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 Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 10:58 am
Who: Anastacia, Shreya, Tallow, and Zeke
When: Thursday Evening; around 6:30pm
Where: Lab 305
Weather: Clear with some clouds; cool, but not cold
There was a slight creak and squeak of metal against metal as Zeke leaned back in his swivel chair. His arms extended upward as he did so, pulling the muscles in his back and shoulders with them. A soft 'mmmmmm' sound escaped his lips as he pulled up as far as he could go, closing his eyes until he finally felt that pleasant pop around his mid-back that told him the tight spot back there had yielded. With a grunted sigh he relaxed back down, slumping in his chair, and a lazy, if not pleased, little smile curled his lips.
"So much better," he commented to no one in particular, taking a moment to remain as he was before he pushed himself back up into a proper sitting position against his seat's back. With a push of his feet he brought himself right against the lip of his desk again and eagerly flipped open the manilla folder sitting in the center. A new Raevan - one of Dr. Kyou's personal dealings with no assistance from the guardian - was set to go home this evening. Normally Zeke didn't work the weekdays, but when he had gotten the call as he was leaving his full time job he did not say no. Of course it was in his nature not to say no when called upon, but the prospect of being the one to greet and go through the process with a new guardian - and then see the new Raevan - only fueled his enthusiasm. So here he was now, seated behind his weekend job's desk, looking over the contents of the folder. Essence, soul, gender - it was all there - and even though he was reading it over for the umpteenth time it was still so damn exciting. He made glances to the doors and the growing darkness outside, feeling no concern that the guardian wouldn't show up. The call had been made, and she was just born a little later in the day, that was all.
Speaking of her...
"Do you want to go visit the newborn, Anastacia?" The vet pulled his eyes away from the door to look at his own Raevan, whose back was turned to him as she lay lengthwise over the couch, knitting. To say she was engrossed in it would be an understatement, as even the legs atop her head twitched in rhythm with her fingers and knitting needles. Zeke chuckled at this, undisturbed by his ward's odd tics. In his mind, it had to be some latent spider know-how from a time when one part of her had use for eight legs as more than just a decorative growth. And it was rather interesting, plus funny, to see his stuffy Raevan have such quirks. But even if it was humorous to him, he did ask her a question. He had a good guess to her answer, but he'd always extend the offer to her. Who knows, maybe by chance he'd be taken by surprise by her answer. "Anya?"
From her seat on the couch, the Frei didn't hear her guardian's first round of words to her. She was quite in to her work and one could almost say she was hypnotized by the repetition and how comfortable she was. From the moment she had first started knitting as a whole, the fact that this hobby felt so natural and so right to her had not waned. Sure, she might not have made much progress over the year she had been alive, but she didn't rightly care about that. Line after line, string after string, motion after motion...Actually making something past a long rectangle of wool hadn't honestly crossed her mind yet. She knew it was possible to make things but in her book she was just fine with her usual long length of knitting. She enjoyed them and that's all that mattered.
"Anya?"
The Frei heard her name that time and blinked in response. Her gaze had been glassy but cleared quickly, making the young woman shake her head and look around her surroundings. It took her a moment to remember they were at the Lab and yet another to fully realize her guardian had spoken to her. When the latter settled in she frowned and the crown on her head expanded and contracted in response, showing the beginnings of her annoyance. Couldn't he just let her be? Maybe if she ignored him he'd get the picture that she was busy and leave her alone again. He could disturb her when they were going to go home, but until she saw one come in and two leave, she wasn't going to leave her spot.
"Hey Annnnyaaa-ah~" Her name that time was said on a soft sing-song note, and her crown flexed once more.
Leave me aloooooone-ah. She hunkered down in her spot even though that was made uncomfortable by her wings. Perhaps she shouldn't have stretched them out over the arm of the couch, but that's how it was usually comfortable for her. Usually. When she wasn't being bothered.
"I know you can hear me, Anya. I saw you move." The tone of the man seated behind her was amused but carried a hint of knowing that made the Frei grit her teeth.
Dammit. He was particularly eagle-eyed tonight. With the jig up, she moved back to her starting posture, turning her head enough that she could see him out of the corner of her farthest right eye and no more. "What?" Flat, unhappy, perfect. Her tone should be well enough on its own.
Zeke did hear the tone behind Anastacia's single word, but he wasn't about to drop his question with a 'never mind'. He knew his ward too well for that.
"I asked you a question," he smiled lightly at her, "I said 'do you want to go see the newborn before her guardian gets here?'"
Oh for the love of... Her crown flexed and the agitation grew just that much more. Zeke and his stupid questions. He knew the answer to this. How dumb was this man? "No," she replied tersely, turning away from her guardian and shaking her knitting to emphasize it to him. "No thank you."
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Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2011 4:34 am
Late. He was always late.
Despite his every intention to clean the house before his new ward was brought home, Tallow found his feet tangling over a mismatched pile of books on his beeline for the front door that night, sending both papers and pages of black and white text scattering everywhere. The sound of the Merriem-Webster dictionary ricocheting off of his head was enough to send the hound downstairs barking, threatening to shatter what little self control the author had left that night. Thousands of little pinpricks of excitement crashed into his spine like badly done acupuncture, but at the same time, they swelled to the brim with anticipation and the ever crushing what-if's. Snatching both the Happy Prince and the completed works of Shakespeare, Tallow reassembled them in a messy stack before pushing himself up onto the balls of his feet, swaying back into a half jog, taking the stairs two at the time and making a leap to the bottom like a vaguely irresponsible kid. This part was all mechanical to him, pulling car key's from the black marble counter and his jacket from the white leather couch. Habit made him kick up the two throw pillows and toss them into place, leaving the sweet scent of coconut and mint behind as he pulled open the door into the evening light.
Sinking into the leather of the car seat, Tallow's head fell back, strokes of brilliant, white blond hair falling over the stainless black. His eyes closed behind the half-rimmed glasses, fingers resting on the cool of the steering wheel. It was the calm just before the storm, he decided. The steady silence that sooner or later gave way to the typhoon. Five minutes later, as darkness began to settle over the road, the ignition started. It was strange, Tallow thought, driving a car for once. Mundane, perhaps. A lover of motorcycles, the author commonly found himself speeding through the city on nothing but the Ducati housed safely back home. But he couldn't truly tote a half bodied, ethereal being back home on the back of one of those now, could he? "Definitely mundane." He hummed to the car at the next red stop light, drawing a breath of cool night air with all of the windows rolled down. But nothing about where this was headed was ordinary, and for that he was grateful. Time gradually slipped away as Tallow traced the route through the city, eventually parking the sleek italian sports car outside of the entrance to the Lab.
It was the first time he'd visited here in person, though be no means the first time he'd ever heard of it. He was only vaguely aware of his appearance during the nearly hap-hazardous explosion through the house, though now, staring at himself in the dim, half-reflection of the Lab's front doors, Tallow nearly wished for a suit, though his malice towards those things that dare to call themselves clothes made him think twice about that desire. Still, a tie and a neatly pressed pair of black pants would have made him look far more professional than he appeared now, in tousled hair and wrists covered in gel bracelets. Pulling at the sleeves of his shirt, the author rumbled deep in his throat, listening to the rush of air as he stepped out of the darkness of the night and into the warmth of the Lab. It took a moment for him to adjust to the light of the area, and even longer to count the number of others inside. The sound of his converse sliding across the floor did nothing to tame his nerves as he zeroed in on the only person in the room with two legs other than himself. The small voice in the back of his mind that resembled some sort of long forgotten rationality murmured that this was not the same as adopting a dog. This was a child. A being that could easily be like a child, with demands and needs that he would have to give and meet.
