, white and red feien she had come across were usually both colors. She folded her arms against her chest for a moment. Was it really good o be such a different color afterall?

[ It doesn't sound pleasent, that's for sure. ] Banana signed with a shake of her head. [ Is your father always so angry all the time? ] She inquired, hoping her question wasn't as forward as the signing made it seem to be. Globin did have a point, this one did seem alot more pleasent than the afore mentioned Talon seemed to be anyway.

Berra's expression slipped a small notch, though she didn't seem quite so offended as confused, wondering who'd told her that. Or perhaps she'd just had an unfortunate meeting with him. "Not all the time." she said, putting her hands behind her back. "Its just nobody really notices him when he's being quiet, but when he gets mad he makes lots of noise and it makes everybody look at him....so they think he's always that way because its the only time they notice him."

Her hands fidgeted with one another behind her back as she wondered if this would make sense to Banana and then she looked to Globin, wondering if Banana had gotten her information from him.

Globin lowered his head guiltily in reply and said nothing, making Berra zip toward him and give him about as much of a comforting tacklehug as she could manage for her size, barely making him kilter off-balance in the air as she settled her arms around his neck

"Globin's afraid of Daddy." she explained for Banana's benefit. "They used to fight lots when Daddy was still little and now that he's bigger, Globin doesn't want any part of him. I keep telling him they should talk more, but this is the first time I've seen him out of Meka's room in weeks."

She giggled silently into her palm as Berra hugged on the sulking feien. Berra didn't seem like the type to chastise him anyway for something so innocent.

Banana tilted her head back with an 'ooh, I see' sort of expression, nodding as the like sized feien explained the situation to her. [ That almost makes them like brothers then. If my understanding is correct from how my bonded and his brother are always fighting. ]

She wavered slightly and looked about for something to land on, She didn't mind hovering, but being as her wings weren't that thick across, it did tend to get tedious staying in one spot for too long. [ Would you mind greatly if I landed? My wings aren't as big as yours ]

"Hmm? Oh! No, go ahead!" Berra said, making a sweeping gesture at the nearby countertops. "I was just looking for some lunch, you guys can join me if you want." she added, zinging back toward the fridge where she began to struggle with the door, trying to pry it open. Globin watched her a moment and then ventured forward, biting his lip.

Gritting her teeth as she wedged her way in through an open window, Banana Squinted at the bright light of the inside of the shop. She had promised herself that she wouldn't come back but somehow here she found herself again, with the help of Kione of course. He hovered outside the window and ushered at her with his hands to go on.

This was all part of her training after all. Clutching at her papers and quill tightly, she took a sigh and landed on the sill, It did seem pretty quiet anyway. So she thought.

As Fifth floated up from behind the corner, he thought he felt eyes upon him and turned to see a familiar little face. Now here was reason to smile. "Hellooo there!" he called out, and waved enthusiastically in greeting.

Walking along the sil she settled herself into the silent atmosphere of the shop. It seemed so odd to see it so.. She jerked her head up at the greeting, preparing to wave back.. until she recognized the markings.

Oh no, not him.. She waved back anyway, forcing a grin. Hopefully this would be a better meeting?

th darted over so he could speak to Banana without shouting. "Are you still not talking to me? It's rude to not greet people when they greet you, you know."

aquaphina darted into the room- divebombing to the counter and sat down- looking over at all the feien in the room- everyone looked so much more equal of size- before everyone was so much taller than she. slowly she scanned the room for signs of life

She had her pen, she had her papers but she forgot something to write in. Thinking a moment, the feien held up a finger gesturing for him to wait a moment. She kneeled down to scratch out some words on a sheet of paper handing it to him. 'I don't have a voice. Sorry.'

Fifth crumpled the paper in his hands. "That's ridiculous. There aren't any humans around. What are you afraid of? Come on, TALK."

aqua squinted at the writing on the paper- ~i cant....i cant what?~ as the other feien crumpled it up. dang...must read faster

Standing back up, shook her head and tried to think of how to show him that she honestly couldn't talk. Honestly stumped she just offered a shrug. and tried scratched out on another sheet. ' No, I was born like this. I cannot talk at all.'

She looked a little, no pun intended, at a a loss for words.

"No, no, no!" shouted Fifth. He reached out to grab her by the arm.

Taken aback, Banana tried to step back out of the reach but wasn't quick enough. Staring at Fifth odly as she gabbed onto his wrist with a what-are-you-doing?! expression.

