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The refreshment stand seemed as good a place as any to linger at, regardless of the various fleeing attendants. Niksia didn't mind, she liked the thought of the Raevans going off and doing other things for themselves. It was a shame she hadn't been able to speak to many, they seemed easier to talk to than most people.

Holding her mint green plushie to her chest, Niksia continued to watch the other people still gathered around the area. Her shoulders were still cold but she was willing to put up with it, being nosy could take your mind off most things.

Rivener was startled. Roux wanted to stay, now? After all the barely contained annoyance at the whole thing? Riv looked around... It was more palatable now that there were no waving doves, pouncing cherubs, or flying witch-Aphrodites. The lack of music was a big plus, as well. It was almost... peaceful.

Riv sat back down, having let go of the other when he straightened, after the crash. "Alright, we stay," Riv agreed. "What do we do?" He asked soon after, reaching out a finger for the other's hair, playing with a little strand very softly, trying not to disturb the other too much.

It was dark here, and while it wasn't really considered "warm", it was still away from the snowy outdoors. Riv was more comfortable here. He smiled sensually at the other, watching his expression in the dim light. It was pleasant to try and read him, although Riv would have to pay more attention than normal; he didn't want to irritate the other, or cause him more stress. Riv wondered if there was anything he could do to help with the feathers, but there was no way for him to ask...

Roux sighed, he didn't want to have to think of everything but it seemed like Rivener couldn't come up with anything to do. He inwardly twitched when the other reached over to touch his hair, frowning deeply. He leaned away slightly.

He would have been content to just sit still and be alone in the darkness, it would give Rivener time to compliment him some more.

A small idea wriggled itself into Roux's mind though and he frowned, reaching forward with both hands, fingers slightly crooked. Ice crystals slowly began to take shape floating above his palms, they glittered faintly in the light that seeped in through the doorway.

The crystals turned graceful beneath Roux's mental command, slowly growing, forming together, turning, twisting and curving until...

..they took the shape of himself in miniature, the ice as crystal clear and smooth as though it had been made from an expert glass craftsman. The ice sculpture floated above his palm, looking absolutely perfect in all ways if Roux could say so himself.

The edge of his lip twitched upward.

Rivener took his hand back when Roux twitched away. Riv always felt a twinge of annoyance when the other refused him contact, but he respected the other's space. He's sat back, giving the other room. For a moment, when the other had lifted his hands, fingers curved like talons, Riv had been afraid; he realised that if Roux wanted, with his ice power, he could kill Rivener in a heartbeat.

But, that wasn't the Ice Frei's intent this time, thankfully.

Rivener had watched Roux create that thing in mid air, his eyes wide. He had no idea Roux's power could be used for anything other than destruction. This was beautiful! Riv felt slightly jealous. The only time he'd had any kind of power like this, was when he'd been under the influence of Laz's blood, for that short week... He reached up with a finger, as though to touch the crystallized Roux, but didn't dare. "That's amazing, Roux. So beautiful..." He smiled both at the statue, and its maker. "So very beautiful."

He leaned back, not wanting to be in the other's space again. "Does it stay forever? Or just as long as your magic is in it?" he asked. He would very much like to have it, if it was possible. He imagined the ice would most likely melt, though...

"I'm jealous," he admitted after a while. "All I can do is poison." He had learned of a few more lately, and hadn't been able to use them. For some reason, he doubted Roux would be interested in such things.


Aphismet's smile had taken on a confused, yet tolerant tone. By the sounds of it, the two were holed up somewhere and trying to keep people out. He gave Lillian a questioning glance, but kept his smile. "Umm, are you two really okay?" He took a few steps closer, keeping his voice down. "I know how it can be... I've been a-alone for a long time too. At least you have each other! And that's always better than an O-O..orphanage... " He swallowed at the thought. He was damn glad he hadn't had to stay there long. "If there's anything I can do to help..."

