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 Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2016 2:47 pm
█║ WHO: Anya, Zul
█║ WHEN: Late morning/early afternoon
█║ WHERE: Stripmall on the Boardwalk
█║ WEATHER: Warm, but the ocean breeze makes it cooler
It was a beautiful day, the type that Zul used to enjoy as a Frei on the old cliffside house where he'd been raised. The sky was an unbroken soft blue until it met the horizon, clouds wispy and cotton balled above the yawning stretch of darker blue water. There was some strange, delicious sense of belonging near the ocean for him, though he never quite understand why - his soul was more attune to brimstone and his essence was half water in its hardest state, and yet, there was a siren call here. Some form of peace. Even if minuscule, he'd drink it up, fill his lungs with the salt air and roll the flavor of crashing waves on his tongue.
It was a reminder of what home felt like, and he needed to hold onto that, seeing as to whom he was waiting to meet with. The one born of murder and pain, who was as calm and collected and fathomless as the ocean horizon: Anya.
Shopping, the invitation had been. Maybe window shopping, maybe actually doing something productive in the exchange of money, but it had been with the intent and understanding that they'd be spending time together. Just them. No Guardians as buffers, no friends to ease any stagnant silences, just the widow and the demon and this semblance of a normal life. Zul wasn't concerned about it, not in the way he may have been in the past - they'd both grown, changed, faced a lot of bad s**t and still came out floating. That had to stand for something.
This was an olive branch. A day to see if maybe, there was a future that they could cross paths amicably. It could be a long shot, or it could be glorious - but they wouldn't know until they tried.
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Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2016 3:55 pm
After a re-connection with Iorek after so very long, Anya had realized she had spent far too long away from those she had come to consider close enough to be friends. Time slipping away wasn't quite the excuse as it had been in the past and she realized, guiltily, that waiting for the phone to ring wasn't just going to cut it anymore. She would have to reach out, reconnect as she had with the Gargoyle, and hope for the best. So far she was one for one and that did help to bolster her resolve in the face of uncertainty and questioning. She was going to do this.
Her contact with Zul had, initially, been rather brief. She couldn't recall their first meeting at her birth despite her best tries so truthfully she hadn't seen the Baphomet in any true light for the longest time. He was family albeit the kind you saw more of over the holidays than any other time, at least up until rather recently. It had been awhile since she had last saw Zul, but in recent times they had gotten on a little better she felt. They were hardly besties, but there was something there. Could be there. Perhaps even should be there.
Why not?
She reached out. A few shaky-handed texts had been shared and then a time and a place set. It was both relieving and nerve wracking all at the same time, leaving the Widow with a slight jitter even in the warm mid-morning sun. It was going to be just the two of them - again, relieving and nerve wracking - so she had tried her best to dress nicer than usual for the occasion. A comfortable and breezy tunic-type top, a few bits of jewelry, a different style to her hair. She even went so far as to leave her usual tote at home in favor of a small clutch just big enough for some spending money and her phone. She wanted to appear open to him, as wanting to be there, because she did want these things. Anastacia wanted the could be, the should be, and - hopefully - the future would be.
Still, she felt the nerves return when she saw him there and in response clutched her little bag tighter in her long-fingered hands. She stopped still for a few heartbeats worth of moments, taking him in and noting the changes she could see. When there was no more to see without getting closer to him still, she readied herself and took the plunge.
"Zul," his name came out with the mildest of tones and as a statement rather than a question. She knew this Sigel after all, even if it wasn't as well as she would have liked. Today would fix that, surely. "It's been awhile but...It's good to see you again."
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Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2016 11:23 am
He heard his name and turned, dark brows lifting subtly when his blue eyes found her. In the two or so times he'd seen Anya, he'd never seen her so...soft. Zul didn't really know how to put it into words, seeing Anya in a tunic-blouse and holding a clutch, looking for all the world like a normal girl, even if she was missing more than half her body and had spider legs in her hair (and who was he to judge, with three horns and practically naked all times of the year?). He was pleased though, and it showed in the slow smile that curved his lips and the tilt of his head to look her over.
