Welcome to Gaia! ::

Aki dropped to one knee, tugging Levi's jacket straight. The pirate accepted the fussing with minimal irritation....after all, it's what mothers were for! The tie, however, was going a bit far.

His guardian, of course, loved it. She'd ordered it online just for this occasion...how could anyone resist something so cute?! The huge skull and cross bone motif was vibrant against the black, and matched the patch on that eccentric jacket of his.

"You look so handsome! Do you want to knock?" Rising as she brushed her knee, Aki scooped up the embroidered satin wine bag...cradling the vintage in one arm. Levi held a package as well...a square box a bit smaller than Aki's wine bag. It was wrapped in pale blue paper, decorated with curled ribbons of purest white. He hadn't wrapped it, of course...but the name on the card was carefully lettered in big wobbly capitals.

T-O: M-I-K

Holding the box carefully, Levi raised his hand and knocked...shave and a hair cut.

The first audible sound from inside the house was something akin to a raptor's hunting keen. It resounded through the house and out the windows and it seemed a wonder nothing shattered. Then there was some muffled yelling over the noise, and finally a quieting followed by the thumping sound of awkward running steps to the door. The heavy wooden front door opened to reveal Raife with the baby Mikhael tucked in her arms, wearing what appeared to be a well-worn pair of hand-me-down baby jeans and a neat little shirt and baby hoodie, both blue with holes cut carefully in the back for his wing stubs. His wing accessories were tucked carefully over the wing stumps, hiding them carefully. Both Raife and the baby had faces covered with dirt and their hands were grimy. Raife's face turned into a look of surprise, then happiness, then sheepishness at the sight of such well dressed house guests.

"Oh! Well! ...Look at you two! Come in, please! Boy, don't you look sharp! Both of you! Lovely tie! Sharp..nice.....clothes..." She trailed off, looking a bit worn.

"It's amazing the illusion a tie can grant, hmm?" Winking at Raife, Aki rustled Levi's hair a bit...surprisingly, making it neater than it had been. Leaning to the side a bit to peek at Mik, Aki offered him a gentle wave. "Looks like the two of you have been having fun, hmmm?"

Levi waved as well, lighting up as he spotted Mik. Holding the box out proudly, the young pirate gifted the lad with a fox eyed grin. "Eh foh yuh! Yah upin eet?"

Stepping inside as Raife had invited them, Aki found a place for her coat and purse. Boys! "There will be time for that, Levi! Let's get comfy first!!" Despite her own advice, Aki leaned in to give Raife a squeeze...offering the wine bag she held with a smile. "Thanks for having us!"

Abruptly deciding to set the gift on the couch, Levi trotted up to Raife and smiled at his young friend's guardian...nodding once as a greeting. Angling his body a bit to the side, Levi held up his arms and made grabby hands for Mik. He wasn't big enough to carry him properly, or for any length of time, but it was worth a try! He had to get Mik to that present, and fast! Adults had no real concept of the sheer importance of present opening. And if you wanted something done right...

"Coh mah!"

Aki paused for a moment to watch, protective instinct murmuring distantly. She'd seen Levi carry Nisha...balancing her on one hip, arms wrapped widely around her. Mik wasn't too much bigger...older perhaps, but still. But would Raife let him?

"I hope you all enjoy it, it's an elven vintage. Sorry to get all snooty on you!" Laughing, Aki shrugged...still keeping half an eye on Levi as she glanced about. "Are the others home? Or was that interesting wail just the plumbing?"

Raife absentmindedly let Mik down into Levi's arms, pausing a bit in her thoughts to make sure Mikhael got where he needed to go. He may have been bigger, but the baby was deceptively light. His bones were thin and even hollow in some places. The mark of a flier. The baby grabbed tightly onto Levi's clothes, a bit worried about falling, but mostly excited about seeing his friend again. Oh, if only his feet were steady enough to walk, the things he would show Levi! They were on his turf now!

Raife kept in thought for a moment longer, then snapped out of it, and smiled. "Hmm? Oh, that's Cray. He's outside with the loverboys, getting rid of some of his extra energy. I swear, for every inch of quiet this one is...well, Cray's a handful. Thankfully, he's not my charge. Takes the two of them just to keep up with him." She then added hastily.

"..Trance and Nero. They're a couple. You...don't have a problem with that, do you? I mean....I don't mean any insult by it...some people..just....aren't comfortable." She babbled weakly. Who knew? Aki seemed pretty open, but she might not have reacted well to gay boys running around. One of them probably shirtless.

Grunting as the baby settled into his arms, Levi smiled slowly...giving him a bounce. Either he was getting stronger, or Mik was all fluff! Walking with a bit of a stagger, one leg stiff, the pirate thumped his way to the couch. Everything was ready!! Plopping Mik down upon the cushions, making Aki wince, the boy grabbed the box and settled it in front of his pale friend. "Hokay, goh!"

Shifting her gaze back to Raife, Aki's eyes went steadily wider. Oh, oh no! Perhaps Raife had thought her wince was about Trance and Nero being a couple?! "No! I...well..." Trying not to trip over her words, Aki gave up with a helpless smile. "It would make me a bit of a hypocrite. But thank you for being sensitive!"

Drifting a bit closer to the boys, Aki made sure things were proceeding safely. After all, she knew what was in the little box! Distantly hoping she hadn't just startled Raife, Aki tried to think back...hadn't she told her friend that she and Wasa were partners? Oh, bother.

"Ah, I was going to tell you about the bottle! As I mentioned, it's not a strictly 'conventional' ferment...a little goes a long way! Well, if you're behind, I'd be glad to give you a hand...they seem to be settled."

More than likely, opening the package would be half the adventure. Smiling at the irony as she remembered the tricksome box that Raife had gifted, Aki shook her head. They'd never managed to get it open!!

