Welcome to Gaia! ::

a flutter of wings and a turn of the wind leave something under your doorstep:

[Reserved for letter RP!]

-Reserved-

Home Sweet Home...

Shirts, socks, pants...even clean underwear! Stuffing the clothing into the duffel, Levi broke the silence by humming to himself as he packed it down. He wasn't in any particular hurry, Aki wouldn't be home till dinner. Still, the excitement wouldn't leave him, insistent and buzzing. This was going to be great!

Upon the rumpled blankets of his bed, a book sat open...pages down, showing the tattered cover. Wide blue sky and faded patches of brown crowded the title, the word 'adventure' visible even from a distance. Scooping it up as well, Levi snapped it shut and crammed it into the bag.

The old brown wrapping the book had arrived in was still upon the floor, near the little table where he had left it. Colorful postmarks covered it, less visible along the smudged creases. He had another wrapper, much like it, come to think...his stone knife had arrived in it many months back. Glancing at it for a moment, Levi finally picked it up and spread it flat on the table. Folding it neatly, unlike his clothes, the young pirate held it aloft. There!

Carefully, he turned to pull his wooden chest out from under his bed. The key on a string around his neck unlocked it, and a myriad of colors shined from within. For a moment, a sublime smile overtook him, and the boy gazed foxeyed down into the glittering depths. The wrapping was tucked next to the other, the brown paper matching perfectly...even the oil spots were similar! As his hand withdrew, it paused...hovering over the assorted coins and bits of pretty.

He shouldn't just leave it all here...after all, what if something happened to the chest?! Best to have some with him, just in case. Reaching down, grabbing an assorted handful of coins, tokens, jewelry, and pretty rocks, Levi leaned back and locked the trunk up tight.

Within just a few minutes, his duffel was packed...the backup treasure in a small leather bag at his hip. Giving the room one last look over, Levi grinned and shouldered the sack. Almost ready, then.

His first stop was the room down the hall. Nisha was out with Aki, but that was okay. She'd just cry if she saw him leave, anyway. She always did! Upon her pillow, he placed Feesh, his tattered old plushie. That would make her happy for a little while, at least!

His second, and most important stop, was the kitchen. Tossing the duffel to the floor, he yanked open the fridge and took a deep breath...blue eyes bright over a growing smile. In went the cheese, and the hot dogs, and the apples. Bottles of soda, pudding snacks, and half a left over sandwich took up most of the rest of the space. After a moment's consideration, chewing his lip as he eyed the bottle on the top shelf, Levi snagged one last thing. Aki'd never miss it!

Slamming the fridge door, the pirate zipped the bulging bag shut and pulled himself straight. Only as an afterthought did he glance back...gaze traveling over the clutter of papers and magnets upon the refrigerator door. Rearranging the order a bit, pulling an old note forward, Levi left it tacked front and center amid the mess. The note read:

Aki~

Must have missed you.
Taking the boys out!

Raife

The front door swung shut, and the Villa was silent once again.

Three is a Crowd...

Opening the door quietly, Jay slipped in...latching the door carefully behind her. It took her a full few seconds to realize she wasn't alone.

A figure loomed over the sleeping boy's body, curved and silent. Mouth opening in shock, Jay darted forward to pull the other woman's hand back. "What the <********> are you doing?! It was a harsh, strained whisper, spoken no more than a few inches from the other woman's face.

Missy pouted, wrist caught in Jay's steely grip. The stick of eyeliner was still gripped in her hand as she stubbornly held fast. "What? He's out cold, no harm done, honey!" The girl's voice was smooth and warm, even as she loosened in her roommate's grip. Jay shook her off with a scoff, yanking back to pace.

Levi was still asleep, throughly made up and sprawled on her thread bare couch. His duffel was open, mussed and rifled through, and trash was spread across the table. Jay lifted one finger slowly to point. "What...is that?"

Missy smiled, and ran her thumb across her lips. "Pudding snack? Aw, don't be like that! You know I love chocolate!" Her smile flickered in the face of Jay's building anger.

Grabbing the girl by her shoulders, Jay gave Missy a rather violent shake with each breath. "Why...do you ******** up? He just wanted a place to sleep, not a goddamn makeover by a klepto whore!!"

Eyes growing wide, Missy cued the waterworks and stared at Jay's hard face. "I...was just being funny! That's all! It'll wipe off! And...I'll buy him a new pudding snack!!"

