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I'm so, so sorry for inviting myself over, Alex ran over what she'd say to Aphismet for the millionth time on the drive over, but I needed to see you...

Lazarus had shaken the stalwart Italian rather badly. It wasn't even the groping that had done it - she was sometimes-friends with We`rika, after all - but that it had been Laz. The eldest, most trusted and shining example of a Raevan, had groped her and three others, then tried to attack them! A newborn Raevan, no less! Alex felt the fine tremor in her hands and knew the shock was beginning to settle in, now that everyone had gone their seperate ways. She needed that hug, and maybe to crash and burn for a bit, but there was only one person that she trusted enough to let see a potential breakdown.

I'm so, so sorry for inviting myself over, she started over again, biting her bottom lip and she jumped out of the truck. She didn't recall the majority of the drive, or even pulling up to the house, but it was there and so was she. "Zul, stay in the truck," she commanded half-heartedly, not even bothering to look and see if he'd listen. Alex trudged up the walkway, head down, repeating her words inwardly. I needed to see you...

The demon was mostly impassive at his woman's side, although he had watched her the entire time. Now at Rivener's house, he couldn't help but admit that his attention was severely torn; he could tell Alex was upset, but Aphismet was going to take care of her now, right? Didn't that mean he could secretly take in the place that the Sigel called home? Zul tilted his head back, taking in the grand...building. That wasn't a house, that was...a mini hotel! Like HELL he was staying in the truck!

"This is a house?" the Frei asked out loud as he left the vehicle, his voice slightly incredulous and more than a little awed.

Alex glanced up, her inner monologue on hold while she tried to grasp for what her charge had asked, her addled mind not entirely grasping that he was not listening. "Yeah, it's...it's nice, isn't it?" she tried to smile. "It's an older house, but really nice...wait 'til you see the inside." It occured to her that she hadn't been to Aphismet's house other than the Halloween party two years ago; she hadn't seen it sans decorations, but even this curious little tidbit didn't seem to shake the personal storm cloud that hovered over her slumped shoulders. "Stay out here," was all she said.

Watching Zul turn amazed circles as he tried to absorb the new sight, the woman cracked another small, sad smile and knocked on the door.

Green eyes turned upwards when Rivener opened the door, giving the Sigel that same smile that wasn't quite whole. "Hey--" And then Aphismet was there. She only caught the briefest look of worry on his face before she was bundled into his arms, rather shocked. When was the last time someone had hugged her like that, really, truly hugged her? The chef being the one to hold her so tight, and of his own doing, made her forget everything she wanted to say. Alex would have melted into him, but she found herself being ushered into the house and the man asking her a question.

"Brandy?" she finally uttered a full word to Aphismet, blinking widely at him. For a moment, she simply looked at him, absorbing the warmth of his arm and catching the delicious smell of warm chocolate in the air, and beneath it, the comforting scent of the chef himself. For one perfect moment, she felt like she was home.

Her arms lifted and rested around Aphismet's shoulders, burying her face into his shoulder and taking a quick, shuddering breath. "Mn, just...a-ah hug, for a moment, if...I'm sorry f-for inviting..." So much for apologizing! Alex squeezed her eyes shut and embraced the white-haired man, almost clutching him as though he could erase the past few hours. "Sorry," she whispered, mildly embarrassed at suddenly attaching to him, even though she made no effort to let go.

The Frei floated in after the two humans were inside, closing the door in his wake. For a few seconds, he'd completely forgotten about his woman and her woes, blue eyes scouring over the Scorpion's body with heated appraisal. Was Rivener getting more attractive? A smug smile curved the demon's lips, eyes lidding in satisfaction; it almost looked like Rivener's expression on the Frei's face. And that handsome Raevan was all his...

Rivener's voice called to him dimly through the haze of possession that filtered through his mind, prompting the deep-blue gaze to meet the Sigel's own crimson one. The smile faded, although it wasn't for what had happened to Alex and the others, but because his time with his Rivener was being infringed upon by someone else's problem!

He looked briefly confused, as if he wasn't sure where he was before he shook his head, coming back to himself a little. That was not a nice thing to think. Looking to the humans, Alex now holding onto Aphismet, he spoke in a slightly off manner, his voice all smoke and a warning of something hot, "Laz'rus lost himself. He did bad things, and now he's confined." Zul lifted his gloved hands and rested them over his chest, cupping his palms to indicate what he meant, "He grabbed them, here. And used his--"

"Zul," Alex murmured quietly from Aphismet's shoulder, and the demon fell silent.

The words rushed over and through her, soothing her uncertainty. The trembling was still present, but her breathing began to slow from her upset and her embrace was less of a gripping of the chef and more of leaning into Aphismet and relaxing into him. Slowly, Alex was finally melting against him, reveling in the hug she'd needed so bad as one might enjoy a hot bath after a long day. It was just what she needed.

