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 Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2012 5:09 pm
Rivener smirked in amusement at that look he received, floating forward to help pull the poor fluffed wing out of the hole properly. It had been halfway there, truly, just snagged on one of the woolen loops their cutting had set free. "You'll have to find someone to ment the holes for you- cutting a hole isn't enough, the edges will keep fraying unless you have them sewn that way. It's an easy enough thing to do, but you'd need someone to show you how the first few times. I get someone else to do mine, I'm too manly to sew." He winked at this, aware that it was a stupid reason, and it was only half a joke: he hated doing it, that was all. Sitting there for hours hemming the edges of holes wasn't his idea of a good time. And plus, yes, he didn't want anyone to see him sitting there sewing because it would screw his image.
He followed Cesc out to the mirrors, commenting on the other's understanding: "You're quite right about the girls, though. That's exactly the problem. If you don't keep them at bay carefully, they'll treat you less like a person and more like a... like a coveted chair or a lamp. A thing. They walk all over you. As for what they want with us, I think it's some kind of idolizing behavior. You may be too young to know, Cesc, but most of our kind are a lot more good-looking than the general populace. Dr.Kyou has a good design sense, I suppose. And wearing clothes like that, you're going to be especially above-the-cut."
He gave Cesc a quick appraising look once up and down, then floated around with a thoughtful frown, hand on his chin. At about the time Cesc declared him an excellent tutor, Riv had decided pretty much the same himself, smiling smugly. He laughed at Cesc's comments, waving them off self-deprecatingly. "You're a pleasant and easy canvas, Cesc, so I can't take that much credit. But this is really fitting on you, and I think a lot of it has to do with the contrast and your surprisingly handsome physique. I had assumed you'd be on the cuter side, but it's increasingly clear I should pick more mature and grown-up men's clothes for you. Let's try the rest of the shirts, but I think I have a good plan for what would suit you best, already."
He escorted the pink one back to the dressing room, giving one venomous glance to the small army assembling by the shop doors. His wings rustled again, as though preparing to bat away a pile of people, but the Scorpion said nothing on the matter. They'd deal with them later. He would help Cesc remove the wool pull-over only if asked, and similarly wait for a help request when Cesc tried on the next item.
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Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2012 5:53 pm
Cesc only laughed a self-depreciating laugh, shaking his head with humility as Rivener complimented his hidden masculinity, and the conversation turned to other topics as the frei tried on the next few shirts. The woolen one remained Cesc's favorite, although he felt the most comfortable in the button ups -- they were what he knew, he supposed. But all the while, he could not get Rivener's words out of his head: "... most of our kind are more good-looking than the general populace."
... were they?
As Cesc floated in and out of the dressing room, he looked at the human attendants, at the girls outside, at random passers-by. He only knew a handful of Raevans (those that attended the Garden Party, mostly), and a few others by sight, and he did confess to himself that he found them all to be quite pleasing to look at. But he also felt that way about Vivi and Shepard, about Granny Maplethorpe, about almost everyone who entered the bakery. Raevans were more colorful, certainly, and more eye-catching in that way, but were they better looking? Cesc couldn't say. He certainly didn't see what would make them worthy of the collection of chattering girls still waiting patiently outside the store. He could not help feeling that he had missed something somewhere, something that was supposed to be basic.
They purchased the shirts and the attendant -- (she was cute, Cesc thought, with her button nose and her smattering of freckles) -- handed him the bag of his new clothing, sending a thrill through the stag.
"With your help, I have hereby doubled my wardrobe," the stag said to Rivener as he patted the bag, his voice falsely solemn, as though ceremonially marking the moment. He floated toward the entrance again, by now almost forgetting the gaggle of gigglers that waited there.
He did not forget long.
"Heyyyyyyyy! Oof!"
"Hi!"
"You're new!"
"GOSHHHH you're so cute, we were watching you and you seem so friendly and pink"
"You're a guy, right?"
"OMFG THAT'S SO RUDE KELLY DON'T ASK THAT--"
"OI OI, CALM YER TITS, DARLINS,"
As Cesc opened the door, a flood of voices smacked into him. At first, he smiled calmly and began to reply, but none of the girls left him time to do so, each talking over the other, holding cell phones close to his face. But the thing that REALLY stopped him, that absolutely took the breath out of his lungs and made him stare, slack-jawed, was one girl, whose long black hair was streaked with red, flowing loose behind her. Two forelocks were separated from the rest and tied with a silver thread, hanging low to her waist. She wore a black and red jacket of an elaborate design, open in the front, black armbands, a red marking on the back of one hand. She had piercings -- many of them -- and wore plain black pants. And, most bizarrely, she twined a thick red ribbon from her chest all the way down to her feet.
