Welcome to Gaia! ::

"Good luck, Pasha! Have fun!" Vi's cheery voice called out to her from the door of the city bus until its doors creaked closed, leaving the Muse on the street. Vi waved enthusiastically, even then...freckled face split with a merry grin. The human had travelled with her to the stop closest to Songbird Street, but insisted she go the rest of the way herself. The bus trundled away down the street, and Vi rushed to the back to continue waving out the rear window.

Melisande raised her own hand gracefully, and watched until it vanished, breath curling in the cold air. She looked far more put together than she felt. Her hair was loose around her shoulders for warmth, and she was wound up in a long opalescent scarf and grey vest with a single frog clasp under her slight chest. She had her thumbs stuck through the holes she'd sewn into her long sleeves, as Vi had taught her, and was grateful for the added layer against the chill. All the layers in the world couldn't help with the little butterflies that filled her, though. Getting the package from Rivener had been one of the most exciting moments she could remember. Hearing his confession, when she'd been stretched so thin and pushed so far, still seemed slightly unreal.

Being alone in a strange part of the town was a new experience for the Sigel. She looked both ways before pulling her new phone out of her pocket and poking at it until it turned on. Pasha smiled for a moment at the brightly colored little icons, face underlit with greens and blues, before tapping the one with the picture of a map.

Streets and names unfolded before her, zooming and angling and twisting. Pasha frowned, tilting her phone, but the map twisted as well. She glanced up at street names, drifting in a slow circle, before puzzling back down at the map. It had looked so easy when Vi demonstrated....

"Is it a game?" A little voice interrupted her, and Melisande started, glancing down at a well bundled little boy that had just rounded the corner. His mother smiled at the Muse apologetically and tried to tug him along, but the tyke persisted. "I can do it! Can I have a turn?"

Pasha glanced up at the mother, eyes wide. She'd never been approached for what she was carrying before, and frankly it was charming. The mother apparently took her look for askance, and shrugged, pulling out her own phone to text while the child was hopefully otherwise occupied. His hands shot up, and Pasha handed her phone over slowly.

"Aw, it's just directions. You've got it set to cars." He wiped his nose on the back of his sleeve and stuck his hand in his armpit, using pressure to pull off his mitten. He smushed his stubby finger around on the screen, leaving oily streaks, before handing it back up to Melisande. "I bet you don't even have games."

"I don't know if I do." Melisande admitted, accepting her phone. She favored the boy with a smile, but he grimaced and grabbed his mom's coat, tugging for her phone instead. "What...what game should I get?"

"Gaiaville. It's the best, you can get new buildings when you go around to new places and check in. Ama...lemme play!"

The pair wandered away without so much as a goodbye, and Pasha glanced back down to her phone, bemused. It still said maps at the top, but the pictures were gone...replaced by a picture of a person walking, and a simple list of directions. Pasha brightened, and raised her eyes to the nearest street sign.

"Left!" It sounded like a revelation, all joy and light in the Muse's unique voice. She clutched the phone, shifted her messenger bag, and drifted confidently down the avenue.

It wasn't hard to figure out which way to go...after all, a six year old could do it. She passed several cute shops and well decorated homes, wondering idly if they were Gaiaville buildings. The chill was finally starting to set in as she reached Songbird Street. The Muse fluffed her wings, and smiled at the little twinge. The hint of pain reminded her more of the treatment, and less of the cause.

Glancing every so often at her phone, Pasha crossed the street to the appropriate side and made her way towards 275, counting addresses as she went. The keys were a welcome weight in her pocket, and she curled her free hand around them, thinking of the Scorpion. 263...265...267...

Pasha stepped inside the little post shop, letting the door tinkle closed behind her. She was glad to be out of the chill, and even happier to see the kindly gentleman behind the counter. Melisande returned his smile, and took a look around. It really was a cute space, as post offices went...much nicer than the one Vi used. It was even decorated a little for Christmas! The Muse couldn't help feel a tiny surge of disappointment that Rivener, and even Zul, were not here. Pasha glanced down at the keys in her hand, her only other clues.

The first key was tiny, with a little '1' stuck on its face. Her eyes moved up to the boxes, and back over to the man behind the counter. Was she supposed to ask? She turned the ring over and over in both hands as she considered, and finally spotted the '1035' on the back. Sure enough, there was a box that matched, and excitement colored her cheeks, washing the disappointment away.

"May I?" She asked politely, and nodded her thanks as the old man gestured. Pasha fitted the little key in the lock and bent forward, face framed by curls, to give it a twist.

Pasha drew out the gift, lips parting and eyes bright. It was beautiful, and she hadn't even opened it. In good form, she closed the little door gently and removed the note first...opening it slowly with her free hand.

The smile the blossomed was sudden, and the Muse tucked her wings in sudden shyness. She didn't know what demands she'd made, but Rivener's message was so persuasive, so warm, that she looked up as though she expected to see him there.