"Hello, Anastacia," he returned smoothly, facing her. "It's good to see you. You look well - and beautiful, might I add." The Sigel tipped his tri-horned head to her in his genteel form of greeting, not so much a stranger to shake hands, not so close as to hug her. Zul was mindful of the distance but it wasn't a threshold either of them could broach yet - but that was the theme of the day, after all.
"I was very happy to hear from you," he added, remembering to try. "It's been -- a very long time, and I would love to hear how you've been, what's new - anything. Everything. But we can chat as we peruse, no?" Gesturing down the stretch of stores behind him with a gloved hand, he maintained an easy and affable smile. "Did you want to start our gander anywhere in particular?"
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Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2016 1:17 pm
His smile was something she was happy to see with all things considered. With it followed smooth words spoken not unkindly. The nerves she had been feeling weakened a little more. Her wings relaxed - she hadn't realized she had been holding them so tensely until that moment - but her crown betrayed her and the legs scurried around her head. This was good. This was exciting. This idea had not proved to be a bad one thus far.
"Thank you. You're too kind." The compliment was responded to with grace and graciousness in the form of a slow fall of her shoulders and a returned bow of the head. "And you look...How should I say it? Mmm...Sigeldom continues to suit you."
She remembered him as a Frei just well enough to believe that he had been more boyish than he was now. Maybe it had been the lack of a fully formed upper body or maybe his face had just been more babyish with its lack of facial hair until his growth. Regardless of what he had been, what he was now was certainly more appropriate for what she knew of him. The Sigel form fitted him and that was enough. All the same, she couldn't help feeling a twang of jealousy. She kept it hidden well, however. None of that, not here and most certainly not now.
"I'm glad to hear that," And it was the truth of the matter, a thrill blossoming somewhere between her chest and that point between her shoulder blades that held the most tension out of any part of her ever. She followed his hand as he gestured to the long row of shops and such that faded into mist to her eyes, nodding again as he spoke. "That was the idea, yes." Anya shook her head to his question. "I heard there were a couple new stores opening this year, but I suppose the best place to start would be at this end and work our way down."
She floated toward the first shop just a little before pausing to wait for him to follow. When he did she kept pace with him, floating within arm's reach, not close enough where either of their personal spaces were threatened but noticeably nearer than perhaps he might have remembered. She used to be one who kept her distance and stayed out of reach as physically as she had sociably.
"I'm not sure where to begin really." The Widow made a soft sound under her breath - a hum or the barest of thoughtful 'um' sounds - "I suppose more recent events would be best?" She looked at him for a moment then decided that yes, that would be the most apt place to start things off. Anything past a certain point would really go without saying, so it wouldn't be like she was giving him a play by play of her life since birth. He had to know some things - her Guardian did like to talk, especially to him.
"I guess that would be...Another Lab party going awry. Big surprise, I know." The sarcasm was apparent not only in her words but the roll of her lavender eyes and the flex of her crown. "You'd think these things would be less dramatic with all the stuff that's happened before but no. This year it was a flock of suicidal birds and a bunch of Essences getting stolen in the process. We all had to go on a really crappy scavenger hunt and Zeke and I were teamed up with Iorek, this Frei named Aadhira, and his Guardian. We ended up getting sent to Aekea and...Oh. Wait. No."
Her brow furrowed and her free left hand was moved in the air as if she was counting back the days on an invisible calendar.
"No that was in March. April would be more recent. I turned six in April."
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Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2016 3:02 pm
A subtle brow lift returned her compliment - that was a first - but his smile warmed and his head tipped in gratitude. "Thank you," was all he offered in return, touched but not quite willing to put a dour spin on their meeting so quickly. Unspoken words pressed against his teeth - if only it were so easy to be a Sigel, if only it weren't so heavy - but not yet. Not now. Maybe not ever. Zul was going to take the meeting by the minute, because Anastacia deserved it, because he really wanted to set his world back on the right axis. It started with the small gestures.
He watched her take the lead, wondering what had tempered her so - had he missed something important? - and followed, matching her gait and clasping his hands at the small of his back, where it disappeared into ribbon. "I believe so," he agreed to her suggestion, as the broadway was long and the shops were many.
