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Elle froze as well. She'd just been looking to Eight to see if that was indeed Asra on the phone, but it seemed someone was at the door instead. Motioning for Eight not to worry, Elle wandered down the hall herself. She wasn't sure if she'd be raced to the door again, but didn't particularly mind either way...she just didn't want Eight to cut her call short when Elle was perfectly capable of greeting a guest.

Besides...what if that guest was Asra? A warm smile appeared at the thought. The call had confused her, but the simple thought of seeing Skydancer again was enough. "I'll get the door, don't worry!" Her offer was more directed at Alex than Eight...she didn't want to disturb Shauna's cute game! Blowing a kiss to the babe just before she turned to the door, Elle opened it gently...laughter still creasing around her eyes.

Alania considered hanging up when she heard that everyone was fine, and it was solely Asrafel's decision to leave work so abruptly. The only person who could answer what now was Asrafel himself, and she knew he wouldn't be doing that over the phone. She heard the clunk of the phone falling to the floor, and rolled her eyes. "Real nice, Eight.. Alex sure did pick a winner." She mumbled to herself before hanging up the phone and trying her hardest to put the entire ordeal out of her mind, making certain to remember to ask Asrafel all about it when he came home tonight.

Asrafel was caught just a bit out of breath when Elle opened the door, and his chest heaved up in sharp intakes before forcefully calming and steadying his breath to an even tempo. Unfortunately, it took longer than he would expect - for the moment the door opened and he saw Elle, his chest contracted painfully. It felt like time had slowed, if only for those few moments. His eyes scanned her briefly, before he straightened fully and Eight's movement behind her caught his attention. He gave her a bright, easy smile, before allowing her to lead him inside. He passed Elle, but his eyes looked back up toward her even as he walked by, focused sharply on her gaze.

Something was on his mind.

Alex peeked under his tail, the mellow eyes gazing in the dark at the child hiding under it. "Peek-a-boo!" He whispered, and quickly straightened up, hiding her under the tail again. He did this one more time, before Eight led Asrafel in, and Alex's playful, content demeanor melted away in an instant. His eyes narrowed; if he was a wild animal, he would puff up and snort, or lock horns.

Who the hell was that?

Eight blinked and looked up at Alex, picking Shauna up and moving to sit on his lap. The halfling glanced around for a moment, making absolutely sure no one was looking. It wouldn't be comfortable if Alex looked jealous the whole time Asra was here, so Eight was obviously about to fix that with the deepest, possessive kiss she could give in public; it wasn't to remind her anything, of course not, but it'd cheer Alex up...right? She was his, he didn't need to be jealous. The kiss lasted as long as Eight thought fit, which just happened to be the time it took Elle and Asra to sit down near them, Shauna was too distracted by Asra's change to notice the couple. "Remind me to smack that mother of your's next time I see her." She murmured playfully, not really having any intention on really smacking the older woman. The halfling blinked and looked down at Shauna when the girl hadn't moved at all for the past few moments, following her awed gaze to Asra. Oh...that's right...Shauna hadn't seen him since the last time they visited the center either.

"Biggu!" Shauna cried, crawling off the couch and toddling over to Asra. He was bigger! And taller! And his voice was deeper! Eight smiled softly and gave Alex a gentle kiss, nuzzling her head under his chin afterwards.

"Sweetheart, this is Asra, I mentioned earlier that he was the one who gave Shauna to me. Asra, this is my boyfriend Alex." She looked down at Shauna again with a giggle, noticing the grabby hands she was making with her arms raised as a signal to be picked up. It was so wonderful to see the girl walking now.

Elle's smile appeared once more as Asra settled down beside her. Skydancer wasn't gone, he had simply grown. She returned the hug gently, breathing deep as she settled her face against his shoulder.

She hadn't seen the kiss either, but Elle's hug tightened for just a moment before she released Asra. She had almost mistaken Eight's surge of promise for her own! Blushing a bit, one brow raised, she watched as Shauna toddled closer.

"You're doing so well, Redtail!" She spoke to cover her curiosity as Asra's tone changed again. She thought she was beginning to understand...this was a time of change for the lad, there was a chance he hadn't fully adjusted. It happened to everyone, these conflicts...and Asra's was tugging Elle along for the ride!