There was only the gentleman behind the counter, who twitched his mustache at her over his smile.

Melisande blushed, and read the note over once more. She tucked it carefully into her messenger bag and brought her hand back to the package. Pasha turned a bit to the side out of modesty, shielding it from the kindly old man behind the postal counter, and caressed the dark ribbons with her fingertips. She caught the end of the rich brown satin and pulled gently, watching the bow dwindle and unravel with her bottom lip captured between her teeth. The red box opened just as slowly, and Melisande gasped as she revealed the treasures within.

Rivener's note suddenly made sense, and she flashed a rare grin down at the strawberries. With an uncharacteristic lack of restraint she plucked one of the fat berries from the box and held it up for a moment, admiring, before bringing it to her mouth.

It reminded her of the blackberry from the Dreaming, something she hadn't thought about in a long time. Melisande savored the bite, eyes closing as she remembered cool shadows and arching leaves. She could almost see the imposing thorns, like the points of the Scorpion's wings...

Pasha's eyes snapped open, and she gasped at the daydream. It had been vivid! Condensation beaded on the dark chocolate of the rest of her treat, now that it was out in the warm of the postal station, and she finished it in a few more quick nibbles. The faux jewel was pressed on the back of the key, the crown made its way into the rubbish bin, and the box she held close to her chest with one hand.

"Will you...take a picture, please?"

She offered her phone to the man shyly, unable to look him in the eye. He accepted it with a chortle, and tapped a few icons until the camera application slid into place. It seemed everyone knew how to use a phone but Melisande!

"Smile!"

Pasha glanced up, cheeks pink, still clutching the box to her chest. She tried to pose, but she could feel her brows quirking and her tiny, flickering smile. The phone made an camera artificial snap, and the man grinned, still holding it up.

"Perfect! Aside from the huge piece of chocolate on your mouth, perfect!"

Pasha laughed despite herself, bringing one hand up to her face to smooth the chocolate away with her thumb. The camera clicked again and she started, still in mid wipe.

"I was kidding about the chocolate, but that's the picture you want to use. Congratulations, miss. On your suitor?"

She accepted the phone back shyly, cheeks hot. Suddenly, being out in the cold again didn't sound too bad. Melisande glanced at the first photo and winced, unused to seeing herself in image. Her smile was just a curve of her lips, and a little crease showed between her brows. The lovely box was clutched to her chest like a life preserver. Quickly, she swiped to the second picture, hoping it was better.

It was night and day. Her hair was in motion as she turned, eyes still on the camera, but one hand was raised to her laughing smile, thumb pressed against her lower lip. The box was pressed against her heart, bright red against the white of her oversized scarf. She looked...enamored. She looked happy.

It wasn't just a look. Melisande smiled, and hit send.

"Thank you, sir. Happy holidays and best wishes in the New Year!"

"You as well, miss!"

The cold was welcome, if a bit bracing, as the door to the post tinkled shut behind her. Pasha took a deep breath and stole one last glance at the box before tucking it into her bag. The next set of directions were easy to recall...north to the bus terminal.

The Muse started north, the same enchanted smile still playing at the corners of her lips. Melisande was used to people looking at her, even pausing, but something new was happening. People she passed stared for a moment, and then started to beam, as though they magnified her inner joy back at her. The phenomenon was startling, but the Sigel relaxed into it, continuing her trek along the frosty avenue. Rivener's words still played through her mind, and she wondered if Zul had helped with the keys and gifts. She couldn't see the Demon writing lovely notes and tying bows, but then, she was having trouble picturing it of Rivener, as well...

Rivener. Pasha slowed, realizing abruptly she had been spelling his name terribly wrong in her head. All the Y's she had added suddenly seemed terribly archaic, but then, he'd always seemed like something from legend. Amusement carried her the rest of the way to the bus terminal, and Melisande curled her hand once again around the comforting weight of the keys.

Before she entered, out of curiosity, she turned the second key over and examined the back. The green sticker jewel from the first glinted beside it, bringing another bright smile.

The slight bustle of the train station faded into the background as the Muse read the letter. Re-read it. And re-read it. Tears that refused to fall filled her eyes, shimmering and refracting the inked lines into a kaleidoscope. Years. Difficult. Past. New. Darkness.

Brighter.

Promise.

Pasha hiccuped, happy and sad all at once, and finally folded the letter shut. It took its place next to the first, carefully, inside her bag. She pressed her eyes gently against the sleeve of her cabled shirt, near the thumb hole she'd so carefully stitched. She remembered all of it...the failed party, the painful karaoke, the misunderstanding at the record store. She also remembered the points of light...the garden party, the thrift store, the day after the Jungle...

Each one stood out like a monument in her memory. They weren't the only ones, but he acknowledged that as well. We don't have to erase the past. Nothing has to disappear to make room for the new...

