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Rivener had intended to go to the mall on his own; he didn't need Aphismet along all the time, after all. Besides, it was such a short errand. He was only going to go to the camera store and have a few pictures made into posters; he just dropped off the CD with the images on it, and in a few hours the posters would be printed. Riv could hang out in the food court, enjoying the light from the sun-roof in the meantime. He liked the waiting, it was quiet, peaceful, and lots of people stared at him when he sat there looking casual. Not that he'd ever admit out loud how much he liked the attention, of course.

But no, this time Aphismet had insisted on coming. He had things to buy too, after all. He needed new clothes, as some of his shirts were old and worn. Really, Rivener figured his guardian could use his opinion on picking new things; that way he couldn't possibly come home with another ugly t-shirt that proudly declared him to be a "BUM".

So far their trip had been productive. Riv had dropped off his CD first, and that had been an hour ago. They'd been to one clothing store and Aphi had sighed and let Rivener order him around and make him try a metric ton of different pants. The Sigel was rather obsessed with the article of clothing meant for legs, as it was something he couldn't buy for himself just yet. He could live vicariously through the white-haired chef instead. After all those test-runs of pants, Aphi had only purchased two. He carried it easily as the pair made their way to the escalator to head down to the first floor for a look at Rivener's favorite shirt place.

"I hope you're not going to be making me try a million things. There's no need to be so picky, it's just to wear at home!" Aphi protested.

"Yeah, well, what if Alex sleeps over someday? You're going to hang out at home with a silly-looking shirt?"

Aphismet spluttered and blushed to his ears. "S-sleep over?! We haven't even been on our DATE yet!"

"Still, my point is you should look good because you never really kn-... Holy crap. Are you seeing what I'm seeing?!" Rivener stopped dead in his tracks as he glanced over the side of the rail that overlooked the lower floor. They were approaching the escalator, and right there below them was... Gage's twin, or something!

Aphismet leaned closer and looked over the side, brown eyes widening. "Th-that can't be him. It's all different. ...Right?"

Frowning defiantly, Rivener made his way over to the stairs and shouldered his way past the people coming off the stairs, standing in front of the escalator with arms crossed. The flow of pedestrians soon stopped as Domevlo stalled it below, but Rivener remained where he was. He waited with a stern look on his face for this... this imposter to show up and explain himself. Aphismet struggled to catch up, apologizing as he nudged his way past the throng.

Rivener floated backwards far enough to allow the pair (the white-haired cowboy was presumably this Raevan's guardian) to step out of the way of the flow of traffic, who'd seemed very eager to get moving once this "Domevlo" stepped onto the stairs. The gray-skinned frei had no apparent idea who Rivener was, killing instantly the "Is this Gage?" question. Instead, this Raevan seemed to be a newborn! Short-word-vocabulary, amazement at run-of-the-mill things like escalators, excitement at finding other Raevans...

A dark eyebrow curved up over a ruby eye, the Scorpion putting two and two together. His brain was wracking itself for anything about Gage, trying to remember what the stars might have said...

Rivener still stood, quiet and arms crossed, by the time Aphismet caught up to the trio (which wasn't that long after, really). The chef blinked to find a similar-haired man standing near the pale Gage-lookalike. It was so rare to find a young man with white hair. Instantly, for no better reason than this, Aphismet found himself rather liking the green-eyed guardian.

"Ah, sorry, uh... H-hello, I'm Aphismet. This is Rivener." Aphi offered Xan his hand to shake, as well as a friendly smile.

"Domevlo, yes?..." Rivener's first words were slow, contemplative. Things were adding up. The Stars had said something about this. Or maybe they hadn't and Riv was grasping at straws. Still, it could have been about this. It all depended on knowing what this new frei was made of, but that wasn't really a question you just ASKED. Especially if this cowboy was the type who didn't tell his ward his origins.

Ah well. Until he learned what this Raevan was made of, there was no way Rivener would be able to tell if his theory was correct. For now, he could only try to be friendly enough to get the opportunity to learn. Offering his best dashing smile, Riv offered his hand similar to Aphismet. "Domevlo. I'm Rivener."

Aphismet shook the other guardian's hand with slight relief, although the real relief came a moment later when Rivener seemed to get himself under control, diffusing the temper flare and offering his hand to the grey Raevan peacefully. Aphi could turn his attention to Xan properly, smiling. "Xan. Nice to meet you. Have you-... you're not on the list, so I take it you're a new owner? The Lab sends out updated Guardian-Raevan lists every half-year or so, I think? We'll be seeing your name there soon, then."

Perhaps he was being overly curious, but Aphismet found himself asking all kinds of questions. "Where do you live? What do you do for a living? If you don't mind my asking, is your hair white from birth? Mine's not, so I'm wondering if you got yours the same way... unlikely, but maybe!" The chef realized he was rambling and laughed, running a hand to the back of his neck. "Sorry, I just enjoy meeting new Lab people."

