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 Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 2:16 pm
Who: Milton, Alex & Zul
Where: Lab 305 (gasp!)
When: Whenever is convenient for Milton, naturally!
Weather: Clear and chilly
Alex wasn't in her office, for a change, but in the waiting room. The woman peacefully swept the floor in slow, measured movements, humming to herself in time with each brisk swish of the broom. Every five minutes or so, she'd have to stop, wincing and rubbing the bandages that covered her arms, from her palms into the sleeve of her t-shirt. The burn specialists had told her she'd need to continue normal, menial tasks to keep her muscles from atrophying during the healing process, which would also stave off the scars from being too thick around her joints to remove.
The Italian was still inwardly bitter over her decision to go through with the therapy and scar removal when it came time; her body was riddled with injuries of her job, but she'd finally come across something that would take her ability to work away from her if she didn't handle it. Life was cruel like that, sometimes. With a quiet word of encouragement to herself, she continued to sweep around the area, playfully pretending to sweep up Zul's ribbon.
The Frei was never out of sight from his woman, which he knew had both amused and disturbed her. With Raevans still coming in to be cured, he took it upon himself to watch over and protect her, since he had failed her just as much as he'd failed his friends. The wrapping around her arms was proof enough of that; even though he pretended not to remember what had happened while he was sick, he very much knew exactly what he had done.
His mindset was disturbed by the tugging on his ribbon, looking down to see the stiff bristles trying to gather the fabric. Zul lifted his clear blue eyes to Alex with apparent surprise and confusion, absently tugging his ribbon out of the straw-like jaws.
Alex simply laughed, nudging him affectionately with her elbow (which earned a nice zap of pain that she didn't let show on her face) before continuing to sweep.
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Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2009 12:53 am
Alex wasn't the only one sustaining scars from recent events. It had been a little over a week since the incident of capturing the Pookah's soul, but everything was still so fresh in his mind. Occasionally, it effected his dreams. There was no little embarrassment to being woken in the night, only to be told that he was crying out in his sleep. Night terrors were for children, not grown men, wizards especially!
But he couldn't get it out of his mind- the terrible feeling of being helpless, of dying. Hot breath in his ear and daggers in his neck... Heaven above, he even smelled the beast. And blood. There had been so much blood. And now there's only the scars, thanks to some stranger, lines of white scouring an already pallid complexion. The marks where the fangs and claws had torn at him were mostly covered by the high collar of his robes, but there were still faint nicks of discoloring near the center of his throat. Milton wasn't very sure what he thought of the scars yet. Just another something to add to the list of unremarkables, he supposed.
He was one step closer to completing his 'experiment', though, and that made things brighter for him. The trip to the lab had been an easy flight (but damnably cold) once he had gotten directions from the payphone, and now he and his companion-of-sorts walked side by side toward the entrance. He'd made Byron carry the bearskin rug, which got a satisfying amount of bitching and moaning from the young lad. Despite the possibility that it could have been easier just to leave Byron at home, the fact was that Milton had very little faith that the man wouldn't go through his things while he was out. What if the rube's intention was just to steal what he could and run? No, no. Milton wasn't about to be played for a fool, even if that meant acting debatably foolish.
"Helloooo, is anyone home?" Byron called into the lab as he hurried ahead to get the door for the wizard, having to shift the rug about under his arm before he could pull off the maneuver.
"Don't do that." Milton snapped, and threatened the youth with his wooden staff as he passed. But he couldn't be too mad- not with success clouding his vision. His eyes greedily scoured the details of the building, trying to size up this 'lab' of sorts. So far it seemed like a legitimate facility, but what did he really know about that sort of thing? Where he'd gone to school, things were depressingly dull and uniform. The prize of 'most-complicated' was a tie between the bunsen burner and the centrifuge. And after he was done with university, he hadn't gone much of anywhere outside of home. He didn't know how things had changed.
But he could criticize with the best of them. That was all that mattered, right?
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Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 5:56 pm
She hadn't immediately heard the door open, but she certainly heard the funny little call from an unfamiliar voice. Alex quirked her lips in a bemused smile, setting the broom against the wall as she returned with good humor, "That's a dangerous question to ask in here, sir!" She double-checked to make sure her sleeves were covering her bandages before she jogged towards the front to greet their guests.
