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 Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2010 12:43 am
Who: Alex, Tsu, Zavier & Zul
When: Afternoon
Where: Tsu's Office
Weather: ...it's an office.
It was either a case of dumb or immense luck that Alex had never met her neighbor in the Lab. She was aware there was an office next to hers and that someone even used it, but she had never exactly had the time to stop by and bring cookies. The woman couldn't even rightly say if the office was used on a day-to-day basis; it seemed whoever inhabited the unknown space was quiet when she was in her own office, and she kept to herself. It worked out well enough.
It wasn't until the turn of the new year that she realized she needed help with Zul - and fast. Thus, through an inquiry to Kyou, she learned of a certain Doctor Tsu. Her neighbor. And, through ridiculous phone messages and a slew of sticky notes, she had managed to get in touch with the elusive man and even schedule an appointment. With time in hand on the day agreed upon, the receptionist took the seven or so steps from her door to his, Zul in tow, and knocked on the only unfamiliar door in the hallway.
"Doctor Tsu?" she called, not certain if he was back from lunch yet. Biting her lip, she wrapped her hand around the door knob and opened it a smidge, peeking inside - "Oh!" she exclaimed as her bright green eyes fell upon the man behind the desk, opening the door in full and giving a bright smile. "You're Tsu! I remember you from the Halloween party a few years ago, Natchi was having a field day--"
"Alix," came the quiet, smoke-filled voice behind her. "Not now."
The woman snapped her mouth shut and danced to the side of the doorway, narrowly avoiding a collision with the Frei that she hadn't seen, giving a small start of surprise. "I...hello." Alex blinked a few times at the unfamiliar Raevan, all aesthetic blues and hair that was reminiscent of clouds that stretched through the sky. "I'm...sorry, I'm Alex." The dark-haired woman stood up straight, short-sleeved shirt doing nothing to hide the two-month old burns that discolored her forearms up to her elbows, sticking one hand in her jeans and lifting the other to wave her fingers. "I'm right there." The same fingers pointed to the wall they shared, giving the two males a meek smile.
With his woman out of the way, Zul was able to float into the office, closing the door behind him. Bone-framed wings gave a half-hearted flap, his piercings bouncing against the marble webbing before he tucked them against his back. His crystalline eyes first found the human, to which he nodded his tri-horned head in his own form of greeting, brushing a swath of creme-to-flame hair from his face. "I am Zul," he introduced himself.
He turned his attention towards the Frei that Alex was standing by, giving him a quick appraisal: pale hair, appeasing blue and sun-kissed skin. If this one had horns, the demon would have undoubtedly been invading the Frei's personal space with a vengeance. As it were, the slightly unwell Raevan gave him only his standard greeting - fingerless gloved hand resting over his chest, bending into a bow - but otherwise wordless. Zul could see his woman's concerned gaze on him, but he paid it no mind, waiting to see who would speak first.
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Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 1:16 am
"Doctor Tsu?" At the sound of a lady's voice, and the door opening just a crack, Tsu had quickly thrown the magazine he was 'studying' back into the top drawer of his desk. It was always a time like this that he knew his lunch break was over and it was back to the dreary work of staring off into space, getting accused of not knowing what he was doing... (of course he didn't know what he was doing! this was an experimental project!!)... or else spending time browsing the latest in magazines and comics for some sort of release.
Even though a male voice had cut her off, Tsu looked up as she mentioned a familiar name. "Ah... so you were there. Yeah... Natsuki got me drunk enough that I fell off that blasted dunk tank seat on my own." He grinned ruefully. "So you're the mysterious Alex. I guess I can stop calling you the new girl that has been painting my desk yellow via sticky notes."
Looking over at Zul he commented softly "So you got partnered up with that one. As you know, I'm Tsu... and over here is..."
"...I'm Zavier." Zave said with a bow of his own before he smiled at the others that had entered the door "But please... call me Zave." He looked at the burns on the girl's arms curiously but kept his mouth shut about it. She seemed to be trying to hide it. Instead he glanced over at the raevan that had made his way into the door. Sure the other had three horns protruding from his head, but more noticeably were the clear blue eyes. Offering a hand forward in typical human fashion, he said "It's nice to meet you, Zul."
