Welcome to Gaia! ::

((Haha me too! Especially in really pretty woodsy places.))

Mei smiled and shrugged. "A lot of people tell me that. I enjoy confusing people. They never know what's going to come next. Keeps life exciting. You need that when you have a lot of it." She chuckled and then frowned as he said they should sleep.

Her hands moved to his chest, eyes following them as she ran them downward. "You're right. It's late. And Abel is going to be up in just a few hours, and I need to talk to him about some things. He's most talkative in the mornings." She leaned back and rubbed the back of her head, yawning widely. "I've had such a busy day. You wouldn't even believe."

Leaning in towards him, she rest her forehead on his and closed her eyes. "You need a place to sleep. You have a choice of either the couch...or..." She slid off his lap and stood up. After arching her back and stretching, she began to head down the hallway. "Or you can sleep with me. It's up to you." She opened up a door to her room and vanished inside.

Her room was cluttered like most of the house, various items from different eras and different corners of the world were placed around the room. Against one wall where a large window was, was her large king sized bed. The covered were scattered, colored dark red and brown.

She stepped over Hercules, who was sleeping on the floor. She pulled off her shirt and skirt, and jumped onto her bed.

Mei turned over on her bed when she heard Talen come in. A grin spread on her round face and she pushed herself up on her elbows, raising her arched brows. "Careful where you walk I have some very special thinnnnngs..." She winced as he stumbled and she let out a breath when he got on the bed.

"Of course I didn't. I just gave you an option. I didn't want to be bossy." She laughed at the contradiction and then looked in his eyes. The yellow hues of her eyes seemed exaggerated in the darkness, somehow glowing. Things sparkled, thoughts, memories, ideas, all of them hidden and veiled behind her gaze. Something about it made her seem dangerous, exotic, untouchable, and inhuman.

"I'm glad you chose me. Otherwise I'd have been rather lonely and cold in this big bed, all by myself." Her smirk softened and she lifted up to kiss him again before resting her head back on the bed. "You've got a nice body." She said playfully, fingers drumming on her abdomen. Slowly she draped her arms around his shoulders and tilted her head back. "So...are musicians as talented as I've heard?"

((What the. Hahaha. I dunno what SHE'S HEARD. Anyways...we can skip certain parts...and move to the morning, if they end up making looooove...it'd be easier. Haha. And less dirty for my mind.))

((Ewwww. Sex!))

A flood of pain hit Abel just as the sun broke through the window.

He originally was sprawled out on his clean white bed, laying on his stomach, wings spread out to their fullest, draped of the sides, and completely at ease. His dreams had started normally, but as morning grew closer they turned. Eventually it was so much of a nightmare that he had felt trapped, like he wasn't able to wake up. He knew he was asleep, he knew it was a dream, but it felt so real, and so impossibly...possible, that he was stuck sleeping, without a way out.

It was only the pain that caused him to wake up. When he did he jerked, turned, and hit something hard. It barked and scrambled backwards, growling. His chest heaved and the pain diminished, breathed coming at a quick and rapid pace. What initially made him second guess where he was, was the fact he was standing in front of an open door to a very vibrant, colorful garden. The second thing was that he heard German floating around him.

As he pulled together his surroundings he realized he was staring out at Mei's backyard, and that the German he was hearing was coming from his own mouth. He quickly stopped talking and blinked, rubbing his mouth. Behind him Zeus whimpered. Abel turned and smiled down at the dog who's tail was coming out from between his hind legs. He pat the canine on the head and closed the door.

Mei initially woke up to Zeus growling, but was so drowsy and slightly hung-over that she fell back into sleep. What finally woke her completely was the soft murmuring of German in her living room. She licked her lips, swallowing the sleep in the her mouth and turned. Carefully she pulled Talen's arm off of her and pulled a shirt over her head, which funnily was Talen's. Still slightly asleep she wandered out of the room, closing the door behind her so as to not wake the man inside.