Her face immediately lit into recognition as her green eyes fell onto Milton; the expression melted into surprise before warming into a type of repressed pride. "Milton!" she exclaimed joyfully, putting her hands on her hips and grinning at him in a lop-sided manner. "I must say, I am very happy to see you again! I wasn't sure I'd survive a second trip, if I had to make one." The Italian laughed and shook her head, lifting a hand from her hip to brush her hair over her shoulder, eyes then turning towards the other man that she hadn't immediately seen. A dark brow lofted; she was pretty sure that wasn't Adam, and was certain that Milton would have rather beat himself up with a spoon than have company. At least it was good looking company!
Alex gave the stranger a grin and a nod. "Welcome to Lab Three-oh-Five. I'm Alex." Again looking to Milton, her grin widened. "I hope that skin he's carrying isn't the remnants of your soul capture."
The Frei had waited for a moment to see who was coming, but at the exclamation of 'Milton!,' he had deemed it worth his time to go greet the two as well. Lifting his lips into a light smile, his crystalline eyes turned between the familiar man and the new one alike, nodding to them both, though his gaze lingered on the stranger. "I'm Zul," he introduced himself politely. Bone wings flapped briefly before settling the marbled length upon his back, inclining his head to the wizard. "Nice to see you again." Inwardly, the demon was somewhat hoping to see Adam, although he noted that neither man seemed to be holding the baby golem.
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Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2010 3:58 am
She was... happy to see him? The wizard’s eyes would narrow a little in both confusion and suspicion. Why? He didn’t recall their meeting being anything particularly friendly. Civil, yes, but was that really a reason to greet him so warmly? Alex would see his lips draw thin with his bemusement, then part in preparation for his response. He was, however, granted a reprieve from responding right away as his associate piped up.
“This is a grizzly bear, Alex," Byron explained with the charming smile of one indulging another, "Old girl's been dead and treated for quite some time. Actually, we flew over here on it." The young man was not lying.
"This is my tenant, Byron. He absolutely insisted he come along. If he presents a problem to you at any time, please don't hesitate to have him thrown out into the cold." The redhead was deadly serious. However, Byron just laughed, a mirthful sound that came from his chest and sounded unbridled from the man's lips. He gave Milton a boyish slap on the shoulder, to which the wizard looked absolutely affronted. He was about to smack the man with his staff when the Raevan showed up and he was newly reminded of his purpose here. He should be in a good mood.
"Hello, Zul. I see that you're doing well." The redhead greeted the boy cordially enough.
"Oh, wow," Said Byron, stepping toward Zul without hesitation in order to get a better look at him. He came to stand a few feet away from the Raevan, his tawny eyes running over the half-complete form. "You're quite something, Zul. I'm sure you hear that more than a little. My name is Byron. Milton's my roomie."
"Landlord."
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Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 4:50 pm
Alex would have loved to have heard whatever chipper response Milton no doubt had fixed for her behind those thin pressed lips, but the moment was cut short by the gentleman carrying the rug. She blinked her green eyes at him a few times as he spoke, glancing to the wizard at the odd introduction before nodding to him. "Good name, easy to remember - one of my favorite poets. Nice to meet you!"
She beamed a smile between them, though she too laughed with Byron at Milton's insistence of showing him the way out into the bitter cold should he prove to be a nuisance. "Well, feel free to stay for a moment and thaw your fingers if you gentlemen would like," Alex gave the bear rug in Byron's grasp a bemused once over, "and I'll get the necessary paperwork so you don't have to spend too much time here." The woman gave Milton a knowing, albeit appreciative look before turning and bounding back towards the desk, opening one of the wooden drawers on the side and riffing through files therein.
The demon smiled to the wizard before the man named Byron obscured his vision, and in turn, earned his attention. His blue eyes turned over the man with equal curiosity to the human's, deciding the slightly rough looking Byron with the oddest thing stuffed under his arm was interesting enough. If he was with Milton, it was another good mark in the Frei's book. "Not with words," he admitted to the new man, inclining his head to him in acknowledgement. "The last one hugged me rath--roomy?"
