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 Posted: Sun Apr 28, 2013 7:31 pm
Who: Lazarus, Vivi, Cesc
Where: A lovely park in Gambino
When: Late morning/early afternoon
Weather: Absolutely gorgeous, 22ยบ C and sunny, a great spring day
"Batter up!" called Vivi, her voice lilting and playful.
She stood a good few feet away from Rhedefre, her hair up in high ponytail, dressed in a pair of white shorts and a red top with tiny white polka dots, a pair of flats on her feet. Her accessory for the day was a baseball that she cupped in her right hand, and a wide leather baseball glove on her left, too big by quite a lot, being Shepard's and not her own. It was sportier than her usual look, but then, she intended to play a sport today. It was a gorgeous day out, without a cloud in the sky, a beautiful breeze granting pleasant relief from the attentions of the sun. The park was filled with people strolling about, and the field where she and Cesc stood had others, families wandering about, playing, flying kites and fielding balls.
"Oh, no," Cesc called back, shaking his head ruefully. The frei was dressed simply, in a plain white and black raglan shirt, a baseball glove on his left hand. "Not again. Not after what happened last time."
He was referring to the previous spring, when baseball practice had unfortunately caused him to strike a loping ball right into the nose of one Prajna. He did not mean to injure any more Raevans with any baseball accidents, that was for sure.
"Ah, yes, the poor pretty one." Vivi laughed, tossing the ball to him underhand, the pitch coming off her hand slow and easy. Cesc floated under it and caught it on the fly, enjoying the solid thwack of the baseball into his glove. "I am certain such a pretty nose has returned to its regular state by now."
"It is a lesson," chuckled Cesc, tossing the ball back, his own motion overhand and across his chest, easy and elegant. Vivi skipped toward the ball and snatched it in her too-large glove. "Batting practice is best in lanes and cages and closed-off parks."
"The lesson is that baseballs are best not in noses, cheri!" Vivi said with a broad smile, winding up and tossing the ball underhand again, this time with more zip on it.
"I feel there must be an easier way to learn that lesson than to bloody someone's face," laughed the stag ruefully as he lunged for the ball, snatching it tightly in his glove, as though in punctuation.
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Posted: Mon Apr 29, 2013 3:44 am
"He should just run his own errands next time." Lazarus muttered a complain as he lugged a large filled grocery bag across the street. For some reason there was a lack of mangoes and strawberries in the market Lazarus frequents today, and he had already went to two other markets without much success. His last hope was another fresh fruits vendor about five blocks away, and cutting through the park is a much faster route.
Kyou had been in a strawberry kick lately, he can't stop complaining if there weren't strawberries or strawberry desserts stocked in the fridge. If Lazarus wasn't looking forward to getting mangoes too, he would have left home after his visit to the second market. "Who does he think I am? His errand boy?" The Sigel complained out loud - something he does when he's extremely irritated and alone. He was looking forward to visiting Xiu at the bookstore today, until he realized that Kyou had finished the big box of strawberries he bought just two days ago. Lazarus had thought that could last him a week!
At least the weather today was nice. Slowing down for a moment, he closed his eyes as he enjoyed the soft breeze that blew through the trees, the air smelled faintly of flowers. Opening his red eyes, he looked in the direction where the breeze was coming from, and saw someone familiar.
The frei with his cotton candy pink hair was throwing a ball at his guardian. His hair was ruffled from the wind, but a bright smile adorned his face, looking genuinely happy. The same goes for his guardian as she threw the ball back, all smiles, energetic. They sincerely looked like they were having fun.
For a moment Lazarus just stayed there as he watched, partially hidden under the shade of a tree. There was something mesmerizing about the way they played, the adoration they had for each other, the connection. The Sigel couldn't help but tried to search for one such memory of him and Kyou, and came up with nothing. Kyou was so busy with his research to create more Raevans, he was often neglected as a Frei. He frequently lashed out, destroying equipments and tools. Now that he think back, he was like a bratty child that tried to get their parent's attention by doing bad things and wrecking havoc.
