Welcome to Gaia! ::

A small yawn escaped the contours of her mouth. The sun was really starting to do its work and Ebony was finding it hard to keep her eyes open. Though a nap really would hit the spot right then, the Brit was thinking it was probably bad manners for her to nod off in the middle of a party. Even if it was a pool party.

The violet haired female got up from her lounge chair and gave a stretch before tossing her shades off and sauntering towards the deeper end of the pool where the diving boards were located. She was careful to make her strides slow and slinky, hoping to catch the wandering eyes of any (or all) single guys who happened to look her way. Think of it as a way to boost her previously bruised ego and forget about who she may or may not have inadvertently harmed during her business hours.

Gliding across the tallest diving board, Ebony's steps and form were bordering perfection, as she would have nothing less. One major jump had her air born instantly, her body suspended there for just a quick moment before tumbling and twirling her way smoothly into the water below. The cold water hitting her sun warmed skin was shocking at first, but very much invigorating and welcomed.

No time like the present, right? Stop being such a nervous wuss and just go.

Connor fought the urge to tug the bandanna covering his eye down further, a nervous habit he'd been trying to get rid of. He was not going to let what happened change his life and he was not going to feel ashamed or hide. Confidence. If you couldn't actually summon any, then fake it and it'll be there eventually.

The man took a breath and headed into the group of people, angling himself towards the pool. Perhaps a swim would be a little much at the moment, but the pool seemed a perfect place to mingle. He snagged a drink from a cooler, shaking the ice from the can before popping the top and settling himself by the pools edge.

Once the purple haired female broke the surface, she relaxed back on the water to float idly about. A sigh released as Ebony relished in the calming aura of the moment, even if a bunch of people were horse playing around her. It was good to be able to relax from time to time. More often than not the Brit was wound very tightly. Secrets had a way of doing that to a person, but what could you do? It wasn't like she could see herself quitting her career anytime soon. Even if she contemplated such a notion, what would Ebony do instead?

Her slate colored eyes peered up when she'd floated closer to the edge of the pool where a nervous looking man sat. Though he was alone, the male's eyes or eye rather, shone with longing. Ebony repositioned her body to an upright position before settling herself to hang off the side of the pool next to him.

"Hot one isn't it?" she asked with a faint smile, her submerged legs swaying below slow to keep afloat.

Josh watched as Yuurei heaved herself out of the pool. It was all done in one quick, graceful motion. I was a lovely sight watching her delicate muscles work in harmony; however, Josh couldn’t help but notice one thing.

She took his spot.

The boy huffed a sigh and lifted himself out of the tepid water. He nonchalantly flopped next to her and retorted, “It still looks fine.” He gave he a wink then continued, “I have not been doing much. Mainly taking care of LuLu. She can be a handful. What about you?” Just as Josh spoke about the rabbit frei, he looked over the pool to see what she was conspiring to do. Oh goodness… She had a gun.

It was a water gun; still, Josh couldn’t help but fear the outcome of his timid girl being exposed to a toy weapon. He would have to just wait and see.

LuLu was distracted from Varun’s water gun when Domo left to confront his guardian. Just as Varun had, Domo had pulled a new toy from his bag. LuLu made a mental note to check her guardian’s bag later.

The female raevan was jolted from her thoughts as a water gun was shoved in her hands. Her lavender eyes fell on the plastic toy to examine it once more before they lowered to watch Varun’s demonstration. So she had to take the lid off, put water in it, close it, then pull the lever it the front. LuLu’s head was spinning from the multiple steps. Why couldn’t there just be two? Her ears gave an agitated twitch.

She took a moment to sort the steps out in her head and repeat them to herself mentally. Once she felt comfortable reciting them she began to follow Varun’s instructions. The trip to the water’s surface was not that far for her considering how low she floated. It was only a matter of moments before she found her self with a fully loaded death bringer… err, water gun. When she ‘stood’ back up she was horrified to see that Domo was already soaked from head to ribbon. She gasped and was about to ask if was hurt; however, the raevan stopped when she noticed he was fine. Just a bit water logged. Her eyes followed the thin stream of water being pumped from Varun’s gun. So there was one more step: pull the trigger. LuLu happily complied.

Her gun hit spot on soaking Varun in an instant.

Initially, Alex paid the invitation no mind. She was busy and the name wasn't anything she recognized (Ebony Shade? Couldn't be a real name, but wicked cool if it was!). Perhaps for all she'd been through in a short amount of time, however, she was more aware of Zul and his actions. She caught him staring out the window frequently where they'd spread Lorenzo's ashes, or taking only an idle interest in his games. The Italian made the decision then to go to the party, on the chance that some of the Raevans might be there - especially one or two in particular. Zul needed his friends.

And so, with a warning of "We wont stay long," the feisty zoologist and her charge found themselves walking from the truck to the main festivities. Alex's hair was up in her usual style, although rather than pick a one piece or a sarong, she more rashly wore a white bikini and bottom set with variant shades of blue splashed over it. Her right leg - from mid-thigh down - was covered by something that looked like half of a pair of chaps, tied at the bikini bottom and the hem of which wafted neatly around her ankle. It left the scar on her ribs and over her hip bare, but she didn't mind; it'd never stopped her before.