What she saw wasn't reason to worry. Abel was walking out of his room, arms folded, head down, and moving to the backyard. She supposed he wanted some fresh air. She took a banana off the table and watched as he opened the door and stand still, muttering his native tongue. Mei's brows furrowed and she began to walk towards him. Quite suddenly he whirled around, eyes blazing. She stumbled a bit as Zeus jumped, barking.

She remained quiet, watching him close the door and turn. When their eyes met she noticed a flash of pain which was quickly hidden.

"Good Morning..." She said uneasily, taking a bite of her fruit. "Sleep well?"

"Y...yeah." He said, rubbing an arm and looking away. "You?" He looked up and over at her, eyes noticing the shirt and making a confused face. "If you slept that is." Mei caught a bit of a critical note in his tone and she frowned.

"I want to talk to you about something..." She began as he moved into the kitchen, rummaging around for something more filling than a banana. "You never answered my question."

"What's that?" He asked, voice drained and slurred. He rose from his hunched position in the fridge, holding an apple.

"Why did you come back here?" When he started to say something she raised a hand. "No no no. Don't say you wanted to see everyone. I know you did. But that's not WHY you came back. That's just what initially made your mind."

Abel put the apple down and glanced to the hallway, then back to Mei. "It doesn't matter..."

"Stop it. Just tell me. Don't play those games with me."

"It doesn't matter. It really doesn't. Not to you anyways."

"You're seriously messed up. Everything about you matters to me. For God sakes! I was the one that SAVED you!" Her voice rose, anger in her chest.

"You wouldn't understand."

"You came to find Hans didn't you? That's why you didn't tell Gabriel. You knew he'd hold you back." When she saw his gaze flicker briefly she knew she was right. "Abel. This is ridiculous. Hans isn't important anymore."

"I told you, you won't understand." He bit into the apple and turned to find something to drink.

"How about what you were just doing? Tell me about that, since I don't understand anything. Since I'm so oblivious to your problems and issues."

Abel stood up again and looked at her. For a moment Mei felt her insides turn cold. When he smiled weakly she put her banana down and moved closer to him, talking quietly. "If you don't quit ********' hiding everything, I swear I'll force it out of you."

Abel pulled away from Mei with a laugh, trying to ignore the anger in her voice. He didn't want to get into this with her so early. When Talen came in he walked around Mei and smiled at him. "Good Morning. Did you sleep well?" He asked. Before he could get much farther away from Mei's question she tapped his shoulder.

"Don't change the subject! TELL me." She got up close to him, head tilted up to stare at him with her furious eyes. "You can't fool me."

Abel backed away and grabbed the t-shirt he had been holding from last night and ran a hand through his hair. "I'm going to take a walk." He said, his wings quickly vanishing. Mei grabbed his arm and yanked him around. "What?"

"What were you doing? Tell me what you were doing and I'll let you go." At her statement Abel laughed, a nervous undertone. "DAMN IT. TELL ME. You were talking to yourself, in German. And Zeus was scared of you. So don't ******** with me Abel. You weren't all together were you? What's wrong?"

Abel's face screwed and he breathed in. "I don't want to talk about this!" He yelled, fingers trembling as he shoved his shoes on. "I just don't want to talk about this." His voice wavered and he walked into the room he had slept in.

Mei stared after him, anger obvious in her body language and livid eyes. "Why am I the only one you ever yell at? HUH?!" She started to the room but stopped when he emerged, tugging a jacket on and a scarf hanging from his neck. "I KNOW YOU. Something is wrong."

"Nothing is wrong. I'm absolutely perfect." He said. Although his tone was normal, it was strangely sarcastic. "I just really want to take a walk, the air is fresh and the day is young." He smiled at her, his smile seemed more like a warning however. Mei put a hand on her hip and narrowed her eyes.

"You aren't leaving until you tell me what you aren't telling me."