Cesc stared openly, almost losing grip on his bag. Could -- could he laugh? Was he supposed to? He turned to Rivener, unable to make a sound. The girl winked, speaking in a false bass.
"Like what you see, darlin'?"
The other girls continued to gab.
"Do you think he's mute?"
"I think Jeeuu is mute, isn't he?"
"Is that the bookstore one?"
"He's probably pissed Kelly said he was a girl!"
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Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2012 6:24 pm
Rivener himself had almost managed to forget the girls, if not for the niggling sensation of being stared at all the time. He tried to focus on Cesc, helping him in and out of the various items they'd picked, and though he did notice the pink Frei liked the button-downs better, that was likely just because he was more familiar. These were more stylish than the white one Cesc had come in with, fitting in the right places, and Riv suggested a few accessories like ties and vests, but in the end he was correct: more mature clothes, things he'd consider "too old" for himself, would look best on Cesc. His youthfulness counter-acted the "old"ness of those clothes, and made Cesc's appearance somehow balance out to a wonderful manliness. That's what Riv would look for in the next shops.
They paid for the items and Riv smirked at Cesc's very serious, ceremonial behavior. With a grand bow Rivener replied in similarly important tones: "My work has just begun." He followed the other to the doors, and as soon as he opened them the amusement dropped clear from him.
They were everywhere, surrounding the doors like a trench, a gauntlet. Rivener glowered and growled, red eyes sharp as he looked around but that only seemed to spur them on, phones raising to snap pictures as they play-squee-ed in mock terror. That had his eyes rolling, and as his head lolled away in irritation, he spotted the one speaking in bass tones.
Riv stared, face paling, mortified. His eyes widened almost comically and he slapped a hand over his face, dragging his nails so hard they nearly tore at his skin. He was flushed red with embarrassment and anger that they would dare-! Had he been alone, he might well have been in jail at the end of the day because he was considering outright murder. Thankfully for all these dumb bitches, Cesc was there, and Rivener had a big-brotherly image to uphold.
"Get lost, you moth@#@^$ing harpies!!! I do NOT talk like THAT!!! Get the hell out of here before I get really angry!!" Alright, maybe he'd ruined his image a little. His wings snapped open in a clearly threatening display, hard spines rattling softly, liquid beading at the tip of his stingers reflexively, eyes flashing with anger, claws curled, fangs bared.
"Oh my god he's so HAWT!"
"You never told us he'd grown! Now Sarah's cosplay is all out of date!"
"It's alright, I'll take pics and do a new one. ...The shirt seems a bit plain compared to the old one, though."
"PLAIN?! How dare you!!!"
"Oh god, the pink one has the SEXIEST laugh!"
"Are you SURE he's a guy?"
"Of course, you stupid-"
Rivener roared, running hands on his face again before grabbing Cesc by the arm and flying straight over the gathered girls, trying to zoom off with the Frei in tow.
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Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2012 6:50 pm
This was -- this was too much. Cesc couldn't tear his eyes off of the one called Sarah, even when he tried to, even when he thoughtfully attempted to correct the one who constantly questioned his gender. When he tried to speak, all that came out was a spilling, half-stunned laughter, his eyes bright with moisture. The gall of the girl Sarah, the outright brazenness of mocking a man that could probably kill her with a single swipe... it was strangely commendable.
Rivener did not seem to think so, and Cesc attempted to eat his laughter, swallowing hard and shaking his head as he backed away to make room for Rivener's wings and ire. Sarah seemed to have no idea what she was getting herself into, snapping pictures and taking video with her phone even as Rivener flared his wings, making a soft ooh, as he did so.
This, Cesc thought, is why the girls were so maddening. They did not realize true danger when they saw it. They were flippant, self-assured, living in a fantasy.
"OMGOSH Sarah, did you get the wing flare--"
"GUYS, I think I can make his wings, did you SEE how big they were--"
"Ugh he's such a liferuiner..."
"Uhmmmm tell him to apologize for his hot FACE, okay?"
"GUYS, you're being mean to Pinkie."
"Pinkiefluff!"
"Pinksterrrrr, tell us your name!"
"Can I touch your antlers, Pinkie?"
"WAIT!"
This last bit was said by more than one girl as Rivener gave up and snatched Cesc by the arm, catapulting them over the crowd. Cesc could only look down at the lot of them, his face still cracked in a smile, as they all turned after them, cell phones out, taping the getaway flight.
