Welcome to Gaia! ::

Riv wouldn't usually seek out this kind of place or event, but if he happened to come across it, he'd usually peek in. Today was no different. He'd gone out to entertain himself since Zul was not at home today, and as he wandered the streets he'd discovered this gallery having a show. It was small, understated, but there were a good number of people inside. Shrugging a shoulder, Rivener floated into the building, beginning to float along the displays. He was no expert, but he fancied himself artistic enough that he could tell what was good and what was not. This art seemed unrefined, almost childish, but the colors were bold as were the brush strokes. Childish or not, this artist felt her art and that was something interesting.

He turned into a cubby area, where a large painting sat, and was startled to find another floating body in attendance. Lulu!! And wah, she had a larger body! He recalled seeing her that horrible day they'd gone looking for Kyou in the woods, but he'd been unsure he saw right. Now there was no denying! And it also explained the few humans he'd heard whispering with open curiosity about How many floating torsoes are there??

Riv advanced quietly and settled beside the rabbit, arms crossed as he examined the art she was devouring with her eyes. With her eyes and, by the unmistakable pulse of her rune, with her stomach. "It doesn't do anything to the art to have you eat it? Like sap away the color or anything?" He wasn't sure WHAT she ate, to tell the truth. Perhaps it was the idea of the painting. Maybe just the color blue. Or something else altogether that he didn't understand: her essence was not clear so he wouldn't assume. With a grin the Scorpion turned to her. "So happy to see you again, Lulu. Look how much you've grown! Came to enjoy the art?"

Rivener laughed at the title. "You don't have to call me that," he said. "Just Riv will do. And thank you for the compliment." Being called mature was one of the BEST compliments. And as he watched, he could tell this particular flattery would apply to Lulu, too. She was looking grown up but also acting grown-up. Granted Riv hadn't known her long, but he remembered a very childish girl indeed.

"I was just wandering outside and happened to think this looked interesting. I live nearby, you see." He began moving to the next painting, looking at it with faint curiosity. "What about you? As I recall your home address isn't listed nearby... Came specifically for a meal? All alone?" Being a Sigel usually seemed to mean a lot more autonomy from one's guardian. Riv felt proud for his kin, having grown. Maybe soon she, like Riv and Zul and Melisande, might break free of needing to live with her human counterpart.

And there were other things that being a Sigel opened up! "If you don't mind me asking, Lulu, have you ever eaten or drank any human food yet? Or do you still just feed off... what was it, creativity?"

Rivener nodded at the question, his lips curling up into a smile. "My family moved to Durem after the old house flooded, and I moved out on my own earlier this year. You can see my apartment from just outside here, actually." He stopped to assess the next painting, though before he could form an opinion Lulu said something that shocked him. Riv blinked over with wide eyes. "You wha?? With Sev and We-... Why??" Not that there was anything wrong with having roomates, but We'rika wasn't on Rivener's list of nice people to be around, and Sevilin... Riv recalled a pool party a few years back where it had seemed like Sevilin and Lulu were mortal enemies!

The surprise was hard to get over, but the way Lulu brightened at the mention of carrot cake had Riv stifling a chuckle. "Carrot cake. Is that all?" He grinned, wondering if Laz would get mad that he kept inviting people to their drinking nights. "Because there's a thing that is only for Sigels, and since you're one of us now, maybe you'd like to come and try it. Lazarus and I go out drinking sometimes, and it might be fun to come along!... Sorry, I can't stop thinking about you living with Sevilin and We'rika. I thought you HATED Sevilin!" He laughed, deciding not to mention what a bad rolemodel We'rika was to be around.

Rivener could detect some bitterness about the reasons why she would have had to move in with the Sea fairy and his Guardian. He was curious, and worried for his kin as always, but if she was happy (and she seemed to be) then Rivener didn't feel the need to investigate. Much. Perhaps he'd look into things on the sly when he had nothing to do. Sevilin was a good friend after all, and if something was up...