Fluffing the curling ribbons a bit to get Mik's attention, Levi settled down onto his knees on the floor before the couch. Resting his weight on his elbow digging into the cushions, the lad leaned forward to watch his friend's progress. "Yuh can!"

Mik bounced and flounced and settled among the cushions, his eyes narrowing like a kitten's as he settled among the pillows, then widened at the gift in front of him. He hadn't ever opened a present before. Well, not with wrapping and all. It looked so pretty. He seemed to think the whole box was the present at first, and flopped over it lightly, hugging it tightly with a happy noise. He LOVED pretty boxes! What a great gift!

"Hypocrite...?" Raife blinked blankly then smiled. "Oh! You're...!" She chuckled and snapped her fingers teasingly. "Rats! Too bad I'm not interested in girls." She smiled and gestured to the kitchen. "Well, if you want to help, we can convene over the pot pie. It needs to be freed from its sweltering prison. I'm sure Levi and Mik'll be fine for a few minutes. The house had to be baby proofed now that Cray can walk. Godhelpusall."

Laughing as she followed Raife into the kitchen, Aki made for the sink once she spotted it...running some hot water and giving her hands a scrub. Patting them dry, she commented over one shoulder. "Is there such a thing as baby proofing?! I thought I had it down, until I added an elephant into the mix. Pachyderm proof is another matter entirely."

Aki made way for Raife in case she wanted to use it as well. After that much gardening, it would be a pretty good bet! "Just let me know what to help with! It smells wonderful..."

Laughing, Levi poked Mik in the side...trying to get a giggle out of the boy. Tapping the top of the box, Levi made a tugging motion with the ribbons. "Yah upin eet! Rip rip rip!!" The concept of enjoying a pretty wrapped for what it was had never occurred to the lad...it was always what was inside that mattered!! "Ah hup?"

Raife did indeed make a beeline for the sink, scrubbing all the way up to her elbows like a surgeon, and even scrubbing her face. Sufficiently waterlogged, she dried off and turned to the stove, pulling on a pair of oven mitts. "Well, first there were those little cabinet locks....that seemed sufficient enough at first until he learned to open them. So we put real locks on the dangerous cabinets. Under the sinks and all." She gestured to the sink, which had a rather nasty looking padlock on the front it. "Then...we had to fix the lock on the front bathroom...he has a habit of bursting in on people while they're peeing, and he also likes flushing things down the toilet. He's a bit short for the doorknobs yet, but he can fly." She shook her head.
"It's chaos. I had to take down the ceiling fans." She opened the stove, the delightful smell of chicken and pie filling the small kitchen. "Mmh. I love pie."

Mikhael tentatively tugged at a ribbon. Oh! It came undone! He looked up at Levi hesitantly, to make sure it was alright, before diving in and ripping through the paper carefully to the box inside.

"Cray, you mean? Well, do I get to meet him?! Ooh, speaking of which...I may have another new addition soon!" Sighing with weary love, Aki smiled wryly. Her hands were always full...without Wasa, she'd be crazy by now!!

"Oh, it's gorgeous. Good thing you made enough, Levi is bottomless!" At the mention of her boy, Aki took a few steps backwards...leaning to peer into the other room. Still behaving. Remarkable!!
More than just behaving, Levi was helping. In that tactless habit certain outgoing children possess, Levi leaned forward and helped Mik unwrap...sheeting the paper down the side the baby couldn't quite reach. Under the wrapping was a stiff paper box, the lid unfolding easily. Lifting a few pieces of tissue paper from the box, Levi waited for Mik to do the same...wondering if the lad had yet seen a peek of what lied within. A small cobalt bottle, glass thick and pure...stoppered with sterling silver. Within it, water swirled...the bottle filled so tightly there were no air bubbles within. Levi had filled it himself from the ocean at the base of the cliffs...though Aki had helped him stopper it permanently. "Ah sea! Foh yuh!"

Glancing up, filled with excitement, Levi studied Mik's face. Would he like it? All the things that Levi loved, the tumbling waves and shining treasure...put together into one toy!! "Yah?

Mikhael had opened the box carefully with Levi's help, not minding it at all, and let out a soft gasp at the treasure inside. He pressed his fingers against the bottle, examining the curves and feeling the craftsmanship of it, before lifting it very carefully. It was a little heavy for his little hands, but he managed to get it settled into his lap. Thankfully the stopper kept it full as he tilted it sideways to get a better look at the swirling water inside. Instead of lifting it to peer inside, he flopped over on his tummy to press his nose up against it, cooing softly.

After he'd sufficiently examined it, he beamed up at Levi and crawled into his lap, curling up like a kitty. His way of saying thanks.

Raife smiled. "Thanks. Yeah...Mik and I are big eaters as well." The pie was indeed rather large. A good deal larger than necessary.
"I hope you and Levi like it. I can't cook much, but I'm good at what I can."

"I'm sure we'll love it! Should I herd them in?" Taking a breath of the rich warm waft from the oven, Aki sighed happily. Mmm, comfort food!

Chuckling as Mik piled into his lap, Levi grinned...leaning back against the couch and patting Mik's jacket happily. He didn't offer head scritchies...too many babies seemed to glare at him when he did that. "Yah. Ah foh yuh. Ahna wan-...."

Trailing off mid sentence, Levi sniffed...eyes drifting closed, hair sliding back as he tilted his head. Sniff sniff. "Ahki??"

"Yeeees?"

"Ah fooood?"

"Maaaaaybe." Glancing at Raife with a smile, Aki shrugged. "Guess they don't need herding!!

Tugging at one of Mik's feet, wondering if he'd curl up like Nisha did at the gesture, Levi bounced his lap a bit. "Hey! Psht! Foodfoodfood!" Wow. Friends, treasure, AND food. Raife's house was rather entertaining!