His eyes drifted to the Raevan on the couch and her crown of spindly legs, careful to mask the rush of exhilaration that settled over him. What did the newborn look like? He knew the basics - gender, essence, soul -- it had all been given to him over the phone and through emails and the like. But he'd never seen her. Nor any of them really. And to see one so casually knitting on the corner on the couch... well it certainly wasn't cliche, but she sure as hell was breathtaking. Drawing his eyes back to the man with two slices of color for hair, the author rushed a hand through his own white gold locks, fingers folding over the messy ponytail. The scent of salt and sea mixed with coconut and mint brushed over him, and he wondered vaguely if he looked more like a seaside fool than a worthy editor-in-chief at the moment. Because he certainly felt like one. Twisting his hand to clasp at the nape of his neck, Tallow moved forward so that he could catch sight of Zeke clearly, sure that the veterinarian had already caught sight of him.
"Good evening." His voice felt unused, coming out nearly foreign to his ears, his head dipping to acknowledge both the beautiful Raevan and the receptionist that he assumed to be her guardian. Where he seemed so smooth-talking and smooth-moving on the surface, his heart was pounding in his ears underneath, threatening to turn his smile into an impatiently excited grin. The deep blue of his eyes were vivid behind the glasses, driven by thrill, controlled by a maturity he swore to god he'd had at one point in his life. "Are you Ezekiel Farris? My name is Tallow Raines." The name itself was foreign to him, and Tallow clicked his tongue, thumbs sliding habitually to rest in the corners of his jeans, bracelets falling over his bony wrists and flashing with colors and symbols, from the bat signal to the pink ribbon. Vaguely aware that if he didn't focus on both Zeke's hair and the Lab itself, he would simply continue to stare at Anya, the author's head dipped slightly, his weight shifting as he rocked back into his heels. "I hope I'm not too late. I got a bit caught up on the way here." He smiled, biting back the rest of the sentence and that getting-caught-up was truly just another phrase for found-another-book-he-couldn't-drag-his-nose-out-of. "I was contacted awhile about guardianship, and again today about a requested pick-up. I imagine theres some paperwork to fill out... is she here?" Unable to bite back the flow of words, he tilted his head to the side, his glasses sliding to the edge of his nose.
His lips pulled into an apologetic smile almost immediately after, as though acknowledging his eagerness and trying to pull back hard on the reigns. And so far, he was losing the game of tug-o-war between excitement and self-control.
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Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2011 12:07 pm
Zeke sighed as his Frei gave him her response and slumped back against her seat again. Well, he couldn't say he didn't expect her answer, but he couldn't blame himself for hoping for a different one either. Even if the answer was always the same, he'd always extend the offer to her.
"Okay."
His eyes lingered on his ward for a moment longer before the vet turned to look back at the manilla folder. Tea, Silver, Female. Soon she would be visited, given a name, and sent home which made that bubble of enthusiasm grow just that much more in his chest. Two more people were being added to the Lab's small but ever-growing family tonight and he still felt honored that he was the one doing the addition. First thing was first though, they had to wait for the mysterious guardian to get here. A man by the name of Tallow Raines if the sticky note attached to the inside cover was right...
Before Zeke finished skimming the name for a second time, the chime over the front door sounded off; echoing through the lobby that had been otherwise silent save for the soft hum of the desktop computer's tower and Anastacia's knitting needles. The vet's head jerked upward in surprise, but as immediately as that action happened his face broke into that friendly, welcoming smile he always wore when meeting someone new. The man standing there wasn't hard to miss since his blonde hair stood out against the darkness clouding the windows from the outside and Zeke knew they had their second new family member here. He up rose out of his swivel chair, waiting patiently for the man who just walked in to get his bearings before he took his first few steps out from behind his desk. From Zeke's point of view, he looked rather awed. Excellent!
When the chime sounded off Anastacia, like her guardian, jerked in surprise. Unlike her man though, the spider queen greeted the noise with a soft hiss of contempt which grew a level in volume as she realized that had made her lose a stitch. Not only that, it was a stitch for a new line of knitting, which to her was always the trickiest part of her wonderful hobby. She could be going full out, non stop on a line but get to the end and have to start a new line? Well, she would master it. This wasn't a puzzle she'd throw away in frustration after a few minutes of no luck.
Dammit. Despite her hiss and desire to get back into her trance, the Frei did turn her attention to the door. Who had so inconvenienced her and done so without a care? Perhaps it was her man. She knew he was inconsiderate enough to open the door to look for this mystery guardian, like the impatient idiot he was...But no. No it wasn't. Even in the blur Zeke wasn't a blonde. If he had somehow become one in the span of half a minute, she would not be privvy to his "joke", but she did know full well her man was behind her - the squeak of his chair as he stood was a dead giveaway.
"One comes in, two go out." She murmured to herself, already losing interest in the blonde blur and having it in mind to start her goal of conquering the troublesome first stitch. Yes, that was the method and part of it was now complete. Once two left, then Zeke would take her home, and she wouldn't have to hang around places of business anymore that day. Maybe she'd tell Nel of how the veterinarian keeps forgetting he knows the answers to his own questions. The tarantula would get a kick out of that, even if it was nothing but frustrating to her owner.
"Good evening."
"Hello!" While he should have probably used his inside voice, Zeke was too excited to keep himself at a whisper or even level. The greeting came out clear and full of that enthusiasm that was bubbling up and barely containing itself in his gut. Now that Tallow had spoken, Zeke easily moved out from behind his desk and walked toward the man by the door, his pace brisk and noticeably eager. "Welcome to Lab! I'm--"
He heard the name 'Ezekiel' leave the blonde man's lips and the vet froze, caught somewhere between a half-flinch, a grimace, and that welcoming grin. First thing that crossed through his mind when that word was spoken was 'who made the call?'. The second was a thought that he should probably start signing all his official forms with just 'Zeke' and the third was a kick to make him get back on track. It was his name and while he might not like it in full there were more pressing matters to attend to. Besides, he could clear that matter up himself as easy as pie.
"Zeke." The vet corrected with a sudden clear of his throat, back to his sunny, unhindered-by-that-name self as quick as could be. "Zeke Farris. It's nice to meet you, Tallow. We've been waiting for you."
Now that he was up close to the man, Zeke's volume level did decrease somewhat for a face to face conversation, but the delight and eagerness was still readily apparent. He was clearly jittery, but this was too fun! It had been ages since he had last sent a Raevan home with his or her guardian and dammit he was ready for this one. He extended his hand to the man, smile only growing by the minute. As he waited for the return of his offered shake, the vet made a cursory survey to focus fully on the man before him. Well, Tallow certainly looked like a nice man to Zeke.
"I hope I'm not too late. I got a bit caught up on the way here."
The vet shook his head briskly and with enough gusto that the tips of his mohawk quivered and his ponytail ended up cast over one shoulder when he stopped.
"Not at all! You're right on time, so don't sweat it!" Tallow was worried about being late to the party. Always good. "C'mon in. We can't have our newest guardian hanging out by the door; we won't get anything done that way!" The vet barked a short laugh at that, clapped Tallow on the shoulder, and turned around to lead the way to where the necessary papers waited to be signed. As Zeke walked, he cast a glance to his ward and he was sure he caught her looking in their direction. He hadn't forgotten about her.
"Plenty of paperwork," he replied as Tallow's voice came from behind him. Zeke felt another round of good feelings at the question that followed. "Your Raevan is here. She's waiting in another room, but we gotta get you through that paperwork before I take you to meet her. It's easy, but it's procedure and all. But first..."