Disgusted by the wibbling, Jay turned away and stalked over to the duffel...shoving random bits of clothing and food back inside. "This s**t isn't yours. Damn. You just can't keep your hands to yourself, even when you're not getting paid!"

The tears welling in Missy's eyes, large and painfully fake, trembled and threatened to spill. "You know I hate it when you talk like that!" She absently twirled a bit of dark hair around her finger, petulant and pitiful.

"Ah could stand t'hear a bit more..." Both women started, gazes snapping to the boy. Levi rested upon one side, head propped upon his hand as he studied the pair with a smile. He didn't much mind them going through his bag...after all, that was why the real goods were tied at his hip.

"Good morning, sunshine!" Beaming, Missy hovered over him...all signs of distress fading as she soaked up the boy's smile. "You sure slept in!" Jay simply rolled her eyes, pushing away from the bag she'd been trying to repack and stalking into the kitchen to noisily prepare a pot of coffee. They were gonna get so busted for this.

"Mornin' yerself, missy!" Levi wondered her eyes went big. It was only a pet name! Stretching as he sat up, Levi leaned forward to peer at Jay in the kitchen. "Ey, thanks fer lettin' me in. This yer place, huh?"

Turning to glance at the boy over one shoulder, obviously still a bit miffed, Jay shook her head. "No, ours." She nodded at Missy with a raise of her chin, and returned to her task. "Till somethin' better comes along, at least."

As Missy gasped, obviously wounded, Levi's brows knit. They lived together? Till something better? What did that mea....ooooh. OOOHH. Eyes going wide, Levi looked slowly from the blonde in the kitchen to the dark haired girl kneeling beside him. No way!!

Missy nodded, totally missing his comclusion. Of course they were roommates! "Yup! She pays more of the bills, but I make up for it in talent. Without me, she'd still be hanging around Second Street!" Flinching as Jay spun around, empty mug in hand, Missy laughed nervously. "I'm kidding! Sorry!"

Levi was still staring, a faint and blissful smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. He didn't know what was so appealing about the pair, but he certainly felt comfortable! In fact...

"I..erm..have t'..." Without further questions, Missy grinned and pointed down the hall to the bathroom. The young pirated strolled that way a bit stiffly, one hand on the back of his neck. Perhaps he was still dreaming!!

It didn't take him long to find the light switch, dim glow flickering on from overhead. It took him even less time to spot his reflection in the mirror...crooked smile and...dark...rimmed...eyes....

"Huguah?!" Leaning forward, hands gripping the sink in shock, the lad stared at his image in the warped mirror. What the hell was on his face?! Deft fingers traced the outline of his darkened eyes, the whites seeming unusually large and expressive as he gaped. Slowly, inch by inch, his smile returned. That wasn't so bad!

"...like a little pirate!" Missy was saying, after he used the head and strolled back into the room. Both women fell silent, glancing up at him...Missy with a bit of guilt, and Jay with obvious irritation. With glittering blue eyes, hair still in disarray, Levi leaned forward and plucked the stick of eyeliner from Missy's hand. "Hey, that's mine!"

Jay finally smiled as Levi shook his head. She knew how that felt. "Nope, mine now, lass!" Of course, Aki had taught him that all things have a price, even if you think you can avoid it...so after a moment's hesitation, Levi's fingers tugged at the knot of the pouch on his hip. He located what he was after by touch...never showing the true extent of his little treasure pouch. Pulling two delicate silver bangles forth, he handed one bracelet to Missy, and the other to Jay. "But hanks fer lettin' me have it, and hanks fer lettin' me stay." As he offered each the bracelet, Levi rose up onto his toes to plant a kiss upon their cheek, just like he did at home when Elle settled him in for the night.

Missy squealed, slipping the engraved bangle over her wrist and pushing her cheek into the peck. "You are such a sweet boy!!" Jay, on the other hand, simply held the bracelet and looked a bit uncomfortable as Levi's lips found her cheek. Rubbing at the spot of color it left, she shook her head and turned to the kitchen.

"Young man..." She said grimly, in tandem with the grinning pirate. Levi tossed his bag over his shoulder as Jay tied her bleached hair up...the young pirate opening the door as Jay busied herself pouring two cups of coffee. Over the noise, Levi called back to them both from the doorway...offering Missy a wink as she waved. "Gotta go. See ya, ladies!"