Zul floated anxiously at her side, fussing with the leather strap on his bicep, naturally thinking of one certain Raevan he'd like to see. He knew he wouldn't go near the pool, but it sounded like a good day to sun himself, at the very least, perhaps remind himself of the simpler things he liked to do...even if his sun-bathing partner was no longer with him.

"How long will we be?" he inquired quietly, his usual self-confident demeanor a little lackluster.

Alex looked over to the Frei, resting a hand just beneath his wing. "I think it depends on who is there, don'tcha think? Let's see how we feel. Play it by ear, okay?"

The demon nodded, blue eyes turning towards the crowd as they found the destination. "Fair enough."

Kuna had long since settled back down in her chair, thoroughly enjoying the feel of the sun's warm rays on her skin. Yes, this definitely needed to be done more often. Even aside from the simple pleasure of sun-bathing, the people watching was quite entertaining too. Well, half-people watching really. Thanatos never did answer her question about what Domevlo and the others were exactly, but he was understandably distracted with watching his charge.

As amber eyes slid over the area, the green-haired woman noticed yet another of the unique creatures entering the scene. Once again, she had to wonder to herself just how many of these there actually were- and why she had never seen any before. I need to get out more, she thought to herself with a faint smile, watching as the one called Rivener waved to the newcomer.

Alex had a hard time absorbing the crowd - while she wasn't terribly surprised (the Lab always had a wonderful turn out, and anyone who was a friend of the Lab was a friend of hers), it was still overwhelming to see so many people crowded around the pool. That was the funny part - everyone was around the pool, with only two or three in it. Well, at least she knew where she'd be headed! Her green eyes flit over everyone gathered, noting the Raevans; she was thrilled to see some she recognized, like Varun and LuLu, and one she was unfamiliar with, a cat-looking creature that looked very much like a poster child for summer bodies.

The woman smiled politely to the people she knew and those she didn't, making her way to the pool and carefully slipping her legs in, taking a seat on the second stair in the shallow end. There, she observed the three closest that were interacting with a fond smile. She'd have to find Kinsey and Xan to see how they were doing.

Zul was grateful for his woman's departure, as he didn't quite know what to make of the party and wasn't entirely comfortable with hiding behind her while he figured it out. Taking a deep breath, the barely-smiling demon floated a bit further into the crowd, blue eyes scouring the chairs. There was that hair-woman he recognized, to which he gave a polite nod of acknowledgement. He didn't really know what he was looking for, only knew what he hoped for after all that had transpired; a little comfort, a lot of hugs and compliments and--

--waving--

"Rivener." He'd almost looked right over the Sigel, the shirtless Raevan having almost been missed without the jacket he was so used to seeing by now. The faint smile on his lips cracked into a larger, excited grin, the pensiveness sliding off his face completely. The demonic Frei found himself all but racing through the collected towards the Scorpion. He strayed too close to the pool, and rather than right his course, he used his momentum and a flap of wings to 'jump' over the corner of the pool. He didn't land all that gracefully, but it was just as well, as he crashed directly into the Sigel he was aiming for.

In a tangle of arms and careful turn of his head so as not to skewer the Scorpion with his horns, he lifted his chin and gave Rivener the smile he used only with him, a full and private expression. "Hi." On the heels of that, "Missed you."

The grin he gave Rivener was both pleased and comfortable, leaning up to meet the Sigel for their kiss - but the older Raevan stopped. Zul gave a brief flick of his blue eyes at their surroundings, coming to the conclusion that the Scorpion may not want to lay claim to him publically, after their last discussion. It put a slight damper on his improved mood, but it wasn't enough to wipe the happiness from his face.

Impossibly blue eyes closed, trying not to lean too much into the fingers in his hair. Oooh, but he loved that! "I am..." His eyes cracked open again, shifting to the side and downwards. How was he? He'd lost his friend, experienced an ugly part of humanity that he still felt he narrowly survived, he'd been questioning himself. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he corrected himself that he'd also stood up for his woman, he'd learned invaluable lessons, and he'd grown up, just a little bit. "...not sure how I am. But I'm here. I think that means I'm not doing badly."

He paused in thought, before adding, "I pressed your flower. It's not as bright, but still beautiful." The demon managed to keep himself from laying his head on Rivener's shoulder, from snuggling up to the Sigel - pretty much, he was keeping himself from doing everything he wanted to, and not for everyone else's sake, but for Rivener's. "You? You are well? You must be. You look better everytime I see you."

Alex glanced over when she heard laughter, catching sight of Rivener and Zul colliding. Despite her uncertainty and misgivings about just what exactly was going on between them, it gave her a great deal of warmth to see them together. Zul was at his happiest with the Sigel, and really, she could not begrudge the older Raevan that. But if Rivener was here, that meant Aphismet might be...

The woman simultaneously sat up straighter and sunk further into the pool, nervously tucking part of her bangs behind her ears. Right. She was here to observe the Raevans, and she'd do just that! As soon as she could get her eyes to stop glancing around, anyway.