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 Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 8:47 pm
This is a private RP for
APHISMET, RIVENER
and
ALEX, ZUL
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Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 8:48 pm
Rivener picked up the phone with single-minded determination. It hadn't been hard at all to wait for everyone else to leave the house. Isi and Eiry were out taking care of someone's Garden, Aphi was out buying groceries and Rivener had kicked up a fuss about not going along. Not that Aphismet often argued or tried to force Riv to come along. At any rate, Rivener was now alone save for Beauregard who kept singing sultry Barry Manilow in the living room. The sheet of contact names from the Lab was in the Scorpion's hand and he looked through quickly, finding the number he was looking for.
Aphismet had been heartbroken lately, ever since the break-up with Chloe. And then his birthday just recently... Aphismet had locked himself in his room that day and just... Well, who knew what. But Riv got the impression it had been so unbearably sad and lonely. Last year for Aphi's birthday he'd gone on a date with the pink-haired receptionist. And this year, he'd been alone and hurting. There was only one person Riv could think of that would be able to help... And besides, it'd been a long time since they'd seen each other. So it had to be Rivener's responsibility to get them to see each other.
On Valentine's.
At the most romantic spot Rivener could think of: Le Coeur d'Argent, a fancy French place in Barton. Voted "Best Place to Propose" by some magazine the Scorpion had seen in the store yesterday.
Clawed fingers dialed the number. As soon as someone picked up on the other side, Rivener's face lit up slightly. "Alex?" he asked.
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Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 9:09 pm
"No," came the smokey voice on the other end, a lilt of amusement tinging the singular word. "Zul. The woman is outside. Playing with Gwee."
The Frei who answered the phone was most curious. One moment he'd been engaged in a tug-o-war with Lorenzo over a newspaper he'd found, and the next, his woman's little tinkle-thing had begun to tinkle. It made such a horrible racket, doing it's tinkling all over the counter top that it was a wonder Alex hadn't heard it from her position outside. He'd truly only intended to stop the terrific noise, fingerless gloved hands snatching the unruly little mechanism to give it a what-for!
He dropped it when the thing bit him. The vibration startled him so that he was sure the thing had grown teeth and nibbled all over his vulnerable fingers.
Zul uttered a sound like steam hissing from a broken pipe, glaring at the loathesome thing as it began to clatter loudly on the floor. How rude! Why, he was going to grab it and see how much it liked to be burned if it wanted to bite! Lorenzo had chosen that moment to take an interest to the noisy box, plucking it off the floor and squalling his own discomfort at the odd feeling of the nibble-tinkle-thing. The phone fell to the floor once more, and when it still wouldn't cease it's mindless jabbering, the demonic Raevan stooped down and snatched the phone into his clutches, gripping it so tight it popped it's lid in surrender! Triumph was his!
And then it requested his woman. His curiosity was so piqued that he'd forgotten and forgiven the previous transgression of attacking him.
"No," he repeated to the phone as though he knew well what it was and how to use it, "outside."
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Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 9:17 pm
Rivener blinked as he heard someone else's voice. Who would be picking up Alex's cell phone? Was she at work or something? No, a glance at the clock revealed that Alex should indeed be at home. And then this man went on to say that the "woman" was outside playing with the Gwee.
And then suddenly it hit the Scorpion. Ah, this must be Zul! There was the name, right next to Alex's on the list: a new Raevan that had been given over to Alex. She'd be a good guardian, Riv knew. But his silence was dragging on, and as though to point this out, the smokey voice on the other side of the line repeated his amused "no, outside". Rivener shook himself out of his daze.
"Ah, is this Zul? Hi, I'm Rivener. I'm a Raevan like you, and I, er... I'm calling to make Alex meet up with Aphismet, my guardian, for Valentine's. ...You know what Valentine's Day is, right?" The Scorpion couldn't be sure how much this "newborn" would or would not know. If he could make Zul help him on this, they could maybe both get their owners to a place even more romantic than the Coeur D'Argent! Perhaps some kind of really picturesque water-side place at sunset or something... Yeah, with a box of candy and flowers and whatnot. Riv was rather sure he could con Aphismet into that, if Zul could do the same for Alex.
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Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 9:33 pm
Dark brows lofted at the introduction, giving the phone a few curious glances as the voice poured out of it. He'd seen his woman use it before, giving it names that had different voices, but 'Rivener' was not one he was familiar with. And Ai-fis-met? These were new names. Maybe they were different because he had answered it. As long as they knew Alex, he supposed it couldn't be all bad.