Blowing Shauna a kiss, Elle pushed back to her feet once more. "You don't mind if I get a glass of water? I'll be back in a moment." Waiting for Eight's nod, Elle strolled to the kitchen...still trying to settle down into the air of the new situation. Perhaps a moment to think would help!

It was conflicting. Part of him wanted to pay more attention to Elle, but a more insistent part of him told him that he was here for Shauna, and no other. Still, he could be stubborn too.

He gathered the child up in his arms and smiled gently down at her. "Yes, biggu!" He agreed, tilting his head and looking deep into her eyes. What he saw there was just as he'd expected, but seeing it with his own eyes for the very first time was still much of a shock.

Her soul had outgrown her material body. Her eyes were bursting with life, and promise. She was ready.

He bounced her in his arms, and moved to stand the moment Elle was out of view. He looked up at Eight, smiling gently. "Oh yes, I'm fine. I'm going to take Shauna and go with Elle. You too look like you could use a moment aloone~!" He teased, grinning broad and cheekily as he took to the air and fluttered off with the child in his arms.

Alex pressed himself back against the couch, and curled his arms up around Eight. "Mm. Didn't think much of the kid before, but he seems all right." Kid? Alex and Asrafel looked to be almost the same age, no more than 18 each! Of course, his dominant personality was what separated the men from the boys.

At least, in his head.

"Now, what were you saying..?" He murmured, but pulled her up against him and silenced her with his own kisses before she could answer.

Asrafel touched back down to the ground just outside the kitchen, and slipped inside. His grin almost immediately disappeared once he knew he was out of sight of the couple, so clearly enveloped in each others presence. It was almost too easy.

He turned his gaze to Elle, and held the child tighter in one arm. The other rose, and he lifted a single finger pointed upward, before his arm swerved around him as if swishing an invisible cape.

What was swished away, instead, was reality. The kitchen fizzled out of view, and the three of them stood in a calm, silent little void of space. No walls, no floor, no colors or light. Just the three of them, and silence.

Asrafel's eyes had gone blank, before they filled with a colorful bubbling light that looked as though Calumet had summoned them himself. His arm had fallen, but the one holding Shauna never faltered.

Suddenly, a figure stood behind Asrafel, tall and foreboding. It looked as though he had pushed away the shadows he was hiding behind to present himself suddenly to the gaze of the two who could still see. His eyes fell plainly on Elle, and he admired his craftmanship.

"Welcome."

Halexei's lips turned up for just a moment at the distance in her voice. It reminded him somehow of Lillian, though he never would have expected it coming from a voice so sweet. He didn't feel the need to answer, but instead lifted his arm to brush his hand over Asrafel's face. The colorful lights that danced in place of his eyes now faded away and left him blank once more.

"Worry not. This time, you were only of consequence. Your time has not yet come." He murmured to Elle in a voice much more soothing than she could expect from him. He took a step back, and his eyes crinkled in a telltale moment of amusement, before he once more disappeared, eaten away by the shadows that overtook him.

Asrafel blinked and came to life, his hazy eyes focusing suddenly on Elle. He narrowed them in confusion, before noticing the calm child in his arms. He looked at Shauna, then back up at Elle, realization dawning on his face.

"Elle! You're here too? How odd.. I thought he only wanted her.."

Asrafel watched Elle close the distance between them, and when her hand filtered through his hair, he visibly shivered. He hadn't experienced anything as far as he was aware, and so the gesture came off as something other than it was intended. He closed his eyes as she kissed his forehead, and smiled a tiny, secret smile.

When he felt Shauna stir in his arms, he opened his eyes once more and looked down to see Elle do the same for the child. He grinned faintly, and handed Shauna to Elle.

"If you'll just hold her for a moment, I don't think I can do this without my hands."

He pressed both his palms against his chest, but paused. His brow furrowed for a moment in thought, before a sharp and captive gaze settled on Elle.

"I know you're probably wondering what's going on. I really can't explain things, but.. well, just don't worry, okay? We're going to be fine. I promise!" He gave her as convincing of a smile as he could, before his hands pressed against his chest. The dark skin glowed, and for a moment Asrafel's skin became translucent and wispy. He slowly pulled his palms away, and a bright orb cradled in a nest of color surfaced from his skin, exiting and floating an inch or so from his hands.