So what was he to Kyou exactly? Does the scientist really cared for him like a parent would a child? Or was he just a successful experiment and now a lab assistant?
As his eyes stared at the Frei not very far from him throwing the ball back to his guardian, just having fun under the sun, he wondered if this is what he missed. Just at that moment, he was envious at the young stag, temporarily forgotten about the task at hand.
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Posted: Mon Apr 29, 2013 3:23 pm
"Why do you keep throwing underhand?" Cesc called as the two continued their toss-and-laugh game, watching Vivi wind up and throw again the same way as she had before.
"Ah, the Shepard, he showed me a video of a woman who throws this way -- harder than even the professional men!" Vivi sang back. "It was superb to watch her, she broke the equipment of the scientists with one throw! I was inspired, so much."
"Jenny Finch, the softball pitcher. She is amazing," said Cesc with a wide smile, throwing back in his own long motion. He, too, was trying to copy someone's throwing style, although his own mentors belonged to baseball's major leagues. His voice became teasing as he said his next sentence: "But does that mean you are trying to break me?"
"Pah! And, cheri! If I do not try my hardest, how do you get better? Or would you prefer I just do the acting? I will be a baseball pitcher now, you will see." Vivi snatched the ball out of the air and jogged back to her original place. She leaned forward, like a professional pitcher, pretended to check the nonexistent baserunners, shook off a phantom catcher's call, toed invisible rubber, and then lifted her leg in a wind-up. Then she threw overhand, hard.
But, while the ball had some fire on it, it didn't have much control. It sailed in away from Cesc, and the Raevan was quick to zoom after it.
"Whoa!" Cesc's voice was impressed as he floated backwards quickly to catch the ball, lifting his hand and his glove to grab the ball as it arced quickly down toward him. It landed with a satisfying thunk! in his glove, and he lifted it to show that he'd caught it safely.
To his surprise, Vivi was jogging toward him, her face amused but also mildly apologetic. And she wasn't looking right at him, she was looking slightly to his left and behind him. Cesc turned, and was startled to see a Sigel not very far away from him, a tall, tan, handsome Raevan he'd never seen before.
"Oh!" The stag uttered quickly, straightening and lowering his hands. Cesc smiled immediately upon seeing another member of his species, his look one of gentle and earnest delight. "I am so sorry, I didn't see you there!"
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Posted: Wed May 01, 2013 7:56 am
Lazarus didn't know how long he had been standing there under the shade, just quietly watching the Raevan and his guardian throwing ball happily. Perhaps it was five minutes, or maybe even ten, the Sigel didn't keep track. He was far enough to not hear their conversation, but not far enough to be out of sight.
When he saw the ball zoomed in his direction, he suddenly realized what he was doing and started to move, attempting to hide behind the tree, not wanting to be seen. However, he was too late as Vivi had already noticed him.
"Ah..." Lazarus doesn't see a point in hiding anymore and emerged from under the shades, letting the sun shine gently on him. One hand still lugging the grocery bag brimming with fresh produce. "I should be the one apologizing, I didn't mean to intrude." The Sigel smiled apologetically as he scratched his head. "I... don't think we have met. My name is Lazarus." He said as he extended his free hand towards the Frei. "I live at the Lab." For some reason, he just doesn't feel comfortable saying that he is Kyou's raevan at the moment.
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Posted: Wed May 01, 2013 8:46 pm
"It is no intrusion," said Cesc, his voice echoing some of the relief that showed on his face. He lifted his glove to show Lazarus the baseball he'd caught, his expression becoming sheepish. "I am just glad I caught this and it did not strike you! I am Cesc, Lazarus. It is a pleasure."
"--Oh! What a relief. I worried for a moment that I tempted the fates!" Vivi exclaimed as she closed the distance between herself and the Raevans, her oversized glove flopping on her left hand. She put her free hand up to her face in a pantomime of embarrassment, although there was no such expression on her features. She looked amused, if anything. "Forgive me, monsieur, if we startled you! Oh, wait -- have I not seen you before? I think, yes -- at the grill, at the Lab garden party, I think! I did not introduce myself then, although I do not know why I should have resisted talking to such a lovely gentleman."