Though Jay's back had been turned for the farewell, they both watched him watched him walk away.

Poor Vidya...

Bag over one shoulder, Levi strolled as casually as a kid in his situation could. Mismatched clothes, tangled dreads, smudged eyeliner, and an overstuffed duffel. Clearly on his own, and clearly...trouble. His disarming grin did little to correct that image.

He wasn't in a hurry, since he knew where he was going. Well, generally, at least. Last time he'd been to Vidya's house, he'd gotten kind of sort of a little lost. But just a little. Brightening as he passed the crooked tree, Levi picked up the pace. He was close!

Before too long, the house was in view. Taking a deep breath, glad the evening was finally cooling the heat of the day, the young pirate picked his way across the lawn. They hadn't really gotten a chance to talk at the gathering at the HQ, and Mik wasn't available for another few days...so surely it was okay to stop by and say hi?

Dropping the duffel in the grass, the lad bent to search the edge of the lawn for a small rock. "Ah!" Scooping it up in triumph, Levi gave it a testing heft before drawing back and sending it arcing toward the window. Right window, he hoped!

"Psst! Vidyah! S'me!" His stage whisper didn't carry too far, tone dipping as it fluxed a bit. What, had he yelled himself hoarse at the duck races?!

[Time with Vidya is continued here! ]

Long Road Home

The Villa was silent, the windows dark and shuttered. Winter was close, the garden was almost bare...the climbing roses little more than stems against the stone. Levi stood upon the doorstep, suddenly nervous, and stared at the front door.

When he was younger, he'd gone on quite an adventure. Vanished, is what Aki called it, but Levi'd never seen it that way. When he'd returned from his time at sea, Aki had been waiting at the docks with food, blankets, and ambulances. Later on, she'd told him how worried she'd been, and that she'd left the door open every night just in case he came home.

This time, it was closed.

The young pirate reached out slowly, part of him sure that it would be locked. He let out his breath in a whoosh as the handle turned easily, and his shoulders slumped in relief. Maybe the wind had blown it shut!

Slipping inside, shivering a bit with the last of the evening chill, Levi closed the door quietly behind him. He knew where Aki would be, asleep by the phone, and he tugged a wilted rose from the vase as he passed it. Shaking his hair back, he put on a grin, and stepped into the kitchen.

The phone was there, upon the end table, and Aki was no where to be found.

His grin faded slowly. He wasn't the quickest on the uptake, he knew, but something felt wrong. Setting the rose by the phone, Levi walked softly down the hall...peering into his room. It was like he left it...just like he left it. Aki hadn't even made the bed. Slipping down to the next door, brows knitting, Levi glanced into his sisters room. No baby, no elephant. Nisha wasn't here.

"Nisha? Aki?!" He moved faster down the hall, opening every door as he passed. All cold, all quiet. All except a soft voice, from the end of the hall.

"They've gone."

His eyes adjusted slowly. Edging closer, Levi squinted, barely making out the coil of a delicate ribbon and mussed pale curls. "Pasha?"

The Frei nodded, drifting from her spot at the base of the tower stairs. His smile flickered, returning at the sight of a familiar face. Her sweet smile, however, was absent.

"Pasha, whas wrong?!" She was pale, colorless...the gold of her curls and the glow of her cheeks faded and washed away. Hurrying forward, taking both of her cold hands, Levi tugged the young Raevan close. She didn't resist. "Where they go?"

"They've gone." She repeated, staring up at him with wide and expressionless eyes. "Gone to live with Elle."

Levi was flat baffled. "Elle moved out?! When?!" Grabbing Melisande by the shoulders, Levi gave her a gentle shake to try to rouse her from the quiet apathy. She didn't even blink, curls swinging heavily and a shower of pale petals drifting to the floor. "Where's Aki?!"

Instead of answering, the Frei lifted a single finger....pointing up to the high stone ceiling above their heads.

Levi gasped, face draining of color. "She...she's DEAD?!" His voice rose in an abject wail, hands gripping the shirt over his chest.

At that, Pasha's brows knit. "....No? Upstairs."

"Oh."

For a moment, they stared at one another, until Levi dropped his arms back to his sides with a sheepish smile. Melisande watched him go, shaking her head slowly. Silly pirate.

Taking the steps slowly, Levi gazed up to the tower. It used to be Meli's room, but she was downstairs now it seemed. The door at the top of the stairs was closed, a faint strip of light shining through the threshold. Knocking wasn't exactly in his nature, so Levi pushed the door open without further ceremony.

