Welcome to Gaia! ::

Who: Kinsey & Varun
Aphismet & Rivener
Where: A large flea market
When: Late Morning
Weather: Pleasant, if a bit nippy with that early spring breeze

Aphismet walked along the stalls with an easy smile, looking at all the items and waiting for that perfect trinket that would scream "BUY ME!" He hadn't been looking for anything in particular, but as they drove by and saw this flea market the chef had decided What the hey, might as well check it out! Rivener hadn't argued, shrugging a shoulder in mild disinterest, so Aphi had begun wandering leisurely, his Raevan at his side.

Rivener wasn't looking for anything either, apart for attention. And he was certainly receiving a lot of that, eyes turning to look at him from all sides. He smirked, but tried to keep his vanity in check. Once in a while he'd pause at a music seller's place to glance at the CDs, but so far he'd found nothing. This was quickly becoming boring despite the attention he was receiving, and Riv pondered asking Aphi if they should just get the hell out of there.

That is, until he spotted something red and green and floating. A Raevan he'd never met. Holy hell, how many was that in the span of a month, now? Ridiculous! Still, Rivener was curious and so he floated ahead of his guardian, who'd stopped to look at an old lamp.

Rivener arrived at Varun's side just as it asked "What" to some lady, holding a small toy. Riv smiled, not yet sure what he'd make of this frei since he couldn't really see its face. It looked male, but even that wouldn't be assured until this Raevan turned. "That's a yoyo," he offered helpfully, both hands clasped behind his back chastely, wings flat against his spine in his most non-threatening manner.

Rivener grinned, charmed by this young Frei. It was indeed a male, a rather pretty one, and by the way everything was still new and confusing to him, a VERY young one. Even his words were not quite developed yet, and this placed the fish-Frei very clearly in the DO NOT FLIRT column. Maybe when he was older, though... Hm.

Riv wanted to take the yoyo and demonstrate how to use it, so he gently motioned for his young friend to give it over, plucking it gently from the pale hand. As he slipped a finger through the cord's loop, making sure the frei was watching, another question was launched. The Scorpion paused and straightened, grinning.

Good thing he was so gifted at piecing together weird speech.

"Ah, you mean this?" he placed a hand on his stomach, smoothing down his jacket as he went. "I am grown-up. An Older Raevan." He wasn't sure if he'd be understood, it was a rather complicated concept, so instead he focused his attention back on the yoyo, trying to get the other Raevan to do the same. "Look, see? Finger through here... And then like this!" Riv let the yoyo fall, pulling on the string to get it to zip back up into his hand, doing this a few times before catching the toy and handing it over to the other. "You try. What's your name? I'm Rivener. Rivener." He pointed to himself, tilting his head in a friendly fashion.

Rivener grinned. "Varun, then. Pleased to meet you, Varun." This frei was very straight-forward, honest, and knew what it wanted but not in an obnoxious way. Riv decided that yes, he liked him. He'd probably grow up to be rather fun to be around. If only he wasn't so damned innocent... because hmmm, he was rather good-looking.

The Scorpion watched the attempt at the yoyo, knowing before Varun tried that it would fail. Hardly anyone got the hang of it right off the bat. Smiling pleasantly, Riv floated closer and rolled up the yoyo until it was in Varun's hand again, then placed his own hand on top to guide it. "Feel the yoyo. Pull when it is JUUUUST getting to the end. Like this." Letting the yoyo fall, Riv used his hand to make Varun's give an upwards tug, making the toy roll up and then start rolling down again, tugging once more at the apex. Rivener repeated this a few times before releasing the paler hand. "See? Understand?"

Aphismet had finally looked up from the lamp he now carried under one arm, finding his Raevan nowhere in sight. Sighing, the man headed off in search of the floating torso. He would be rather easy to find, just follow all the heads that turned to look.

As he rounded a stall, Aphi found his Scorpion with a new Raevan. Ugh, please don't let this be another Prajna incident! Hurrying forward, Aphismet frowned in hesitation... Ah, but it didn't look like Riv was doing anything bad. Was he-... was he teaching that frei how to work a yoyo?