"Vivi, this is Lazarus. He tells me he lives at the Lab," Cesc said politely, smiling a wide, gracious smile. He squeezed his guardian on the shoulder affectionately as she complimented Lazarus, laughing.
"Oh, my!" said Vivi, looking impressed. "How very smart, non? Are you a scientist as well, Mssr. Lazarus?"
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Posted: Thu May 02, 2013 9:11 am
These two are sure... talkative. Lazarus found himself musing, feeling half lost around the Frei and his guardian, especially on the talk of being hit and tempting fate. As he was clueless about the incident the other two were referring to. He could see the ball coming his way when airborne anyway, so he would have ducked it no problem even if Cesc didn't manage to catch it. But Cesc did! "That was a good catch there." He complimented, gesturing at the ball in his glove.
"Cesc..." The Sigel repeated the name as if memorizing it, but then it dawned on him. "...but I thought your name on file was Rhedefre?" He was sure of it. 'Cesc' sure sounds like a rather odd nickname from that name, if it is one.
His attention was drawn towards the Frei's guardian when she mentioned the garden party. That's right, he did saw the Raevan guardian couple at the event, but perhaps Cesc entered the maze later on, that's why they didn't officially meet. Well, that had been fixed now at least. "Yes, I was at the grill during the garden party." Lazarus confirmed Vivi's statement. "Your name is Vivi right? Nice to officially meet you." He can't help but be polite around the two of them, because they seem awfully so! The Sigel chuckled sheepishly when she asked if he's a scientist. "Oh no no, I'm a lab assistant at best. I don't know much about science aside from the documentaries I watch on TV. I help Kyou with his work."
Lazarus couldn't help but noted Vivi's rather thick accent. This is his first time meeting a French, and for some reason it makes her rather attractive.
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Posted: Sat May 04, 2013 8:27 am
For a moment, Cesc blinked, his brow coming together just slightly as Lazarus said his given name. Then the reason dawned on him as Lazarus called himself a lab assistant, and the stag's face cleared once more.
"Oh, of course! -- yes, my given name is Rhedefre," said the frei with a smile. His expression became amused as he thought, for the first time in a while, how different his nickname was from his true name. Perhaps he should start giving his real name out more... "It is hard for some to say, though, so I often give a nickname. Feel free to call me whichever is more comfortable."
"He has many names, this one," laughed the Frenchwoman with her usual coquettish quality, her dark eyes sizing up Lazarus with some interest. She remembered Dr. Kyou as a bright and handsome man, and this Raevan assistant was no less so. There was such good nature in his face, but such broadness and strength to his build. And a quiet power under there somewhere; it reminded her of Zul. And that was a comparison which would always strike her interest. "I am Vivi, yes -- what an honor to meet another of the Lab family! And do not sell yourself so short; any help for Dr. Kyou I am sure is quite vital, n'est pas?"
Rhedefre crooked a smile. "You were at the garden party? I am sorry we did not meet, I was detained a long time in the maze with my partner -- perhaps you know him, Xiu? He is a white-haired sigel, mute, very polite and kind and capable. It was... well..." Cesc paused, as if trying to find the right words. At last, he settled on a question: "Well... did you go in, yourself?"
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Posted: Fri May 10, 2013 12:13 am
"Cesc is definitely easier to pronounce." He had to agree, compared with 'Rhedefre', which seems to involve a lot of tongue rolling. Plus the Sigel also realized that the Frei himself had problems pronouncing it properly. "You can call me Laz too for short." He thought it was only fair that he offered up his own nick name.
