Welcome to Gaia! ::

"Why am I smiling and why do I sing? Why does September seem sunny as spring? Why do I get up each morning and start - happy and head up with joy in my heart?" the soft voice of a young boy cut lightly through the heavy pitter-patter of a light rainstorm as he walked along the streets around his home, singing along to a song he'd heard on the oldies radio.

"Why is each new task a trifle to do? Because I am living a life full of yooooooou!" Riya cooed lightly, spinning around a bit as he began the chorus, long blonde hair flying out around him as he did so, "I'm siiiiiiiiinging in the rain - just singing in the rain! What a glorious feeling, I'm happy again! I'm laughing at clouds, so dark up above! The sun's in my heart and I'm ready for love!"

Riya's hood was down and his umbrella - which looked quite like an upsidedown bowl anyway, clear and covered in white paint polkadots - was flung out to his side as he spun around and sang, letting the drops fall down over his face, hair and ears. There was no particular reason for this good mood and he wasn't intending to get sick - the boy wasn't too far from home and it wasn't too cold out - so really, this was just making a good thing out of some generally lousy weather. The other alternative being getting stuck inside after all.

"Let the stormy clouds chase, everyone from the place. Come on with the rain, I've a smile on my face! I walk down the lane, with a happy refrain, just singing in the raaaaain!" he happy belted the last notes, easily heard over the rain with the silence of people gone from the city streets.

The singing from both parties mingled interestingly over the air, the beat of the water leaving a nice beat to things. However, as Riya spun one way, Miri was spinning another and they ended up bumping, though quite lightly, neither being that heavy or huge.

His tail lightly wrapped around the dark clothed girl's arm to steady her as he stopped, glancing down. "Oh, hiya." the boy greeted, looking down at Miri and taking in her appearance from her dark outfit to the dripdrops on the doctor mask. Wow, that was neat! "Out dancing too?" he laughed.

The boy seemed a bit oblivious to her shyness, leaning down to pick up the umbrella and hand it back to her, same smile still on his features as his tail unwrapped from her arm. "I'm Riya! It's nice to meet you Miri!" he told her brightly.

Leaning forward, he poked her mask's nose a little and smiled, "Wow, that's a really really pretty mask! Do you wear it all the time?" the child inquired, his open and friendly demeanor unchanged by anything it seemed. Well really, what did Riya have to fear?

"Sure I do!" Riya agreed, "It's got a long nose and it's all cool looking! I'd probably try to decorate one if I had it though. With like glitter and sparkles." The boy had never seen a mask like that before but masks could be fun! He was sure the right mask would look fun with all sorts of outfits!

Riya nodded, "Sure! We can do all sorts of fun things to it." he promised, holding out a hand for the girl. "You can come up to my house and we can look through the art stuff - my Mommies are home and they'll make us cocoa." Unlike with Julie, Riya seemed to be the polar opposite about inviting kids home - she didn't have a parent around, after all, so she was probably fine. Plus his house was safe!

The blonde nodded emphatically, "Yeah, come on!" he said and darted down the street with the girl, trying to go at a speed so she could keep up with his long legs. It wasn't too long before they reached the apartment building he lived at, and as Riya had a key, they didn't need to be buzzed in.

Upstairs, he showed her into the apartment, where his mothers were bouncing around in various shades of busyness. The yellow skinned Wamii was writing papers at the table, attempting to deal with these "bills" they had received. The starry skinned Orii was in the kitchen with Roshan, the pair covered in flour and melted chocolate while they tried to figure out baking cookies. Nolan was seated on the couch with Aiden in her lap, the two watching some action movie, and the blue female occasionally calling instructions to her sisters. It seemed the only one not actually actively doing something right now in the boy's family was Steve, who was lounging across their sofa - the one not directly in front of the TV - and that's just because he hadn't decided on anything to do yet.

"So this is my house." Riya said, pointing at them all. "Come in and say hi, Miri." he tugged lightly on the little girl, a warm smile on his face, "They're all really nice."