Lulu didn't know Lazarus?! Rivener blinked at her as though she'd just said the sky was pink. EVERYONE knew Lazarus! Didn't they?!? He was Kyou's Raevan! He was at the Lab, like, 24/7! Riv didn't think it was possible for any of their kin to NOT have met the Incubus when they were first conscious! But apparently there was a first for everything. "Lazarus is one of my best friends and a really, really nice guy. He's Dr. Kyou's Raevan! I'm sure the two of you will be great friends." Maybe he should make some kind of tradition of this. Sigels coming to drinking night at least once. That means he would need to invite Xiu-... it would be fun to see Laz and Xiu drunk together! And Zul, of course. And maybe even Lucia, one night! Melisande had already been, but another excuse to have her around was always welcome. And Eiry, of course. Though Riv's little brother was so distant of late.

Lulu explained how she no longer hated Sev, and there was this odd wistfulness in her voice that had Rivener wondering... Until she just outright said he was her Prince now. Again Rivener blinked at her like she was telling him the sky was pink. "Sevilin? Your Prince??" He grinned, happy to hear that the two were no longer enemies, far from it. "I'm happy for you, then! Sev's a very good guy." He chuckled to hear that they annoyed one another still. "Sounds like you're having a good time in your new home. You're happy?"

They moved on, towards a different alcove where haphazardly joined items became statuesque installations. Riv never liked these- he didn't see where the art was in using old cans and wire hangers to make a shape. Or whatever other items this person had used. Give him the old masters and their proper statue carvings any day. "Is this stuff more delicious to you than the paintings?"

Riv grinned. Laz was different than Rivener, of course, but they were equally personable people, he thought. Lulu would like the Fire Raevan, Riv was sure of it.

As they looked at the new sculpture, Lulu described her "feeding" opinion of it and Rivener's brows rose in curiosity. Like a fruit you must peel? Was it possible to hide a food source, as ethereal as their food sources were? Apparently so, because the rabbit began poking as though she could coax some flavor out of the thing. Riv just stood back with arms crossed, watching as though he could get a clear view when the "creativity" would pour out.

Something did pour out, but it was not creativity. The cans began tipping and Riv lurched forward. "Carefu-!!" The thing righted itself, and the Scorpion let out a sigh of relief, thinking they were saved, but his celebration was too soon. The sculpture rattled and collapsed in a cacophony of aluminum-on-wood-flooring, and Rivener held his breath, wings wide in horror and mouth covered by a hand. There was no one else in their little alcove, but he could hear the sounds of people walking about briskly, looking for the source of the noise, sounding worried.

"s**t! Help me, let's-..." Briskly Rivener lowered himself to start picking up cans and wires by the armful, handing them to Lulu one after the other. "Just put them back on! Quick, hurry!!" Oh god, this thing better not be expensive.

Rivener kept looking back to make sure no one was walking in. Thank god this place was a confusing tangle of rooms and alcoves! No one had burst in on them yet but any minute now... There, the last can. Riv shoved it at Lulu then straightened himself up, brushing his clothes straight and finally looking at the sculpture again. His mouth hung open. "LULU!" he hissed in a mild panic. "That looks nothing like what it was!! You-... s**t, let's just go." Footsteps were heading there way and there was no time to fix this. Red-cheeked, Riv headed towards the room's second exit as nonchalantly as he could, coralling Lulu along with him by extending a wing to cradle her.

He turned the corner just as someone entered the room behind them, and he let out a shaky groan, going right through THIS room and into the next one, trying to put some distance between them and the sculpture. ...In fact, "Did you feed enough? I think we should just get out of here. Just in case." He was eyeing the exit, which he could see from this new room...

Rivener didn't need to be told twice. He floated them straight on through this room and towards that promise of freedom, the EXIT sign shining like a beacon. It was hard to look casual when you hurried like they did, but no one seemed to be paying much attention to anything but the art. Closer, closer, closer-... And out!! Rivener actually sped UP once they were outside, going to jogging speed and then right to running speed, tugging Lu along. They zoomed down the street and turned at the next block, and finally the Scorpion slowed a little, starting to laugh.

"Well that was... That was eventful!" he laughed, putting a hand on his stomach. The mental image of the Castle of Cans to mind and he laughed harder, shaking his head. "Why a castle? Lu, it was like a weird tree thing, why did you make a cute little castle instead?" Oh lordy, he couldn't stop laughing. "I bet they're going to be so shocked!"