"Hello Rivayner," he purred his greeting in a slightly accented manner, "I know it." He paused to remember Alex's words, reciting, "A day of red and pink and frilly things for birds who have the heart to share." She'd also mentioned something about nests rotting and vile candy, but he hadn't quite caught all of it. Her brother had been precious little help in return, but had shed a little more light on it; a time for sweethearts, for people to show they cared. Sounded a lot like Christmas to him. "You want them to be birds together?"
Zul was intruiged by the prospect of seeing his woman react to being thrust in the middle of this strange holiday. She'd handled Christmas and New Years well enough, but she hadn't seemed very positive towards this one. Perhaps all she needed was the right bird and unrotted nest and candy. "How?" he inquired lightly, crystalline eyes sparkling with the first warning signs of mischief.
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Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 10:04 pm
Rivener grinned at the receiver as Zul described Valentines'. What the hell kind of description was THAT? It was rather easy to deduce from that short recited spiel that Zul was at the stage where he didn't really KNOW what he was repeating. He'd only said it because someone had said it to him. Because anyone who knew anything about Valentines' would not describe it like THAT. That brought another question: who'd told Zul that bullcrap in the first place?
Ah well, it wasn't Riv's place to correct any of that. Besides, it sounded like this Zul guy got the picture well enough: Alex and Aphismet out "being birds together". The Scorpion suppressed a snicker.
"Yes, to be birds together! It would be fun, right? If we can get the two of them to be at the same place at the same time, you and I can just kind of hang back and let them be, er... be birds. And the two of us will just be... I dunno, bird watchers I guess. Do you think that you could convince Alex to wear something nice and go to Gambino Beach Tower on February 14th at sunset?" Rivener patted himself on the back for suddenly thinking up this genius plan. Gambino Beach Tower would be a great date place! It was a tourist spot so it wasn't that suspicious to ask their guardians to go there. It was a high vantage overlooking the ocean, and it would be really romantic at sunset. AND there was a rather nice restaurant nearby, as well as a very convenient and handy beach for after-dinner walks holding hands and what have you.
But suddenly Rivener wondered if he was asking too much of this newborn. That was a lot of stuff to remember. "You have to not tell Alex WHY she's going there! It's a SURPRISE bird-thing. So, don't tell her Aphismet is going. Okay? ...Are you gonna remember all this?"
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Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 10:37 pm
Laughter answered the questions, a rich sound that promised to be pleasant when the owner was older. "Birds...I'll learn," he stated matter-of-factly. You'll get it someday, Zul, his woman often told him, you always do. Brilliant blue eyes turned over the calender against the wall, tanned digit drawing along the dates until he found it. "Next Saturday," he chuckled in amusement. He may not have been the brightest star in the sky, but he was fast. "Gambino Beach Tower, sunset. Wear something nice."
Something nice? Did Alex own something nice? He'd only ever seen her wear jeans and tank tops. He knew that 'something nice' was a single piece of cloth referred to as a dress; even then, he only knew it was 'nice' because men always reacted favorably in movies when the heroine was wearing one. It seemed the less the dress, the bigger the reaction. Zul floated towards Alex's room, humming in thought. 'Something nice' might be a challenge in and of itself!
"Surprise bird thing." The chuckling carried notes of his previous laughter, a darkly delighted thing. Now that the seed of possibility had been planted, it was taking hold and growing of its own will. The Frei pressed his fingertips into the indented handle of his woman's closet, slowly opening it and absorbing the contents: dress suits, the one red dress he'd ever seen ("Halloween!" she had cried out incredulously, "You know, dress up, make believe? No way I'd wear that in public again!"), some nice blouses but nothing 'nice.' Nothing to boggle the mind. His human could be so drab sometimes, not at all like the movies. This had to change if they were going to continually be in public; he needed a dashing heroine to his superior and dazzling self.
Zul's perpetual smile expanded into a grin. His words held the width of the expression, along with his own form of solemn promise of interesting things to come. "I'll remember."
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Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 5:21 am
Rivener quirked and eyebrow as the voice on the other side confirmed that yes, he would remember. As though to prove it, Zul waited a moment (Riv didn't know he was looking at a calendar) and then repeated what he needed to recall: where, when, and how Alex should be dressed. "Alright, good..." Rivener's words were meant to be a goodbye, but apparently Zul wasn't quite aware about putting the phone down. It sounded like the other Frei was just wandering around, from time to time saying something new. There was the click of a door and then a moment of thoughtful silence before Zul's final words of "I'll remember."
"Okay, then I will see you next Saturday in Gambino. Good luck! ....Bye!" Rivener put the receiver down, frowning slightly. He wondered if Zul knew to close the cell phone. ...He was probably going to eat up all Alex's airtime with an open phone.