Tsu stood up himself too as the raevan came in the door. So these were the people working right next to him. "I hope we haven't been too loud for you two." Tsu said eyes darting cautiously to Zave not to speak about anything that would be embarrassing. "So what brings you to my humble office today? I could hardly say this is the type of situation where you came only for introductions. Is it a complaint? Or is there something that I can help you with?"
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Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 4:29 pm
The woman laughed at Tsu's mentioning of falling off the seat - she had gone back inside before that had happened. What a loss! "Yes, but if you're partial to that mouthful of a title, you're welcome to it." Alex lifted a slender brow in amusement, already feeling some of the uncertain tension slip off of her shoulders. Green eyes followed his gaze as the doctor looked upon her charge; her smile softened considerably, nodding her affirmation. Partnered. She liked that term.
"Nice to meet you...Zave," she made sure to use the given nickname, finding the wild-haired Raevan to be utterly charming with that smile and gentlemanly manner. Alex hadn't met any Raevan other than Zul who acted with such consideration and politeness towards others! Her attention returned to Tsu as he continued to speak, moving a little closer to his desk and glancing to the Raevans. "No, I rarely hear anything from this side. However..." It wasn't that she didn't want to be heard, but the matter just seemed weighted to her, more serious than an affable meeting.
She exhaled softly, lower lip jutting out to blow some of her bangs from her eyes. "I was hoping you might be able to help me," she admitted after a moment, eyes falling slightly downcast. Alex admitting that she needed help at all was a big deal for her, but because it was for Zul, she was above her pride. "Since the virus, Zul...has been acting unlike himself. He displays all the symptoms of hunger and fatigue from said hunger. Apparently what he's been eating all this time," her voice softened, a touch of wonder and deep concern lacing her words as her gaze lifted to Tsu's, "was only a fuel to his power."
"Zay'viar," he rolled the full name around on his tongue, deciding he liked the unfamiliar but pleasing sound. "Zave." Zul's blue eyes flicked down to the offered hand, extending his own to take it with a firm, albeit polite shake. His body was much warmer than a typical human's, but he preferred it that way. "Nice to meet you." With the pleasantries aside, the demon looked over the equine Frei with silent interest, a quick and appraising movement of his eyes.
Blue and white, swathed in the cloth of the sky. His wings are most curious, in part because they looked a bit like his but with a feather down. He was most curious about the other's hair, but unusually, he kept his hands to himself, simply looking before resting his eyes upon Zavier's equally blue ones. "You look like a piece of the sky," he informed the elder Raevan with a neutral expression, his own brand of truly greeting another.
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Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 7:06 pm
As Zave's hand touched Zul's, he was caught off guard a little at how warm it was. Still it wasn't anything unpleasant... in fact it was better that way. The icy blue eyes seemed to pierce through him as they looked up and down. He didn't know what he was to do, and so floated there and studied the other raevan as well. Almost suddenly, "You look like a piece of the sky", Zul spoke up. Not anything harsh by it... just stating something as if it were a matter of fact.
It was odd... somehow that sort of power made Zave realize that this guy could be trusted. Sure there had been a feeling of danger when he first came in, and Tsu had told him that Zul came from a volcanic rock that expressed both fire and ice, and the baphomet soul. Something in the back of his head voiced that he should talk about what he thought too.
"Thank you. I never gave that much thought before... but I guess I do come from the sky. You... are a mystery to me. I see the fire and ice... but... there's lots of browns too. Like... I dunno... almost like a fight for balance in a volcano. It's breathtaking... but also dangerous? I dunno...but... it isn't bad."
Finally building up the courage to ask, Zave looked at Zul and said "Actually... I have a favor to ask. Maybe you have an idea to help me as well?" Zave licked his lips, and waited for the other to respond.
---------------------------------------
Tsu scratched his chin, trying to think about what to do. "Hold on a second... I don't think I have any notes on what he ate before.... but I need to check the files anyway." Moving over to a large filing cabinet he flipped through the records until he pulled out a manila folder that had a picture of the essence on it. "Well... as I feared, I don't have anything on record about his eating habits yet. So could you be a little more detailed about what he ate to feed his power before? Was it something that was hot? Or cold? I mean the runes provide some level of energy but their base source still needs to be replenished at this point in time. Are there any other symptoms besides hunger?"
