Welcome to Gaia! ::

The sky was clear, the sun was warm but the deliciously crisp chill in the air that always accompanied the autumn and winter months had Chloe wrapped in a scarf and jacket. It didn't help that Roux unconsciously chilled the air around him, it seemed, at all times. She could deal with the extra cold, though... she'd done it for nearly four years now.

The thought still startled her a little bit. Roux would be four in a few weeks. This fact was part of the reason why she had exited the little hotel she'd been calling home so far. The Raeven deserved more than to just be cooped up, he'd been cooped up for long enough because of her. When he expressed a desire to go outside again and take another of his 'walks' she decided to come with him with the intention of perhaps buying an early birthday present.

Chloe stopped, a little surprised when she felt Roux pause beside her. He was looking in the window of a little store nestled between a coffee shop and another store that sold some multicolored little fuzzy creatures of some type. "Roux?" She wondered if perhaps he caught himself in the mirror and had stopped to preen a bit before realizing he actually -was- looking at what was behind the glass instead of his own reflection.

She walked over to stand beside him, tucking her hands into her pockets with a small smile behind her scarf. "What did you find?"

The icey Raeven gave a little turn of his head so he could look down at his guardian before reaching out to gently press a cool fingertip to the glass, a tiny circle of frost sprouting out around the touch. "This."

He was pointing at an elegant looking (and, according to the sign, hand-crafted) kite of bright red, black and gold. Chloe gave a small sound of surprise. "A kite? Do you like it?"

Roux nodded quietly before turning back towards the window to look into it at the other kites on display. Chloe joined him, glancing over the one he'd pointed out. It was in the shape of a butterfly.

Roux's head jerked up, surprised by someone shouting his name. He tore his gaze away from the kites in the window with a small frown... that voice was familiar...

"Rivener." For a moment there was nothing and then a shot of... of what? Excitement and enjoyment, that's what it was. It ran through him, catching the Sigal by surprise... even more because of the way the other Frei had changed. Wings spread slightly as Rivener jetted towards him and he slowly brought out his hand, fingers extended as though to grasp the other Raeven. "Rivener... I'm here."

Chloe gave her own jolt of surprise at the sudden noise, turning. Her reaction compared to Roux's was just as varied as the chef and Sigal's had been. Her heart felt like it dropped out somewhere below her feet, her stomach lurching up to take it's place. Eyes widened and everything she had been wanting and thinking to say to him rushed forward to the front of her mind. Her voice stuck in her throat, however, and all she could manage to say was simple. "Aphismet."

Roux floated further forward, finally meeting Rivener someplace between the two humans, ignoring them as they stared at each other. He at least knew what he wanted to do. Roux reached out to touch chilly fingers to the other Raeven's shoulder. For a moment he considered the fact that Rivener floated higher than him before letting it go so he could tilt his head up to look at the other with a faint smile. "Hello."

Roux let his hand get tugged forward to slip over Rivener's abs. Tilting his head to the side he splayed his fingers out over the other Sigal's stomach, feeling the heat of the other's skin beneath his palm was almost shocking hot to him. Rather than pulling away, though, he slid his hand up Rivener's stomach towards his chest before looking up at him. "You are. I do. Rivener is still delicious."

Roux took his hand away finally, letting it drop to his side still warm from the body heat of the other. Lifting his chin to look at Rivener a rare smile was on his face, small and almost... relieved. "I'm happy to see you."

The shouting that erupted beside him caused the Raeven to turn, the smile gone and a scowl on his face. He glanced from Aphismet to Chloe, who's face had fallen into turmoil as she flinched away at the angry words of the other human. Roux reached out... and grasped Rivener's wrist, tugging him away from the two.

He'd heard enough things that Chloe had said. He'd grown up enough to know that she needed to say them now to Aphismet instead of him. Roux pulled Rivener back towards the coffee shop passed Chloe, stopping beside it and purposely turning his back to her. "Did you miss me?"

Chloe looked back the way Roux had retreated for just the briefest of moments, completely struck that he'd go away from her and turn his back to her. She faced Aphismet again, tears standing in her own eyes, face flushed brightly in a mix of shame and embarrassment as he yelled at her with such -anger- out on the open sidewalk. She reached a shaky hand up to her face to wipe them away before she took a timid step forward, grasping her scarf desperately.