Mik sniffed the air a bit at Levi's jostling. Oh yes. He knew that smell. He clambered up to standing, leaning on the back of the couch and peering over it at the kitchen. There was a window over the sink through which Raife's and Aki's bustling heads could be seen. Mikhael smiled at his friend, and taking a page from Levi's book, thumped his hand on the back of the couch until he got Raife's attention, his feet dancing delightedly. When she looked over, he opened his mouth really wide and pointed inside. She chuckled a bit, and shook her head. "Oi." She grinned and tilted her head at Aki, answering belatedly. "Well, I could have Cray in to eat, if you'd like. Since I made extra. But you're in charge of cleaning the mess."

"I dunno about that, that's why we have kids. We make the older ones clean till they get sick of it, and eventually pawn it off on the younger ones. It's tradition...or something." Clapping Levi on the shoulder as he strolled into the kitchen, Aki laughed.

Levi hadn't really been listening...not when he was a bit more focused on other senses. Pausing just short of the pie nose first as Aki patted his shoulder, Levi glanced up suspiciously. Wait. They were talking about him, weren't they?!

"Go help Mik in, boy." Suspicion faded as Levi nodded...turning back to do just that. "Coh mah! Food!" Levi scooped him up face to face, waddling back into the kitchen slowly. "Gottum!

"An army of Levis couldn't clean up after that boy." She grinned a bit. "It's more of a threat than you know." She cast a look out to the yard and chuckled a bit before turning back to Levi and smiling. "You certainly do. Thank you for being a big help and grabbing him for me." She ruffled his hair. "Grab some wood, buddy." She gestured to the bar attached to the kitchen with six swivel stools set in front of it. At the end was a box of assorted tools of various degrees of danger, all a little bit rusty. The box seemed to have everything to get into anywhere in it, including a large crowbar sticking out. She reached over the sink and moved it out of the possible reach of curious little boys, before hesitantly drawing out a slim pouch, and leaving it there on the counter. She then turned to scoop up portions of pie into bowls. "I never bothered with a dining room table...we never entertain."
Mikhael meanwhile seemed perfectly content to be carried by his new friend now that he'd deemed Levi trustworthy, and was tugging and playing with the ends of Levi's scarf, still sniffing at the air, delighted at the pie scent.

Aki searched out the most appropriate seating for Mik...bending to help Levi and lift the babe into his seat. Making sure he was safe and tucked in, Aki failed to see Levi stretch slowly forward. "Mik! Are you getting bigger, cutie?" Offering him a finger to grip as babies were wont to do, Aki smiled gently at the tiny lad.

Tools were tools, but a pouch was almost as good as a present. It wasn't the package, but oh! The mystery of what was inside!! Before he thought twice, Levi leaned down the counter....a casual movement, a gentle swipe. Raife was a decent sort, surely she wouldn't mind if he just took a quick peek?

Mik smiled slowly, as if he knew that indeed he was growing. Instead of gripping her finger, he lowered his head and proceeded to slobber on it a bit. Goddamn that teething! His gums hurt! He already had his front few teeth, but was careful not to bite Aki. For a baby, he was very well aware of people in pain. His hand reached out and grabbed Aki's wrist lightly to steady his new chewtoy.

"He certainly is growing. Side to side and up and down. S'okay though, he could use a bit of meat. When I first got him, he was positively gaunt. Cray's only two months older and Mik's taking his hand-me-downs from four months ago." The baby kicked his feet and gurgled. Oh, he certainly knew when he was being discussed.
The pouch was nearly flat, with small, equally flat silver tools in them. They looked like tiny steel flat boards, and each of them was very slightly bent from use, and each had a different head except for one that was bent at a ninety degree angle around the end and longer than the others.

Levi opened the pouch with nimble fingers, shifting the weight of whatever was within to the mouth. At once, the glint of metal caught his eye...pinching them lightly to keep them from clinking, Levi drew the strange creations from their home. Were they weapons? Parts? Perhaps...magic? Palming them into his lap, Levi lifted his eyes. He needed some more time to look at them, he'd put them back eventually! Maybe. Gaze settling on the perfect cover, Levi scooped his fork and knife from the napkin and slid them inside.

Soon, the pouch was on the counter once more...and Levi instinctively distributing the odd relics to different pockets. He'd look at them just as soon as he had time!

"Ooh, you got me!" Giggling as Mik nummed the side of her finger, Aki summoned the tiniest bit of her aura...offering whatever mote of soothing she could muster before the moon actually rose. "Well, if you'd like me to save what Levi has outgrown, I'd be happy too...but I doubt Mik'd want it. Levi's...a bit rough on his clothes."

Offering her son a sidelong grin, Aki sighed as he proved her right. There he was, tugging on one of his patches! Levi smiled back, blue eyes clear and honest as a summer day. What a sweet boy he was growing up to be!

Raife, being the owner of the things in the pouch, which were sneaky in their own nature, had watched, from the corner of her eye, Levi's whole exchange with the pouch, but said nothing. She set his bowl of pot pie in front of him, then Aki's, then a smaller bowl -with carefully picked out smaller pieces of meat in front of Mik, and carried her own around to the bar, plopping down with spoon in hand. "Yeah, he's teething." She admonished, watching Mik, who soon lost interest in Aki's finger, and gained some in the bowl, peering into it, and sticking his dirty fingers in to pick out a piece of crust delicately, offering it to Aki. "...And he always offers first." Raife smiled amusedly. "I didn't teach him that."

"How sweet of him!" Taking the piece gingerly, Aki dabbled his spoon at the crust and gravy...getting together a bite that could cool quickly. Offering it to the lad after glancing at Raife to make sure it was alright, Aki waited until he hopefully closed his eyes to accept the bite before setting the slightly muddy crust piece she'd been offered on the far side of her bowl. "Open!"