When Xiu's name came up, his expression immediately lighten up. "Yes, of course I know Xiu!" Even his tone changed a pitch higher. However, he considered his next words for a moment before continuing. "He is a very good friend of mine." Since he barely knew the stag and his guardian, he felt awkward about confessing his relationship with Xiu to them. As they try to keep their relationship more on the hush hush side. Maybe next time, if they meet again, perhaps even with Xiu, then he would tell them.
"I did, I went into the maze with Sevilin. Do you know him? He's a uh... he's frequently mistaken as a girl, he's a pretty one." Lazarus chuckled softly as he remembered their adventure in the maze. They didn't make it very far before Sevilin belted out the way they came it. He was slightly disappointed that they did not finish it, but at least now he know who not to partner with for such events in the future. "He wasn't a very good partner. But how did you do in the maze with Xiu? Did you manage to finish it? We didn't." Lazarus chuckled softly. By this time his entire demeanor looked more relax than before as he warmed up with Cesc and Vivi.
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Posted: Thu May 16, 2013 10:10 am
Cesc's expression also brightened as Lazarus's did, happy to find that they had a mutual friend in Xiu, and his smile only broadened as Lazarus mentioned Sevilin. He had met the sea fairy Raevan, not at the garden party, but at the beach a few months after -- he did meet Sevilin's guardian at the party, but the man seemed to only suffer embarrassment from their meeting, stemming from his difficulty to divorce 'pink hair' from 'must be female'. Both guardian and Raevan had left a good impression on Rhedefre, nonetheless.
"Ah, Xiu!" Vivi said pleasantly, her red lips puckering into an expression of sweetness. She touched Lazarus' arm gently, as though making a point. "He is the sweetest of creatures, is he not? You must know, being his friend -- he was invaluable to Rhedefre in that maze."
Cesc inclined his head in agreement, and let out a soft chuckle. "Yes -- perhaps you were lucky you did not go through the entire maze. Xiu and I traversed the whole thing ... we ran into a horrible storm, vines that tried to strangle us, an overgrown briar patch, swinging axes in our path -- even a whole flock of birds that flew over and pooped on us!" He laughed again, his expression entirely fond rather than annoyed at the memory."I was very young at the time, so I relied on poor Xiu more than I should have. At the end, though, we saw a unicorn! Beautiful creature."
Vivi shook her head, making eye contact with Laz. "Not that they came out looking very beautiful, the pair of them. Xiu, your friend, and Cesc -- they went in so proper-looking and neat, like gentlemen! They came out looking like hobos."
"I confess, I was a little surprised by the danger," said Cesc. "I hope Dr. Kyou does not do that sort of thing... all the time."
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Posted: Sat May 18, 2013 9:17 am
Lazarus's brow raised higher and higher with each event that Cesc mentions happened in the maze. They matched Xiu's descriptions perfectly! When Xiu got out of the maze he looked pretty horrible, upset too. Lazarus didn't dare to ask what happened until much later when Xiu got cleaned up and they have more free time together, when Xiu wrote with such fury on pages and pages of notepad paper to describe the events.
"Yeah Xiu told me about the bird poop, he was pretty upset about that." The fire Sigel couldn't help but let out a hearty chuckle too, glad that the Frei find that memory funny as well. Xiu wasn't so amused about it though. "I encountered the strangling vines too! It was what freaked Sevilin out so much that he dashed right out of there once he's freed. Unfortunately that was the only obstacle we encountered." He used the word 'unfortunately' because he was actually looking forward to challenging himself in the maze. Since he knew vaguely some of the things that Kyou had set up in there.
Danger, Xiu mentioned about that as well when he was describing the encounters. "Some of Kyou's tricks can be pretty crazy sometimes. But don't worry, not all of the Lab events have dangerous elements like that." He reassured the duo. "We have harmless beach side parties and Halloween carnivals too."
"But... maybe Kyou was just trying to challenge the Raevans that enter the maze. It's actually designed to match your level of ability somewhat. Perhaps you entered with a Sigel like Xiu that's why it was more difficult for you. Or maybe it could just be bad luck too." Lazarus explained, describing some of the mechanics to Kyou's sorcery.
