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 Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2013 10:53 pm
Who: Alex, Melisande & Zul
When: Shortly before noon
Where: Outside Lab 305
Weather: Bright, clear and dry
"No problem Zeke," the demon said as he floated backwards out of the Lab's automatic doors, "see you later." Zul waved a hand as the doors whispered to a close, blocking his vision of the brightly colored male and instead affording him only his reflection in front of the parking lot mirrored in the dark pane glass. It was promising to be a warm day and he supposed he should have checked the weather report before trying to find his Guardian; if the temperature wasn't too high, she tended to stay home to work on her reports on the porch. It wasn't surprising that even after all this time, she still had a small phobia about being in the office when she didn't have to be. No amount of renovation of the Lab would take away the memory of what happened there some two years ago.
Running a gloved palm through his spiky hair, the Sigel floated backwards a few more feet before turning to make his way down the sidewalk, his thoughts more than a little preoccupied. He hadn't seen Alex in a while and she was a deceptive little brat on the phone when it came to how she was doing or the truth of her condition for the day. As such, Zul made it his priority that day to see her with his own eyes, especially since she'd been a bit dodgy to get a hold of after some incident with a Frei he'd met months ago. Reflective as he was, stewing over his inner thoughts of his Guardian and just how much toll the job was taking on her, he wasn't exactly overly aware of his surroundings, bright eyes downcast, his expression distant with a small, troubled furrow in his brow.
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Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2013 9:37 am
It had taken courage to return to the Lab alone. Melisande paused under the shade of slender tree, staring at the structure with one hand resting lightly against the trunk. The Muse had been there for a while...seeing what was, and not what was before her now.
Though the day was warm enough, the chill within her was very real. Her rune was dimmed, barely visible under the hem of the fitted grey dress shirt Rivener had lent her. Her fingers barely peeked out just past the too-long sleeves, making her look as young as she suddenly felt. When the doors opened, she braced, trying to steel herself to close the distance between the tree and the entrance. "Remember why you are here!" She murmured, and squeezed her eyes shut for a moment.
When she opened them again, the doors were closing, and she was no longer alone. Someone was leaving...no, not someone. Him.
Pasha's breath stilled, snatched away in a thrill of fear. Zul. Her fear of the Lab was a pittance compared to the reaction the Demon catalyzed. The buds at her temples closed tightly, hiding their blush of color. Melisande wished she could hide, but suddenly the other Sigel was past...leaving her and her worry behind.
He hadn't even seen her.
Relief. Relief and...something else. How many times had she seen her own reflection, captured in his eyes? How many times had she been pinned by the force of his presence alone? To not even be noticed...
An ill feeling washed over her. His face had been troubled. What could trouble a demon? And why did she feel so odd, so out of place? Perhaps it was his expression, she told herself. Anything that could worry a demon should worry them all.
"Zul?" His name escaped her lips before she could pull it back, tremulous yet bright.
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Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 9:41 pm
It was easy for him to be lost in his own concerns, his own thoughts, his own petty needs. That was his life, really, a cycle of keeping up with those that mattered and maintaining his own happiness and well-being. It didn't always work out to the best, but that was how the world turned.
And yet, that soft voice sounding out his name put a pause on his world as he knew it.
The demon didn't stop in his tracks, but lost his momentum, floating slower until he became still. His eyes were a touch wide as they stared accusingly at the pavement, as though the very land had played a cruel joke on him. But no; even in his darkest of heart, he wouldn't have tormented himself with thoughts of the one who had seen him at his truest. The Sigel turned slowly, one vibrant blue eye visible in profile over his shoulder before his body completed its cycle, facing the flower that he'd not the strength to touch. She was as beautiful as ever, and seeing her there brought forth that familiar ache that touched his core when she was near. Something tangible there between them, taut and stealing what air he had in his lungs.
"Melisande?" Even as tightly withdrawn as she was - a gem that could not hide even though she seemed to be trying - she was bright to him. She always was. There was something lacking in her as he gazed upon her this time, though -- perhaps a paleness in her features or a touch of fear that wasn't aimed at him, but this was not the same way he'd seen her in her stand against Roux. It concerned him, earning that delicate furrow of his brow and consideration in his thoughtful sky-lit eyes.