Unaware he'd been spotted, Levi glanced up with a smile as she settled a bowl before him. "Hanku, sweetie!" Gripping his spoon, Levi dug right in...stirring it up and puffing on it in hopes of driving away the hottest of the steam.

Aki's eyes went wide at Levi's sentiment. "Well, I did teach him that, I suppose!" Pink elf cheeks and a sheepish smile. "Perhaps I should stop using pet names..."

Raife didn't seem offended in the least, rather, she collapsed into a fit of giggles, leaning her head on the counter. She also didn't seem concerned with Aki feeding Mikhael, who's mouth had already lunged on the spoon, devouring the contents and beaming. Eating was one of few things he generally did with gusto.

Wiping tears from her eyes from laughing, Raife righted herself and smiled, taking a bite of her pie. And..promptly speaking with her mouth full. No manners. "So, oo 'aid omming abou a new bebe?"

"Well, I dunno for certain, actually! It's...an interesting situation." Feeding Mik another warm bite, Aki opened her own mouth absently as she popped the spoon into his. "Have I ever told you Nisha's story? Perhaps you've heard the tale of others like her...she appeared in the same place I had set a curious book, not a few moments earlier. Just like that!"

Waving Mik's spoon in an abracadabra gesture, Aki laughed...it was hard to explain. Getting together another bite if Mik seemed interested, Aki tried to pick her words a bit more carefully. "There is a shard, some mystic bit about reflections. It seems that if I hold onto it, someone new will make their way into my life! Does that....make any sense?"

Levi had long since tuned her out. Feeding himself scalding bites, Levi munched contentedly...pausing to give Raife a happy nod. His other hand, however, traced the outline of one of the items in his lower jacket pocket.

What could they be?

Raife shook her head in disbelief. "What is it with Gaia and living things coming out of inanimate objects?" She watched Levi absently, waiting for him to finish his food -and with that little boy appetite, it looked like she wouldn't have long to wait- so that she could take him aside and show him what those tools really did. She'd have to distract Aki....likely the guardian wouldn't approve. But a pirate had to know how to pick locks.....and Raife rarely looked for approval for her actions. God help the children of her household!

One of said children decided Aki was feeding him too slowly, and, after stealing the bite from the spoon, was digging back into the bowl with dirty fingers, picking out pieces of chicken and crust and vegetables, and sucking gravy and dirt from his fingers.

Settling back with a sigh, Aki fidgeted with her napkin on her lap...wanting so badly to wipe those little hands. Mik, however, didn't seem that bothered. Taking a moment to grab her own fork, Aki took a thankfully temperate bite. "Mmph! Mm gooshuff!" Food this good was never healthy.

Yup!" That Levi caught. Hiccuping as his spoon scraped the bowl, Levi realized it was empty. Well then. Face relaxing into a tiny frown, Levi chose to ignore how full his belly actually was. A little more never hurt!

Raife surveyed the situation absently, before a metaphorical lightbulb popped over her head. Ah hah! Thank Levi and his little boy appetite for distractions! She watched as Levi grumbled for more, and as her own little boy finished his portion in his smaller bowl. "Well, it looks like we have a still hungry young man, and a sticky fingered baby. I'll feed Levi, if you wouldn't mind, Aki, washing Mik up a bit? Maybe changing his shirt? He's pretty filthy. He seems to be having a time with you, and I like it when he realizes that I'm not the only person in the world that can help him get his daily activities accomplished. His room is pretty self explanitory." Raife kept her giddy grin to herself. Oh she was such a diversion ninja she scared herself!

"Awww, I'd be happy to!" Relief washed over Aki. No more dirty hands in baby mouth!! Waiting until he'd finished chewing, Aki scooped him up...getting directions to both bathroom and baby clothes. Bumping her hip against Levi as she strolled by, Aki smiled down at him. "Don't be greedy...and don't eat mine!"

Aww, he had already been edging that direction! Nodding reluctantly, Levi watched till Aki had disappeared...crading Mik warmly and carefully as she strolled. Bright blue eyes flicking up to Raife, Levi did his best to summon that innocent smile he'd been working on. "Eh good, hanku! Erm..."

Mik knew what came next. He didn't mind being scrubbed up, and directed her towards a close bedroom. Inside everything was in bold primary colors, with two cribs against the wall, a dressing table in the opposite corner next to a chest of drawers, and a rocking chair up next to a lamp. On the floor were various toys, strewn everywhere. It was easy to tell that two children shared this room, because some toys were in far better shape than others. Possibly the most disturbing visage was a headless teddybear in the corner. On the far wall, there was a door to the boys' bathroom. Mikhael clapped and burbled at the sight of his room, and pointed around randomly, as if showing off to Aki.

Raife had already moved around the counter and scooped up another half a bowl for Levi, then settled down next to him, keeping the bowl just out of reach. "Let's propose a trade." She grinned, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

"Hoyah?" Peering sidelong through the messy sweep of his bangs, his dark lashes lowered. "Goh." Folding his arms, one hand absently found it's way into the inner pocket...fingers questing to make sure the relic was still in place.

Raife's smile was a bit of a warning.

Aki nodded at the sights, pausing to pick up a toy and place it on the nearest surface. "It's lovely!! Have you ever seen Levi's room? Maybe next time you come over, hmm?" Giving him a bounce, Aki sighed happily at the sight of the bathroom...but made her way first to the dresser. Skipping the top drawer, Aki checked the second down...top drawer was usually unmentionables! All she needed was a baby shirt.

"Hmmm...."