At the chef's sudden, earnest invitation, Alex slowly lifted her head and blinked up at him. She was completely caught off guard, green eyes searching his face for some type of joke or hesitation that meant he was just playing around. Her breath caught a little when his arms tightened around her, and she found herself awe-struck as she looked up at him with a rather baffled but touched expression. It took her a few times of opening and closing her mouth before any words actually formed. "As a roommate, or are you asking me to be your girlfriend, Aphismet Delaran?" she startled herself by actually responding in a fairly serious, light-hearted manner herself.

"Me?" The single word was almost haughty, the grin that curved his lips around his white teeth quite prideful. The demon could still recall the way Lazarus had glared at him, the hatred that had seethed out of the Sigel's very form. Anger and jealousy. Over him. Zul felt on top of the world, even with his woman so upset, and he didn't quite catch the warning flares in his mind that said something was wrong with that.

Instead, the Frei floated as high as he could, arms gliding over the Sigel's shoulders. His face pressed close, crystalline orbs half covered by his lowered lids, wings beating in a slow motion to balance him against the Scorpion. Zul's posture was all confidence and pride, his touch full of possession as one hand drew through Rivener's hair. The demon leaned forward, his lips ghosting over the Scorpion's own as he finally continued. "I stopped him," came the smoke-filled purr, that triumphant grin reforming on his features.

Much like her charge, Alex had momentarily forgotten the Raevans, even about her embarrassment at being Raevan-handled. Aphismet wanted to protect her? Her? She had until January to find a new place to live as per her company's request to vacate the house, and while she'd been looking into places in Gambino, she'd never actually thought of living with someone else. Living with Aphismet...and Isi, and their Raevans! "What would Isi think?" she asked suddenly, remembering they weren't the only two people in the universe. "And Eiry? And--" she glanced to Riv, but she was pretty sure she knew his answer. "-...really?"

Alex actually laughed. It was the last thing she thought she'd do that day, hell, for the rest of the week! The chef knew how to make her laugh when she didn't think she could, and that meant more to her than she could rightly express. So she guessed...th-that meant, he was asking her officially without asking. O-or something. "I don't assume," she teased back lightly, smiling almost coyly up at him while he talked about Isi and Eiry. The outburst of the Sigel's name made her glance to the side.

Oh. The woman's skin suddenly felt hot, stuck staring for several heartbeats before averting her eyes, slightly hiding her face against Aphismet's shoulder.

There wasn't anything in the world Zul wouldn't have traded for a longer body in that moment, wanting to push Rivener and be the one to pin him. To cover him in that power! The demon improvised and slid one hand upwards to grasp one of the Scorpion's horns, holding him into the kiss and tugging him even closer at the white-haired man's exclamation. He wasn't going to let the Sigel go, no, he belonged to him and this moment was theirs and theirs alone!

His skin warmed considerably beneath Rivener's touch, the curls of his lower ribbon sliding into the spaces of the Sigel's own as though to get even closer. The hand not holding the horn continued to glide through the bi-colored hair before resting against the back of Rivener's neck, cupping the elder Raevan's head against the kiss. The fire between them was intense, not like anything Zul had experienced before; if he had his way, they would kindle it and see just how high it could burn.

Thank god they're not...formed, she thought with mild embarrassment. It was harmless, sure, but it was still a shock to her system. Ah, hot cocoa, yes! Alex nodded against the chef's shoulder, glancing up at him. "I think I'm almost jealous," she unwitting echoed Aphismet's thoughts, righting herself but still leaning against him. Hot cocoa sounded fantastic right about now, especially given the man in her company. Boyfriend, she corrected herself, and was immediately taken with a wide grin. That would take some getting used to, although she secretly hoped she never got used to it; the thrill was something she wanted to feel everything she thought of it!

Alex gratefully took a seat as it was pulled out for her, eyes momentarily looking around the spacious kitchen - in a chef's house, she'd expect no less! It was funny that she'd never been to his house, but they worked opposite hours and often caught each other out and about when able. In all their months of dating, the spontaneous dinners together and the lunchs he brought her at the Lab, they hadn't kissed much. It was why she looked rather shocked when Aphismet took initiative, filling her vision before taking her lips to his.

And mm, what a kiss! Her eyes lidded, accepting and returning the token of affection, one of her hands finding its way up to touch his cheek softly. She tried to focus again, taking a few moments before her green gaze rested fondly against his brown. And then he said....h-he said...! Her lips parted in a slow intake of breath, gazing at him. They'd had a whirlwind romance for eight months; the words felt like a warm breeze on a cool day in spring, and she was again taken with the sense of coming home.

