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Aphismet sat in his usual chair, a book on his lap.

Rivener sat in the bed, looking out the window while the small television played quietly in the corner, ignored.

This is how things were most times. Silence. Rivener never wanted to talk, and Aphismet never knew what to say, so the two just sat in each other's company in silence until something happened to break it. It wasn't uncomfortable, far from it... It was just heavy. Aphi knew Rivener's thoughts were deep and depressing now, his Scorpion wasn't acting like himself at all for a while now... He could use some cheering up. Hopefully that would happen in the form of a visitor.

Vivette had called earlier and asked when she might come over, to which Aphismet had eagerly suggested this evening. Rivener might perk up with the vivaceous French woman... He'd shown such interest in her Raevan-to-be, maybe she might draw the introverted Sigel into some conversation? Lighten the mood?

For what seemed like the millionth time, Aphi checked his watch. He hoped she'd be here soon...

Aphismet instantly perked when that knock came, a smile pulling at his lips. He put his book aside and hopped up, crossing to the door eagerly and opening it... Instantly he was met with the delicious aroma of food, though he couldn't yet place what it was. One look at the bags Vivette carried had the white-haired chef laughing softly. "A woman after my own heart, bringing food! Come in, Rivener's awake, he'll be glad to see you. Riv, we have a guest!"

Guests were the only thing distracting from the boredom around here, and Rivener did need a distraction desperately. He turned his eyes towards the door, spotting the long-haired french woman... He'd recognized her at "bonsoir", but it was still nice to put a face to a voice. He smiled weakly, a feeble excuse for an expression. "...Hi Vivi."

He paused for a while, but eventually spoke up with a sigh. "Pretty shitty way for us to meet again, hunh."

"Rivener!" Aphismet admonished, though secretly he was beyond pleased that the Sigel was making an effort to talk at all.

If anything, Vivi knew how to play to the crowd. Aphismet outright laughed as she whipped out that compliment towards the bed-ridden Sigel, something that was bound to work on improving Rivener's mood.

Rivener knew he would look rather awful no matter the lighting, in his condition: sunken eyes, ashen complexion, tired posture... But the compliment still managed to draw a smile from him almost against his will. "Believe me, I don't want to be in here any more than absolutely necessary. And even then, I plan to not make it necessary again ever." Curiously, he peered at the bags she'd put to the side, but he would bring those up again later. For now, hopefully, there would be some conversation and some distraction to be had from the million thoughts flitting through Riv's mind.

"I'm sorry I hadn't gotten to visit you after you left that message. We were very busy. No sign of your Raevan yet?" There was no way of knowing when the thing would be born, of course, but perhaps it had been born already and could be met? Though Rivener wished not. He wouldn't want his first impression to be THIS.

Rivener let out a soft sigh of relief at the news that the Raevan wouldn't be making a surprise appearance. Rivener wanted to be in top shape when he met the frei, so that they could get off on the right foot. Being bed-bound, wrapped in gauze, and looking half-dead was probably not conductive to being seen in a big-brotherly way.

Vivi produced a photograph instead, displaying it to Rivener proudly. The Scorpion reached his good arm over and took it lightly, tilting it to his eyes... What girly colors. It was bound to be a female, right? The Scorpion offered a light smile, then proffered the photo to Aphi, who'd approached when Vivette gave him that look. "You said it was a deer, or something akin to that, right? I wouldn't have thought it would be such a gold color. I'm sure your Raevan will be lovely."

Aphismet smiled at the photograph. He'd never really taken note of Rivener's bottle and vial, since he hadn't been all that aware of their purpose back in the day... Taking a picture was a great way to begin the Raevan's existance. The Lab 305 equivalent of an ultra-sound! "Very nice picture. I like its colors!" He gave Vivi back her photo, smiling encouragingly.

The chef was about to say something else when his stomach interrupted the conversation, growling loud. "Ahah, s-sorry. It smells so delicious. Do you mind if I have a peek? What is in those bags anyway?" Aphi blushed sheepishly, hunching his shoulders.

Aphismet's growling stomach had been like the gunshot that signaled for the race to begin. Vivette was a veritable tornado, whipping dish after dish out of that bag and depositing them on the nightstand casually. She'd brought enough food to feed an army! The chef's eyebrows raised higher and higher with each tupperware platter, until dessert was mentioned and the man just had to laugh, baguette crinkling in his hands. "Holy jeez, Vivi. Everything sounds and looks and smells delicious, you won't find any judgement from me!"

"And the food here DOES suck, though thankfully I don't need to eat it... But your stuff, I'd eat." The Scorpion eyed the chicken in particular, though he had to admit that chocolate cake sounded good. He might have to fight Aphismet for it though. With a smile that was growing easier by the second, Rivener extended his good hand towards the closest container, hoping to have a bite of whatever was in it. "I don't know if they have any plates here for us to borrow. I don't suppose you brought your own?"

"Vivi, I may not be French, but I am starting to wish I was. Food is definitely a necessity, and if I'd been the one visiting, I'd have done the same thing. ...Well, not exactly the same, but you know what I mean." He might not have roasted an entire chicken and brought cheese and dessert and bread and everything, but he'd have done something! Pulling a small pocket knife out of his coat, Aphismet began cutting thick, rustic bread slices for everyone.

The opened container let loose a powerful attack of delicious aroma that nearly floored both males. Riv wasn't the type to enjoy human food all that much yet, though he'd eat when starlight wasn't available, but even the moist reticent of gourmets would have drooled at the smell permeating the hospital room. Riv was suddenly glad the door was closed, so the other patients wouldn't get a whiff... they'd all come running, if they did.

"This all looks so good..." Riv stole a small chunk of meat, popping it in his mouth as he accepted a plastic plate from Vivi. He kept the plate extended to receive the salad, his gaze almost constantly locked on that chicken now. He'd put the tupperware down to take the plate... damn, having only one hand to eat with was going to be a challenge. "...That chicken was better than Aphi's," Riv said with a slight smirk.

The chef only clicked his tongue at Rivener, not taking the words to heart. Maybe it WAS better; it certainly smelled better! For now though, Aphismet accepted a plateful of salad and began eating, interspersing each mouthful of greens with a big bite of warm bread. "You're right about the brothers. Though Eiry's a Sigel like Rivener, and from what I've seen so far, he doesn't eat human food much, if at all. But I'm sure Isikoro will enjoy the leftovers! We should definitely bring those two to meet you sometime... perhaps that picnic idea would be a good opportunity?" Aphismet grinned. "And yes, I will take my honorary Frenchman duties VERY seriously. Though I hope you never wind up in a hospital, of course."

"This salad's pretty good. I like that there are those nut things in there, makes it crunchy. What kind of nut is this?" The Scorpion wasn't a big fan or connoisseur of food, so he couldn't place the exact nut.

Rivener smiled very slightly at Vivi, nodding when she offered to cut things up for him. It was going to be hard to accomplish on his own after all, he had planned on just stabbing things with the fork and chewing at them whole, but if the woman was kind enough to do some of the work for him, of course Riv would say yes. He passed his plate over and waited patiently while she did the deed.

Aphismet felt sheepish that he hadn't thought to offer his help first. Some considerate guardian he was.

Vivi suddenly startled in the middle of her pistachio dissertation, and both males blinked in befuddled surprise before the chef spoke up. "Uh yeah, Eiry is the tricky green ghost Raevan... I take it you've met him?" Aphi winced, figuring that anyone who met only Eiry without Isi around might not have a very good impression of the minty Sigel. "H-he's a lot less abrasive when his guardian's around, I swear!"