The child in Elle's arms coo'd and reached for the bright, colorful orb, her bright eyes mirroring it's shiny surface. She looked enraptured by it, and both chubby hands longed to touch it's surface but couldn't reach.

Asrafel's eyes mirrored the orb as well, though much more realistically. In fact they shone like spirals of color much like they had before, though now he could still see. He blinked those pupilless eyes up to Elle for a moment, before holding out the orb to Shauna.

"Now, little sister, I will grant your soul's wish."

Shauna looked up at Asrafel, failing to register how wistful and ethereal his voice sounded. Both her hands pressed against the cool surface of the orb, and she looked up at Asrafel, with an almost knowing grin.

"Biggu!" Shauna cried, letting out a bright, bubbly giggle immediately afterward. The orb swirled frantically once she'd spoken, and Asrafel touched it's surface with a single finger. He closed his eyes and whispered an unheard word, then brought the finger to Shauna's cheek, and touched the pawmark with it. The purple mark on her skin glittered and shimmered, and the playful light spread from the pawmark through all of Shauna's body. She squirmed as if it tickled, and curled closer to Elle, suddenly not as interested in the orb of light as she had been not a moment ago. In fact, her eyes closed, and within moments her deep breathing signalled that she had fallen into a sudden and abrupt sleep.

The swirls within the orb slowed to their normal pace once more, and Asrafel let it sink back into his skin, where finally it's light was extinguished. The light of his eyes was far slower to extinguish, and they were still glittering with light when they returned to look up at Elle. His gaze held a sad note, though he still smiled regretfully. Asrafel lifted one hand to cup Elle's cheek, and let out a breath of a chuckle as he spoke his next words, while the last of the color faded from his eyes to leave them as normal and blue as ever.

"Well," He chuckled softly. "It's a living."




((Congratulations, Shauna is now officially on her growth quest! This quest requires a lot from you, her guardian, so be prepared!

Part one of Shauna's Quest involves meeting three Shattered who she has never met before. Part two of Shauna's Quest is a surprise, and will be both revealed ICly and performed by Eight ICly once Part One is completed. Good luck!))

Asrafel craved comfort more than anything at that moment. Every touch and close encounter that Elle had to offer was more than welcome. He was becoming more and more sullen about his role in Halexei's greater plan, for he had not chosen it, and was often pulled into his duties by force. He just wanted to feel warm, and safe, the way he did in Elle's arms that very moment.

He closed his eyes and rested the side of his head against hers, while wrapping one arm tightly around her. Though the hold pulled both child and teen to press against him, he meant it only as a necessary action for the moment. His free arm lifted, and with a sharp motion he shoved the world aside, ripping it apart like a child opening his first christmas toy. The world around them rippled and fell at their feet, until they were once more in the bright and hospitable kitchen of Eight's home.

Once there, Asrafel opened his eyes, and snuggled his face into Elle's hair, murmuring a soft, vague little phrase.

"Gee, you smell nice."

It seemed things would be quick to get back to normal after all.

The child in Elle's arms stirred, and Asrafel pulled away to look down, smiling at Shauna. She looked tired; and rightly so. He scooped the girl out of Elle's arms and kissed her on the forehead, bouncing her lightly.

"Let's bring you back to your mommy and daddy, okay Shauna?" He coo'd to the babe, and turned to head out of the kitchen.

"Oh, Eight, I hope we didn't-eeeek!!"

He hid Shauna's eyes as he'd hovered quickly over the couch and then stumbled back, after catching a glimpse of the two. It seemed they hadn't been too worried about Shauna, for he was sure he just saw more of Eight than he ever should have seen.

A moment later, Alex pushed himself up and hung over the top of the couch, staring at the boy disgruntedly. "You couldn't have stayed in there five more minutes, could you have.." He grumbled, holding his arms out for Shauna. Asrafel held the child out to him while trying to remain as far a distance as possible, and let Alex take Shauna into his arms before backing away.

"Ah.. um.. we'll see ourselves out! Yes! I think.. okay!"