Zeke stopped just before his desk and turned around, checking to see if the editor was keeping up with him. In Zeke's head the logic was if Tallow was asking if his Raevan was here, then he must really, really want to see her. He also looked eager, even if he was - for some odd reason - trying to hide it. These were both very good in Zeke's books, but first thing was first and that thing was introducing his own Raevan. Paperwork could wait that long. He had seen the blonde man making glances to the virus Frei, oh yes, and it was only polite to introduce the other body in the room...even if she was taking no liberties in doing it by herself.
"Let me introduce you to my Raevan." Zeke moved toward and then stopped before the arm of the couch Anastacia had her wings draped over and extended his hand toward her. "Tallow, this is my Anastacia. Anastacia, this is Tallow." He leaned over the arm, trying to catch his reflection in the dark blue eyes that dotted his Frei's brow while also trying to not rest his hands near her. He knew better than that. "He's here to pick up the newborn."
Her interest had been quite lost once she saw who had come in through the door, but she had been half-listening, unable to tune the two out. She had remained still, nothing but her fingers and crown moving idly, but now that her man's voice had gone from being across the room to directly overhead, the Frei did react in a way that was more than just simple movements of her fingers and spines. A grumble of contempt and scorn for her man echoed through her crown-topped cranium, as he was the main source of most of her usual ire. He had to stop popping up like this all the time and should consider himself lucky it wasn't a case where his sudden appearance near her caused her to jump. As the grumble cleared, Anastacia's head snapped back so the eyes along her brow took the raver in. Plain as day, and not blonde either, which made her turn her head to the right to see how near the other male was. She sighed inwardly.
Did she truly want to move? Not until she had to. Did she move anyway? Yes. Why? To get Zeke bodily away from her, to keep with her ideal that she was in fact a proper lady, and - most importantly - to get that full body, awed glance that stroked her ego. Yes, her vanity was a vessel, and even though she did find it meddlesome to move, she knew full well the only way to get the full admiration of a human was to present herself fully. She was a looker all over, she knew that well, even if she was still somewhat perplexed as to why some people seemed the most awestruck by the hourglass mark on her back. Besides, she was well aware that new eyes on her had a better effect than those who saw her day after day. Sure, Zeke always looked delighted to see her and called her 'beautiful' daily, but she had him trained well and wrapped around her finger. The others she saw then were different and she was stubborn. She wasn't about to change herself for them when she knew there was a world of people out there who hadn't seen her yet. When she ran out then it might be considered, but that was a long time off and until then she was happy to gain the new and cast off the old.
"Whoa! Careful with your wings Anya!" Zeke had to jump back as the Frei stretched her larger than average pinions out, the saber-like ends clawing the air as they were stretched out, flexed, and finally raised to give the female the chance to get up.
Oops. She thought without a hint of sincerity as she cast aside her work and rose to her full height. Step one done, and once she tired of this new man's eyes, she would go right back to doing what she did best, no excuses and without letting either man try to reason with her. A shake of her wings, the legs of her crown, and head accompanied her movements for nothing more than to draw this Tallow-man's eyes to her being. If the action didn't, then the sound from her more spindly features would - the sound was a clicking chatter of joints and armor-hard chitin, the likes of which might sound like some wood or reed wind chime. Not outlandish or hard to place by far, but definitely too out of place in the tidy front lobby of a business that both housed and created some amazing individuals. Not that she cared if it was or not. She had no flaws; and the spider queen focused all six of her eyes on Tallow, breathed her words in her cool, curt tone, and waited.
"Good evening."
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Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2011 7:38 pm
Letting his gaze linger on the many features that the Lab's reception area had to offer, Tallow's eyes quickly shifted to the shuffle from behind the desk and the green haired man that followed. His lips pulled slightly, a hand coming to rest at the nape of his neck. What a curious place this was, he decided, examining the two bright paint strokes of color that the author would sooner expect to find in a night club, not at a reception desk. Tugging at the hairband that held his ponytail up, the adult grazed a hand through the white-blond strands before retying the locks, a habit that he'd never grown out of. He didn't miss the shine of knitting needles, nor the way the spindly Raevan in the corner seemed fixated on her work. But words escaped him at the moment, and it was easy to understand why they would, given how apathetic she appeared to be towards him at that moment. Tallow reveled in conversation and what it could bring, but the last thing he wanted to do was get off on the foot with any of the Lab's tight knit family before even meeting his new ward.
Stepping forward, well aware of the way his converse tapped over the floor and signaled his approach, Tallow raised his head, packing the excitement in his veins into a small corner, far, far away. His hands slid, fingers pressing to the side of his glasses, though he neither took them off nor tried to push them all the way up again. The author's lips smoothed slightly into a bemused and somewhat intrigued smile at the reaction he got, dipping his head at the mans words. Information on such an interesting place wasn't hard to come across, and the author and editor had subjected some of his somewhat otherwise unproductive time to dig his paws into the background of the facility, names and professions mapped in his head like star charts, unused for the longest time, up until he finally got the call.
"Zeke," the man repeated, his lips pulling over the shortened name with a curious air. "A pleasure to meet you." Settling into a comfortable position, his thumbs hooked in his pockets and his balance evened out to the balls of his feet, Tallow allowed his mind to hook on the question of what kind of guardians there were out there. Zeke was only the first of many, wasn't he? And with his shocking two-toned hair and brilliant smile, Tallow could only wonder just what the others were like. His tongue pressed absently to the roof of his mouth, and his lips curved into a pleased, fox like smile. What fun this would be. A new thorn of anticipation drove itself into his spine, rushing through his veins like wildfire, barely concealed beneath the shining blue eyes and half rimmed glasses.
Drawing his eyes away from the interior of the Lab, Tallow shifted slightly, lifting his fingers to brush against the nape of his neck, sliding against his shoulder and pulling slightly as though to smooth the fabric beneath his hands. The clap of the back was returned with a flash of a grin, his mouth opening into a smooth laugh. He moved after the other, watching the neon edges of his converse for a moment before lifting his head to stare into the back of Zeke's mohawk, his lips pulling slightly. "Sounds like fun." He returned, looking over at the Raevan as he passed, his intrigue spiking from its little corner in the back of his mind. "Fortunately, I'm all but married to paperwork, so it should be fairly easy." He said through a teasing tone, his eyes half lidding as he though about the house and the amount of manuscripts he must have sent flying in his haste to get out the door. His head turned in a moment between words, glimpsing the desk and its manilla folder, his fingers twitching in excitement, his eyes flashing a warm and wild look before Zeke caught his attention again.
The mention of his own Raevan being here, and so close near by sent a shock of adrenaline up his spine. "I can't wait to meet her." He said, wild eyes illuminated with a vivid intricacy of emotions, though he muted them quite well, keeping them at bay, along with his words. Questions bristled in his mind like wildfire, and he was only vaguely aware of the canine sinking into his bottom lip to keep him from asking questions that would be answered soon enough. When the vet turned to introduce him to the other Raevan in the room, Tallow turned on his heels, his hands unfolding from his jean pockets to rest at his sides. A thin layer of patience pressed over him as he watched Zeke, so comfortable intruding on the Raevan's nearly tangible space bubble. His eyes fixated on the dark wings, mapping them in his mind with intrigue that could not be pressed down. Unlike the mohawk bearer, Tallow kept himself at a polite distance, though the wilder side to him pressed and begged for a step closer. But ah, first impressions were so important, weren't they? Watching her move as though watching something rare and exquisite, Tallow smiled, his mouth pulling into a wild, charming smile as he bent forward slightly, his eyes bright and illuminated with fascination for a moment before thinning to simple pleasure.