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Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2010 1:58 am
The demon's severe brows slowly lifted as the elder Frei haltingly replied to him, listening quietly. As the words came out, Zul found a faint smile forming, one that made his eyes lighter; what Zavier told him was, perhaps, the kindest compliment he'd ever received. He dipped his head to the other in acknowledgement and gratitude, his hair rustling in the invisible aura that the heat of his skin gave off.
Rather than right himself, he tilted his head at the inquiry. Realizing the other was awaiting his confirmation, Zul gave a short nod, followed by a soft, "If I can." Any eloquence that the demon thought he might have possessed was absent in the face of his weakness; it took all his energy and ability to keep any of his lethargy to show through. He liked the sky-painted Zavier, though he couldn't rightly say why. He supposed the compliment would be enough reason, just then.
Alex leaned one hand on the man's desk, her mind treading a fine line between words of the heart and the scientific jargain that came to mind. She decided on both, nodding to the doctor. "Before, he seemed to feed off of heat and cold itself. However, I've found he can also absorb ice, though natural - like what's made in winter, is best. I imagine he could eat lava the same...or pumice, if that can be absorbed through his hands like the other stuff." She lifted her hand to cross her arms, fingers touching over a smooth, burned patch of skin. "I noticed lately, though, his ice abilities have been more rampant and abundant with his consumption of ice, but he's still suffering, acting like he's tired."
One of her hands lifted to pinch the bridge of her nose, shaking her head. "Wait, let me go back." She gave Tsu a tired, apologetic smile. "Zul does not sleep. He's never experienced lethargy or tiredness before the fel virus. That's why, when he told me he felt odd and described feeling heavy, unfocused and slow, I thought he might be tired." Her eyes slowly slid towards the Raevans, the worry she felt slipping into her gaze and the corners of her mouth. "He still hasn't slept. He's talked about aching, but that disappears when he eats, for a little while."
And then there was the hardest part of her confession. She took a deep breath, again looking to Tsu, her smile a bit tighter now. "For as long as I've had him, I never once stopped to think...his essence. It's not about the lava or the ice, but the rock itself that holds it together, isn't it?" The was a dry ruefulness to her tone, again shaking her head as she finished, "But it's not just rocks. He likes to sunbathe on them, hell, he has a jar of them that he's handled time and time again without change...I'm missing a very important piece to this puzzle." Her eyes were slightly averted, though turned towards Tsu, ignoring the blow to her pride. Zul deserved better than to dwindle away due to her negligence.
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Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 12:22 am
Zave's brain raced with the best way to explain his situation to the other raevan without taking too much time, or making things too difficult. After all, it seemed like the other, although smiling, was using up all his energy just being there. His responses were fairly short and to the point as well. It wasn't like the other was trying to be rude... but just didn't beat around the bush. Still... even those responses seemed to catch in his mind.
"If I can." Even though Zave met Zul for the first time today, it didn't seem like the other raevan would say that sort of thing, unless he felt there was a possibility that he couldn't do anything to help Zave on his quest for items. Taking a deep breath, Zave finally formed the words in his head and tried his best to explain to the other.
"Well... you see this actually started a while back, when I started having some weird images. Times where I thought I was fighting with my guardian. After reading his journal I found out that I had the soul of a really old horse... well... actually the horse of a god... and that Tsu fought it to get part of what makes me. Finally... I just want to make sense of all these images running around in my head. But when I went to an oracle... she didn't really give me many clear answers. Just more questions, and a challenge. To go beyond the storm and that's where my answers will be." Zave looked at the other to see if he was following to this point, before continuing on.
"With Lazarus' help, I learned how to call a storm, but now I just need some.... objects of power. Things that represent fire, water, earth, wind and light. It's kinda like a treasure hunt. I found fire, and wind... but I really need something that shows Earth. Seeing you, I thought maybe you'd have an idea? Dirt doesn't have enough energy though. A stone or shard of earth might be good. Like magma that has been chilled or something maybe? I think volcanos have some really interesting rocks, and show a lot of personality in them.... but I guess I'm babbling, aren't I?" Zave looked down sheepishly. The other already showed signs of being tired... it was best not to press him that much further.