They finally admitted what they wanted from each other - and now this! It was perfect. It was right.

"Yeah," she whispered, not quite trusting her voice, "that's okay." Her hand rested against his cheek, thumb drawing over the tan skin. "I think I'm in love too, Aphi..." Alex grinned up at him, an expression free of her previous upset and holding only joy in her eyes. The strength of her voice slowly returned as she claimed, "You make real cocoa. I'd be a fool to let you go now!"

The demon was not used to touch, at least, nothing beyond a hug. Each sweep of those clawed fingers sent pleasant shivers up his exposed spine, his wings beating in a trapped frenzy against the wall. Zul uttered a short, almost growl-like sound of approval into the sealed kiss when the Sigel's fingers pressed near the bottom of his chest; there was a similar, but lesser sound when his neck was neared, although his gorget made that harder to touch around. He decided he liked Rivener exploring, to see what he liked, telling the Sigel as much by fisting the hand against the back of his head, tendrils of hair between his fingers, and pushing him even closer.

For a brief, brief moment, his orange rune flickered darkly. A tendril of something dark curled over the shimmering life force within, a hazy smattering of smoke-colored mist about it before it returned to orange, albeit slightly darker than before.

Aphismet's smile came close to cracking his skull in two when the woman replied to him. She loved him too! A relieved laugh bubbled up from the chef's stomach and his dark eyes sparkled with clear affection, leaning into the hand cupping his chin. Her mention of real cocoa reminded the man that he'd yet to actually OFFER her a cup of the stuff, and he straightened. He took her hand off his cheek with a hand of his own, pressing a kiss to the olive-skinned palm as he did so. Ah, he still blushed and felt all fluttery in his stomach at giving the small gesture.

"I'll give you cocoa every single day if it helps me keep you. Now sit tight, I'll get your drink. Did you want-"

Aphismet's question, before he even finished letting go of Alex's hand, was interrupted by his brother's loud grumbling. As usual, the boy was griping at his ward who looked absolutely unbothered by it all. The youth stormed into the kitchen and headed straight for the milk, bypassing the two adults completely. Aphismet grinned in amusement.

"Hello, Eiry, welcome back," Aphismet offered the minty Raevan brightly, turning his amused grin back to Isi as the boy floundered. Oh, how amusing it was to watch Isi splutter like that. Aphi finally let go of Alex's hand and moved around to the stove, retreiving three large mugs. "Hot cocoa for you too, Isi?" he asked, glancing at his brother.

Aphismet poured all three mugs regardless of Isi's answer (rather sure the boy would like a mug whether he admit it or not) and handed one to Alex. No brandy this time, perhaps later. Aphi then walked around to sit at Alex's side, giving her an askance look before he glanced at Isi. "Hey, uhm, there's something I'd like to ask you, Isi. ...Well, you know that Alex and I have been dating a while now, right? Like what, seven or eight months, Alex? ...And, well, I was wondering if it was alright with you if I were to ah, have Alex move in here. To live with me. With us." Aphi blushed, grinning like a dumb baboon.

Rivener hadn't heard a damned word echoing through the house. His entire being was focused entirely on the demon in his grasp, intently listening and paying attention to Zul's every reaction. Ah, he liked it at the edge of his torso, at his neck... Mnh, a stronger touch here, a soft caress there... It was like a heady drug, making the Scorpion lose his bearings and tune out the entire world. All that existed was his mouth against Zul's, their tongues intermingling, the touch of the demon's flesh under Riv's fingers and claws. Rivener wanted to do this forever!

He couldn't fathom anything would EVER make him stop, until something slim and green suddenly wedged itself between them, pushing their faces apart with rude mint-colored palms that, at the moment, smelled faintly of gasoline and earth.

Annoyed at being interrupted, Rivener blinked his eyes open and glowered down at his brother. "!@#@$#^$%%#&^@#%#$, Eiry!!! What the hell are you talking about!?" Riv reluctantly separated from Zul, keeping one hand connected to the frei's body and angling his head strangely as his horn was still in Zul's grip. With his free hand Riv yanked Eiry out from between them, pushing him aside. "I have no idea what you're babbling about, but this is my Zul! I love him, I'm meant to be with him, so it's alright to kiss! I don't know that I got everything you were ranting about, but kissing and romance and stuff isn't JUST between boys and girls, idiot! It can be between girls and girls, and between boys and boys too. So calm the hell down!" The Scorpion huffed, placing his hand on his hip.