His mind helplessly trailed to the Raevan that was waiting in the other room, wondering what she looked like, what her own mannerisms were. He understood that she was a blank slate, a newborn, and yet he couldn't help but dwell in the curiosity, the anticipation and excitement. Drawing himself back to Anastacia, Tallow let a smooth chuckle from his lips, a hand folding in front of his middle as he bowed slightly to the beauty, his tousled hair framing sun kissed skin. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Anastacia. You are quite stunning." His tone tilted into a smooth, amused display of words, raising his eyes to hers. The blond took a moment to look over to Zeke, as though wondering what his story was, what their story was. How had they come to know this place? And how would he, a stranger at that very moment, ever fit in? Turning his eyes to Anastacia again, the author hooked a thumb in his pocket, his smile sly like a foxes and yet curious as a cats. It was fascinating how a soul and an essence could come together to create such an ethereal thing, and briefly he wondered just what the combination had been for Anya. Though it was obvious that the Raevan was of an arachnid nature, he was more stumped on guessing at the nature of her essence, his eyes lingering on her for a moment before turning to the knitting needles in her hands.
"You seemed quite absorbed... I hope I'm not disrupting you." He said, vivid blue eyes casting upon all six of the spider queen's after a moment of contemplation. Before lifting to the crown upon her head. So many intricate details, so many fine and ethereal aspects to one Raevan... his mind pooled with inspiration, drawing upon strings of awe and intrigue. He wanted to learn more about the Lab, and more about the Raevans as well. But most of all, he wanted to learn more about the one he would be taking home, the one he'd yet to see. Though a part of him just laughed and told him to take it slow. There was no sense in rushing, no sense at all.
Turning his eyes to Zeke, the author and editor pressed the tips of his fingers to his glasses, a slight smile on his lips. "How long have you been part of the Lab?" He dared to ask, his voice curious yet nowhere near demanding. He held himself at bay, quietly rekindling the flames of self control. There was a side to him that was a wild, a side that would shoot off questions like bottle rockets on the Fourth of July, but tonight was a night for introductions and manners, not firework personalities and energy that was better given to a hyperactive puppy than a full grown man. His mouth curved into a dangerously wild grin at that thought, small and foxy and only kept from splitting fully across his face because of the carefully cultivated self control.
This was only the beginning.
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Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2011 10:52 am
Zeke chuckled lightly at Tallow's comment about being married to paperwork, but said nothing in reply to it. The man would see momentarily that what the Lab asked in regards to paperwork was easier than most - a name here, a signature there, the date if it hadn't already been filled out; but of course that came after reading the legal mumbo-jumbo and all the things that came before the lines that read 'signature here' underneath them.
"You'll get to shortly." He turned his gaze back to the man who stood nearby, eyes alight with that excitement as the other man vocalized his desire. Yes, shortly. In fact, even in a few minutes time if everything went well and the paperwork was signed quickly. Once that was done, not only would Tallow meet the mysterious Tea Frei, but Zeke would too. Sure that was probably a little selfish of him to say the least, but the vet couldn't help it. Ever since he had become a part of the Lab, he wanted to meet each and every Raevan in the fold. By now he had certainly seen all their pictures and knew what had created them, but that was one thing. Meeting them was another. And as soon as the introductions were made between the blonde man and Zeke's spidery companion, he'd whisk the man right over to his desk, give him a pen, and get this show on the road once more.
The spider Frei's slender brows raised as the bespectacled man before her gave a bow. Well...This was new. She had expected gaping - which was there - or perhaps a little something that looked like shock and awe with a hint of uncertainty or fear, but not a full on bow. It was odd, but she was not about to say it wasn't unwelcoming or pleasing. In fact, it was VERY pleasing, and the Frei made her spindly crown expand to show her delight. Perhaps she had written this one off a bit too fast, especially as the compliment came.
Stunning? Had she heard him right? Of course she had! He called her stunning! The Frei's eyes widened a touch at the word, surprised by the choice, but she was not wholly against it. There was pretty, there was beautiful, and then there was stunning. She WAS stunning. This was a whole new world for her and the spider queen lofted herself higher in the air, soaking in the words like a dry sponge to water. Anastacia's chitinous parts creaked as she expanded them, showing off that stunning physique she had to her fullest ability and popping her chin upward in a manner that was to show off her sharp angled features, but also gave off that haughty 'my ego has been fed' vibe. Her cherry red lips curled but she did not truly smile, too unpracticed in that expression to give her anything more than a pompous, if not slightly cruel look. Where she lacked in facial expressions, however, she did make up in words.
"Thank you." Unlike her greeting her words were crisp and carried a taste of delight to them, a testament to her about-face personality. She decided she tolerated this man, and the fact he was keeping his distance from her rather than get up close was only an extra positive mark toward him. Perhaps, even, she would hang around and keep with the company. This Tallow fellow had just proven to her that he wasn't one to throw away too quickly now. She would eventually of course, but for now? She could get more compliments this way.
"You seemed quite absorbed... I hope I'm not disrupting you."
Anastacia followed the man's gaze until her lavender pair of eyes rested on her needles and knitting. She had almost forgotten she had been holding on to them, but such things were trivial when one was having her ego stroked.
"You were." She replied simply and with a half shrug.
"Anya..." Speaking of things she had almost forgotten, Zeke's chide was mixed with surprise and even touches of humor at her words.
"What?" She replied flatly as soon as she turned her attention to her man, eying his face as though expecting him to do something. What she was met with was only a slow shake of the vet's head which ended with a certain look from the raver. She knew what it meant - he was asking her to be polite and nice without actually saying it and/or causing a tiff. She didn't know what he was trying to go on about because in her books, she was being nice. She had used past tense after all.
Zeke said nothing, but held the gaze a heartbeat's time longer before he turned his gaze back to Tallow. He'd give Anastacia a talking to after things were over and done with, but for now a reprimand - even if her words were pretty funny, especially coming from her - could wait. There were more pressing matters at hand.
"Now that you two have met," the vet said in a jovial tone, "how about I get you sorted here? Papers have to be read before they can be signed after all, and Anya here can get back to her knitting." Zeke turned his head back to Anya and smiled sweetly at her. "Once Tallow and his Raevan are introduced and on their way, we'll get going, okay? No more offices tonight after this, I promise."
He meant that. While he was full of energy at what he was doing now, it had been a long day. Food and a warm bed called to him and Zeke was sure the latter called to his Raevan too. He could wait for his share in that, but he knew his ward. Her patience only held out so long, even when she had been placated by compliments.
"Good," was the reply. Even in her compliment-powered good mood, the fact she did want to go home to her room and her bed still lingered, showing on her face in an approving frown. She did want an end to this day, but she supposed she could wait a little while longer. Besides, even she knew that the meet-and-greets between new guardians and Raevans didn't take ages. Let them carry on all they wanted, she would wait, but she wouldn't go back to her knitting so soon. The papers did take a few minutes - she could still get a few more enjoyable words out of the blonde between now and the time he was led out into the depths of the Lab. In fact...
As Anastacia turned her back on the two males - and gave both a clear sign as to what exactly her soul was with the appearance of the red hourglass on her back - Zeke tapped Tallow on the shoulder to start the move toward the secretary's desk. A wave of his hand added to this and with a spin on his heel Zeke took the few steps across the linoleum and squeezed behind his desk.
Immediately he got to work getting a pen and retrieving the right papers from the folder, too energetic to do so sitting down.
"Me?" His movements paused for a second as he took in the question asked. It was a dumb response, but he hadn't been expecting such a query. About the newborn's Soul or Essence, sure, but not about him! It made the vet chuckle as he held out a hand and ticked the months off with his fingers. "It's been a year and...uh..." His brow furrowed as he counted but relaxed when he was sure he got his number. "A year and seven months...If my math is correct. My sister gave me the good news in January of last year."