Lillian laughed weakly as she shook her head. Her hands rose up to join in the shaking.'No! Oh no! We're fine! We have it handled, everything is going well. You don't have to trouble yourself in anyway. Yes, it is a lot better than an orphanage...I'm so glad we're not there. I'm sorry that you had to suffer there. But really, we're just fine on our own. Please...just don't tell anyone. If our parents found out that I let the nanny go we're in deep trouble." Lillian pleaded with Aphismet, her calmness wavering as she began to drown in fear.

"Yeah! We have a baseball bat in every room incase the bad guys get in again!" Tyson told Aphi with an even wider grin. "Our traps are even better now too! We're safe, we're strong, and we have a lot of money to get things we need. We're all set!"

Lillian groaned and put a hand to her face wishing Tyson would just be quiet for once. Why did he have to make poor sweet Aphismet worry? She had everything covered, they didn't need Aphismet's help or concern. She was handling it just fine! If you can't take care of yourself when you're a teenager than you can't make it through life when you're an adult. Atleast, that's what Lillian had been telling herself for quiet sometime now.

Roux's eyes narrowed, deciding that he didn't mind it when Rivener moved closer, that sultry smile spreading across his features only made it even more alright. Roux pressed his lips into a thin line, looking up at Rivener whom he'd naturally floated lower than as soon as he got closer.

Taste? Taste what, there wasn't any foods around to sample so Roux could only assume that he meant himself. Once more an eyebrow arched, looking a bit unimpressed with the offer at first.

And then he leaned slightly forward, eyelids closed to half-mast in an expression none had ever seen before - it was one of Roux's own bedroom stares, lips slightly open in curiosity. Rivener seemed eons more interesting than ever before, the strong curve to his jaw as opposed to Roux's softer, the small, thin horns that curved through his hair, the breadth of his shoulders.

Roux gave a soft, noncommital sound, head canting upward slightly in an invitation to touch.

Rivener noticed their difference in height almost immediately, and his smile spread wider, confident and full of pride. He really liked Roux a lot, and knowing that he was one of the only people who was allowed to float above the other made him like this even more. Despite all of the other's power, Rivener was the "alpha" here, now. His red eyes glittered: he was pleased.

When Roux tilted his head to invite contact, Riv leaned down and brushed his lips along Roux's, before locking them in a kiss.




Aphismet could not normally see when people were trying to steer conversation away from a certain topic, but when Lillian did it, even Aphismet could see. He smiled at her in a very big-brotherly fashion, and nodded.

Turning his eyes to Tyson, Aph grinned. "That sounds really exciting! All those new things coming all the time... Your house must be like a museum!" He straightened, to speak to the sister. "As for the day at the park, how about next weekend? There should still be plenty of snow to play in..."

Josh frowned harshly at the fiery raevan’s lack of an answer. He proceeded to leave the money on the table in front of Lazarus and took the roses graciously from the raevan. Josh started off on a brisk pace away from the refreshment stand trying to return to the other spectacles going on throughout the festival.
~~~~~
Josh made his way over to a large heap of wood that somehow seemed to have formed into a ride. The sign above it stated ‘The Tunnel of Love’ in bold red letters. In some areas the paint seemed smeared and covered by handprints as if they were trying to make it look more like fake blood than romantic entrance. Josh’s face crinkled into disgusted grimace, these kinds of rides weren’t necessarily his favorite pastime. He would’ve instantly wandered away from the ride, except, he found that his auburn eyes locked on to the wobbly form of Eiry. He smiled and set off towards the mint hued creature; he still had the small bouquet of yellow-orange hinged roses to give the young raevan. He walked up in front of Eiry and smiled dazzlingly at him, “Hello, I wanted to say sorry… for making you cry earlier.” He held the bouquet of flowers out to the raevan with shaky hands, causing a few petals to drop delicately from the blossoms. He prayed that Eiry would understand his gestures.