The tower room had changed. All the windows were drawn, rare for Aki, who knelt in the center of the chamber. She was reclined to the side, supporting her weight with one arm as she flipped pages in the large book she was studying. "Welcome back."

Levi gawked. And stared. And considered spluttering. "Yer not...mad? R' worried?"

Finally looking up, Aki studied her wayward son for several long moments. Levi fidgeted, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. Something was definitely wrong, but far be it from the absent minded pirate to put his finger on exactly what. "No, should I be?"

"Well, yeah!" Levi gave into the spluttering. Raising his hands, he left them fall dramatically. "Been gone fer...weeks!"

It hadn't been that long. Whether or not she had truly been worried, Aki had certainly been keeping track. "Well, here you are, safe and sound."

Closing the distance between them, Levi edged closer...finally peering down at the book Aki was studying. Red ink? "But....jussa kid! Yer not gonna yell, 'r cry....?"

That got a reaction. Meeting his eyes with an unwavering stare, Aki tilted her head. "Just a kid? If you're old enough to go out without asking, and find your own food and lodging night after night, you're not a child any longer. Sorry, Levi, but I think you're well on your way to becoming independent."

He didn't know what to say. Part of him felt utterly kicked out, but the rest... Dropping to his knees, Levi wrapped his arms around Aki's neck, burying his face in her transparent veil in a great big hug. He was free, to do whatever he wanted!

"Y'da BEST!" His voice was a bit muffled, face still hidden. "But...can ah come back?"

Smoothing the young pirates hair, Aki finally smiled. "Whatever you'd like. The only things that will change are the things that you change, Levi. I'm just tired of trying to tie down people I'm supposed to be supporting, when I have my own challenges to face."

Pushing away, he stared at her open mouthed. "Yer own?"

Nodding, ornaments in her hair chiming, Aki smiled. "Yes. I have my own tale as well, little pirate. Didn't you know?"

Levi shook his head, utterly shocked. He'd actually kinda thought her purpose was cooking for him. "I...well...good luck?"

Aki beamed, offering her adopted son a genuine smile for the first time since he returned home. "Thanks, love. To you, as well." Gently, she closed the book, and offered him both arms for a hug.

Quest: Three Island Treasure ~ Part 1

Laying upon his stomach in the cold attic of the Villa, Levi drummed his heels against his bottom as he flipped through the old book. The illustrations were all so detailed, and it was as though he could feel the texture of every color upon the page...as though the pictures had been painted just for him. Of course, he read some of it was well...out loud mostly, but there was no one to object. Since he'd returned, Aki had been almost ambivalent about his comings and goings. More than likely, she'd finally cracked. Staring at the water colored island in the dim moonlight, Levi ran his thumb over the midnight blue waves and smiled. Well enough!

Dreads swinging forward as he bent his head to squint at the small, handwritten text, the young pirate mumbled the next few lines. "Th'swells calmed, an' the e'ening fog parted...revealin' the tip of the....archie....arko...of th' islands."

Scrubbing one hand under his nose before turning the page, Levi sniffed and settled in to examine the next picture. This one he liked especially. The long boat had reached the shore, and silhouetted figures bent to rowing. The distant light of pagoda roofed temples shined upon the black hills, and overhead the moon was swathed in brilliant clouds. It looked like a skull, that moon...and Levi wondered if the artist had done it on purpose.

Giant frilled ships crouched in the harbor down the coast, clustered like exotic lizards. They were all still, sail fans spread like proud spiky manes, and a single watch lantern burned upon each. Birds with long, drifting tails circled overhead, and Levi pushed his finger against those, as well. Pretty birds, much better than seagulls.

"Th' signal was bright, two lamps upon th' dock. All was quiet. Th' first mate pointed slowly t'shore. 'Aye, 'dere.'"

His stomach rumbled as he flipped another page, but Levi ignored it for now. He was over halfway done with the book, too late to quit! Would the crew catch the Black Prince, and claim their ransom!?

The next page was vivid with dark detail, every plank of the dock visible in the moonlit night. Two lanterns hung from thick pier posts, glimmering with bright promise. The coast of Rupes Nigra stretched in the background, jagged with peaks and feathered temples. In the darkness, beyond the docks, was a suspicious triple gleam.