Zul arched a severe brow at Milton in question. Did Byron wear Milton, and thus found him roomy? When the wizard corrected the man's words, a smoke-filled chuckle escaped the floating being. "Why are you on his land, Byron?" he asked in a perfectly sincere voice, his amusement warm in his sky-tinted eyes. The Frei was yet unfamiliar with some human ways; that of renting and 'landlords' was amongst that which was unknown to him. He simply took the wizard at his word, as odd as it was.
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Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 6:07 pm
"I suppose it's a land as good as any," Byron replied thoughtfully in turn to Zul, as if the Raevan had posed him a philosophical question rather than one sprouting of misunderstanding. He was watching the curious curl of smoke float in the air for a moment as he spoke, but quickly returned his gaze to the even curiouser creature. So this was what Milton was talking about. This was what... his friend would be transfigured to in time. "And living with a wizard, well, it could have its perks. Is Alex your mother, Zul?"
As if reminded, he turned toward the woman, hailing her oh-so-sweetly:
"She walks in beauty, like the night..." "Oh, do shut up," Milton cut in with a scoff. He had trailed after Alex and was now leaning against the desk. From the pouch at his hip, he drew free the materials he had brought and placed them with careful reverence upon the counter. One of the objects, of course, was the vial, and inside the Glowing Moonrock. The other was the soul jar, filled. The shadowy little soul swirled lazily inside of the glass globe, unaffected by the shuffle.
"What should I do with these?"
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Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 10:45 pm
The idea of Byron taking up a plot of Milton's land was easily overlooked in favor of the new question. "My mother?" Zul laughed at that, though his mirth was a quiet and subdued sound by nature of his voice. "No, she's my woman." It was something he'd always thought of her as, always considered her to be; there was no meaning behind it other than what it sounded like. She belonged to him in a similar way that he belonged to her - they looked out for each other, they learned of one another and taught one another. Of course, the Raevan's words were never so eloquent to humans, and to elaborate, he added, "Just as Milton will be his Raevan's man. She is mine."
"I think he means human," she countered her charge's off-spoken concept of their relationship, green eyes flicking up from a stack of papers in front of her to smile at Byron. "I think of him as my partner." She pulled out a contract for the drop off, grabbing a pen off the desk and flipping the cap off with a press of her thumb against the plastic. Milton's name and essence were deftly jotted onto the paper, though she gave pause and looked up with wide eyes at Byron's words. Alex actually laughed, a soft sound of impressed wonder. "It's okay, Milton," she grinned to the wizard before replying to Byron jovially, "Of cloudless climes and starry skies--can I keep you for a few days?" The Italian's grin grew in teasing play before she returned to the work at hand, her gaze still holding her merriment.
Her attention diverted to the indicated items, though her gaze lingered on the filled soul bottle. They never ceased to amaze her, seeing them in action. "I'll take them from you," she responded, green eyes tearing from the bottle up to Milton's displeased expression. "I give them to Kyou, and the magic begins. However," one of her long, scarred fingers tapped the paper she was writing on, "I need to know what it is you caught, and then get your signature. After that..." Alex's smile became slightly whimsical but entirely knowing. "...you get the good news in time."
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Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2010 2:26 pm
That was quite a funny way of putting it. Byron's lips thinned and stretched, but his honey-hued eyes glittered with amusement. It appeared as if he was simply trying not to laugh, for the boy's benefit, not wishing to bemuse him even if he did say the darndest things. When Alex spoke, his gaze flitted to her, and he gave a small nod. "Yes, I think he does. It makes perfect sense, Zul, worry not if you are at all. How you'll toy with a filthy mind, though!" He chuckled, dismissively, only stilling as Alex delivered the next line of his poem. Delighted, he approached her counter, leaning a safe distance away from the materials even if Milton soon guarded them with his arms.
"If you promise me adventure and the occasional home-cooked meal, you may keep me forever," He purred.
Milton just glared at him from the corners of his eyes a moment, no doubt poising a biting comment behind those thin, twitching lips. He seemed to decide not, though, presented with the opportunity to leave even faster. "Oh, it is a... what did you say it was, Byron?"