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Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 9:34 am
The line went dead, and it was true; Zul was still smiling with the phone against his ear, blue eyes lidded as the Frei began to think of how best to work with the situation. Someone who knew his woman wanted to set someone else up on a certain day - he understood that. Now he'd have to figure out how to get her into 'something nice' and convince her to go to Gambino Water Tower without being too obvious.
He'd have to do some 'research,' which included watching movies and observing the decorations around town. If he was careful, he might even be able to drag Alex's brother into the fray, at least enough to convince her if the Raevan himself could not. More than anything, he'd have to make sure his time was worth the effort involved; it seemed like a lot to do for someone he didn't know. For all he knew, this Af-hiss-meat might not have been his choice of a nester for his Guardian, and that was criminal.
The phone finally lowered from his ear, the thing snapping closed beneath his grip, lifting his free hand to rub the piercing it had rested against. Floating out of the bedroom, he heard the back patio door slide open, admitting his Guardian into the house. Zul made his way over to her, taking her dirty hand between his own, smiling warmly into the surprised and uncertain face. The charm was on. "I want to go to town. Please?"
He was days ahead...but the Frei was already playing into Rivener's plan. He'd need all the time he could get.
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Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2009 11:04 am
February 14th
Rivener had almost felt bad about it, but nothing else would work. Aphismet had been really reluctant to go anywhere, falling into even worse of a funk as the Day of Love came closer... He wanted nothing to do with going anywhere, doing anything, seeing anyone. Rivener's pleas to go to Gambino Beach Tower, even under the excuse that it was for a RAEVAN date, was met with apathy. "Go by yourself, you're more than capable now," Aphi had said. Unacceptable. So of course, Rivener had needed to resort to something he'd promised himself he'd only do in the most DIRE of circumstances.
He'd drugged the white-haired man. Once Aphi was half-stoned with poison that had been carefully injected into his tea, Rivener had struggled to get the proper clothes on the man. He'd brushed his hair and made him look really nice, then handed him a bouquet of roses and dragged him out of the house. It was simple enough for the two of them to make it to Gambino, taking trains and ferries as needed. Aphismet was behaving like a mentally-challenged person the whole way, just staring blankly into space clutching his roses, and Rivener ALMOST felt bad. But then he'd tell himself it was only temporary, and it was all for the chef's own good anyway.
Eventually the pair arrived at the tower, and Rivener sat Aphismet down on a bench near the bottom. He floated away to spot Alex early, hoping he could see HER before she saw THEM. Or the jig would be up. And once the two were together here, it was only a matter of a tiny little push from Riv's stingers...
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Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 10:05 am
The demonic Raevan would not keep this 'Rivener' and his 'Aphesmate' waiting. Indeed, Zul was making his way to the designated spot, blue eyes lidded with satisfied triumph, bone wings spread in a grand display behind him and the woman next to him. It was, at least, a very nice day out, and convincing her to go to the beach on 'that day' was easy enough; the rest had been an uphill battle, but he'd learned much of himself and his sway over his woman. The sun felt good on his tan skin, idly running a hand through his pale hair before patting the arm of a lady holding his own.
It would take some looking to realize it was Alex.
Vivid green eyes were downcast in mild embarrassment, although she was mindful not to keep her chin lowered so her hair wouldn't fall in her face. She'd left it down, a wavy river of ebon down her back, long bangs framing her sharp features. The only makeup to touch her was some clear mascara to highlight her eyes, although it was easy to miss when one realized she was wearing a dress.
A black dress, to be exact (red had not gone over well with her), slender straps tying behind her neck, a flattering square-cut over her chest and fitted to her frame. The skirted part was long enough to cover her right leg with a fair slit on the left - their compromise - to allow her to move without tripping as she had in some of the other gowns. The Raevan had failed the battle for jewelry, but the dress was enough of a victory for now. Fancy sandals finished the ensemble, and the woman could not have possibly felt more out of place if she tried. "Are you going to tell me the purpose of this yet?" she asked her charge in a quiet and embarrassed voice, holding onto his arm lightly. "One doesn't insist on outfits like this for a day at the beach."
Zul smiled in his slow, easy manner, again patting the arm twined with his. "Soon," he promised in his smokey voice, a near purr following his words. "This is for you." The lackidaisical smile remained in place even as his Guardian cast him an uncertain glance. Certainly, it was for her and this other person, but it was for him too; it never hurt to have someone indebted if things went well. He wouldn't even consider the outcome any other way than a smashing success - it simply was not an option.