This caught him by surprise, but not by much. Fifth gave a snarling grin. "If you won't talk, I'll -MAKE- you talk!" he hissed, trying to pull her towards him.

aqua watched the two feien talk more intently than before- her growing concern was for the one who spoke more animated- she looked back at the one yellow feien and watched as she try to demenstrate her skill- or the lack there of-

Brow drawing down angrily as she was yanked forward a half step. Firmly planting her foot on the ground she yanked him back just as hard. She had no idea what he was planning but she didn't like the sound of it either way.

With a strangled gasp, an unprepared Fifth went pitching forward and crashed straight into Banana, head smacking into her chest, which did have the unforeseen benefit of placing his horns perilously close to her face.

aphina gasped at the two figting. she didnt want to see another gem- granted she never saw a gem before but she didnt want to start- she stood up and walked over to the two feien "HEY!whatsallthis?"

Whuffing slightly as Fifth crashed against her, she stumbled to catch herself and him staring down at his horns warily. She jolted at the outcry of a second feien she hadn't noticed before and lossing her footing pitched backwards onto her rump.

This gave Fifth the opportunity he wanted, stumbling practically on top of Banana and grabbing at her once again.

Aqua once again came closer this time to pry the challenging feien off the other mute one "HeyNofighting! letsbecivilizedhere" she had been towering over the two trying to get one off the other "Pleaseyourbeingquitestrange"

Gawking at the slightly larger feien latched onto her and the one towering over her, Banana squirmed and wriggled to get free still trying to stay out of at least face reach of those horns on Fifth's head.

Fifth was too focused on grabbing Banana to really think too much about his horns as he gave her arm a TWIST to the extent of his strength.

aqua once again began the prying trick- hoping it would work. she growled at the feien giving the rugburn "Hey!isaidstopthatyourhurtingher!" wraping her arms around fifths waist and attempting to pull him away...

Unprepared, Banana's eyes grew as round as dinner plates, Her jaw dropped open in silent scream as pain shot up her sore arm and manifested itself in the form of a right hook aimed squarly at his jaw.

The punch sent Fifth reeling; only his strength kept his grip from failing. It took a moment for the impact to realize itself, and then Fifth let out a cry so fierce it shook the rafters. He struggled against Aquaphina as he dagged himself back down towards Banana, mouth open and teeth bared as he tried to bite into the other juvenile's flesh.

aqua contenued her struggle against fifth. both thier stats and physics were the same but she had more determination "yourhurtingher!STOP!!!!" aqua tried to kick the legs right out of fifth "Dontdothis!itsnotnice"

Baring her own teeth she scrambled to her feet thankful that the elder feien was holding onto him. She made a vulgar gester at him and fluttered back clutching her arm against her abdomen.It stung but at least it wasn't bleeding or worse.

Now that his quarry was escaped, Fifth twisted about to face Aquaphina. "Get in my way, will you?" he snarled, lunging for her hips (as it was about the only part of her he could reach). His arms went wide, intending to encircle her.

Aqua gasped and stepped backwards- thats the problem with playing hero- who will be your hero when you need it- she quickly scanned the room for any possable help- "anyone?HELP!!!!!!!" she took another step back and once again tried to pry the feien off her- what she wouldnt give for a crowbar right about now...

Averno followed a step behind Corvus and to his left, her face tilted up to regard him as he spoke, eagerly hanging on his every word. The younger Darkness Feien seemed to absorb each tidbit of information with relish. "I regret having only visited it once then, Master Corvus. I wish I had not been so distracted prior."

Corvus scarcely seemed to notice that she had spoken. "Most people underestimate the non-elemental spells, choosing instead to focus on weak elements and trivialities. The non-elementals are in fact the strongest spells in our arsenal, particularly for weaker feien such a--!!" Rounding the corner Corvus stumbled into the scene unfolding near the windowsill. Two unfamiliar feien and-- "FIFTH!"

Fifth looked up from his battle just long enough to realize this was Not Good. Still, it was fun, so he shoved the tips of his horns at Aquaphina before releasing her and leaping backwards.

Seeing Fifth turn on her savior, Banana's wings buzzed faster as she dove down through the air to meet him half way. She was hurt but that was no reason to let someone else get hurt either. This Fifth seemed like a bully in need of a lesson.

aquaphina yelped- the horns nearing her torso- she looked down at the feien who backed off a bit and sighed- she then turned to look for the yellow one to see if she was alright "Yellowfeien?areyouhurt?" she scanned the room back and forth- the two dark feien standing there and the young one who was trying to attack with all his might- but where had the yellow one gone?

Averno nearly stumbled into Corvus, pulling aside just in time to avoid a collision, and she blinked at the scene within the shop. "What on Gaia is going on in there?"

