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A strange looking bird of some sort drops a letter off at Rynn's home, addressed to Ian & Aria in neat handwriting. It reads:

domokun

"Bertrand, look!" A voice rang out just on the edge of the area, surprising strong for such a little source. It was immediately followed by its source, a tiny figure of yellow, who immediately flitted for the closest thing, which happened to be one of the human-sized tire swings. This figure landed on it immediately, teetering on the lip of what appeared to be a bottomless cavern. After all, she had never seen a thing like this before, and dark spaces, back where she came from, tended to be just that.

This strange being was trailed by another, this one blue, who soon landed beside the first, then looked out over the entirety of the park. "I dare say, Ernestine, this may yet be the precise location we have needed." Though he knew it impolite to point, he was in friendly company, and he knew the minority of said impoliteness could be overlooked. So point he did, across the way to where the miniature playground stood. "And behold! There lies a space that appears to be solely for us!"

They both looked at each other, sudden bright grins lighting their faces, before an unspoken challenge was issued, and they both lifted from the swing and made a beeline for the tiny toys. It wasn't long before they were both dangling from various parts of the monkeybars, upside down and rightside up, laughing and conversing in a much quieter tone than the one they had used when they had entered the scene.

Aleric flew through the air, heading in the direction of the park that they had built. Sure, she was still a bloom, but he could still show her what they had done for her! And he had been thinking that they could add to the place in the future. It was easiest to get ideas when looking after all.

He paused as he heard voices coming from the feien playground. They sounded as if they were children! With that thought he sped up. A child would be perfect to introduce to Ruby Soho!

He paused when he caught sight of them, smiling widely. "Hello!" He called, waving a hand and heading for them. THIS was why they had built the place!

Both paused in their conversation, turning their heads nearly simultaneously to see who was greeting them. Ernestine, who was hanging by her elbows, was the first to call back, "Greetings!"

"And salutations!" was immediately chimed in from Bertrand, who happened to be hanging from his knees at the moment, his hair dangling all about his face. In a smooth movement, he bent backwards and grasped another bar, then dropped his legs and twisted his arms, turning himself about to be able to look straight at the coming person.

It occurred to them both that he was Feien, and a grown one at that, though not near as tall as Maq was. However, Bertrand was the only one who realized what it might be that the man was carrying. After all, he'd had some experience with blooms, and this was the most bloom-looking bloom that a Feien could possibly cart about.

They smiled pleasantly, then dropped off the monkeybars as one, landing neatly on the ground and waiting for him to reach them.

He bit back a laugh, dropping down to the ground in front of them. "I didn't mean to stop you from playing. In fact, my brother and I built it for just that." He said, smiling. "My name is Aleric, and this is Ruby Soho." He assumed they would introduce themselves without being asked. "I was planning on showing her the playground, but right now she's not quite ready to be using it."

Bertrand bowed from the waist as Aleric introduced himself, then took the liberty to do the same on his side. "I am Bertrand, and this is Ernestine." Ernestine bowed as well, a bit more of a bob, though her eyes were on the bloom.

Her hand caught one of Bertrand's wings eagerly, and she tugged ever-so-slightly. "Bertrand, is that a bloom?" While some might think it odd that she would confer with her companion, and not the one actually in possession of the alledged bloom, Bertrand was more concerned with the properness of the inquisition.

"What my Bondsister means to say, sir, is that we are both terribly pleased to be of aquaintance." His smile was broad and pleasant, and he shook the wing that Ernestine continued to cling to instinctively.

"She is, indeed, a bloom." Aleric replied, not bothered at all by their lack of manners, as they called them. "Would you like to touch her? She's quite fond of being touched." He stoked her petal absently before pulling the straps off and offering the bloom for them to touch.

This gave him quite a lot of hope that she would have playmates in the future. And such sweet, polite ones at that! "Ruby Soho, meet Bertrand and Ernestine." He told the bloom. "Bertand and Ernestine, meet Ruby Soho."