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Posted: Sat May 18, 2013 9:32 am
Rhedefre laughed as Lazarus did, but his expression became gratified when the fire sigel explained the relative lack of danger in most Lab events. The stag's face lit into a friendly, self-depreciating sort of smile.
"That's good to know," he said with good humor. "Or else I might have shown up to the next event wearing a suit of armor."
"Or at least carrying an umbrella," laughed Vivi pleasantly, pinching her frei gently on the shoulder. "I met the Dr. Kyou -- I would have had no idea such a handsome man would have plotted such things, but they were well worth the effort, n'est pas? Perhaps next time you should go with Mssr. Xiu, Lazarus, and you two will traverse the maze's challenges without anyone running away!"
At this point, Cesc dropped his eyes for the first time and noticed the sack of groceries the Sigel still carried. His eyebrows rose, and he said politely: "Oh, I am sorry -- I did not notice you were on your way somewhere. I hope we aren't making you late."
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Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 1:45 am
Lazarus chuckled at the thought of Cesc wearing an armor. The lad was boyish and a little on the small side, he wondered if he could fit into a child armor? If they even exist? "An umbrella is a better idea." He echoed Vivi. "At least if it rains in outdoor events like summer parties, they would be useful too!"
In the midst of their conversation, the fire Sigel had completely forgotten about the bag of groceries he was carrying. He was only reminded of them when the Frei pointed it out, red eyes followed the other's looking at the stick of celery poking out a corner of the bag. "Oh, I was just doing grocery shopping. I still need to get mangoes and strawberries. I was heading towards the fresh fruit stall at the edge of the park there." He pointed in the direction where the shop is. It isn't very far off, if the trees weren't in the way, they should be able to see the shop front. Maybe they had been there before?
"I should go now, I shouldn't take up anymore of your time." Lazarus smiled apologetically. He felt like he was interrupting their weekend play time. "Maybe we will meet again in the next event? Probably in the summer?" He wasn't sure what plans Kyou has, but almost every summer they would have some sort of event.
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Posted: Sat May 25, 2013 3:45 pm
Cesc and Vivi both looked as the fire sigel pointed toward his destination. To Vivi, there was something adorable about how domestic the sigel seemed to be, despite an appearance that might be formidable to some. In looks, there was something in him that reminded her of Rivener, but somehow Laz's were more tempered, down-to-earth. He seemed like the sort who might be a good, dependable friend.
"Ah, of course! You should go, that farmer has wonderful fruits but often sells out early," said the Frenchwoman. "But wait -- let me give you our card." She pulled a slim wallet out of her pocket and pulled out one of the Vermillion Bakery business cards. "If you are ever in the neighbourhood, I hope you will pop by!"
Cesc nodded in agreement to this, smiling warmly at the sigel. "I hope there will be an event soon -- hopefully one without rain or danger! It has been a pleasure, Laz." He put out a hand to shake the sigel's in farewell.
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Posted: Mon May 27, 2013 7:17 am
"Oh dear, I should hurry then!" Lazarus couldn't help but cried out when Vivi mentioned about the fruit stall selling out early. He don't want to spend the entire afternoon hunting down more fruit stalls for strawberries and mangoes. But before he bid them farewell, he did managed to snag the business card from Vivi. Vermillion Bakery, sounds like somewhere Kyou would be eager to visit!
With a final handshake with the Frei, he said farewell to the both of them, and continued on his journey across the park to the fruit stall. Before disappearing behind the line of trees, he turned around to look back at the direction where the two were at, and was glad to see that they are back playing their ball throwing game. They are a nice lot, the two of them. Lazarus could see that they are very attached to each other, almost like siblings, like family...
Does his count as family? Is Kyou his family? Those thoughts crossed his mind as he turned back around. However they were quickly swept aside for the mean time as he spotted mangoes in the fruit stall just across the street. He didn't see any strawberries, but maybe they had them on the other side. Patiently, he waited for the traffic light to turn green before half dashing across the street.
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