Whatever Fifth was intending to say in reply to Corvus's entrance was cut short when Banana's tiny form went barreling into him. He went directly horizontal across the windowsill and nearly hit the frame, but he hit something two inches away from the frame instead.

"WHAT the HELL do you children think you are DOING!?" came the irascible shout. Corvus was holding his arm out, and whatever he had done, it had stopped Fifth just short of smacking into the wall. He flew over to the two juveniles with a furious expression on his face.

aqua yelped as corvus stepped forword- not saying anything.... she looked at the two and then back at corvus- stepping backwards and hoping not to be yelled at

A triumphant grin on her face, Banana and Fifth tumble along the sill. Blinking as they came to a halt in..mid air? She didn't have long to reflect on this as she was yanked up into the air. Sucking in a breath of air through clenched teeth.

"A bunch of bloody BRATS, that's what!" Corvus snarled, grabbing them both by the arms and pulling them apart. He made the unfortunate mistake of grabbing Banana's already agitated arm but made no notice of this fact. "Both of you, what do you think you're doing?" he demanded again. His grip on Fifth was particularly tight.

"She started it," said Fifth, smirking since he knew Banana could not make an argument without her precious quills and paper.

She tried to claw her way free of his hand due to the pain, she shot Fifth a cold stare. She shook her head up at Corvus pleadingly pawing at his hand.

Averno hung back in the corner of the windowsill and watch Corvus' handling of the matter. Her eyes scanned over the warring Feien with curiosity, committing their faces to memory.

"she cant....shes mute" aquaphina panted- her tone of voice slowed by her concentration to her own breath "she....didnt scream" aquaphina whiped some sweat off her head and looked back at the yellow feien "i watched it all...."

"A mute?" At that, Corvus released Banana, to focus more intently on Fifth. "Am I to believe some idiot mute decided to attack you?"

"I guess she was jealous that I'm not afraid to talk," remarked Fifth lazily.

Moving through the portal several minutes after Corvus and Averno made their way through, Shalafi paused just near the circle of stones, thinking quietly to himself. Everything made a bit more sense now.... but he had so many other questions as well. Sighing, he moved to fly off towards home, then winced when he heard the shouting from inside the shop. Was that Corvus?? He'd never heard the summoner that angry before...

Flying to the doorway, he paused, hovering there and listening.

The smaller darkness Feien began to let her eyes roam over the rest of the shop as the matter seemed to be well in hand. Averno squinted to try and determine where the spells Corvus had been speaking of were kept.

aquaphina turned to the smaller yellow feien and smiled "gladyour alright" her tone of voice returning as she turned and flew out the window twords home

Watching the pink haired feien leave she waved after her vaguely ...wait a moment Idiot?? Banana stared a bit dumbfounded at Corvus then back at Fifth in disbelief.

Mute? Shalafi didn't know there was a mute Feien.

Idiot, even if she signed at you, you can't exactly see it.

Winging his way intot he shop then, Shalafi moved to the counter and landed there, keeping a bit of distance from the fracas, but still close enough that he could tell what was going on.

Apparently Corvus did not see fit to engage the "idiot mute" any further. "Where's Kabuto?" he demanded of Fifth. "Who let you out here?"

Fifth pouted a moment, then reached up to grab the arm around his neck and squirmed around. Confused, Corvus's arm fell downwards and suddenly Fifth had gotten it into his mouth, and then--

"GYAH!" howled Corvus, throwing Fifth down against the windowsill as hard as he could and darting up into the air. "You little fecking brat! You BIT me!"

Fifth dashed for the nearest shelter -- which happened to be Shalafi.

Jumping at the loud howl of pain, Bana brought up her hands in defense, moving out of the way so she doesn't get hit watching him fly into the air.

At the very least, she didn't feel bad that this feien got under just her skin.

Shalafi had no clue anything was coming until it was nearly there. "Mr. Corvus?? Are you alrig-- YIIIIIIIII!" He nearly jumped a foot into the air as something zinged past him and took refuge.

Corvus' cry dragged Averno's eyes back there and his words made her mouth fall open. "He bites?" She asked as if in disbelief. Hair pulling Feien were bad enough, a biting one was enough to make her finger the hilt of her cocktail rapier.

Corvus rubbed at the mark on his arm. Two perfect little rows of teeth. That was going to bruise. "Biting is the least of what he does," the summoner snarled.

Fifth just stuck out his tongue. "You tried to kill Aileron, so you can't talk!"

Stepping aside, Shalafi moved away from Fifth, leaving him in the open. He knew a bit about THAT particular incident, and refrained form speaking of it. Narrowing his eyes slightly, he looked towards the rather abrasive voice. "And who are you?"