Raife slouched a bit, leaning on the counter and held out her hand. "My tools for this pot pie. She grinned charmingly. "Besides. There are far too many tools to be of any use to you yet in that pouch. Lemme..." She hopped up from the stool and reached into the tool chest, pulling out another pouch, this one slim as well, and made of worn leather. It looked older. "This here was my first set of lock picks." She held out her hand for her new set, smiling. "Honestly. Once I tell you what these are for, you'll understand how I knew you had them. Can't trick a trickster."

Mouth open slightly as he digested all this, Levi scrunched up one eye. Lock picks? Trickster? On one hand, he'd get more pot pie, but on the other...

Drawing out exactly half of the pilfered tools, Levi put them on the counter and slid them slowly forward...withdrawing his hand just as smoothly. "Whuteh foh?" He'd give her others...after he'd heard a little more.

Plucking a shirt from the drawer, Aki peered at it curiously. Seemed like the right size....but why the holes? Poking her finger through the extra openings in the shirt, Aki glanced down at the baby in her arms...remembering her talk with Raife about his....wings. "Right. Let's go wash up, hmm sweetie?"

Offering Mik a reassuring smile, carefully tucked away the pain of seeing evidence of such a thing she knew she was about to feel. She didn't want such a thing to show in her eyes. Bumping open the bathroom door, she gave him a double bounce. "Is this the place?"

Raife chuckled. He was bargaining. Pirate boy indeed. He wanted to know what they were for? Well, she'd show him. Hopping back off her stool, she rummaged into the tool box again, this time withdrawing a set of old handcuffs and a large padlock. They were worn and used and good to practice on. The padlock looked almost comically like a cartoon lock. She snapped one of the cuffs on her wrist, and the other on a hanging pot rack above her head. She had to kneel on the stool to get high enough, but once she was securely fastened, she tugged a bit, so Levi could see that she was stuck tight. Finally, she locked the padlock inbetween the chain.
Satisfied at her predicament, she snatched the older set of lockpicks off the table, and set to work, seemingly poking and proding the locks with the sticks. It was a bit more complicated than that in reality, but she was experienced enough that it looked simply like tomfoolery. It took only a minute, before the padlock was off, and she dropped it on the table, and set to work on the cuffs, occassionally holding tools in her teeth.
Mikhael waved his arms pleasedly at the bath. He wasn't a child that prefered to be dirty, even though he hardly minded it when he was. He wiggled a bit and smiled at the elf.

Twisting the handles gingerly, Aki let the little basin fill...testing the lukewarm water as it flowed across her wrist. Colorful toys crowded the little bath, bobbing and dipping in the rising water. Rinsing them off one by one, Aki set a few aside...clearing a Mik sized space in the tub.

"Let's get the messy clothes off while the bath fills! We have clean clothes for after." Patting the shirt she'd selected, folded neatly beside the cloth nappies, Aki mimicked a 'hands up' motion for Mik. Imagine that, a child willing to take a bath!!

The clink and scrape of Raife's picking was rather hypnotic...Levi's eyes narrowed steadily as he watched. Those little sticks...they could open the lock?

"How? Ahshow." Nodding towards the process with his chin, Levi rested his elbow on the counter....moving his free hand slowly towards the remaining pot pie. A deal was a deal!!

Mikhael rather liked baths indeed, and as the excitement of eating wore off, he calmed into a quiet peacefulness. He helpfully didn't raise his arms at all though. That wasn't how the process went! He knew Aki would never be able to get his shirt off until she unfastened the wings. He froze a bit, a little uncertain at the thought, before sighing and huffing and turning to Aki with a quiet look that clearly seemed to point out that this was not how it was done.

Raife grinned. "All the picks, for pie." She pushed it closer to him, keeping her hand on the edge. "And I'll show you how to work these." She held up the beginner'
s set, with a small smile.

"Hmm." Aki smiled wryly at the disgruntled boy...giving the jacket an experimental tug. He didn't bathe with it on, did he? Unlikely. Rolling the collar gently to the side, checking for buttons she might have missed, Aki's fingers instead found the taut black strap of the wing harness. Well, Raife had mentioned they weren't real...but how would the baby react their loss?

Tapping the clasp gently, Aki smiled warmly down at Mik. "Off for bathtime?" Let him decide...

The remaining tools materialized in his other fist even as he lunged for the prize. Chicken pot pie, what an invention!! "Ahshow. Eh moh melk." Waving his fork towards his empty glass as he stabbed forward for a bite, Levi surrendered the tools to his elder. They'd do him little good unless he knew what to do with them....and if he was understanding this right, wow. Quite a skill to have...

Raife tossed the assorted locked equipment onto the counter, and the tools disappeared into her pocket as quick as they materialized from Levi's fist. She smiled and pushed the pie closer towards him so he didn't dribble much and, leaving the beginner set in front of him, hopped off her stool to get him some more milk. "Milk it is." Pouring him a glass, she watched Levi quietly, smirking a bit. The boy had much to learn. The underground societies that rebels, thieves and pirates and the like belonged to were tricky places without certain skills.

Mik nodded. The straps were complicated. They went through the wing holes and under his shirt, and around him, wrapped tightly, so that they'd stay put. Raife had gotten used to arranging them just so, but how would someone different handle them? He reached under his own shirt, and tugged, as if to say, 'Here. Start here."

With an appalling show of appetite, Levi finished off his newest plate....even running the side of the fork across the plate to gather gravy. As the clatter of metal on dishes quieted, he finished the meal with a long pull of milk...setting the mug down with a contented sigh. "Hanku. Ah good."

Pushing the dishes down the counter, Levi leaned forward...resting his weight upon his elbows as he studied the woman before him. So...she could teach him this, hmm? He wasn't about to refuse the lesson, but the young pirate couldn't help but wonder...

What was in it for her?

Aki hesitated a moment longer before nodding happily...gently manipulating the clasp into opening. Unwrapping the arrangement of straps, Aki felt the slight weight shift into her hands. Moving them out and up, she slid the false wings free.