He beamed at Tallow from behind the desk, but really, it was still dizzying to him. A few months ago had been Anya's first birthday and he himself had been working for the Lab for a few months longer than that now. How time flied...He'd have to do his best to keep up with it even more now.
"Here," Zeke recovered from his dizzy realization with nothing more than a light smile and sweeping brush of his choppy bangs. He carefully pushed the stapled sheets of paper across the desk and rested the pen on top of them. "I'll need you to read these and sign where it says so. It's legal stuff - release forms, contractual agreements, yadda yadda. The date, her Soul, Essence, and gender are all filled in, but her name can wait until after you see her. So all that aside, all we really need is your signature!"
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Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 12:49 am
Ignoring the tiny injections of adrenaline rushing like a bullet to his head every few minutes, the author tilted his head at Zeke, his lips pulling into a fox's smile. Curiosity pressed in his skull like an intoxication, though he was more careful in hiding that then he was in hiding the excitement that he still felt. It was interesting that this man was so exhilarated as well, interesting that he seemed to be just as comfortable in showing his emotions as Tallow was in hiding his own. His eyes turning to Anya again, Tallow straightened, his lips pulling as he watched the Frei. His eyes narrowed, vivid blue diluted by nothing by the reflective glasses that slid to the edge of his nose. The spidery girl was just as interesting as her mohawk bearing guardian, and he watched with muted intrigue as the spindly crown made its delight clear. His shoulders relaxed, rolled back and pulled skin taut over bone and muscle. It was easy enough to tell that the spider queen desired compliments from the way she reacted to them, and Tallow's smile only grew as he picked out pieces of her through the reactions that he got.
His head lifting, the silver necklace around his throat tangling against sun kissed skin, Tallow continued to watch Anya, his mouth pressed into a gentle grin, reminiscent of that of a fox. She was truly beautiful, he decided, as the spindly Frei lifted herself further in the air. He could clearly make out the contours of her skin and wings, the dark and dangerous parts of her only furthering his appreciation. His body shifted, though he did not move closer, knowing better than that. Thumbs catching in the thin of his jean pockets, Tallow watched those cherry lips curl, remembrance brushing his mind, though he made no move to pull it from the blackness of his memories or let words thread in the deep of his throat. Instead, he did nothing more than smile at her and her unpracticed expression, his lips curving into a dangerous and charming line, as though complimenting her cruel look with a passive, sharp one. Tallow was not fearless, but he reveled shamelessly in those who breached the monotony of everyday people and everyday life.
"Your welcome, cheri."
The words were returned smoothly and without pause, his eyes vibrant in the half light of the lab. His eyes rested on her for a beat longer before turning to the knitting needles once more. It was fitting for her, he decided with intrigue, that kind of hobby. Absently he wondered if the soul of the arachnid that she'd no doubt been given allowed her to weave webs of her own, or if this was a true substitute to such a thing. Catching her words, Tallow's eyes turned back to the widow's. What a straight forward answer. The author tilted his head, eyes half lidding in fascination. "Apologies then, m'lady." He said, his lips tilting to covet a charming, sly tone of sincerity. Though whether he truly meant it or not was lost beneath the mask. He'd been playing this game long enough to know how to bluff, and tonight was no different.
His eyes turned to watch the interaction between the two, fingers splaying loosely over his mouth as though to hide the smile beneath. He regarded the guardian and his ward with something akin to amusement and curiosity, though he was hell bent not to overstep lines on his first night here. Drawing in a breath, the light blond moved his hand, raking his nails over a silver stud earring. It was habit, and old habits died hard.
When Zeke spoke again, Tallow drew himself out of his quiet revery. It had been a pleasure to meet Anastacia, but the prospect of moving on to meet the Raevan that he himself would come to know made adrenaline rush to his head, spiking him with its excitement like a drug. "That sounds perfect to me." His lips curved, and he glanced again at Anya, his shoulders rolling back, his expression warm and relaxed. Instead of words, he simply tilted his head into a slight bow again, from the neck up before his eyes turned and he moved after Zeke, his long legs carrying him after the vet. He chose not to comment too much on the words, though he simply nodded at the mention of papers, understanding that it was most likely legal things like those that he kept finding whenever he pried through his brothers bags.
As Anya turned, Tallow caught a glimpse of the red hour glass that settled between her bones, understanding catching in his throat, though he did not say a word. No, there was no need. Though now he wondered, was she poisonous in more than just her words? Extracting his hands from his pockets -- the place where they seemed to navigate towards every time they weren't somewhere else -- Tallow pushed his bangs away from his face, watching the pause and the momentary lapse. Was this an uncommon subject for Zeke? Tallow had always found himself fascinated with humans, and society itself. He never expected anyone else not to hold the same intrigue, and along with that intrigue that he coveted came questions, questions as simple as these.
"How impressive." His words were absent and fascinated as the other told him how long he'd been with the Lab, his mouth smoothing slightly as he watched the vet's movements. How much had Zeke been involved with in those months and that year? How had his life changed during that time, and how would Tallow's change as well...? The author narrowly avoided questioning the other with more personal inquiries, not wanting to seem as shamelessly nosy as he truly was. "I imagine the Lab's family is rather small...? I've heard about Raevan's here and there, though I've never seen one before today." He murmured distractedly, drawing his attention to the beam that he received, his lips curving into a refined and strikingly thrilled smile, eyes vibrant behind the half rimmed glasses.
His fingers stretched over the pile of papers, the pen tilting between his left hand as he allowed one hand to hold his weight against the desk as he read, eyes lowered though the dips and nods signaled that he was listening to the other with ease. His eyes swept over the words and fine print, used to reading fast without losing important information somewhere between the lines. The slight sound of rustling was all that echoed, and once he'd locked the importance of it all within his head, his hand tilted, ink forming a thin and crisp signature where it was needed. Skimming it once more, Tallow finally placed the pen where it had been the first time Zeke had handed him the papers, leaning back, though his fingers still touched like ghosts against the front page. Glancing up at the other, the author grinned, his lips parting slightly, his eyes a deep blue that radiated with warmth and intelligence.
"I hope thats alright. Out of curiosity, will you need the name tonight, or can I fill that in later on...?"
His head tilted and he rolled his shoulders back, the silver necklace folding between the taught skin and contour of bones beneath the surface. He couldn't imagine naming a person - an ethereal being - so quickly after a first meeting. It wasn't the same as a dog, it wasn't even the same as a baby. Perhaps the difficulty of naming would disappear when he met the Frei for the first time. Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps. His eyes half lidded as he considered the essence and the soul. Still, he could form no true idea of what she might look like in his head, what kind of name she would approve of, and what she might not. Or would she approve of anything...? Ah, it was all so confusing. Pressing the anticipation to the back of his mind, Tallow returned his gaze to Zeke, waiting for confirmation and continuation. Waiting for the climax to this tale, the closure to this first chapter that was his new story, life even.
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Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 11:16 am
When the word 'cheri' crossed over Anastacia's ears, the Frei had to wonder if Tallow was related to Vivi. She remembered the Frenchwoman quite clearly using that word, but toward whom she had long forgotten. It was trivial, of course, but it did make her pause while she was in the middle of putting her things away. Certainly, she wanted the compliments to keep on coming, but she wasn't about to just chuck her hard work away. She took too much pride in her hobby to do such a thing and took the time to carefully fold everything up before placing it in her bag.
Of course by the time she turned around Zeke had already whisked the new man away and both were wrapped up in another discussion. Excited Zeke moved faster than Normal Zeke and this was the change that made the spider queen frown at her guardian. She wasn't done with the blonde man yet, and she wasn't happy that her guardian had gotten him so quickly absorbed in something else. She hadn't said she was going back to her knitting. In fact, Zeke should have seen her putting it away. She had turned around right in front of him!