"That depends," said Fifth, narrowing his eyes at Shalafi. "Who are you?"

Looking back in Corvus' direction, Shalafi sighed. "Are there mockingbird Feien that I wasn't aware of?"

Averno sidled in a wide berth around Fifth and Shalfi to move nearer to the protective vicinity of Corvus. "Well I don't care to see what else he does."

Corvus just dashed forward, grabbed Fifth again and said, "That's enough of that. I'm taking you home." Without even bothering to apologize to Averno, he stormed out, Fifth in tow.

Averno watched Corvus depart and she sighed. "Well I suppose that is my cue to head home myself."

Slinking backwards toward the opening of the window, Banana figured that now was a s good as any to make with a quick get away.

Saved spot for RP with Neko

The carride to the plaza was nice, for once. Banana behaved herself with swinging on the ornamental crystal unicorn hanging from the rear view mirror as Oni and Penn chattered back and forth about the different shops they planned to go to. "..I dunno if I should go back in there.. I doubt that Ian fellow would want to see me aggain. "Oni said in an undertone, "You remember the hat incident?"

The concept nodded with a wry grin on his face, "And the boxers, and the shirt and th.. you know it's amazing you bought anything at all. Just how -DO- you manage to impale the same display on a rack of scivvies like some obsure national flag?" He mused with a chuckle as Oni pointedly ignored his question, fluttering a finger at the rump of the unicorn making it bobble and sway in a rocking motion. Banana was too busy enjoying the ride to care about underwear and store displays. When she could focus clearly, she opened her mouth into a 'O' shape pointing at the lovely display windows.

"We could go to the mainland you know. We haven't been there in ages." Oni said, his voice trailing as he glanced quickly to the flickering lights, dancing snowmen and bowing nutcracker guards. "S'pose we should get some clothing for Kamada? I don't know what the Japanese like ar far as fashion goes." Oni murmured only getting a grunt or two from the Concept. "We could ride the train. I don't have enough gas for that kind of drive." This word train caught in Banana's ear and she fluttered from the ornament to rest on the dashboard just behind the steering wheel.

[ What's a train?] She signed. Penn having caught the minute gesturing tugged his chapter book from his armrest and flipped to his bookmark. "Trains are great noisey beasts that hiss and follow each other on great clacking feet in a long row. They have more than one mouth! Why, even more than four at times!" He demostrated with his books opening the covers like the jawes of a great crocodile. "Their heads have massiving glowing eyes and should you be caught in front of one..!" he clapped his book shut sharply, "You'll be snuffed out like a light!" A cruel grin fixed on his long graceful features and Banana, who was quite used to his ...playing, simply leaned away from him. The corner of her top lip curled in mild disgust. That sounded too horrid to be true. Snuffed out like a light indeed..and yet, she couldn't help but wonder just what it would look like.

[ And people gladly GO to these things..? ] She gestured in disbelief up at Oni who gave Penn a sidelong glance that bore no aregument. , "Don't worry my dear. They're held by eletric teathers that keep them on their trails. You're safe with us." He reassured. "As trains are NOT beasts and they don't have mouths, they have doors."
"Ah but the last bit is true." sung Penn burying his overly long nose into his book his doeish eyes half lidded in mean spirited amusement.

Filing out of the car Banana tucked herself away carefully in Oni's hood as she was prone to do. using her scarf like a tarp so she could peek out at the people passing by. The air in Durem smelt heavily of industrial oil and machinery the clattering of many feet on the cobble streets was almost deafening. The young girl had to all but tumble backwards end over end to see the clock tower towering over the main squair like a big steadfast soldier. Oni had no problem wading through the varitable sea of people (noone seemed too eager to bump into boy with a horn protruding from his brow.) but Penn decided to glide up ahead. "Too little shoulder space." She heard him grunt indignantly as he dropped the shawl of his trenchcoat into Oni's arms climbing halfway up a sweet's shop wall to get a good boost.

It didn't take too long before they reached the station. This place was packed even more than the street. Mothers consoling their crying babes, old friends laughing heartily at a joke they shared, chatter in every language imaginable from all ends! Banana had to raise her hands to lobes of her ears, preparing to cover them should they pass another one of those screaming pink wigglies in the cloth. She had no experience with human babies, but decided that she wanted no part of that noise! A man with a thick bushy beard was calling out stops over the din. Penn, who towered over the crowd waved the pair over to a loading dock. "Here! This one's going to the main land! Hurry, man!" Everyone around him took a few steps away muttereing to themselves. Banana's mouth was stuck open in a silent scream as Oni's jouseling gate had her bobbing about in his hood. He caught up with Penn, slightly out of breath perchasing a ticket along side his travel companion, who to the dismay of the worker and a few people, wedged himself inside, wings and all.