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Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 3:54 pm
Ah, there was a Raevan, and it wasn't one Rivener had ever seen before. Could that be Zul? (Riv smirked and lowered his eyelids half-way in his usual sultry bedroom gaze as he noticed how utterly drop-dead gorgeous this Zul was.) Did that mean the woman with him was... Alex? THAT was Alex? The Alex Riv knew, with the Gwees and working at the Lab and whatnot? Quirking an eyebrow and peering closer, Riv had to admit that yeah, those looked like Alex's features! Only... girlier? Prettier? Well, whatever the word was, she was hot. Zul had done a good job of dressing her up!
Riv hurried back to Aphi's side and summoned up the proper antidote in his stinger, gently pricking through the man's skin at the neck. The effects were quick; Aphi was already starting to blink and groan and rub at his head groggily. Riv didn't have much time!
"Over here, Alex, Zul!" The Scorpion announced, waving his arm pleasantly and getting the pair's attention.
"Whu- Rivener? What's going on? Where are w- OW."
Quickly, before Aphi could notice much of anything, Rivener had stung again, this time with a little liquid "Help" for the dating scene. Now he'd only have to get close enough to Alex to do the same... Leaving Aphismet to his own devices for a moment, the chef looking stunned and confused as he stared at the roses and his stylish dark green suit, rubbing at his neck where he'd been stung twice. Rivener crossed the rest of the way to Zul and Alex, smiling in greeting at the two.
"Hi! Alex, you look amazing!" Riv attempted to go in for a hug, hoping Zul would allow it (he seemed rather literally attached to Alex at the moment). If the dark Frei could get his hands around the italian for even an instand, it would be enough for him to sting her in the arm farthest from Zul, hiding his little "push" from him.
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Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 4:19 pm
The sound of her name startled her out of her self-pity (DRESSES?! UGH!), turning her bright eyes towards the source to find... "Rivener!" she called out, lifting a hand to wave to him, momentarily forgetting she looked like a girl. Alex retracted her arm from Zul's elbow, striding forward to meet the scorpion Raevan, although she was quite surprised when it seemed the other wanted to hug her.
His eyes found the other faster than Alex; surprise was also his to bear. That was Rivener? Small brows lofted in appraisal, his smile warming into a near cheshire grin, all too happy to let his woman go in favor of leaving himself less adorned. Best to allow any potential admiration proceed unhindered! He knew well Rivener was a he, but he couldn't help but draw a line between the dark Frei and pretty.
Zul floated towards the other Raevan, just a bit higher, chin upright but not enough that he wouldn't be able to absorb the appearance of Rivener; even though the other's hair was dark and he was decidedly clothed, he found the tan skin and red eyes more than appeasing. The darkness worked well on this one, and there was a sense of secrecy around him that was most curious. "Rivener," he spoke the name in a dulcet purr, more to himself than the other. It sounded much more nicely, now that he had a face to tack it on.
Alex laughed happily as the Raevan hugged her and spoke so kindly, carefully wrapping her arms around the floating body, leaving most of her back and her arms fully bare. "Hey! It's been a long time, Riv. What're you doing here?" And where was Aphismet? Her eyes shifted only momentarily around the immediate area, but she didn't see the dark-haired chef anywhere. How unusual...
The demonic Raevan idly ran his bare fingers over his gorget, mischief burning in his eyes, the blue lines beneath his digits pulsing. She'd find out soon enough, wouldn't she? He was curious to see just what would happen on this 'special' day.
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Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 4:49 pm
Rivener was beyond pleased with the look he was getting from Zul. The Scorpion didn't have time to focus on that right away though, he had to make sure this plan went through without a hitch. As Alex came closer and easily slipped into Riv's arms, the dark Frei grinned mischievously and squeezed, hiding the sting at Alex's arm with the suddenly tighter hug. There, plan accomplished! Now all that was left to do was push Alex and Aphi together and let the aphrodisiac Rivener had injected in both of them work its magic... It was only mild, of course, not something to make them take their clothes off or anything, but hopefully it would encourage a romantic atmosphere between the two.
"Aphi's right there! Near the bench, in the dark suit!" Riv pointed, gently prodding Alex that way and leaving the woman to go make her presence known. Left free of humans at last, Riv could turn his undivided attention to the smolderingly hot Raevan that was floating closer now. Riv noticed how Zul chose to float higher than him, and for once the Scorpion didn't mind. He could play the coy, mysterious flirt if that's what Zul liked.