Idiot. She grumbled, mood dipping even though her face didn't show anything outside that momentary frown and an added darkness to her eyes. This would be over when she decided it would be over, and not a moment before. Her mind was set on this, and she knew time was wasting. Giving a flick of her over-sized pinions, the Frei glided noiselessly over to the pair, stopping at the corner of the desk and feigning interest in what Tallow was signing. Perhaps if he caught her, he would marvel at her 'inquisitiveness'.
While Anastacia wanted Tallow to notice her hanging out nearby, it was her guardian who noticed her first. The vet caught the dark Frei moving out of the corner of his eye and welcomed her proximity to them with one of his friendly gazes. He had no trouble with her being interested in what they were doing, but there was a touch of worry that she would see some select words on the forms and ask him what they were. Yes, she had been part of the Lab for over a year, but the vet had been careful and wanted to give his Raevan the talk about her parts at the right time. Right now surely wasn't it, but he took her silence as Tallow read through and signed as a good thing, even if silence was part of Anastacia's usual demeanor.
"I think there's about thirty or so Raevans out there, including yours." That was off the top of his head, but he knew he was in the ballpark on his estimate. Thirty or so alive and about, plus three growing in the tanks in the back of the Lab. Zeke's thoughts went to them - especially the one in the tank next to the one that had been Anya's - and he decided a peek after Tallow and his newborn were set and gone wouldn't hurt. He always made it a point to check the tanks each day he was at the Lab on the weekends and it didn't matter to him that it was Thursday!
"Pretty small," the vet continued as Tallow guessed the size of the family itself. "Well...If you count thirty as being 'small', anyway. Mostly the Raevans and guardians are spread out all through Gaia. Anastacia and I have only met a handful, even though we've been at the Lab for over a year." And that was the honest truth. Even counting the newborns he had homed or rehomed, the number he had met was small. Add Anastacia into the equation and the number was even smaller! He had seen quite a few at last year's beach party, but hadn't gotten to talk to the majority past a 'hello' or hurried run through of what his booth and the games had been about. The thought made him wonder where everyone was hiding. Even though Durem was a huge city, he only knew of a few that lived there, and he knew for sure that three guardians lived in Gambino. The rest though? Not so sure. Perhaps he'd have to check the records this weekend. It'd make a slow day go faster at any rate.
When the papers were signed and the pen placed neatly down upon them, Zeke reached out to take the forms and give them the cursory run over. He saw the signature clear as crystal in fluid black ink across stark white, but took the time to flip through the two pages of documents, headers, and lines to make sure everything had been signed that needed to be. The glance proved that everything had been, so with a pleasant cluck of his tongue against the roof of his mouth, the vet gently tucked the forms back into their folder and slipped the pen into the breast pocket of his white button up. Both would be coming with them of course.
"Everything's been signed that needs to be right now, so it's perfectly fine!" Zeke gave his hand an airy wave to help cast off any doubt Tallow might have, and put the bounce back in his step as he stepped out from behind his desk once more. Now came the real fun bit, but as he double checked the room number the Raevan was in and mentally chided himself to lead the man down there, not drag him; Tallow's question was let out into the air and Zeke had to pause to consider it.
"Well..." He began, sucking lightly on his lip ring as he judged what was being asked. "From my experience, Guardians usually give a name the same day. Some have one picked out before hand, others have a list, while a few don't have any idea beforehand and just have a name come to them when they meet the Raevan." That was himself on the list right there. Zeke had had a list and had names going through his head when he first saw Anastacia, but only the one he had finally spouted off seemed to fit his spindly beauty. Fit her to a 't', really. Face, pose, attitude...Looking at her floating nearby now, she was his Anastacia and he wouldn't change her or her name for the world. "If you don't have a name, we can just wait until you see her first," he smiled amicably, but continued to suck on his lip ring as he thought this through, "but I think it is preferred that you name her before you leave. That way we can have her on record as soon as possible. I'm not totally sure though; you're the first person who's ever asked me that."
He had to chuckle, even if it was sheepish in tone, and gave a light shrug of his shoulders. In over a year he probably should have asked that at the beginning, but that was hindsight now. Too late to ask - plus no one was around for him to ask - so he'd have to wing it. He did believe Tallow would have an epiphany the moment he saw his girl. Seeing someone like that for the first time...A name would just sort of pop into a person's head.
"How about this: what do you say we head down there now and let you meet her, hm? I'm sure seeing her will help you figure something out, and if not, then we'll go from there." One step at a time was always good, it was a surefire way to keep from tripping over oneself, and really, Tallow had all the time in the world as far as the meeting went. If it took an hour, it took an hour. Zeke was happy enough to wait as long as it took so long as it meant everything went well in the end. He had no reservations about this meeting, of course, but it went without saying all the same. With that said, he looked at his own Raevan, not at all wanting to leave her out of the picture or ignore her fully.
"Would you like to come with us to meet the newborn, Anya?" Once more he was sure he knew her answer, but he'd always extend an offer to her where it could be.
As soon as Tallow had straightened from signing the paper, Anastacia had backed off and floated a step's length away from the desk. A man with his hands occupied was one thing; a man with empty hands was another even if the blonde had proven he was good at keeping a proper distance from her. She had gotten close to get her compliments but she didn't want him getting any funny ideas.
The questions and talking between her man and Tallow bored her. Lab this, Lab that, names, blah blah blah blah blah. Twice during the conversation did she roll her eyes, not seeing the point in it. Who cared how many people there were in total? There were enough, that's all that was needed to know, now bring on the compliments or else she would quickly have the blonde knocked down off her 'tolerable' list and go back to her knitting. It was more engaging anyway, and then Zeke's question rang in her ears and Anastacia knew that the time to cast off Tallow was nigh.
"No," she said flatly, keeping her expression in its natural, apathetic state. If she went she would be more ignored than she was already. It'd be all about the newborn and she'd be expected to play nice or whatever stupid hoop Zeke wanted her to float through. No. No way. No thank you sir. The only time she wanted to "meet" the Frei was when she was floating through the door on the opposite side of the room. Otherwise it just wasn't worth her time. Screw "tradition".
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Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2011 4:14 pm
She was truly beautiful, Tallow had decided early on. Truly beautiful, and of a dangerous nature as well. His eyes followed the spindly Frei for a long moment before his back was completely turned, smooth and gliding steps taking him only as far as he needed to go. His lips kept still, though his tongue pressed up against the roof of his mouth, mind quietly pressing through the short lived conversation that he'd just had. What a curious creature Anastacia was, and what a peculiar guardian Zeke made. His mouth twisted into a silent and deviating grin, remembrance tracing in him as he picked the word cheri away from the recapturing of his words in his mind. He was not French, nor did he intend for others to see him that way. While Tallow's ancestry hailed from one of the European nations, and he'd certainly spent enough vacations in the french countryside with one of Cecilia's more flamboyant family members, the man could speak little more than terribly accented French greetings. And it was a dreadfully ear splitting time when he tried. What little nicknames he'd picked from his housemate were habit now at best, and nothing with promise for more of the romantic language from his own lips where they came from.
Anya's presence near him was not something he did not notice, though his body remained lax, his eyes laid on the vet and the papers as he shuffled through them one last time. His lips quirked, the only true sign that he knew she was there, though when he looked up, his glasses slid to the edge of his nose, making him look more scholarly than anything as the author tipped his head towards the spindly Frei, striking blond hair falling into place like sun stroked strands. He smiled, a flash of fox like attributes passing through his eyes and tugging at his lips. A rush of exhilaration flushed through him, and the creative and light hearted author simply allowed his mask to slip for a moment, giving her the unsaid compliments that she so loved to hear. Intrigue and a flash of simple admiration passed his eyes, brightening them so that the deep blue seemed vibrant in the half light. His fingers moved, pressing against the cool of the desk so that he could straighten himself out, the bands falling into place over one another on his arms as he moved.