Self-aware, Zul floated a touch lower, but no closer, fingers flexing at his side with a helpless sort of uncertainty before extending a hand to her in gesture more than invitation. "Are you well? I hope I didn't startle you." He would have said he hadn't meant to frighten her, but they both knew that might run a little to close to old wounds.
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Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 9:03 am
There is was. The moment his eyes locked on to her, Melisande could feel it. The prickle on her skin, the cold knot just below her heart. The fear came with a rush of focus, which muted the everything around him. How could no one else see it? A Demon among them, hiding nothing in appearance nor action, and the world continued blithely on? He reached out, and she bumped against the trunk of the tree before she realized she'd been floating backwards, curls catching against the bark as she slid downwards a fraction.
"You always startle me." The Sigel's tone wasn't accusatory, but quiet and sincere. The stress was more evident when she spoke. The last few weeks had been more than trying...she was coming apart at the edges, and Pasha silently hoped she had the strength for this.
"Why were you...there?" This time, there was an edge to her voice. She didn't take her eyes off Zul long enough to look to the Lab, studying his face for something more than his smooth, smoky voice revealed.
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Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 10:28 am
The hand slowly fell to his side, bright eyes briefly dipping away from her soulful blues. "I know," he replied in the same tone, though his was touched with a tinge of dismay. Of all those who saw him, why did it have to be her had the deepest insight? Gathering himself upright again, he too floated backwards and to the side, no longer between her and the freedom of the parking lot. There, he crossed his arms for something to do, fingers idly tapping against a fur-lined armband.
Zul's brows lifted slightly at the question. That was...curious. "I was coming to see my woman." And there; that wrinkle of trouble returned to his features, eyes flicking back to the closed doors not that far off. "She works here." Drawing in a slow breath, he again looked to Melisande, but this time, he made no gesture nor move to close their distance. If anything, he pulled back even further. "She was there, you know," he let the weight of his words bring to light which he was talking about, "and she hasn't gotten over it. I come to see her when I can."
He felt like his words were shorter than usual and far more bare, but Melisande had that affect on him. Like he needed to fight for every minute he could keep her in his presence, to lay his cards out on the table so she might not regard him as a being waiting for the opportunity to tear another face off. Lifting his chin a little, he tried to shake off that dark mantle that clung stubbornly to him. "And you? Zeke is inside if you need something. He doesn't bite." Not like me.
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Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 3:20 pm
His woman? The shock of that statement was amplified by his next words. She was there, you know. She didn't know why it surprised her that Zul had someone special in his life, but that fact was made all the more startling by revelation that she, too, had been subject to the horror of that event.
She was there... Melisande realized, meeting his eyes reluctantly. ...and she is still his woman? Does she know...? The question was written plainly on her face, but she didn't dare ask. How could she? What would she do with the answer even if she had it?
Pasha kept her thoughts to herself, or tried. She glanced to the Lab for just a moment, and a breeze rustled the leaves overhead. As Zul lifted his chin and returned her question, her eyes flicked back to his face. "I'm here..." She paused, as something dawned on her. A small, sad smile vanished a moment after it appeared. "...for the same reason I was last time. Isn't that strange?"
She pushed away from the tree, a few curls catching against the rough bark and stretching out behind her before falling back into place. "You helped me in, through the ice, but..." The memories snatched the color out of her cheeks, and Pasha suddenly wished she was still hiding against the tree. Instead, she pressed one hand against her slender stomach, splayed fingers hidden by the too large cuff.
"I never found what I came for." She kept her eyes on him, and it was obvious what she was seeing. Her fingers tightened against the silky material of Rivener's shirt, gathering in her little fist.
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Posted: Wed Jul 03, 2013 3:47 pm
His expression remained held with his thoughts in his eyes, and even though Melisande didn't respond verbally to his comment about Alex, he could see her own thoughts plain as day in her own beautiful gaze. Zul didn't know how to answer that unspoken question, however; all he knew was the relationship his Guardian had with the deceased Sigel had given her a nervous breakdown after she'd awakened from her injuries. He didn't know how to tell her that what he did was far less terrifying than the implications of what had happened to the Guardian of the Ice King that had never been found. Far be it for him to speak ill of the dead, as it were.
"I see," he murmured, though there was a brief flicker of amusement in his otherwise dour gaze. It was either some cruel trick of life or something more foreboding if they were both there again for a reason yet undisclosed.