They were so little. Oh, Mikhael.

Blinking rapidly as she urged them closed, Aki sniffed and set the folded wings aside. Her smile was back in place, bright as ever as she turned back to the lad. "Now off with the rest! Ready?! Arms up!"

Mikhael blinked at the lack of reaction to his mangled wing stumps. He hadn't really seen the truth of them himself, but even as a baby, he remembered the pain, and the blood and the terror...it wasn't something one would easily forget. He stretched them instinctively, and they flexed so much quicker than they had before they'd been clipped, and he remembered once again, sitting quietly for a moment before looking up at Aki with serious eyes.

Raife grinned. "Good? Bottomless pit satisfied?" She poke-tickled his tummy lightly, running her fingers over the lock she'd set down on the counter. It'd been years since she'd used these skills before...

Meeting the child's gaze, Aki took in a slow breath. Mik was such a tiny, poignant figure. Pale skin and dark hair...flexing wings that he no longer possessed. Her smile was genuine. It touched her eyes before her lips. "You....look almost ready for a bath. Come on, cutie!"

Folding the tiny baby articles one by one, despite the fact they needed to be washed anyway, Aki dabbled her fingers in the bath and slowed the trickle. Perfect, gently warm...and a few fluffy bubbles to boot! Offering her hands to Mikhael, Aki waited for the babe to lean towards her and the bath. "Ready!!"

Levi curled over Raife's hand, chuckling as she poked him. Pulling straight as she retreated, Levi's eyes flicked to the lock. Eyes narrowed, he nodded sharply...fingers tugging at his loosely secured tie. "Yah. Whassit called?"

Mik hesitated a second, before reaching out widely to Aki, his toes wiggling a bit in anticipation of the water. Bubbles and bath made everything better! He spotted his favorite water toy, a foam letter Y - he actually preferred it because it was a similar blue to his feathers more than any fondness for letters- and reached out for it too.

Raife opened the beginner's set, and let the tools spread out onto the counter. "Lockpicking. It's one of the three basic skills that can get you in almost everywhere. Anytime you see one of these.." She tilted the lock to show him the key hole. "No matter where it is, most of the time, you can get in with these." She pushed the tools at him for him to study.

Lifting Mik comfortably by his sides, just under each arm, Aki settled him down into the bath...amazed how light he seemed. His chest was so tiny between her hands!! Warming her hands under the flow, Aki lathered up a soft baby washcloth with gentle smelling soap. "Are these all your toys? Lucky boy!! Which can I play with?" Scuffing the sudsy cloth gently across his shoulders, Aki beamed and kept her eyes open for an answer.

Settling back, tools in hand, Levi turned them this way and that as he digested that information. Almost all of it sunk in, except..."Thuree?" What were the other two?

Jumping as a burp leapt upward, Levi erped and blew the bangs from his face...grinning absently as he did so. "Pard'n." Selecting the last tool, Levi held it up and turned it slowly...eyes narrowed in thought. Was it broke? Why was it shaped like that?

Raife giggled helplessly at the burp and the pardon. Sometimes she wondered if she'd ever grow up. "You're 'scuzed. And yes. Three." She settled back to lean against the counter, a shrewd, calculating look falling over her normally slightly vacant, harried eyes and counted off on her fingers. "You need to know how to lock pick, how to pop your joints out, and how to charm people. Always try the last first. It's...the...most honest way of doing things." She grinned ruefully. "I suppose this is the least honest."
Mik understood toys, and smiled a bit up at Aki, offering his favorite up at her. If he liked it, she would too! The boy didn't have a greedy bone in his body. Besides. He was getting a bath. The warm water felt nice and comforting. He sunk into it a little, letting the bases of his stumps submerge in it, practically purring. It was so good at soothing the aches away.

Understanding lit his gaze at the last point...His chin jerking upward with interest. Charming...that was what Aki called his smile! Usually in protest as she gave him what he wanted. That was a great solution! He didn't grasp the joint popping, but the lock picking certainly seemed interesting. Anything with a lock on it, hmm?

The image of Aki's delicate elven chest appeared slowly in his mind, practically shining through his eyes. Anything with a lock, hmm? "Lessdu it." Nodding with surprising gravity considering his slick proposal, Levi's eyes flicked upwards to meet Raife's gaze. He could do this. No problem.

Accepting the toy with a smile, Aki danced it across the water daintily...poking the blue foam into Mik's pale chest as she splashed gently with the toy. "Oooh! I got you!! Your turn!" Handing the Y back to the babe, she waited till he'd gripped it...tugging it upwards, and his arm along with it. "Scrubbies first, though!" Poking him in the baby armpit with a washcloth covered finger, Aki giggled...waiting for him to do the same. She probably didn't need to use sneaky cleaning techniques on him like she had Levi. Mik was practically melting into the water!!

Dear Alexi,

I know it's only been a couple of months since I wrote you -and only two weeks since Zeno wrote- but so much has happened. I know I told you I'd bring Mikhael in for a check-up as soon as possible, but we've been so busy, and despite the certain deficiencies I wrote you about last week we talked, he's actually a healthy and happy -or atleast, becoming that way- boy. (As a side note, remember, when we come down, to remind me to ask you about psychological services for muses? I think it might help.) He's walking now. I can't believe I'm saying it, but he is. I would have never thought that the frail baby that Trance delivered to me that stormy night, encrusted in blood and eyes full of sadness would be able to walk without much of a struggle, but he hit the mark not too long after all the books said he would. It was beautiful. It was as if he just decided, well, these wings aren't working and I'll have to get around somehow, and picked up his feet and went. He doesn't run yet, but enjoys walking almost as much as he enjoys being held.

