Welcome to Gaia! ::

With spring well under way, Xiu was looking forward to the warmer months ahead. It felt good to not constantly be plagued by cold fingers, cracked lips and numb cheeks. While the height of summer may entail sweatiness and stickiness (which were both horrible in their own special way), Xiu decided that for the moment, all was good. A little bright with a chance of rain later on maybe but still perfect day for an outing.

Which was a good thing as there was an orchid exhibition in the Gambino Horticultural College and Botanical Gardens. Xiu had read about the exhibition on a poster across the street and it seemed like the perfect opportunity to brighten the house up a little with some springtime flowers.

Slipping on a modest cotton jumper over a well ironed white shirt (Lazarus had picked the set at the local mall), Xiu then left a message for his guardian on the dining table; telling her of his whereabouts.
That done, the Sigel then took the next bus available to the Gambino Horticultural College and Botanical Gardens.

The Gardens, which has seemed so quiet and sleepy during the winter months was now flushed with the new life of spring. Flowers of every kind and colour were beginning to bloom (if they have not already). It was a truly breathtaking sight to behold.

Throngs of tourists were already ambling along with their smartphones and cameras and slowly but surely the crowd was making its way towards the main event. The orchid exhibition.

While aware of the existence of many species and hybrids of orchids, to actually see them in person was a different experience altogether. Never before had Xiu seen such vibrant colours or such delicate petals. These flowers had clearly been cultivated by professionals.

“And the price clearly shows it too,” muttered the Sigel softly as he glanced at the price tag that was tucked discreetly beside the pot. In his musings, Xiu was unaware that he was practically floating shoulder to shoulder with a fellow raevan.

Xiu was startled when he felt the tap on his shoulder. It wasn’t often that someone would be inclined to pat a half formed being on his shoulder and to offer some advice on the exhibition at hand.

“I’m afraid lilies aren’t quite what I am looking fo- ... Oh,” said Xiu when he finally came face to face with the person (or should he say...raevan?) who had spoken.

“Oh,” said Xiu again as he took in the other’s form. This was a new Raevan; one that he had not met before.

“I’m looking for some orchids for my guardian. I’m Xiu by the way and you are?” asked the Sigel in return. Briefly the Sigel’s blue eyes scanned the crowds, looking for anyone who might be the Frei’s guardian. While seeming independent, the Sigel was pretty sure that the Frei before him was a little too young to be out on her own.

The Sigel reached out and took Tatiana’s proffered hand. “The pleasure’s all mine,” replied the Sigel with a smile. There was certainly nothing coy about this little lady. “It just so happens that I do, in fact have a surname. It’s Lee,” said Xiu.

It wasn’t that the Sigel was ashamed of his surname or anything. It was just that...however you put it;- Xiu Lee or...(as the Chinese would prefer) Lee Xiu, the name had a rather feminine ring to it. At least...in Xiu’s opinion it did.

The awkward dip that Tatiana gave off while trying to point out the Moth Orchid did not escape the Sigel’s attention. She’s young. Very young thought the Raevan with some measure of horror. His first instinct was to reach out and help the younger raevan steady herself but the Sigel quickly discarded that idea when Tatiana made it very clear that she would not want any attention drawn to that slip up.

“That is indeed interesting” said Xiu sincerely. He was impressed with Tatiana’s knowledge; the fact that she had actually taken the initiative to read up on orchids prior to the exhibition; and the frei’s ability to do independent research using a computer. Xiu very much doubted he would be able to do the same were he as young as her. “An orchid that requires minimal care would definitely be an advantage,”

That was when Xiu became aware of the human that was approaching them. The man seemed worried and out of breath. Xiu did not blame him. Any responsible guardian should feel worried about their young charge.

Nevertheless the Sigel felt himself stiffening under the guardian’s watchful glare. As unintimidating as her guardian was, it would not do to give him the wrong impression. “A good day to you sir,” said Xiu politely while Tatiana huffed over the premature independence she had. It was frustrating to be under constant surveillance but...

“I’m afraid I would have to agree with your guardian,” said Xiu quietly. “There are many untrustworthy characters out there made all the more dangerous if you are...,”

Here the Sigel hesitated. He would have liked to say ...if you are unable to spot malevolent intentions like me but the Sigel was reluctant to let Mr. Moore in on his abilities; especially so after the guardian had expressed his suspicion of Xiu being either a murderer or a sicko. Not that Xiu had perfectly clean hands mind you; he had witness a killing (and not report it), taken a life (kind of) and drank blood. That was definitely...grey area territory right there.