"Thirty," The author repeated, tasting the number on his lips. Thirty. His lips turned upwards, ghosting into the frame of foxy intrigue. Thirty in the whole of Gaia? How spread out were they, he wondered? Just how long would it take for him to meet just one after Anastacia? He lived in Gambino, though he knew first hand just how big Durem and its surrounding areas were. The metropolis seemed to stretch on forever, and Tallow made it a habit to explore it when he had a free day with nothing to do. How many days of wandering would it take him to finally find another guardian the same as him? His eyes turned to Zeke, wondering how many the other had met. Surely a few, with his job as the one to do the paperwork and introductions, right? Tallow chuckled low under his breath, a distant and daring sound from deep in his throat. Well, it was certainly going to be a challenge to find them, he decided. But what was life without a few of those?
"It certainly sounds that way. With how large Gaia is as a whole, I'd be surprised to meet another like you and Anastacia any time soon." Tallows lips deepened into their smile, his thumbs hooking in his belt loops with a low and gentle whistle under his breath. Unsaid words hooked in his tone, an undertone of hope and amusement rumbling in his throat that spoke of want for more introductions, more encounters, more, more, more. Absently he wondered how long the Lab had been around in the grand scheme of things, and just how often new Raevans were born. It was obviously either a short number of years or a matter of "few and far between", though Tallow left it there, neglecting to guess at which it was, or if it was a matter of both. Tugging at the edge of his shirt, the author let his head tilt to the side, loose strands of hair dusting over sun kissed skin.
Dipping his head into a understanding nod as the vet collected the stack of papers, Tallow allowed his gaze to drift for a moment, catching on parts of the room, the various doors and halls that no doubt lay beyond. He glimpsed Anastacia again, his gaze lingering a moment longer before returning to the bright green and plum that was Zeke instead. "That makes sense. I've... shifted through a few names, though, to be honest, I would feel terribly awkward picking out a name before seeing her." His lips pulled into a grin, his eyes a vivid and daring blue, "It sounds like an interesting sort of event to watch," He said, his tone dipped in amusement. "You must have fun, introducing guardians to the Raevans. How did you come upon Anastacia's name, if you dont mind my asking? Its gorgeous." The author had flipped through many baby-naming sights in his time, even risking his well being and dignity to buy books full of them from stores and sit awkwardly through the checkout stand conversation that pursued the "happily expecting?" train of thought. But he'd never once simply named something right on the spot. Lacy had gotten his name from months of no good names and a terrible creativity drought, and Tallows own face nearly colored right then and there as he thought of just how much trouble he sometimes had just coming up with a list of names for potential characters and pets. And now to be naming a Raevan, his Raevan all at once...! There was a rush of adrenaline in his head, excitement and dread all at once.
This was certainly going to be a roller coaster ride of events. And this night was only the beginning of the ride.
Though the authors eyes lit with a slight intrigue towards the sheepishness, he didn't dare to ask, though his ability to keep his self control in check was certainly nearing low. They were so close to the actual meeting, so close that he could feel the pinpricks of excitement rushing against his gut and spine like a never ending wave. He had to laugh at himself for that one though, wondering just how long it had been since he'd been this worked up. Raising a hand, he rushed his fingers through his hair, threading rings and short nails through thick and contrasting strands. Glancing up at the suggestion, Tallow couldn't help smiling at the other, excitement in his eyes, reflecting in the glasses. "That sounds perfect," He purred, his lips curving, his body straightening as he thought again about what she looked like, what she felt, how she acted. Tea and silver... just what could that create? Just how would it affect her? A soul and the essence that came together to create the ethereal Frei now waiting for him in a room so close and yet so far. "I'd certainly like to think so. I want to give her a name that is fitting, and hopefully a name that she'll like." His lips quirked almost sheepishly, as though it wasn't a large secret that he wasn't the most amazing naming person to go to, even though he published and edited manuscripts for a living.
His eyes turned as the offer was extended to Anya and quickly enough turned down, gazing at her with a fashioned intrigue that had yet to go. Though she had cast him off quickly enough, Tallow still felt a strong sense of curiosity towards that spindly crown and those deadly movements, so filled with grace and care. There was no Lab "tradition" that he knew, and no unhappiness was felt towards the stern declaration, though his eyes half lidded, glorious blue settling on the spider for a long moment, as though assessing once more. And then he nodded again, his lips quirking into an unreadable smile, his attention turning to Zeke.
"Shall we go then?"
Down the hall and in the room that the author would soon enter himself, there was a soft and gentle rustle, a hum as clothing shifted and an unfinished torso moved. She held herself like a proper woman, all alone, never breaking from the sense of dignity that was ingrained in her very essence, very soul. Not even in the company of no one but herself. The newborn Raevan's eyes were shut, a deep and calming breath winding through her as though she'd pushed herself into a meditation that could not be broken until she called it off. Her lips were a blossoming red, drawn into a thin and delicate line, though the Frei held herself with an unwavering disposition, as though nothing could break her down. To one, the newborn might have looked as though she were deep in trance, unknowing to the rest of the world, listening only to the rhythm of her heartbeat and the gentle scent of tea leaves that filled the room now from her prolonged stay. And perhaps that was true, for a few more precious minutes at least.
A long, golden ribbon swayed slightly, curving gracefully around the shine of a masked rune. It pulsated with light, thick and heavy, undying in its flowering glow. Another deep breath was taken, the silver wings quivering, though they seemed nearly incapable of full movement up nor down. She settled deeper within her mind, where thoughts undulated against an unseen barrier, held back and quiet, waiting patiently in line. Her fingers laced between each other, fitting into the crooks and threading into a gentle hold where a stomach would have been. There was a sound from somewhere down the hall -- rustling papers and smooth and powerful tones. Her lips twitched, though there was no waking just yet, no pulling from the depths of her new and untouched mind. There was talking, words that did and did not make sense. She felt a sense of starting knowledge in her mind, unfinished and simplistic in its nature. It pulsed and chittered in the back of her mind, a whisper as she drew herself away from the meditation she'd put herself in without a conscious thought in the world.
"-- name that she'll like..."
The words echoed like whispers from down the hall, barely catching in her ears. She strained for the noise again, familiarity and unfamiliarity both mixing in her like two opposing forces. A momentary lapse of full control gave way to several thoughts and questions all at once -- who did those voices belong to? did they matter to her? -- but she calmed them all at once, breathing deeply again as though she didn't know how to handle such a large wave of curiosity and emotions without putting them in a neat and orderly fashion behind a wall in her mind, clearing it and breathing deeply and pretending to forget that the troublesome and messy things were there. She was so young and so new... and yet she understood that so many unanswered questions and so many uncontrolled thoughts gave way to that feeling that her essence so despised, that feeling that she could not place a name to. Not yet.