"I..." her lips trembled as she closed her mouth, taking in a deep breath through her nose. She didn't know what she wanted to say anymore. "I'm s-s-sorry." It sounded pathetic and weak, but as she was thinking that the words finally began to tumble out along with the tears. "I d-don't have any e-e-excuse. I was a-afraid! I... I didn't abandon you! I just n-n-needed to be away! I needed time t-to th-think! I know I sh-should have left you a n-note or s-something but I j-just... I was SCARED! It was s-stupid of me but I couldn't help it, Aphismet!" She brushed her cheeks again, walking a few paces closer and stopping just in front of him, unable to look up to meet his eyes. Her voice softened, wavering with emotion. "It's... it's p-p-p-robably too late but... But I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

Roux nodded, letting go of Rivener's wrist he brought his own arms to cross lightly over his chest. "Are any good? Any of them interesting?" New Raevens... it'd been a while since he'd seen the others that he knew much less any at all. He was certainly interested in meeting new ones.

Chloe nodded, swallowing hard as she looked down. Her face, her whole body felt hot. The effort to keep herself from crying was great and she took in a deep breath through her nose to try and steady herself. She gave a very tiny nod, looking down at her hands as she fumbled with the scarf around her neck. Her voice felt tiny and thick. "Oh..." Really how could she have expected him to be happy with her... or to wait for her?

"Oh..." She said again, giving another nod. A silence stretched out between them before she was able to speak again, closing her eyes to get ready to any more yelling that might come her way. "I s-still love you, Aphi... I r-really hope... your happy." She swallowed, unable to look up at him. She'd break apart if she did and she didn't want to do that. She'd done enough to the poor man.

A smile of pleasure graced the icy Raeven's face as he was praised. It was one of the things that he had wanted to meet with Rivener again for the most. He tilted his head to the side, staring blankly somewhere off over Rivener's shoulder as he began listing the other Raevens. The mention of Gage's death brought a dark expression to his face. He had hated Gage. "Good." He murmured before letting Rivener go on.

The change of the other Raeven's expression at the mention of this other was... interesting. It made Roux a little uncomfortable somewhere within his abdomen. It made him reach out to lighty take a lock of the Scorpian's long hair in his hand, running the silky texture between his fingers as he'd done so long ago. Draw the attention back to himself. "Hm... I want... more time with Rivener. With you. Before anyone else, yes?"

Chloe gave a little finch at the angry tone of voice. It felt like something cold pressed into her at the mention of Alex. Oh Alex... an immediate war broke out within her. She was happy for her friend but at the same time she was so... jealous.

Her face was pale as she finally found the strength to look up at the chef. "I... I can't take it back. Any of it. Or th-that... I feel this way." She wanted to touch his arm or something, make some kind of contact but she was afraid to. "This isn't right to tell you now. I d-don't really deserve to ask for another chance." She managing to straighten, feeling brave and feeling guilty all at once. "B-But I can't... not. Please, Aphi. Please give me another chance. If you c-can find it in you to. Even th-though being g-gone so long s-s-seemed like I had... I haven't let you go."

She did touch his arm then, for just the briefest of moments. She expected an outright decline and denial but at least she'd let him know that she loved him enough to want to put up a struggle for him. Oh god, she did.

A sad smile touched her lips and she gave a little shake of her head. She wouldn't say that she couldn't and wouldn't ever give up. She'd done enough to him and she wasn't helping in any way. Life wasn't a fairy tale that granted you everything you wanted if you asked for it.

Roux, on the other hand, was more than pleased with the turn of events that were unfolding. He didn't even hear Aphismet's voice as he leaned forward, eyes sliding half closed as he took the offered kiss.

This is a kiss. Roux understood what kisses were now... in the past he had shared this kind of intimate touch and hadn't fully realized but now... would it be the same? Would it be, as Rivener had asked, still delicious?

Cool lips touched against warm ones and rather than the nearly unbearable heat that he'd felt in his hand to touch the Scorpian's stomach this was a warm tingle. It was, as all of Roux's kisses had ever been, mostly chaste the only difference was a very slight parting of his lips. He held the contact before leaning away, exhaling a breath that came in a puff of cool air... had his breath been so warmed by Rivener? Icy blue eyes lifted to meet with the other Sigal's and Roux once again gave a rare smile.

"Still delicious."

Chloe turned in time to see the kiss end between the two, feeling a pang of hurt. She called out lightly to Roux, hoping that he would come willingly so that Aphismet could get away... be more comfortable. "Roux...? If you ask nicely perhaps Aphismet would let you come and see Rivener some other time but I think they need to go now." Her voice sounded so hollow. She turned back to the chef, unsure what to think or do. The words 'good bye' stuck hard in her throat.

Roux frowned, looking for a moment as though he would protest against the sudden departure, reaching out to grasp hold of Rivener's clothed arm for a moment. He cast a sullen look towards the two humans however and let go with a deep sigh. He floated closer to Chloe, casting a look back at the other Sigal before looking towards Aphismet. "May I see Rivener again? Soon." And after a moment... "Please."