Rivener laughed in amusement at Varun's enthusiastic response to the yoyo, getting it to work and then declaring Yes! with such victorious finality. Of course the Scorpion had noted the young one's tension at the physical contact, but that was most likely every youngling's reaction until they learned otherwise. Riv was rather glad of the way things were turning out. This cute newborn was fun.

"Ah?" Riv sounded in curious surprise, smiling to himself as he felt the other's fingers wrapping around his wrist, tugging him towards who knew what. Amused, the Scorpion simply followed along, chuckling. "Where are you taking me, Varun?" he asked, making sure to use the young one's name as often as possible so he'd remember it.

Aphismet was raising an eyebrow, not quite willing to believe that Rivener was being friendly with no ulterior motives for once. A woman suddenly came up and spoke to the white-haired chef, claiming tentative custody of the younger Raevan currently leading Rivener around the flea market. "Ah, y-yeah, he's mine. He hasn't done anything... BAD, has he? We should probably follow them." Aphismet walked forward, making sure the pair of floating torsoes were always within view. "I'm Aphismet, by the way. That guy's name is Rivener. Pleased to meet you." He extended his free hand along with a pleasant, if a little apprehensive, grin.

"Maybe you should pay for what he takes?" Aphismet offered helpfully, laughing sheepishly. He was hurrying after the pair of Raevans just as Kinsey was doing after their handshake, watching as Rivener apparently found great interest in the young one's shenanigans. Aphismet certainly couldn't recall the last time he'd seen such an honest, amused, bright grin on the Raevan that had absolutely no hint of sultry intent. It was kinda... disconcerting.

Rivener let himself be tugged along merrily, floating to a stop as they neared a stand of feather boas. Rivener offered the stand lady, an older woman who looked like she might have been in black-and-white movies in her youth, a slight nod of greeting. Varun was busily grabbing one of the colorful boas, proffering it to Rivener questioningly and declaring it was not a bird.

Riv chuckled and shook his head. "No, not a bird. Decoration, for ladies. See?" Gently, as before, Rivener took the boa from Varun's hands and leaned over the table, curling it around the old woman's neck with a flirty wink, making her laugh and pet the boa she was now adorned with. "To make ladies colorful. Understand?" Rivener was enjoying this. It was like a pleasant game, and he rather always liked feeling like he was helping young ones learn things.

"Well, if you're stunned, so am I. I've hardly ever seen Rivener so... tame." Aphismet was following along still, finding it hard to do once Varun got going, floating through the crowds easily, flitting from one aisle to another. "I suppose Riv's got a way of erm... provoking people. Hopefully all he'll provoke from your Varun is his sociability." Once again Aphismet chuckled uneasily, finding the pair at a stall of magazines.

Rivener grinned as he was being led around, chuckling under his breath the whole way. What a demanding little learner! It was kinda cute how ecstatic and eager Varun was to have things explained. And of course Rivener was flattered to be the one explaining. As they stopped at the magazines, Riv lifted a clawed hand to his chin, wondering how he'd go about explaining these.

"Hmmm... This is a Magazine," Riv said, lifting one book. "AAALL of these are Magazines. They are for learning! These are pictures," he pointed to the large photo of the Gambino tower, "and these are words for reading." He pointed to the printed text. "When you learn how to read, then you can read magazines and learn all kinds of things!"

Ok so that had been a bit lengthy, so Riv tilted his head to make sure he hadn't lost Varun along the way. "Understand?"

Rivener blinked at the magazine he was being made to look at, the grin widening to laugh. Varun seemed so stunned by this particular photo. "Hahah, that? That is kissing. People press their lips together when they really like each other. Understand?" Rivener didn't even for one second consider SHOWING Varun how to do it, completely under the impression that the red-haired frei was too young for that kind of thing and wouldn't enjoy it anyway. At least, from the way Varun had tensed earlier, that is.

Aphismet glanced over, lifting an eyebrow at Kinsey. "Circumstances? Soul Capture? ...I take it Varun isn't made of some simple fish?" Aphismet would never ever ever regret Rivener's birth, of course, but he was starting to wonder if anyone else had a regular critter as a soul... Everyone Aphi met seemed to have something out of this world, like willowisps and sea fairies and whatnot...