Cesc did not speak until the two landed, stunned that the girls did not immediately follow, apparently needing to regroup and swap notes. He regained his balance, arms out momentarily, unused to flying at such a quick pace, and looked down to make sure his bag of clothes was still at his side. He then looked at Rivener, slightly concerned, his brows drawn up.
"That... " Cesc began, taking a long breath and then letting it out, unable to find the right words. "They... they... they are ... dedicated." he said at last.
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Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2012 9:12 pm
As soon as Rivener landed he whirled around to make sure they weren't being followed, his perfectly-coiffed ponytail looking a tad disheveled from all the wind. His eyes were a little wild as well, and his entire frame tense with battle readiness. Thankfully the damned girls weren't following, and Rivener straightened, smoothing down his shirt and plucking the shades off his head so he could finger-comb his hair into a semblance of order, re-doing the ponytail entirely. His wings kept snapping open and rustling back closed, the uncomfortable and familiar feeling of tension taking a while to leave his limbs when he summoned up poison and didn't use them- the stuff had to get absorbed back into his body from within the wing-bones, and the pressure was achy. He twitched the wings constantly and guided Cesc away and around a corner.
"They are damned ridiculous, is what they are! The NERVE of that one girl! What the hell was she-... I don't talk like that! I don't look like that! And what right do they have to-... I'm sorry, Cesc. I shouldn't be yelling." He huffed one last time as his ponytail was done, and he slapped the shades onto his face to hide his annoyed glare, though the set of his jaw gave it away.
"Look, as much as I enjoy shopping with you, we should either get the hell off this street, or call it a day. I'm not convinced those stupid females aren't going to try tracking us down again." It hadn't escaped his notice that some of them had started to demand names, then demand permissions to touch Rhedefre! If they'd stayed a second longer, who knew what else they would have dared?!
Riv flashed for a moment, pure murder across his face. He recalled another incident with liberties taken by someone like those girls, a fat, disgusting man who thought he had the right to touch Xiu, had been reaching for his rune... Riv would NEVER allow a human to touch one of his kin uninvited again. "I won't let them hurt you, Cesc. So choose whatever you want to do, and we'll do that."
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Posted: Sat Apr 27, 2013 9:32 pm
It was funny, Cesc thought, the way these girls thought of nothing but what (or who) they liked, with no regard to either his or Rivener's reactions. There was something strangely... naive about how insular and worshipful they were, without a care for the real people they were gaga over. They were ridiculous.
It wasn't harmful, was it? It was just ridiculous. Just funny.
It was, until Cesc turned his head and looked over at Rivener and heard him speak, and it was obvious beyond a shadow of a doubt that Rivener was murderously furious. Livid. Dangerous. The surprise of just how deep the elder's anger seemed to be showed on Cesc's face, and he held out a hand to gently touch the Sigel's shoulder.
"I am not hurt," he said simply. "And I am not worried that I will become so."
Rhedefre smiled faintly. "I do not think anyone could worry about it with you, anyway, Rivener. Does anyone pick a fight with you, willingly?"
Gesturing behind them, the young frei continued. "Anyhow, we are not followed. I am sure they are thinking too heavily about how to change the one girl's costume to realize that we have gone. But perhaps it's better to come again another day, all the same." He shifted his bags and widened his grin slightly, a touch of friendliness and self-depreciation flitting across his face. "If you have the time to come out again with me, of course."
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Posted: Wed May 01, 2013 6:25 pm
Rivener glanced over as Cesc touched his shoulder, seeing the surprise and the confusion on the young Frei's face. ...Of course, Rhedefre was young, hadn't seen how out of control those throngs could get. "THIS time you're not hurt, but things can change in the blink of an eye, Cesc. They don't see you and I as people. They see us as things, objects, toys! And before long if you let them have their way, they will start fighting over their toys and break them." Or worse, though Rivener didn't want to paint too horrid a picture.
The other point, about people willingly picking fights with him, had Rivener snickering wryly. "I have a job where people routinely try to pick fights with me, yes. Though admittedly they're usually tougher than a bunch of girls." He sighed, shaking his head and turning to face the pink-haired Frei fully, smiling. "And it would delight me to see you again, yes, Cesc. So maybe it's best we do stop for today, and come back when the place isn't crawling with groupies."
"Come on," Rivener spoke, bending to help carry a bag or two, leading the way far from that particular street. "I'll get you a cab, or something. And please call me again sometime. You hardly have a full wardrobe yet, so maybe another shopping trip or two. I hope Vivi ends up liking what you picked!"
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