------------------------
Tsu rubbed his temples a little. Alex seemed to be talking about a whole new realm of theory they hadn't thought was possible at first. If this were true though, it could make sense for keeping other self sustaining. "It sounds to me that rather than being an issue with lack of sleep, he just doesn't have the energy he should." Tsu stood up and paced while musing to himself. "Could you tell me a little bit more about the jar of rocks that he has? Does he leave them in the jar or does he touch them? What type of rocks are they? Any old rock?" Tsu's curiosity was in full control. What if the raevans had developed a way to break down the essential materials themselves, via their runes or some other method, in order to sustain their energy? Then... in the cases of the raevans that had lost all their energy... something was there that blocked that from happening. Sure, Gage was a radioactive material... so automatically he had a hard enough time with stability... Trying to keep focused Tsu brought up another question. "You say that Zul tended to show more symptoms of this lethargy during the period of the Fel Outbreak? I heard that he was ultimately the key to the cure for that. What exactly was the key to overcoming that infection?"
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Posted: Fri Mar 12, 2010 1:00 am
He was...different. There was an air about him that the other Raevans didn't possess. Zul watched the ocean-eyed Zavier with consideration, his own sky-blues lidding. He was intelligent, of that there was no question, but he seemed more worldly. Just as he'd met in few humans, Zave had a weight about him that suggested he'd seen more than most, like he might have a few stories to tell that would easily eat away at time. As the elder Raevan began to spin his tale, the demon listened, understanding that the weight the other possessed was something else entirely: direction. Purpose. Something he'd never seen in a Raevan.
Zavier wasn't the sky after all - he was the clouds, the storm. No wonder he smelled like the outdoors. "No," he replied to the last question, pressing his own hands together. Zul didn't feel it necessary to reply to any other part of it; he understood what was going on, to a degree, and what the Storm was asking of him. He was inwardly impressed that the other would think to ask him for the element that he was bound by and that, as he thought, he knew he could create. Closing his eyes, he tapped into the part of him that lorded over lava, drawing it forth into his palms for the first time since the virus.
---
"Right," she agreed lightly, arms crossed. He'd never slept, she didn't expect him to start sleeping now, but that was why it was odd to her - how could one be tired if they never slept? Alex thought back to the rocks in question, quirking her lips and trying to think of the geology of her last home. The woman definitely was not adept in rocks. "Any standard metamorphic rock, I guess," she said a little lamely, biting the inside of her lip. "He sunbathed on a red rock on the cliff side, and the rocks he has in the jar were those you'd find in front of any house. He doesn't draw anything from them that I've seen - I even went back to double check." She thought there might have been a slight dip in the rock he laid on the cliff side, but she couldn't be certain.
The next questions surprised her, her face only slightly guarded. It wasn't that she didn't trust Tsu, but that time was not a fond one for her or her charge. "He did," she said slowly, "like he completely just began to slow down. He could barely float upright." Alex smiled thinly, her eyes slightly far away; she could still see Zul and Lazarus locked in a battle that didn't seem destined to end anytime soon. "Ice." She blinked a few times and looked back to the man. "Coldness, actually. The virus wouldn't let him retain much of it, especially after he used it...that's when he began to succumb to the sickness and get lethargic. I thought...after it was all said and done, I thought it was because his will was being broken down. Once the virus had him, he was certainly energetic then..." The Italian's fingers subconsciously drew down the skin grafted marks that lined the underside of her arms.
---
A rock, the demon thought quietly, feeling the fresh well of his essence half between his gloved hands. He could give the magma time to cool - that'd make a rock - but it didn't feel right. Zul felt that he needed to give both parts of his essence to form this piece of earth, to truly encompass what it was that he himself was made of. He accepted what he was; he would do what he could to help Zavier do the same.
With one hand practically glowing from the molten material in his palm, the other rapidly began to scale with chips of ice, the opaque blue crawling half way up his forearm though the ice itself didn't touch the lava immediately. The coldness worked against the small dollop hot magma in his palm, and though the element melted and dripped off, it was quickly replaced, resulting in a small plume of steam that Zul drew in with a breath. He waited. Several minutes passed before he withdrew his hand from above and held out his other; there, snug against the unphased material of his glove, was a small rock surrounded by a coat of ice. "Chip the outside or break it in half when the ice melts," he said tiredly, a small, proud smile on his lips despite his weariness. Within the frozen rock lay what Zavier would need.
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