Isi felt like he was a house. A house that was standing right smack dab in the middle of a tornado's path. There were tons of little people all rushing into the supposed sanctuary of his walls, and they could do nothing but watch at the impending wall of wind that was ripping through the countryside towards the little home. That's what Isi felt like in lieu of all these sudden emotions getting force fed, it felt, down his throat on this fine day. Before he even had the chance to complete any sentence, Aphi was pouring hot chocolate for him and Alex had thrown herself onto him, pressing the small of his back into the counter from the ferocity of her hug. As soon as he was released, he reached back to steady himself against the counter top, his legs easily weakening from all the commotion. It was only when Alex had sat back down on the stool again, and that Aphi had proudly asked his question, "their" question rather, that Isi finally had some time to react.

He reacted by blinking, and by blinking, it was large blinks as if Isi was trying to wake himself up from sleep. "Y-yeah, Yeah I've known. It was subtle, but, yeah...Yeah." That was his word for today, "yeah".

Alex? Alex and her raevan come...Come and live in this household? Isi hated questions like this, simply because they meant change and change wasn't something that Isi wasn't particularly well equipped to deal with. It was written into his person, inked into the fine pages that dictated his reactions and personality displayed to the world. He thought about it a little longer, his mind envisioning the sort of changes that would take over the household.

Another raevan...Alex...Alex and Aphi. Zul and Rivener. Then there was him, young Isi and Eiry, the intangible bandit. He thought it was ironic and bitterly comedic how everyone was suddenly paired in the family in light of this impending change. Then a bit of him, the selfish little child that was buried deep underneath his heart, pointed out that it used to be ISI and APHI, and EIRY and RIVENER. That wouldn't be the same. That would change. It would be Aphi and Alex, then Isi. Riv and Zul, then Eiry. Isi didn't like the sound of that.

But...Alex. Alex was the one who helped him...Alex was the friend, the companion at the Lab. The one who offered to go make drinks for them in the kitchen of the Lab since Isi couldn't carry drinks while attached to his crutches. It was Isi and Alex who joked at each other around the Lab corridors. It was Isi and Alex who would laugh up a storm together while outside it rained in retaliation.

Not only that, but Aphi. Isi looked at Aphismet, his gaze softening, his brows knitting in embarrassment at the complete look of dumb love and happiness on Aphi's face. He hadn't been this happy in a long while, not since Chloe...But even then, Alex somehow made him even happier than he was when he was with Chloe. Isi couldn't make Aphi that happy, he knew that. Isi owed so much to Aphi, he didn't know how he would ever repay the Delaran. Except...Maybe he could start with this.

"Jeez, guys," Isi sighed at last, releasing one hand to pull it through the grey that muddied his hair, "What do you think I can say? ESPECIALLY after all that sucking up from the both of you...I guess I'll just have to go break out the extra bedding."

Eiry, despite his refusal to move from between the two raevans, couldn't withstand the strong shove from his brother's arms. He wobbled from the push and twisted about to glare hurtfully at Rivener, his own red eyes challenging the reds of his sibling. At the momentary anger displayed by Zul, Eiry merely frowned and flinched away. He wasn't fearful of any physical pain that they could dish out, he would fade away far quicker than they could move. It just took a whim. But he wasn't concerned with the strange flames and heat from Zul, he was concerned with his brother, the one whom he loved as a brother.

He didn't know how to convey true love to Rivener in words simpler than a Shakespearean love sonnet, but it was something beyond physical want and desire. He read about it in plays, poems, and tales! Romeo and Juliet killed themselves for one another, Othello was driven to insanity for his love was so great for Desdemona that he couldn't stand the thought of losing her to another, Ferdinand dealt with slavery and toil to prove to Miranda his true honest love. THAT was love. Not this...This disgusting lip eating and face sucking!

So Eiry tried to explain it the only way he knew how...With Shakespeare.

"The white cold virgin snow upon my heart
Abates the ardor of my liver...!" Eiry quoted, gesturing his hands to try and convey that the meaning of this was not his, but geared towards them, Zul and Rivener, "As I hope
For quiet days, fair issue, and long life,
With such love as ’tis now, the murkiest den,
The most opportune place, the strong’st suggestion,
Our worser genius can shall never melt
Mine honor into lust to take away
The edge of that day’s celebration
When I shall think, or Phoebus' steeds are foundered,
Or night kept chained below."

The minty raevan made his gestures again, trying to communicate. He feared that his meaning would be lost to his small audience, and he glanced hurtfully between the two of them, his cheeks swelling up with a pout and the heat of a frustrated blush.

Then Zul made a few motions, a slight awkward bow with an added introduction. Eiry kept his shoulders tight around his neck, keeping his distance between the two, but his garnet gaze upon the younger frei.

"...I am. Eirdirsceol is mine naming. I..." Eiry wasn't sure how to respond to the compliment, so he floated there, torn between offense and common courtesy hammered into his ethics by his guardian.