"A Pooka, Alex. It is a fae creature of a shadowy mien."
"Yes." Milton knew exactly what it was called- he simply hadn't wanted to say it aloud. It was such an absurd name for that... creature.
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Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2010 3:36 am
A smile curved the tips of the Frei's lips, eye brows askew with amusement over his light blue eyes. Once upon a time, he wouldn't have understood what Byron could have meant by the phrase 'filthy mind,' but time [and hearing Alex's rant over a male or two in her life] had learned him. "I am curious--"
"You are not, Zul, shh." The woman waved one hand at her charge, ignoring his brilliant grin that promised she'd be hearing a lot about it later. Instead, Alex beamed a smile at the crotchety wizard's cohort, putting the back of her hand against her brow in mock sorrow, her tone full of dismay. "Alas, this is my life as you see it, Byron - surrounded by floating beings and scientific logs, though home cooking at your behest. Certainly not the glamor you'd hope for, I'm sure." Chuckling to herself, the Italian gave Milton an amused glance as he restrained himself, the pen tapping against the clipboard as she awaited the soul.
There was no way she could hide the surprise that swept the smile off her face, green eyes wide. "A Pooka?" she repeated, her voice full of the emotion that she displayed. "Out here? I...wow." Alex blinked off to the side, staring at something only she could see before she gave a curt shake of her head. "Sorry, I -- my godparents were Irish, it's been a long time since I've heard that spoken." The pen glided over the paper, spelling out: Pooka/Púca; shape-shifter. She made a mental note to include an informational page with the contract for Kyou - just in case. Not many knew of the Pooka, in her experience.
"All right." She gave the contract a once over before handing it to Milton, pen included. "Make sure that's all dandy and you're free of my presence until the Raevan is born." Alex paused thoughtfully before adding, "Should I come to you when it's born? Would that be easier?"
His woman's reaction had him rather mystified and entirely intrigued. Settling his bone-framed wings against his back, he floated next to Alex, looking at the two men with a new sort of inquisitive expression though he offered no words in question or comment. The way Byron had explained it reminded him forcefully of Wit and his manner of speech, making him wonder if the enigmatic man was Fae himself.
The prospect of bringing the Raevan to its owner rather than the other way around snapped most of his musing into a more attentive look, tilting his head to the side and glancing at Milton, awaiting an answer.
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Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2010 11:42 am
"Oh, that's alright, my dear. Not many can offer even as much and I'm certain what you profess to be paltry does have its benefits. Else you wouldn't be here- a woman like you may have a man at her feet if she wishes it and, well, I'm certain in a way you do," Byron's eyes shone mischievously, knowing. Alex had probably seen her share of debonaire gentlemen, but there was something so unmistakably different about this man. When he told her something it was as if he was saying a dozen things at once. "But if you do find yourself weary one day and need someone to take you away, well... you tell the easterly gale my name." And he winked, coyly.
Milton could hardly believe Byron was sitting there flirting with the woman. But then again, he really didn't know Byron very well, other than that he seemed to be shameless about his speech and his body. It was something the wizard rather despised him for, not being in the possession of traits remotely similar. He mostly ignored the two while he looked over the papers, which seemed to be his loss as Alex seemed to be complimenting him in a way. Yes, a Pooka. He couldn't really believe it either and he'd been the one to actually meet and experience it.
"He was a long way from home, indeed, the only one of his kind in the area. There is something to be said for legends, you know... You have not heard it spoken of and they continue to perish." This was a more wan sort of smile, thin-lipped before Byron put his elbow into Milton's side.
"What?" Milton snapped at him, too lost in thinking about his Raevan and NOT about the incidence with the Pooka to notice that Alex had asked a question. When Byron repeated it for him, the wizard looked a little flustered, growling that he was thinking about it even as he pushed the clipboard back to Alex. He was fine with this information. "Bring it by, if you will," Milton decided. "I'm certain your means of transportation will be less likely to cause trauma than my own. Is there anything I should have the house supplied with when you come?"