Zavier. Rivener didn't say it, not directly, but Melisande could almost see the Frei's silhouette in the differences of the textured paper. She read both letters again as her head rested against the fogged window of the trundling bus. Her smile returned slowly, with a depth this time. What the Scorpion offered wasn't something fleeting, or superficial. He understood.

On a whim, Melisande fished her camera from her pocket. It took some doing to bring up the camera, but it was simple click to capture the picture. It wasn't a portrait...instead, Pasha snapped a pic of the scenery outside the bus window. The stretches of roadway between the towns, trees tipped with frost and stubborn new growth, and an inadvertent capture of her reflection. The expression on her face was visible, even in the ghostly image, but she didn't notice. She just hit send.

Pasha tucked away the phone, next to the stubs from the bus tickets. Her fingers brushed the box of strawberries, and she drew them out again. It was unreal, holding them as the bus trundled along. The empty spot made her smile, and she plucked a second strawberry from the box after a moments consideration.

"Did someone make those for you?"

A young woman, no more than sixteen, was watching her from across the row. Her black hair was tied back in a high ponytail, and her ears were hidden by headphones, not earmuffs. Melisande shared a smile with her. She felt older than the girl, which was strange. She knew she had existed for fewer years...but perhaps it was the experiences that mattered.

"I don't know. They look a little...perfect...to be handmade." Manners warred with possession, but it wasn't grace that won out. It was the opportunity. Pasha selflessly held the box out across the aisle, smiling at the girl. "They're delicious, though. Try one? They're from someone I knew when I was young. I never imagined he would turn out so..."

She trailed off, and smiled as the girl gaped. After a few stuttered 'are you sure's and 'I'd love one's she took one of the treats. Pasha pushed down a moment of uncertainty as the girl bit into it. Rivener had tried very hard, that day in Vi's shop, to teach her something. Beautiful things were meant to be shared.

"Mamazing!"

The Muse laughed, and put the lid back on the box as the bus slowed. "You know?" She rose and slid out from between the seats, favoring the girl with one last smile. "I think you're right!"

The absence of the warmth and vibration from the bus was a little jarring. Pasha didn't watch it leave...instead, she looked towards the convenience store and smiled. The keys jingled, and her breath curled in the frozen air.

Pasha looked around slowly as the doors swung shut behind her. The convenience store was colorful and tightly merchandised, shelves crowded with bags and boxes and wrappers with brand names boldly emblazoned. She found herself morbidly mesmerized by a machine that rolled row after row of glistening hot dogs, jolting only when the girl called out to her.

"Hello! I was wondering...do you know..." Pasha held the ring of keys to her chest, a little shy and more than a little excited. "...where I can use my key?"

Silently, Pasha hoped it wasn't the hotdog machine.

She drifted closer to the counter, holding out the key for inspection. It made her heart speed to ask something so unusual of a person she didn't know, but she trusted Rivener.

The thought was surprising, even after so much had been said between them. She did trust Rivener. Pasha settled one hand over the pocket of her messenger back where the sweet notes were hidden. It was an effort not to think about the last note. Every time she did, her eyes went bright with unshed tears.

Pasha unlocked the box carefully, a sweet smile appearing at the unique snick of the old key. She flicked her eyes up to the girl briefly, making sure the woman wasn't prying, and blinked as she realized the clerk was actively leaning forward.

Melisande sighed to herself, and opened the box.

Seeing his face made her smile, a true and genuine smile. Melisande brushed the bottom of the photo with her fingers, and turned it over to check the back. The only clue was the street sign, so Pasha committed it to memory and tucked it into her bag.

The woman was looking at her expectantly, and the Muse froze. Did she want details, or was she waiting for something else? "I'm on a...treasure hunt, I think." She confided, pink kissing her cheeks once again. "And may I have a hot cocoa?" She added, just in case she'd misread the look.

***

She peered at the map on her phone, holding it one handed so she could sip her little paper cup of cocoa. Some of the streets were so little they didn't have names displayed, and the Muse didn't know how to fix that...so she had decided to search the old fashioned way. Pasha glanced up, taking another sip, and smiled.

This was entirely too much fun.

As soon as she spotted the house, Melisande slowed. She didn't even need to check the address. The Victorian was like a cruel mirror of her own manor...showing a place abandoned and unloved, without Anderson's steadfast presence, without Aria's classic touch. The state of the manor recalled more than just the residence. One of her most precious memories with Zavier had been when he'd accompanied her to the address, before she'd known who lived there, or what it would mean to her. The way they'd clutched the cold iron bars, how the wind rustled through the barren branches of the orchard...

The remembrance threatened to take the wind out of her, but Pasha held steady, still gazing at the neglected residence. The colors, though chipped, were true. The delicate woodwork was dull, but intact. Her lips curved into a slow smile, lids lowered warmly as she gazed into the past. Without those memories, would she see the beauty before her? Without that love, could she accept the excitement that filled her?

Melisande didn't knock. She knew where she belonged. Pasha could almost see the Scorpion's sharp smile, and her heart skipped as she twisted the key in the lock.