Red eyes darkened to wine-red as Riv let his eyes fall half-lidded again, his lips curling up into that honeyed smile he hadn't used since... since he'd first met Roux. So long ago. And if felt good to do it again, to let himself exude such pure sensual presence. Riv floated closer, ignoring personal boundaries, nearly pressing himself up against Zul to lift a finger to the other's neck, admiring the piece of jewelry very alike Riv's own. "Hello," he breathed huskily, appreciating the sound of his name from Zul's lips earlier. "You must be Zul. I didn't expect you to be so... Mmmmhhh." The omission of an actual word for the compliment would hopefully make Zul wonder what Riv really thought of him. Heehee, it was so much fun to play this game. And Zul would probably be so much more receptive than Roux!
Aphismet had stood from the bench after his head cleared a little. Well, cleared... It felt fuzzy still, and oddly warm. The dark eyes glanced around to find out where they were, spotting the beach, the lookout tower, and then Riv hugging some woman. They were at Gambino Beach Tower! How had they gotten here?
...And who was THAT?
Unbeknown to himself, Aphi's expression had fallen into a less sultry version of Riv's current visage. Aphi never COULD pull of sultry, not at that level, but it WAS rather dashing anyway, as dashing as he could be. He took a few steps forward, finally seeing the green eyes and only then did the chef realize who this was. "Alex?" He asked incredulously, both of his eyebrows curving up high over stunned eyes. "Wow, you look... Wow. Ah, here, have these, they seem rather appropriate." Aphi grinned winningly (though still stunned), offering the bouquet.
...He was starting to think he should have a LONG talk with Riv when they got home.
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Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 5:53 pm
Bone wings spread again, watching the new Raevan hug his woman, awash in the recognition of his hard work; he had heard the praise and seen the grin, finding it a sufficient means of acknowledgement to what he had accomplished. At the mention of 'Aphi,' his sky-blue eyes flicked over towards the indicated man and was met with instant approval: white hair, dark skin, youthful. He'd never seen such a human before, and were it not for the prospective package of excitement floating towards him, he might have inspected more.
However, there was little he desired to see beyond the smiling Rivener, letting his woman go into the capable hands of the human male. He had a feeling he'd have his hands more than full himself with a smile like that; he couldn't have possibily anticipated how right that statement was, as he was suddenly wearing the other Raevan, whose adorned fingers were pressing against his gorget. The blue lining pulsed beneath the scorpion Frei's touch, gloves following a similiar pattern, raising his hand in turn to feel the one against his neck. To say that he preened at the 'description' was an understatement, wings flexing in a soft clatter of rings, encouraging the fingers against his neck piece with his own curious and warm fingers. It was the first time he'd ever been called 'mmmmhh,' but coming from Rivener, it was hardly a bad thing.
"Yes," he confirmed, speaking the singular word as though he had said more with that syllable, crystalline eyes turning over the other's pleasant features. His head tilted to the side, pleased grin still widely in place, not in the least bit bothered by the close quarters. How to return such a delightful compliment? Why, with comparison, as he often found pleasure in doing. Looking at Rivener, he almost felt smaller in comparison to his splendor, but even a pretty fish had sharp teeth. The television had told him so. "You are dangerous," he purred lowly, taking in the sharp appearances, "but attractive." Zul paused before completing the thought, "One in the same with Rivener." It would seem that one lead to another with the strangely pretty male, and the demonic Frei had no problems informing him as much.
A pinch, a moment of discomfort and disorientation, and Rivener was off, pointing her in the direction of someone staring at them. "Suit?" she muttered softly, a little dazed and not remembering the entirety of what was said. And when did it get so darn hot in on Valentine's Day? Brushing her ebon bangs from her eyes, she looked again towards the man Rivener had indicated, just in time for him to state her name in bafflement. Dark brows raised in curious question - he looked familiar, like a distant relative of--
Her lips parted in shock, green eyes wide. "Aphismet?" she breathed the name in return, a little softer than she usually spoke, but she chalked it up to being caught off guard. She didn't have much time to think of it, feeling her cheeks heat at his compliment, slender fingers gingerly accepting the bouquet. Alex knew she was blushing even more so now, between her shock and awe, giving her old friend a shy smile. "Thank you," she murmured lightly, breathing in the scent of the roses with lidded eyes. "They're beautiful."
She should have asked why he had them, and why he was giving them to her. Should have asked what he was doing out there in a suit, looking quite fetching with a charming smile. As it were, she could do little more than rest the flowers in the crook of her elbow, lifting her free hand to gently draw her fingers through his white hair. "New look?" she inquired with soft teasing, still having a small presence of mind to recall Isikoro's hair and his ominous words. "I like it. Looks good on you." Another shy smile was offered, lowering her eyes demurely beneath accented lashes.
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