And before he could speak further, she offered her voice again, but the memory it played seemed to diminish her once again, making the demon float back a little more. Zul felt like his very presence was draining her of her essence, stealing the beauty she held. It made him uncomfortable, for it was the very last thing he ever wanted of the haunted female. Keeping his floating height a hair lower still, he turned his eyes towards the doors that continued to reflect the heating pavement. "I'm sure Zeke can help you," he offered delicately, not sure if she even knew who he was, "it's his job, after all."
Subtly, the demon lifted himself, but his posture remained poor. "I wont be a hurdle for you, fair Melisande," his voice was a little more quiet than usual, "I only wish to see your issue resolved peacefully." Without him having to make himself even more a monster in her eyes.
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Posted: Wed Jul 03, 2013 5:18 pm
She listened with wide eyes, though her lips were pressed together. The way he shrank back from her...it reminded Pasha so much of Rivener, the when they were young. She didn't know how to deal with the Demon's aggression, but rejection she understood all too well.
"Zeke?" She spoke the name with little expression to her usually vibrant voice. It was obvious the Muse had never heard of this person, and the idea of befriending someone new was far from the top of her list at the moment. Zul seemed willing enough to give her passage, but would this Zeke feel the same way? She studied the fringe of grass between them, the way the greenery met the pavement suddenly seeming poignant.
"It may be his job..." She reasoned, trying to sound brave. One hand reached back and sought the rough bark. "...but I have no assurance he can give me what I want." This was a sacrifice she would have to make. After all, what was the worst that could happen?
Slowly, Melisande raised her eyes to Zul's. "At least I know you can get the job done." The condemnation in her voice rang clearly, but this time, she did not judge. This time, she was asking for a favor.
"You got me in, before." Her voice was softer this time, but she did not cajole. It was simple truth. Though it terrified her, the Muse floated closer, noting the way he had been giving ground. If he wished to see her quest resolved...
"I need in. To the heart of the Lab." Her voice was a whisper. Everything she wanted, everything she needed, offered to him in a breath. Her wings clenched against her back, and her fingers tightened against the unseen bark.
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Posted: Wed Jul 03, 2013 6:52 pm
"Yes, he's the colorful, kind man who works with potential keepers," was his automatic response, hoping to put her at ease. It gave him pause that she hadn't heard of Zeke, but he supposed that was also why she didn't know why he was here. Odd that she didn't know who was working here...didn't all Raevans and Guardians know who to seek in times of need?
The conviction of her words surprised him, and it showed in the lift of his dark brows over now attentive blue eyes. Zul was no longer struggling with keeping Melisande from bolting from his presence, but now instead...found himself under her trusted guidance. How in the blazes did that even work? There was something in the way she addressed him, her acknowledgement of what he was capable of without fear in her address, that gave him a measure of comfort. The Sigel straightened until he was at his proper floating height, his gaze upon her without hesitation, head cocked to the side as he regarded her with consideration.
And then she entrusted him with something that felt more sacred in nature -- her hope. Something she seemed to be without for the years that had passed. Zul didn't understand what she needed, and though he was in his element of being able to help, he wasn't entirely sure he could give her what she desired. Oh, but what he wouldn't give to be able to!
Lifting his chin, he lidded his bright eyes, his voice stronger where hers had faltered. "I can get you in," he agreed, "but that doesn't mean I can get you what you need." It was difficult to admit the words, the likes of which felt not unlike a glaring flaw in him just then. Hesitating, he added with cautious consideration, "What is it that you seek? I know the Lab very well, and if I can't get you in...I know who can."
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Posted: Wed Jul 03, 2013 7:59 pm
"Records." It was an easy answer, and one she didn't hesitate to give. The fact that she was asking it of him, and not Kyou, told him the extent of the request. She didn't want a picked over file folder. Melisande wanted it all.
She slowed as he floated higher, bringing both hands around to her stomach. They fisted against the pearly buttons, pressing close for comfort. There was more. The confession swelled in her throat, and for the first time, the Muse found herself unable to speak. She gazed at Zul...dread still tightening the corners of her eyes, but something stronger kept her back straight. Riv's shirt was too big, and her hair was a mess, but the Sigel tried her best to square and hold steady.
"Remains." The word was so soft, so vulnerable, that the breeze nearly snatched it away. He'd been taken from her so long ago, but even now, Pasha's heart ached for her lost love. She didn't waver, holding the Demon's gaze with every ounce of courage in her.