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Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 10:40 am
While it was impossible to deny that Alex wasn't enjoying the banter with Byron, she couldn't help but give him a quizzical smile, tilting her head to the side and observing him in silence for a moment. Something about him - especially the bit about speaking his name to the wind - made her wonder just what Milton had run into other than the Pooka. It seemed to her that the wizard may have contracted some other form of mystique in the guise of a silver-tongued roommate. "I'll remember that," she said with an earnest grin, arching a dark brow. What a most curious man!
Her mirth dimmed into a faint smile, nodding in slow understanding at the man's next words. She'd heard words like that before as well - that those spoken of in legend exist in the belief shared through the tale. When the legend ceases to be shared, the source of it is also lost. Making a mental note to see if she couldn't plant a small vegetable garden for the Pookas and mythos that were left, she accepted the clipboard from Milton and gave it a once over. Satisfied, she put the object on her desk and looked between the men with a pleasant smile. "Not at all," she assured the wizard. "I hardly know what it'll look like so I couldn't even venture to guess accommodations...and as for food, heh." The Italian shared a lop-sided grin. "I imagine it'll let you know when the time is right.
Until then, though, I am sad to say that we are finished here, gentleman." Alex spread her hands in a gesture that said she had nothing more to offer them at that time. Green eyes flit between the two, her grin growing a bit as she couldn't help but add in one last joyous tease. "May the time come swiftly. Milton, it was an absolute surprise. Byron," the grin momentarily broke into quiet laughter under her breath, "the pleasure's mine."
The demon watched the three humans with a silent detachment. His curiosity and humor were reined in favor of observation: Milton, annoyed as ever and certainly out of his element; Byron, a strange man who had a wonderful way with words that made him a touch jealous; and his woman, who seemed to take more kindly to Byron but who still held Milton in high regard for whatever reason. Zul shook his head to himself, lifting a hand to run through his tipped hair. Humans never ceased to baffle him.
As Alex wrapped things up, he put his hand on his chest and bowed to the two men, having been given much food for thought in the brief but pleasant visit. "Say hello to Adam for me?" he questioned Milton with a hopeful smile. He did so like the dark-skinned chap with his brilliant blue markings! He wondered if - and hoped it to be true - Milton's Raevan would feel the same.
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Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 1:32 pm
For all Alex knew, Byron could simply be an eccentric poet, or else alluding to another source of communication. Surely it sounded an ultimately inane suggestion that he could come from anywhere if she simply called for him! Who knew, though. There was nothing about his looks (aside from the fact he was tragically good-looking) that seemed to suggest him anything other than mortal, nothing in his voice or his motions. One of the qualities of a good liar was that you could never tell if they were speaking from experience or just blowing it out of their a**.
As the woman seemed to bring their meeting to an end, both men straightened in their own way. Milton would be stiff shoulders and an angled jaw while Byron would be fluid muscle and a languid smile. The brunette shifted his cargo, the thick bearskin rug that had been their transport, to his other arm. He chuckled in response to Alex, bowing his head as if humble. "You flatter me, Alex. Please don't be afraid to come and see me if you wish to extend upon it." Which would receive a somewhat curt look from Milton- it was his house, after all! Not that he had any more disdain for Alex than the next person.
"I don't see how it could be a surprise. I simply wanted to insure the safety of the transfer of my materials and we were on our way to get groceries anyway." Liar, liar, liar. He pondered over what sort of things he'd need for his Raevan, secretly detesting Alex for not giving him anything to go by as far as preparation went. Zul's comment took him a little surprise, as may have been evident from the thinning of his lips. So Adam had made an impression on the Raevan? Somehow, he was a bit pleased.
"Come say it yourself when my Raevan comes," He told the boy simply, arching a fiery brow cooly. "He speaks well enough now. You must not be offended if he doesn't remember you, though." Milton did not consider Adam to be the brightest bulb in the box.
"Come along, then, wretch," He told Byron afterward, not waiting for the man as he turned and made to exit the facility, robes billowing behind him like some sort of bat's wings (the outfit today was black and heavy for riding in the wind). Perhaps the two caught Byron rolling his eyes before he grinned, gave one last wave, and turned to follow the terse wizard.
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