Welcome to Gaia! ::

Aphismet stood in the park with his hands shoved into his jacket pockets. He hunched his shoulders for a second against the cool air. He fidgeted, unable to stand in place for too long, anxious.

The call itself had been mysterious. How had this person found Aphi's contact information? Cody Star, Chloe's brother. Isi had indeed said Chloe had a brother. The only reason Aphismet had agreed to this meeting was to perhaps find clues to Chloe's whereabouts. That might be what this Cody is hoping to find from Aphismet... Maybe if they both get together and pool their information (nevermind that Aphismet hardly had any information at all), they might be able to figure out where she is.

Aph looked around often, watching the people that sometimes walked by. This was a rather well-frequented park, and it made Aphi feel a little less exposed. He'd never have agreed to meet someone in a dark alley, or tell him where his and Isi's house was. This was a perfect place.

Aph wondered if Cody would look like Chloe, if he'd be recognizeable. The chef ran a hand through his chalk-white hair, wondering if Cody would recognize HIM. If he'd heard of Aphi from Chloe, then he might be looking for a dark-haired man, not the ghost-haired one than stood here now. Nervous, Aphismet kept glancing around for anyone that might look familiar.

Aphismet's breath caught in his throat as he turned his head and saw Chloe walking by.

No, not Chloe... A man with brown hair, and different shade of eyes. But that face! This must be him!

"Cody Star?" Aphismet asked, reaching out to grab the passer-by's arm softly, his voice displaying more nervous alarm than he'd intended, as his desperation at finding Chloe shone through. This was a giant step closer to finding her, and Aphismet shook with the need to know everything right now.

Aphismet let go of the arm, taking a step back. "Oh, I... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to erm... A-are you Cody Star?"

Aphismet had been about to answer when Cody cut him off with another question. Apparently, the sibling was in a hurry to find out what Aphi knew.

Thinking back, running a hand through his hair to scratch at the back of his head, Aphismet recalled the last time he'd actually seen her. "Ah... B-back in May, early May. There was a Karaoke, with a few of the Lab people... Why? Do you know where she might be? Please tell me!"

He had been about to take a step forward eagerly, but Aph stopped himself. He didn't want to make the other ill-at-ease, and if he was like Chloe that movement might have made Cody nervous.

Aphismet's spirit was dampened when he realized he couldn't remember a single time he'd gone out with Chloe. They'd only ever kissed at her birthday, seen each other at the Karaoke, and that was it... What right did Aphismet have to consider himself her boyfriend? He suddenly felt foolish and neglectful. He should have visited her more, much more. He should have called more. He should have...

Aphismet deflated as Cody admitted to not having seen Chloe for a year. Aph shook his head.

"She's the sweetest person on the planet, I don't know anyone at the lab who'd harm her. However, Roux told me that the person who took her had Yellow Hair... Do you know who that might have been? It was someone she trusted, she just let that person into her house without resisting, and Roux didn't seem to expect an attack." Aphismet watched the other carefully, hopeful to see recognition in the blue-gray eyes.

Aphismet's breath caught in his throat. He all but shook with rage at the thought that the person who did this to Chloe has a name. "Do you... Do you know where he might be? Where he lives?"

In his jacket pockets, his hands were clenched into tight fists. Brad Jameson or Johnson or anything similar. Aphismet committed it to memory with frightful tenacity, burning it into his brain. "Where did she use to work before the lab, where she met this Brad? Maybe they could give me more information there..."

Already Aphismet was trying to think of how to track down this person. Since Aphi wasn't that great on the internet, he would never be able to find someone's adress. And reporting this to the police might be a mistake, since they hadn't even done squat so far about this issue, it seemed. A stalker from an old workplace should have been an easy lead for the cops, but they hadn't looked hard enough it seemed.

It was hard for Aphi not to run off and try to do something this very instant! He felt like he finally had a clue to find her, to find Chloe!

...He should ask Roux first. Roux would be able to tell him for sure if it was this guy or not, right? Aphi shouldn't track down someone who ends up innocent.

Aphismet found it painful to allow this Almost-Chloe to reach for him, and smile like that, like a distorted reflection. It was creepy and heartwrenching. Still, the white-haired man kept his expression as serious as he could, trying not to show his discomfort. He was getting rather good at hiding things, now that he was doing it almost every day.

"Alright, if you don't mind looking, and you'll know better than me where to look. Please do call me as soon as you find something; I'll go see Roux and see if he recognizes the name. Is there anything else about him Roux might recognize, if not the name? Does he wear glasses, have a tattoo, a missing arm, anything?"

He simply smiled self-depreciatingly at the compliments, not wanting to remind himself of Chloe just now. He had to concentrate, focus. Find the enemy. Destroy it. Then Chloe would be safe.

Aphismet nodded. "That's alright. Let's just hope Roux knows the man's name, then. He refused to talk about it before, but I'm done waiting. We have to help her. Call me as soon as you find anything, then."

He bowed his head slightly at Cody and smiled thankfully, before turning and jogging away, having to somehow vent all this sudden energy that begged to be let out. Aphi would go home and kick the crap out of his practice dummy, then find Roux (once all his violent urges were dissipated) and ask.