"That seems like a paradox of some sort." He moved to the hallway, easily sidestepping her when she tried to block him. "Would you mind letting me go?"

"Yes I do mind."

"Move. Please." He put a hand in his pocket, looking to Talen a bit before pushing her aside. "I'll be back in a little bit." His fingers were still trembling.

"STOP ABEL!" Mei yelled, grabbing his arm. "I'll find out either way."

"Find out what?"

"What's wrong with you."

Abel's face changed finally and he laughed emptily, yanking the door open. "See, Mei. That's where you know absolutely nothing. Because not even I know what is wrong with me. So there really is NOTHING to find out. I'll be back later." He then proceeded to slam the door shut behind him.

Mei walked back into the kitchen and collapsed into a chair, arms resting on the table. Her head fell onto her arms.

((So tired...SLEEP...

and yes...I edited it. haha. I was actually in bed...and I needed to get up to edit this. D: ))

((Hehehehe. That's right. :] I am a winna'!))

Mei turned her head when Talen sat down next to her an she laughed, trying to stop any sign of weakness of coming up. "No. If either one of us went after him, it'd give him more reason to refuse to tell anything." When he mentioned breakfast her stomach growled and she sat up, running a hand through her hair.

"Eggs are good. One of these days I am going to stock my kitchen. I'm just always out, so I just get stuff to eat while I am. Not really healthy...but when you're like, healthy isn't so much an issue." Her eyes gazed at Zeus who was laying on the tile. His head lifted up and looked at her.

"Maybe he's right." She said, almost in a whisper. "Maybe I really don't know anything..." A hand moved to her eyes and she swallowed. "Maybe I just push him too much. It seems like I'm the only one he ever...talks to like that. But I don't know what else to do. It's always the same." She felt tears drip down her cheeks and she laughed again.

"He never tells anyone ANYTHING!" She clenched her fists and looked to Talen, rubbing tears from her cheeks. "You would think he'd tell me, of all people. I've always considered him closest to me. But whenever this happens...I feel like it's not true. That he really isn't close to anyone. Like he's just some...some stranger...you know." Her tears continued to come down no matter how much she rubbed at them.

Meanwhile, Abel walked. He walked to nowhere in particular, but let his legs take him where they wanted. There was so much energy and emotions inside of him that he felt the need to run, which he started to do. He ran past people, buildings, and streets. Not once did he think of where he was going, all he could think of was Mei's face, and his own anger.

((Ruuuunnnnn))

((OKAY. I'MMA TRY THIS AGAIN! I haaaaate when thaaaat happens. Last time it wasn't so bad cos I didn't spend so much time trying to THINK and then FINALLY I HAD IT... and now he's gone forever! Anyway... goooo.))

Talen seemed to smile easier as Mei laughed. He relaxed and let his hand linger on her shoulder as he slowly got to his feet.

"All right! Eggs it is!" He said as cheerfully as he could. However, at her quiet words he paused and then slowly he returned to his seat as she worked herself into tears. He carefully wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"Don't." Talen said quietly. "If it makes you feel better... you know a lot more than I do... even if that doesn't say much." He gave a small smile and rubbed one of her arms. He laughed gently. "I guess that isn't the most comforting thing to say, but he's wrong. Abel is wrong... he just gets frustrated and..." He trailed off, unsure of how to explain it further. He wiped carefully at her tears with his thumb.

Abel had that kind of grief that was kept to himself, unwilling to be shared, though it could. Though, he might never be ready to share it, as much as Mei wanted to be that person for him, as much as Talen, or Alice and Saul. They were ready and willing, but Abel didn't like to burden people with his troubles, to burden people at all. Mei was right.

"It's almost like we don't know him." He agreed. "But he does feel closer to you... if I bother him like that..." He trailed off. "He doesn't even get angry with me... He pretends to be happy. I've never really seen him like that before." He frowned. "It's hard knowing someone when they won't let you."