Straining her ears, she caught onto the tangle of words, images passing like abstract things through her mind. Just what did they look like? Who were they? Why were they here? Pursing her lips just slightly, the elegant Frei allowed her eyes to flicker open, milky white pursuing the lines of the room before closing again. Interest fell beyond her grip for the place that she was confined to now, so she simply replayed the sounds over and over again in her head, catching the light foxiness to one of the strangers tones, and the hint of excitement and thrill in another's. While she could handle both, there was a certain danger to the fox strangers words that sent uncertainty down her spine. It was different, it was strange, it was foreign. This voice reminded her essence of a threat, though a part of her, gentle and soft and ready for change wondered just what it would be like to meet the owner of such a sound. It also rang warning bells in her head, where her unyielding mindset remained untouched and untarnished. Her entire upper torso straightened, her lips drawn into a thin, tight line as she tried to shuffle all of the thoughts and questions and dangers into the back of her mind, keep them quiet and orderly like she had before. Concentration now leaped rather annoyingly in and out of her grasp, causing a slight crease in her brow. Though it was not something she wished upon herself, the newborn continued to circle back to the voices, the fox, and the one that sounded as though it might pop from all of its cheerfulness.
Soft irritation sweltered in her mind, and she decided that these voices were interferences, playing volleyball with her concentration instead of politely handing it back. Her eyes kept shut now only with a small tremor, anticipation and calmness both warring over first place in her mind.
How annoying.
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Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2011 12:08 pm
"It certainly sounds that way. With how large Gaia is as a whole, I'd be surprised to meet another like you and Anastacia any time soon."
"Trust me, you'll meet more sooner than you think." In his experience, and even before Anya was born, Raevans seemed to pop out of the woodwork when you were a guardian. Some you just met on the street by chance, others were referred to you because of your profession, and more could be and were met at any social event the Lab held or what have you. The latter made Zeke wonder if there would be another beach party this year, but given it was so late in the year already and he hadn't been told a thing, he was suspecting no. It was a downer - he had enjoyed working his booth last year - but that wasn't to say he was put off. He could always suggest a different sort of mixer to the boss man himself whenever he could catch the man, but now wasn't the time.
Instead, the vet detached the sticky note attached to the inside cover of the folder he now held. He made another glance at the number written on its face before crumpling it up and tossing it in the trash, ready, willing, and already taking the first few steps toward the glass door. The bounce was clearly in his step as he moved, even though all he was doing for the moment was opening the door and making sure it locked in place with the space wide open. After Luka's little accident of running into the so-clean-the-glass-is-invisible door and Anastacia's own almost-incident when she was born, he was now always taking this precaution with newborns. Sure Luka had been no worse for wear and Anya had avoided her collision, but he wasn't going to take any chances.
"I have tons of fun doing that," Zeke said with earnest delight as the door made that telltale snap as its hinges locked. Once it was in place, the vet turned around, smile just as full and clear as ever. He loved his job at the Lab. Hanging out with Alex, tending to the tanks, helping Dr. Kyou with whatever he needed...Everything about the job was awesome, especially when there was a homing to be done. Greeting a new guardian, seeing their new charge, watching the first interactions between two different but special people...It made his skin burst out into waves of excited tingling the likes of which could not be replicated anywhere else by anything. Which, of course, was happening now even as he was questioned once more.
"It honestly just popped into my head." He shrugged once more at Tallow, light and physically saying there wasn't much more to it than that. His attention turned to his Raevan, watching the female float just out of reach, watching them plainly yet with very little interest. Even in moments like these, her name fit her. "I had a list of names to start with, but when I met her, everything I tried to recall from it just didn't seem to fit. Then 'Anastacia' appeared and before I knew it, I had given it to her and the rest is history. She seems to like it, don't you Anya?"
Like her guardian had noted, she had been watching them with very little interest. Again it was always 'Lab this, Lab that' but at least this time she had noticed Tallow's constant glances back to her. Those were keeping her floating steady near the arm of the couch and she soaked each one in greedily as though she was starved for compliments. Sure, she might be tossing the man away in a heartbeat, but she could ring him for all he was worth while he was standing there. She had no qualms about that, especially as the word 'gorgeous' was tossed in the air. She knew it was toward her name, but to the spindly Frei it was directed at her just as much because her name was hers and as much a part of her as her wings or crown. Like when Tallow called her 'stunning', the Frei lofted her being and stretched her spidery appendages out. She had heard, liked what was said, and was making her approval known. Even Zeke's question didn't deflate her ego.
"Yes." She replied, casting a glance to her guardian. If he had gotten anything right at any time, it had been giving her that name. Rich, full, regal, elegant...It was her in a nutshell and though she wouldn't outright say it to him, Anastacia approved of his choice.
"Fits her to a 't'," Zeke winked at his ward at her response, then looked back to Tallow. "I'm sure your girl will love whatever name you give her too, Tallow." There was nothing to worry about on that front. With all the homings he'd done, not one Raevan was against the name given to them by their guardian and each seemed all the happier to have one of their very own no matter what it was. He was sure the Tea Raevan would be the same, though he did think it would be pretty funny to see a newborn against the name they had been given. Shocking for sure.
"Shall we go then?"
"Let's." He smiled at Tallow again, holding an arm out to direct him out the glass door he had propped open. Time, as they say, was a-wasting. The longer they stood gabbing in the lobby, the longer it would take to meet the Frei. Zeke really did want to meet her, just as he knew Tallow would. Any more questions could be answered after the fact because, for now, it was time to get the show back on the road and toward the girl - or young woman - who was waiting a short way down the hall. "We'll be back in a little bit, Anya. If you need me, we're in Room Two."
She watched Zeke guide Tallow out into the hall and quickly out of her range of clear sight. Gone now, not coming back until things were done, and introductions were met. That was just fine by her. She had her fill of compliments and the newly gained silence that came in the wake of the two over eager men's departure was a blessing to her. With a flick of her pinions, the spider queen took a seat back on the couch. Her knitting was soon in her hands and in a few fluid movements, the needles were clicking together over and over and producing more lines of woven yarn.
Peace and quiet. It was a beautiful thing, even with the door still open.
Zeke led Tallow down the hall, taking him right to the door. No tour, no delays. The room wasn't even that far from the lobby, so a tour wasn't even possible if he had thought to give the editor one. Zeke rested a hand on the latch, but he did not open it nor knock just yet. Instead, he turned around, eyes aglow with good humor and that eagerness that was damn near infectious with just him and Tallow standing side by side. There were two Lab traditions - one for the Raevans that Anastacia refused to partake in, and one for the humans that Zeke honored each and every time with gusto ever since Alex explained it to him so long ago. As with everything about his job here at the Lab, Zeke loved this part, and with the big event so close at hand, he was jittering just standing there. He raised a hand to ask Tallow to wait a moment, smiling lightly at the other man as he prepared his little speech.
"We have a tradition here at the Lab." He cleared his throat. Even though he had just been talking so crisply, his mouth instantly seemed more than a little dry. A side effect of being so gung ho about the meet and greet, and not an unwelcome one either. "I haven't seen your Raevan yet. In fact, no one but Dr. Kyou or his Raevan Lazarus has since they're the ones who take care of newborns once they're released from their tank. Now, with that being said, I firmly believe that the first person to see the Raevan other than either of those two is his or her guardian. Meaning you, of course." He chuckled and nodded his head at Tallow, directing him with his mohawk better than he could with the hand he had held up, which was now balled into a fist to knock on the door. This never got any less exciting and with another light cough, Zeke continued. "The tradition is this: you get to see her before I do. So what I'm gonna do is knock on the door to alert her that we're here and then open it. Once I do, go right on in, okay? That's all there is to it!"
Simple tradition, but one that would be honored again and again. Casting another glance over Tallow - making sure the man was clear on the details before he acted - Zeke turned on the ball of his foot to face the door again. The fist he had made was ready, and with only a quiet intake of breath to calm his unsteady nerves, Zeke pressed his knuckles to the door's face and rapped twice. Without missing a beat, the latch was then pressed down and the door opened, Zeke taking his cue and stepping back from the doorway and what lay inside the room. He had done his part. It was Tallow's turn now.
"She's all yours, my friend."
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