"'Cap'n? Ah'll go. No need fer a fuss.'" He rather liked the first mate...lad reminded him of himself! "'Back before y'can spit, mate.' Without pause, he swung 'nta th' dock, and crept towards the rahn...redivioo...the meetin' place." Licking his fingers, fully forgetting he'd just wiped his nose on them, Levi swiped and turned another page.

For several moments, Levi simply stared at the new page...feet slowing in their rhythm. It was a face, looming pale and thin from the darkness. Slanted eyes, and a mess of short dark hair....exotic, silent, judging. The Black Prince.

For some reason, his first thoughts were of Mik. Was it the eyes? The dark hair, maybe? He didn't ponder long, rather taken with the danger and mystery the striking portrait. He read the words slowly, taking pains to pronounce them all the way Elle insisted upon. "Are you looking for me?"
"Are ye th' Black Prince?"
The Prince nodded once, an' stepped forward inta th' lantern light.
"Then...yeah."

Grinning, Levi re-read the page. He loved how natural these stories seemed, like he was right there watching. Someday, he'd have to say thanks to who ever had sent them. He could almost see the intrepid young first mate, grown since his adventures in the first few books, and now a strapping young man with no reasonable fears. More than ready to prove himself, and capture their wanted passenger for ransom rather than fare!

The next page was different than the others, so clear in the moonlight. The outline of a building, in the dim background, three tiered roof, walls lined in the ghosts of pale stone lanterns. "I know why y've come, but before y'take me..." The Prince was almost ephemeral, a slip of dark and light surrounded by a wind swept cloak. Everything about the illustration was cold, except for his face. "...will you hear my offer?"

The first mate accepted. Levi knew he did, cause his silhouette in the same illustration had one hand spread in invitation. A classic gesture, after you, bidding the other to speak. Opportunity was the lifeblood of a true pirate, and Levi's heart raced as he fingered the next page. What could the Black Prince possibly offer that could match the Lord's ransom?!

Turning it slowly, savoring the tension, Levi beamed down at the next page. Fog? A close up of the moon? No words....just a blank...white....

Eyes wide, the young pirate stared in disbelief. Not fog. Just...nothing. It was blank! Uncertain, but ill with suspicion, Levi flipped another page, and another. Soon he was sitting up, book cradled upon his lap as he pawed at blank pages.

"Bloody 'ell?!" Not only were they blank, there was jagged paper along the inner fold. Were some pages missing?! The edges were soft, wet...a bit fishy as he sniffed at them reluctantly. Not bad, but not an appropriate smell for a book. Brows knitting, Levi flipped back a few pages and read everything twice. Had he missed something?

No. His ending was gone. Of course, it wasn't a true ending, each story always lead into the next. He didn't WANT to read the next without finishing this one, though! The Black Prince was one of his favorite characters now, and to never know the weight of the bribe...

Moaning, Levi snapped the book shut and folded double, resting his forehead on the cover. This sucked! If it was up to him, he'd go to that very island and try to find the rest of the story! He'd-

Wait. Picking his head up slowly, blue eyes wide in the dim attic, Levi blinked. It was up to him. Hell, it was two in the morning, and Aki hadn't even insisted on tucking him in! Filled with sudden longing, though he knew such thoughts were just Levi dreams, the young pirate leaned over to gaze out the small slatted window.

The coast was beautiful, just as blue and dark as the shore of Rupes Nigra in the book. A few lights, near the harbor, and a fan finned sail drifting across the horizon....

Rubbing one eye, then the other, Levi stared. That ship. It was just like the ones in the books! Well, a little different, but the coincidence was uncanny. In his years with Aki, looking out at the same ocean, he'd never seen such a thing before tonight!

Suddenly, he realized the chill from the window was sweet. Light and warm, as delicate as fruit...and something he'd smelled before. Falling back on all fours, hair prickling in shock as it always did, Levi skittered away. Isha! He almost remembered her, but it seemed like something from a story. Every time he'd smelled that gentle perfume, she'd always been there...even if just for a moment. He was alone in the room, though, and his heart slowed as his eyes met again with the window.

A tiny figure, knee deep in the shallows far below the Villa. Her upturned face, round and inviting as the moon, looking for all the world like a few careful strokes from the artists brush. He knew those curves, that sensual silhouette, and a long quiet desire stirred within the lad. Waves crashed, a distant murmur sweeter than any siren's song, and Levi pushed to his feet. Just a simple pirate...who was he to resist?