Talen held her for a moment and then slowly got to his feet again. "I'm going to make EGGS." He repeated and touched a hand to her face. "And you're going to sit there and know everything and look better than me in my shirt. Okay? All right." And he went about trying to make her breakfast.

((hahaha, how nice! OKAY. SECOND PART.))

Those who saw Saul run by that morning would see him come and go from their vision and wonder if they had really saw anyone at all. There were those who didn't even bother to look up from the morning tasks as he ran by, though somewhere they felt Abel was there. It was hard not to notice him there because of what he was and how that affected people. The most sensitive to his presence would feel cold or sad and not fully understand why. They'd look up and see Abel's back retreating from them and wishing he'd stop.

Few understood that he was running away from something rather than just running.

There was one woman standing outside that felt him before he was even there. She paused in her walk, still on the sidewalk as those few others in the early morning flowed around her. She squinted carefully into the distance a small woman in a large coat and hat, pale and freckled with dark eyes. Over her shoulders flowed thick red hair. In one of her hands hung a bag of doughnuts. She didn't seem to care about those trying to get past her.

Leah had been on her way to Saul's. They'd been friends since freshman year of college and had continued to do so even long after, though it wasn't so long ago. Just as when they were struggling through classes she brought the food, and Saul provided the coffee. Talen had asked of Saul once if they had ever gotten serious and Saul informed him quite plainly that it was never like that, and never would be.

The young woman titled her head as she finally saw Abel run closer. For some reason he made her think of a bird. She'd never really know what made her reach out and try to stop him with his shoulder. Leah wasn't one to talk to strangers and already she was late to meet Saul in his kitchen, he'd probably call her soon and complain about how hungry he was, but yet she reached out anyway. He merely kept moving and slid out from her fingers.

Leah glanced around her, hair bunching up in her coat's hood and beneath her hat and then threw her arms out and jogged ridiculously after him. "HEY!" She cried. "You're WEARING THE WRONG SHOES FOR THAT!" She ignored the fact she herself was wearing the wrong shoes causing her ankles to buckle as she gave chase after him, or perhaps she wasn't even aware of it. "HEY! GUY!" She cried, waving her arms.

((hahaha, there. SAUL HAS FRIENDS... kind of ridiculous clumsy friends. YAY.))

((HEY LOOK. HE STOPPED! Anyway. It's time for some ABEL TIME. SO. Talen and Mei can just hang out BY THEMSELVES AND DO WHATEVER.... haha.))

Leah didn't think this guy was actually going to stop, much less even throw a glance over his shoulder. She figured she should just give up soon. Running was not her strong suit and already she was breathing harder than she needed to. Her arms were swinging ridiculously at her sides, her stride becoming looser and more tired. She looked completely stupid, though she didn't seem the type of woman to really care.

"Waaait." She puffed faintly, slowing up. "God can this guy-AH." She stopped as quickly as she could, rather weary from her short run and stumbled. The man merely put out his arms to steady her. She exhaled a great puff of air and wheeled herself back.

"SORRY." She said probably too loudly. "You... you were..." She held up a finger and struggled to catch her breath. She then nodded her head and shook her head in response to the respective questions asked. She laughed at herself, a breathy noise due to her heavy panting.

"You can really run." Leah finally managed to get out. "Sorry." She said again. "I'm not... I really am in bad shape!" She patted Abel on the shoulder and then put a hand to her chest. "I'm fine... you..." She finally seemed to look at him and she blinked. "I'm not used to talking to handsome strangers." She informed him bluntly. "... but you were..." She waved a hand vaguely at his shoes. "Those are not... your feet... it's not good to run in those."

Then she paused quite suddenly and looked him straight in the eyes as if seeing something there. "Doughnuts." She said out of no where and held out the bag for him. "I have them. Do you want to eat breakfast with me?"

((....hahaahahahaha. OOOOkaaaay.))