The speech problem might not be as MUCH of a problem as we anticipated. It's obvious that he's never going to be able to voice himself normally, but he seems to have retained some of his voiceless phonemes and can make strained sounds. He's also trying to teach himself how to talk. I think, if it's something that he wants to pursue so much, I need to look into it more. I thought that we would wait a little longer and then start teaching him sign language, but he seems to want to talk. Perhaps a combination of the two. I could use all the help you could give me in the matter.

He's growing like a weed. It seems like I barely buy him clothes before he outgrows them. Normal I suppose, but I never expected him to fill out and be rosy cheeked and toddlerish. He's a toddler. He's walking. I still can't believe it.

He still is a little underweight though. A little skinny around the chest. And pale. I tried to take him out to the beach, to get him a little sun, but I have to slather him with so much sunblock that it barely has any effect. Plus, he can't go in the water for long because he shivers like a vibrating bed.

Just like a typical boy, he'd rather spend time with the boys than me. Levi, the young son of a friend of mine that he's adopted as a big brother, Trance you know, and Nero, Trance's boyfriend and a fallen angel sort. (Two daddies, Alexi. You'd be proud.) He's still not really big on roughhousing, but he enjoys play and teasing. He even smiles and laughs, two things I was afraid I'd never see, those first couple of long months. I could do without the grass stains on his pants though. Next time, I'm making Trance wash them.

Well, I just thought you could use a report, and I think we'll be able to make it up to see you next month. We'll need a place to stay, so will you keep that back room open? We don't need a crib. Give Lana my best if you talk to her.

Love,
Raife.

"Excuse me. Pardon us. We really need to get through here." The streets of St. Petersburg were thickly laced with people, coming and going in every direction. Raife was finding it hard to weave her way through the masses and keep an eye on her diminuitive charge. Mik was keeping up as best he could, trotting along the side of her, keeping up a brisk pace for those little legs. He hadn't wanted to be carried. It was the tinglings of a new independent streak that she'd noticed. She was a bit pleased and worried at the same time. Worried that he'd get into trouble, but pleased that she actually had something to worry about. Pleased that he wasn't stuck tight to her or Trance. That he was starting to trust the world again enough to venture off on his own.


The toddler's features were getting a little more defined. He still hadn't lost that chubby baby face, but she was starting to see the signs of his growth into that whippet thin stage of early childhood. His cheeks were a little pink from the cold, as he trudged through the inches of snow, but she didn't worry overly much. Between the sturdy children's boots, and his natural winter wear, he was well warm under there.

Raife looked at the address on the crumpled piece of paper in her hands. It was easy to get lost in the tight, winding European streets. One street was always turning into another, and it was so easy to get lost if you didn't know what you were doing. "Take my hand, sweetie." She reached down, clasping Mikhael's hand and inching along through the streets with him. She could barely manage to translate the Russian on the signs. She'd only taken a few classes, and they'd barely managed a dent. Thankfully, she didn't come to Russia very often, and St. Petersburg was a big enough city that it was possible to find some English.

One street, and then another. Mikhael started to get tired of the long walk down packed sidewalks, and demanded to be lifted. Despite her tiring legs as well, Raife obliged, murmuring to him praises for putting up with the walk. He sighed and laid his head on her shoulder. He was tired, and that funny feeling was still in his stomach, threatening to burst free. Sighing languidly, he watched the people walk around them. Some of them waved to him, some smiled, some didn't even acknowledge him. He didn't really mind any of the responses. Different people felt different ways about everyone, he'd noticed.

Another feeling. This one tingling and uncomfortable at the back of his neck. He rubbed at it, as if he could eradicate the source of it. Finding nothing, he looked around, his eyes darting warily. It was a familiar feeling. The kind of feeling he got before Spencer came into the lab in the morning, with a new test. The kind of feeling that screamed trouble. He searched the crowd warily, growing quiet and still. Friendly faces everywhere. A smiling woman in her fifties, wrapped up tightly in a shawl, a cheerful looking young man in his 20's, with a ruddy cheeked smile.

There. RIGHT THERE.

Right behind the young man was a man who wasn't smiling, or ignoring him. He was staring into Mikhael's eyes with a soulless glare. Mikhael'd seen that look before, and it wasn't good. He panicked, batting his wings and flailing in Raife's arms. Raife frowned sternly as he wiggled.

"That's not the way you ask to get down! Mikhael, please! You're hurting me! And you were behaving so well!" She reached down to set him down on the ground, with a frown. But Mikhael didn't WANT down. But he'd make do with what he was given.

The toddler took off like a shot inbetween people, disappearing into the crowd. Raife screamed, her eyes growing wide, as she fought to chase after him, bumping into people without bothering to apologize. But he was little, he was quick, and he could weave around people in ways she couldn't. "MIKHAEL?!! MIK!!"

Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain in her left shoulder as someone pushed past her angrily, knocking her to the ground, and as her butt hit the pavement, it all fell together. The sudden panic. The running. That man. That man. She scrambled up to her feet, and dashed after both the man and her little boy. She could see them up ahead in a break in the crowd. The man was gaining on him. He was knocking down people left and right in an effort to get to her child. Her little boy. She could see the little boy's legs pumping as fast as he could move them, and inwardly, even while she panicked, she was proud of him for putting up such a fight. Continuing to push past people, she tumbled over a trashcan and fell again. When she fought her way back up, they'd disappeared.

Mikhael was running for all he was worth. He'd never had to run like this before. Frankly, he was just getting used to running in general. He didn't have a chance, but he was giving it all he had. He could feel the air burning in his lungs as he struggled forward. He could hear the man's insistant steps. It was the only thing pushing him forward. Finally, finally, he could go no further. He stopped for a moment, and suddenly, hit the ground. The man lunged at him, sending them both into a tumble, Mik barely fighting unconsciousness from the toll the fall had taken on his little body. He struggled as the man fought to pick him up. He kicked, he squirmed, he tried to bite the man, only to get a mouthful of t-shirt. With each struggle, the bursting heat inside him, in his stomach, in his eyes, in his hands, began to tingle wildly.