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Posted: Wed Jul 03, 2013 10:15 pm
Two words, the last costing her more than the former. The demon frowned slightly, and against his best intentions, he floated closer to her, as though he might dispel the chill of her lonesome eyes. Zul sorely wanted to smooth her frayed locks and try to coax her wings to be as open and at ease as her smile, but even that was not to be seen around him.
"Remains of who? Roux?" He hadn't known any other Raevans that had died recently. Zul remembered a 'Gage' dying, the Ice Rose perishing at his touch, the rolling loss of the Storm...but those were all so long ago. Lifting a hand, he idly rubbed his thumb over his goatee. "I'm not trying to pry. I just need to know where to look, where to take you." Of course it wasn't his business. He just...he really wanted to chase those shadows from Melisande's eyes.
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Posted: Sat Jul 06, 2013 1:42 pm
Melisande tilted her head, regarding him warily. Did he not remember his promise, to tell her what had truly happened to her love? She'd been given vague answers, but the details were still precious to her. "Zavier." She answered, voice still quiet. It was hard to say his name, even now.
She didn't know how to explain that she'd never gotten closure, even after all this time. As the Muse grew older, the loss grew more poignant. She hadn't truly realized what she'd lost until she'd lived enough to appreciate it. Her hand relaxed on the shirt slowly, and she smoothed the grey fabric flat.
"Can you do it?" There was a lilt of challenge in her voice, but it was directed at herself as well. If he said no, there was nothing keeping her here. But if he said yes...
Could she do it? Enter the Lab, with Zul, again?
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Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2013 6:46 am
Of course.
The sky-scented Zavier, whose end he might have brought about unwittingly.
For a moment, Zul's eyes averted her own, staring off sightlessly to the street beyond the Lab. There was no question in his mind if he could take her where she desired to be - he knew where the files were. He'd watched Alex pour over them, struggling to find anything that showed that she could have stopped what had happened. She'd even asked him about the time before his death, since he was one of the last ones, if not the last, to see Zavier alive, as noted in the file. No, he knew he could get what she wanted, but he wasn't so certain it would do him any favors.
Zul exhaled slowly. He would help Melisande, of course, but would he ever be more than a monster to her existence? He was beginning to have his doubts.
Turning his attention back to her, he took small solace in the fact that she had ceased to fidget with the shirt she wore and that she was looking at him with resolve rather than disquiet. It was a rare opportunity that he had, being able to show that her hope was not misplaced. Dipping his tri-horned head in a nod, he met her gaze. "Through front door or side. You choose how to obtain what you desire, and I will make it so." He would not force her to be a thief in midday if she didn't want that stain on her hands. He could float her through the front door and Zeke probably wouldn't do more than utter a flirty comment -- but he would do what he had to for her peace of mind. It was the least he could do.
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Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2013 8:49 am
For a long moment, the Muse was quiet. The wind tugged at her curls, but she did not blink...huge blue eyes fixed on Zul's face. She wouldn't believe it was possible until what she desired was in her hands, but what was the worst that could happen? At the worst...she would be with Zavier again.
"The side door." She didn't know Zeke, and didn't want to involve him. Melisande's eyes shifted, back to the Lab, and she shivered the slightest bit. She didn't want to involve anyone...but if fate had chosen to present her to Zul once again, she would take the opportunity.
"Please."
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Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2013 9:41 am
"Side it is." Pressing one hand to his chest, he bowed his head to her. "This way then, m'lady."
Zul was not about to take her back to that fated balcony. Instead of passing in front of the glass doors and risking being seen again, he floated towards Melisande, but around her, careful not to touch as though the mere brush of their skin might scar her in a new way. Tucking his wings tight to his back, he moved around the side of the building furthest from view, looking back to Melisande every so often to make sure she wasn't caught on an errant branch or hesitating at their proximity.
Pressing beyond the wrought-iron gate and surprisingly well-tended garden, he lead the way through the weather-worn benches and beyond one glass door, pausing by the second. "We'll go through the cafeteria. My woman's office is directly across the way, and it's there that his file is kept." He held one finger up to his lips to indicate the need for silence before he opened the door, greeted by a chill blast of air conditioning and a thankfully empty room that smelled something between coffee and leftovers.
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