But that was neither here nor there and Xiu ended his sentence with “...all the more dangerous if you are young ,”

Turning his attention to Cam, Xiu made a small bow. “It would be an honour to chaperone Tatiana. That is...if the lady chooses to agree,” said Xiu, remembering the frei’s independent nature.

Xiu watched the exchange of words between human and raevan. Part of him was amused by the lively banter and yet...another part of him was a little affronted by the manner in which the young frei was treating a human who obviously meant well. But who was he to interfere?

Folding his wings back, Xiu smiled when Tatiana explained that both she and Cam were eidetics. “Two eidetics within a household? That is remarkable,” said Xiu with a nod. Coming from a family who valued education and books himself, the Sigel could appreciate (and envy) a skill such as that.

“And no worries Cam (may I call you that?). I’ll see that no harm comes to the young lady,” said Xiu with a reassuring nod followed by a small chuckle. “What could possibly happen in an orchid exhibition held in a horticultural college?”

When Tatiana mentioned that her actual guardian was a federal agent, a look of surprise crossed the Sigel’s feature. “Would said guardian be... Harrison Reed Troxel by any chance?” asked Xiu with some measure of curiosity. “ An army officer of some sort? He carried himself well during the incident in the forest,” said Xiu. “I admire his leadership skill,”

“I do not know him well,” admitted Xiu. “But I remember his name. He introduced himself as such above the chaos,”

Then realizing that Tati might appreciate being brought up to date, Xiu gave the frei a quick summary of their quest to search for the missing Doctor, the effects of the “eye” of fear and how they had finally managed to defeat the horrible thing.

“While the search party got out alive, I am afraid that Dr. Kyou is still unconscious,” said Xiu turning to Cam. “And this worries me; not only because he is the person responsible for the creation of raevans but also…because he is a guardian to a friend of mine…,”

“But I should apologize for bringing this dreary topic up,” said Xiu with a slight dip of his head. “We shouldn’t be spoiling such a lovely day as this; Ummm… Cam, if Miss Tati and I could take our leave? There’s going to be a band playing soon and it would be a treat to get an unobstructed view”

The Sigel realized a minute too late that he had said too much. He should have realized that even though Tatiana was mature for her age, the young frei would still find the subject disturbing;- about evil eyes and one’s worst fears coming to life.

There was an awkward moment or two while the group sorted themselves out and the Sigel was clearly relieved when Tatiana showed interest in the prospect of watching a band play.

“Yes, it was written on one of the brochures,” said Xiu with an affirmative nod of his head. Taking Tatiana’s offered hand, Xiu paused just a moment to admire the younger raevan. Smiling with dimples and all, Tatiana was the picture of health and wholesomeness and her eyes...there was just a hint of mischievousness in them that told the Sigel that this was a raevan that knew what she wanted and knew how to go about getting it.

Laughing, Xiu shook his head. “No, I do not listen to music all that often, sadly. Only sometimes in the car when my guardian is driving or when someone turns the radio on in the living room. My guardian is fond of pop songs,”

“And I never would have guessed that Cam was the singing sort...err...not at first glance,” said Xiu looking impressed by this bit of information. “Does he sing often?”

Meanwhile, the band could be seen readying their instruments and preparing their score.

The Sigel could not help but admire the youthful manner in which the Frei floated with her skirt swishing lightly about her ribbon. Such exuberance and enthusiasm! Xiu wondered if there ever was a time that he had been that full of energy. Probably not. He seemed to recall himself being mostly prim and proper and sometimes horrified at the careless antics of others.

Blue eyes turned to the Frei as she chattered on about Cam. If her stories were to be believed, Cam had led quite a colourful life during his younger days and it was no wonder that the man had cast a doubtful look in the Sigel’s direction when they had just met. One had to be street smart when living on the road after all and Tati would be considered as a very pretty lady by anyone’s standard.

“Flours and harmonics? Is that what they are called?” asked Xiu as he directed his gaze in the direction of Tati’s hand. From his vantage point Xiu could see several band members already in position. It would not be long now. “Let’s get going then. Otherwise all the good places would be taken,”

A crowd was already beginning to form around the space where the band was situated and for a moment, the Sigel was afraid that he would lose Tati in the ever expanding crowd. “Stick close by, Tati,” said Xiu to the Hamsa. “It would be troublesome if we were separated in this crowd,”