Then something strange happened.

He could feel that tingle inside him all start to flow up his body towards his head until a sharp pain burst through his eyes as he felt his whole head grow warm around them. Suddenly, everything felt fine again. He relaxed. He felt like he needed to, despite the situation. There was still something going on with his head, but he didn't care anymore. Now that the pressure was gone, it was quite normal. Pleasant feeling even. He remembered the feeling once before, now that he thought about it... Locking eyes with the man, he realized that the man went still.

Suddenly, the man screamed and dropped him. There was a crazed look in his eyes. He shut them tightly, pulling away from Mikhael, and rubbing his face anxiously. Mikhael tumbled to the ground, staring up at him in awe. Suddenly he blinked, and the feeling in his head was gone completely. He tried to push himself up to his feet again and run, but he was so tired. So spent. As the man turned towards him again, he closed his eyes tightly and prepared for another fight.

But it never came. One moment, then another. He finally blinked and forced his eyes open, blinking them owlishly at the sight that greeted him.

Large and muscled, he recognized Alexi from the pictures Raife had shown him. Thickly built, his hair pulled back in a ponytail, the man's usually kind eyes were dark with fury. He shouted something in Russian that Mikhael didn't understand, before launching the man into the air with a pivot and a punch. Mik scrambled behind Alexi, latching onto his pants for survival. He was rewarded with a scoop up into the man's arms. Struggling at first instinctively, he calmed finally with a sigh. Alexi's eyes turned back to him and they were kind. Suddenly, the man's smile split into a wide grin.

"Ahah! I know you! Ptichka, yes?" Mikhael didn't know that word, but smiled anyway. Something about the man just screamed "Trust me." He sighed and let his head droop on the man's shoulder. Alexi pressed a comforting hand to the baby's back. "No wonder man is chasing you. Is good now. Safe with Alexi."

Just at that moment, Raife jogged around the corner. She jolted in surprise to see Alexi standing there, cradling the little boy. She took stock. There was a small bruise on Mikhael's face, and who knew what else was under that jacket. Thankfully, they were with the right person. A smile bloomed on her face. Alexi. Thank God for sweet, kind, strong Alexi. She rushed to him, and was welcomed with a big hug.

"Thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Alexi." Alexi smiled widely.

"Is no problem. I wish that....we meet in better....mmh..circumstances. But...is good I am looking." He gestured with a head nod towards the man, sprawled groaning on the ground. "We take him to police." Raife sighed, dropping her head next to Mikhael on Alexi's shoulder. The child was already asleep.

"Yes. Please. Thank you. And after that, I think we could all use a nap."

Enough was enough.

Mikhael had endured when Raife had brought home that new babe. The one with too much knowledge behind unblinking eyes.

Mikhael had endured when Raife had switched the rooms around, putting the new baby with him, and Cray in the next room. Cray was older, she'd told him. Besides. It'd brought a kind of peace and quiet that was foreign to that room.

But he hadn't been able to endure it when that boy. That tiny little baby thing, had crawled over to him and latched onto his wing, biting into it with the ferociousness of a sabertooth tiger. And then. And THEN had the gall to start crying! Wasn't he supposed to be the one crying?? It hurt like the devil! And then when Raife had come in, and surveyed the scene, with the baby crying, and himself sitting there looking perplexed, she'd come to the natural, if VERY WRONG conclusion that Mikhael had retaliated to one of the boy's probing gestures, and he had been scolded!

Wasn't there any justice in this world?

Mikhael had tried to voice his very strong opinion on the subject, but seeing as he neither had the thought process nor the voice to accompany it, all he'd managed was a tired, hiccuping, hoarse, plaintive cry. And he'd cried. And cried. Cried when Raife had left, thinking he was making a fuss over being scolded, cried when she'd come back and realized that he was genuinely upset. Cried when the baby stared at him owlishly, looking to wonder what all the fuss was about. Cried until Raife had moved the baby out in frustration and moved Cray back in.

There was something satisfying about having that kind of a power.

Thankfully, Mikhael was kind enough to not overuse it.

He was very happy to observe the new charge from a distance, as he did everything, fluffed up in his coat like some sort of winged prince, propped up on one of the kitchen stools that he'd climbed onto, swinging his legs with the careless abandon of youth. He watched the baby crawl around in the playpen, sticking everything, from the bars to his rattle, in his mouth, with a kind of intense interest that Mikhael rarely found in himself for anything. He was very glad, all of a sudden, that parts of him would no longer be digested in that thoughtful manner.

He couldn't remember ever being that small, or sleeping that often. It seemed like every couple of hours, the child was asleep again, pacifier lying slack in his mouth as he slept deeply and easily. He never slept for long however. Two hours there, two hours here. Always waking up with that same owlish expression, blinking.

And then there was that BAT. What a strange thing! The bat was real, no doubt about it. There was none of the mechanics to a toy about her. They moved in tandem, the baby and the bat, never getting tangled up together in the leash, and hardly ever upset with each other. The bat was neurotic. It circled around and screeched at nearly everything right before bed, which was when both the baby and the bat seemed most awake. Only another reason Mik was glad to have them out of the room.

All of this was very curious. Mik was very curious. Where did the child come from? Was it from a lab like him? It didn't seem to be scared. Not at all. When the boy wanted to be, he was very bold. He seemed hardly afraid of anything. Except for that one incident, he seemed to prefer the same distance from Mikhael that Mikhael preferred from him. He scowled at being held by anyone, but took it, with a solemn acceptance.

Mik didn't get it. Not. at. all.