At the offer, Ernestine quickly released Bertrand's wing, her hand reaching towards the bloom. Bertrand had moved forward as well, not being needed to be told twice that he could touch the bloom. They both laid palms upon it, Ernestine a hair of a moment before Bertrand, and she smiled happily up at Aleric. "You know that she's a she?"

Leaving Ernestine to ask the questions, as she would be much better at doing so than he, Bertrand instead turned his attention to the bloom, speaking softly and directly to it. After all, he'd had much experience doing the same when Ernestine had been a bloom. "It is a honor and a pleasure to make your aquaintance, Ruby Soho." His hand smoothed the petals gently, taking care not to bump into the circling palm that was Ernestine's. "You are a lovely bloom, and I am of all certainty that you shall be a lovely person as well."

"We have been assured that she is a she." Aleric said, loving their reactions. Especially Bert's. "Would you mind sitting? she's an earth element and happiest when she's touching ground."

He sat first, since he was taller, and would still be close to eye level with the two that way. "I've been introducing her to as many people as I can find, since she's going to need friends to play with. The only feien in the house now are adults, you see." He said.

Ernestine immediately followed suit, dropping down to the ground and tracing her fingers along one of the petal's edges. "I see... Well, Bertrand didn't know I was a she until I popped out." She giggled a bit at the inadvertant pun, the sound throaty rather than the usual girlie pitch. "And adults aren't so bad. Maq's pretty neat, isn't he?"

This last bit was obviously aimed towards Bertrand, who nodded. He had settled down at a more sedate pace than Ernestine, but had seated himself nonetheless, his own amused smile showing at his Bondsister's comment of popping out. "Oui, he is a joy, but I imagine it is much nicer having those of your own experience about." As Ernestine was paying attention to the bloom's edges, Bertrand focused on smoothing and stroking the surfaces. "You would not prefer me to be of Maquinar's size, c'est 硼/span>?"

"Maq?" Aleric repeated, tasting the name as he tried to fit a face to it. "I don't believe I've met that feien." He said. "But it is true, I would think she will prefer those near her own age. If for nothing other than having to look up to talk to people." He replied. "My brother is nearly two inches taller than I. He will tower over her."

He reached out, brushing the bloom just to check on her. She was quite happy with the new attention. "And we are a little too tall to properly play on the playground with her." He added.

"Monsieur Maquinar is quite a gentleman, and if Ruby Soho is to meet any adults, I would highly recommend him." Bertrand's words were echoed by Ernestine's nod.

"Even though Maq's waaaay taller than you, Aleric." She didn't know his exact height, but she knew it was taller than Aleric.

He wondered if this Maq was as tall as Silva, but smiled. "I'm quite used to that, actually." He said calmly. "He sounds like a fine fellow to meet." He said with a little nod. He paused, thinking of the best way to ask...

"When Ruby Soho is a child, would you two mind playing with her sometime?" He asked.

Both looking up at him, eyes wide and alight with excitement, they exclaimed in unision, "Of course we would!"

"I'm sure she will be quite pleased." Aleric said, nodding formally. "And when she is a juvenile, may I send you a note?" He asked. This was perfect! The two were playful and polite all in one! Just the type of people he wanted Ruby Soho associating with.

But it was getting a little late, and he needed to check in soon...

"A note? You mean, as in the ancient and formal art of correspondence?" Bertrand perked up even more, if it were at all possible, his heart nearly exploding with joy. Ernestine giggled again beside him, still stroking the bloom as she did so. "I would be delighted! May I take leave to return any such notes I may receive on your part?"

Aleric didn't let his surprise show, he merely smiled. "Of course. That's the nature of note writing, isn't it?" He stood. "My bond is Ice Queen, there should be directions to my household in the shop, or perhaps your bond might know, since Ice is one of the managers. I would be pleased to hear from you at any time."

"But I really must be going. I dislike keeping Soho away from our bond too long." He said, bowing. "It was a pleasure to meet you both."

The bow was returned, Bertrand's deeper than Ernestine. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Monsieur Aleric!"

Ernestine fluttered her wings, already waving. "Bye! Bye, bye!"

"Bye!" He called back as he took to the air, the bloom once again strapped to his chest. There was still a slight smile as he flew away.