Peeking around Oni's neck, Banana caught sight of the impressive metal car just as the engines let off a angry ear splitting HISSSSSSSS~! Instead of rattling into a ball of fear, the young girl clambered her way to Oni's shoulder to get a better look. No way! -THIS- was a train?! It looked like someone had linked together some sardine cans and poofed them out some. The feien's wings drooped in disappointment. It had no fur, no scales.. It wasn't much of a beast at all! "For the first time in a long while, she had wished her father was wrong. They boarded the train and stood aside Penn who was working his charms on a particularly portly woman as he filched a toffee or two from her gaping purse. Banana shook her head at this, that was until she felt a bit of plastic being shoved into her arms followed by a finger pat on the head. She was now holding a gold wrapped toffee, behind her another handful or so. Now this was more like it, she thought fighting with the wrapper merrily.

"Daddy Daddy! I want one of those!!" a mere squeak of a voice spouting up from Oni's thigh called. It caused both feien and demon to look down together at a pudgy faced young girl. Her eyes lit up like great marbles as her bouncing make the tight curls about her face spring and dance wildly. She was pointing up at what Oni had assumed was his horn but Banana knew was herself. The 'daddy' turned his sleepy gaze to the odd pair and blinked twice, the second time however Banana had dove into the fabric of Oni's hood. The man's thick brow furrowed. Must be exhaustion, he thought dismissively and shrugged it off facing ahead. "Behave, Susie.." He gruffed giving her occupied hand a parental tug. "Don't point. It's rude.." The girl groaned dramatically and set about huffing, arms crossed tight. lip poked out.

Oni blew a puff of breath up into his drooping bangs with a roll of his eyes. As if on command, the train began to lurch out of the station picking up speed. There weren't many stops before their destination. Most of the people having filed out allowing them to sit down by the window. Oni rested his chin on his hands as Banana sat at the end of his hood watching the world whizz by though the frosted glass of the window. She poked at it drawing little faces in the condensation as she sucked upon the end of her buttered toffee.

A voice cracked over the intercome confusingly as Penn and Oni rose to their feet. "That's us." The boy sighed adjusting his coat. As they trudged out on the the loading dock, He looked about, squinting in the glare of the Christmas decorations. "S'pose we should get a map."

"Don't need one." Penn said matter of factly holding up a map in two dainty fingers.

"Oh good.. now we should buy return tickets as well so we--"

"Don't need those either." The Concept grinned sliding Oni a pair of tickets. He caught the boy's incredulous look and clapped him on the arm, a cheerful glimmer in his eye. "Did I ever tell you I love having fingers?" He purred walking down the street merrily. "Ahh this place! Sad I couldn't bring my huggybear. Do you suppose he'd like a wonder woman costume this year?"

Oni made it a point NOT to answer that as he shook his head and walked after Penn staring down at the procured items. Well, as long as they weren't caught, this ...did..make shoping alot easier with more money to use. Banana all the while was snickering to herself, fluttering quickly to duck into the collar of Penn's jacket. He was in the midst of a heartfelt chorus of Joy to The World.

I've decided to do this the easy way.

A small blue ferret with three small figures sitting on its back raced down the street, stopping in front of Oni's house. Nack, the two inch tall skunk boy looked at the slip of paper in his hand before kicking the ferret lightly so it raced up the stairs of the house.

Nick, a small wolf boy, was sitting behind him, holding on for dear life to the plush doll that was bigger then both of them. When they stopped he let it fall to the ground, hopping off and looking at the tag tied around the plush's neck.

"You really think her name is Banana Tango?" He asked, cocking his head slightly. "And Boss man's hand writing tilts the wrong way..."

"He's left handed." Nack replied, reading the small note again. It still didn't work for him.



"He didn't even explain how she's s'posed to use it..." Nick muttered, shoving a hand into his hair as he tried to figure out Silva. He gave up quickly on that. "Think we should... write somethin?'

"Could... but if it's a girl she might not want to know..." Nack said, only to reluctantly pull out the pencil lead he kept behind his ear and scrawl underneath Silva's name: Hit the X's.

"That's better! But... how we s'posed to reach the doorbell?" Nick asked, staring up at the door. He blinked as Nack walked into the yard, grabbing a small stone and sending it flying as hard as he could, making a small, but obvious "Thunk" on the door.

"Let's go." Nack said, getting on Tibuzilla and barely waiting for Nick to mount before racing away.

And the small plush lay abandoned on the front step of Banana Tango's house.