Rivener busily ignored his guardian's voice going on and on, opting instead for the very close examination of Domevlo. Red eyes scoured the other Raevan carefully, turning over every detail. Eyes kind of like Vyn's. Wings, mask, hair, horn, everything else was exactly like Gage! Only, the colors desaturated... It was beyond odd. And yet there was no mistaking that this was a newborn; the way it had needed to watch its guardian (Xan, was it?) to learn how to shake hands was a dead giveaway. If not that, then the way it couldn't pronounce names properly.

"Yep, Rivener. Hello, Domevlo. You're new, right?" Riv asked, simple and short, waiting for an answer and also trying to gauge how outspoken and social this new frei was. So far he'd been quiet, but Riv could be mistaken...

Aphismet's eyebrows raised. Xan had this color hair since birth? Hn, the chef hadn't thought this was a very possible color... Ah well, it just meant that Xan hadn't lived through anything so traumatic it had discolored his locks. That was a GOOD thing, but Aphi felt a little let down; it would have been nice to meet someone who'd shared that kind of experience.

It didn't matter, the chef forced himself to think. Xan was a nice person, and that was the important thing. "Ah, you live in Durem? We live in Durem Caves North, along the marshes. "WE" being me and my little brother Isikoro and his Raevan Eiry. If you ever need help, feel free to call us."

When Xan's attention drifted over to the two floating bodies, a soft rebuke escaping the cowboy, Aphismet turned his attention that way as well. Ah, the gray Gage-lookalike was poking at Riv's stomach? And of course, as usual, the Scorpion wouldn't mind the touching at all but Aphismet kept watching anyway, gauging his Sigel's mood.

Rivener was grinning, as it happened. He remained where he was and allowed the poking; he always rather enjoyed having his new abdomen touched and admired. He looked good, and he was special among Raevans, and only that short burst of attention on his body was enough to stoke the fires of his ego dangerously high. Clearing his throat, realizing how vain he was getting, Rivener tried to banish these self-important thoughts from his head.

"That's okay, Xan, I don't mind people touching me. This, Domevlo, is a stomach. I'm bigger than others like us because I'm older; grown-up. You'll have this too someday, when YOU get grown-up and older." Riv nodded, smiling. This new frei was so very different from the quiet, introverted Gage! Outspoken and curious and not afraid to talk back to his guardian. Riv liked him, he decided.

Aphismet scoffed at Xan's question. "Ah, yes, I would call it difficult at times. But it's been worth it; he's like a son or a kid brother, you know? I didn't really realize he was a living, breathing person at first so I treated him like a pet that I could leave at home when I felt like going... Kinda stupid of me. But as long as you treat them like persons, Raevans are really fun to have around. Certainly makes things interesting." The chef grinned. "How long have you had, ah, Domevlo?"

Rivener chuckled, watching the masked frei poke at him again and again. "Not Toe-mack, SSSSStomach. You almost have it. And no, it's not soft." There was a slight edge of pride in Riv's voice at that; he made SURE it wasn't soft. "Domevlo will be older LATER, after days and days and days. Time has to go by first." The Scorpion offered a grin, realizing how very very NEW this raevan was. He didn't even know most words yet, so of course he wouldn't know the working of TIME, would he? "After the sun goes up and comes down LOOOOTS of time, then you'll be older."

Aphismet chuckled and raised eyebrows as he watched the masked Frei demanding Rivener make him older NOW. "Well, you're going to have a lot more interesting moments, I'm sure. Just be patient, and remember there's a whole lot of us guardians out here. If you ever feel lost, surely one of us can help out or at least give some kind of advice." He grinned. It was so easy to forget, but he and Rivener had been around one another for a LONG time now. Aphi should be able to give some insight on how to raise a Raevan, even if he didn't really think there was much he could say.

Riv snickered. Domevlo was so demanding, and he obviously didn't understand how time worked. Impatient and jealous. Riv could remember when HE used to be like that. "Okay, I'll tell you what: when you go home and go sleep, tomorrow you MIGHT have a SSStomach." Since the newborn wasn't very observant or patient, Riv had the distinct impression that he'd soon either forget what Riv just offered, or he'd keep waiting day after day. And of course, eventually it would happen.

"What are you doing here? In this building? Buying things?" Riv asked, trying to distract the gray frei's attention.

Rivener furrowed his brows in confusion, smiling as Domevlo floated away. He looked like he wanted to be off right away, probably eager to go to sleep or something... Just as Riv had figured. Good thing he mentioned the other thing, maybe it would be suitably distracting.

"Picture box? ...You're buying a TV? Or going to the movies?" The Scorpion tapped a finger on his chin, wondering which one Domo had meant. Red eyes glanced over at the guardian, hoping to perhaps get an answer out of him instead?

Aphismet chuckled. Domo certainly seemed to be a demanding sort, and Xan looked like an easy-going enough person; they would fit well together, surely. For the moment the white-haired chef didn't add anything to the conversation, simply walking over to Rivener's side.