The sarcasm she spoke with startled a laugh out of the Sigel, brows high and listening attentively. There was some sort of validation that nothing had gotten better since Alex had disappeared - to say he still held some resentment towards the place was an understatement - but there was also a touch of wistfulness. Life went on. Some people cared, some didn't, and Alex...she didn't know any better. No, it was him that was left with the insult and injury, as it should be.
"Six!" he echoed with surprise, looking over to her with brows raised. "Happy Belated Birthday! I insist on being allowed to buy something for you that you want - only if you find something of that quality, however - to celebrate!" It was odd, remembering she was not that much younger than he, knowing where she came from. "Did Zeke horrify you with a party?" Zul grinned a little, imagining the man running around with gifts and decorations and the spider queen just staring at him with a 'must you really' look on her face. The idea tickled him and only reinforced his previous thought - life goes on.
He was quiet for a moment, considering, before speaking again. "I can't believe it's been six years and we're just now figuring out to connect." Zul flicked his bright eyes to her face, his smile small and apologetic. "I don't know when we get to say we're 'grown up' or 'know better,' but this learning curve has been anything but easy." He could do little more to acknowledge their position than to admit his own ignorance in the whole thing. "You've been a wondrous beacon of positivity and light in Zeke's life - even in Lex's, scared as she was. Is." The fear of spiders, he hadn't taken away from her, and that thought made him laugh softly under his breath. "I hope you realize that, and are happy with your place in life."
It was, perhaps, a little heavier than he intended, but she was created out of fear and misery. The demon hoped she'd lead a life of peace and happiness - without him getting in the way, of course.
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Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2016 2:14 pm
His laughter brought her eyes to his face while a look of what could have been amusement passed over her own. She remembered him laughing a lot in the presence of Zeke, Brad, and co so seeing him suddenly burst out at something she said was a comfort and something she couldn't help but feel proud of.
"Six," she affirmed, starting to nod her head before he continued on and offered to buy her something to make up for missing such a big day. "Thank you for the offer but please don't feel as though you have to, Zul." The Widow shook the little clutch and the few coins she opted to bring along with the bills jangled against each other and her phone. Pleasantries aside she didn't want to have him put himself on the spot like that. "I came prepared."
A heavy sigh left her when he asked about a party, coupled with a slow shake of her head. "This might be our first proper get together but I know you know the answer to that one." Anya looked at him and lofted a slender brow, stopping before the window of the first store of the boardwalk. Although he was sure to know the answer, she figured it wouldn't hurt to give him an answer all the same. Perhaps he would find it amusing and laugh again.
"It wasn't a "party" in the sense that people showed up but Zeke and Brad always cater the day to me. We all went out on the town, did a little shopping, saw a few of the sights, that sort of thing. Zeke decorated the house, of course, and I fully believe that he has stock in some confetti-making company somewhere for how much of it he was tossing around." She swept a stray hair away from her eyes, remembering the bombastic "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" from her Guardian as if it had only been yesterday. "They also suitably spoiled me - everything I could have wanted and then some."
Anya could have extended that a little bit - mentioned how the shirt she had picked for today was one such present from said birthday - but Zul then said something that put those words to rest before they could begin. She tilted her head at his words, her eyes on his until he spoke of her being a light in her Guardian's and his' eyes. Her gaze wavered, tilting as her head had, looking at the aqua sport-related things positioned temptingly to passerbys in the window but not actually seeing them much.
"It's funny how things work out like that," Anya brought her eyes to his reflection, her expression as calm as her words were mild. The way his words were spoken was not missed, nor was the apologetic smile on his lips. "But I think we're doing alright thus far, don't you?" Her gaze slipped back to look at the Sigel in his entirety. She left a few things unspoken then; her own nervousness that had been and was now most certainly draining. Things were going alright to her. Things were good, shift in tone aside.
"You know...I always got the impression she didn't like me very much. Well...maybe not 'didn't like' but more like...like she was nervous around me or something. Am I really so scary?" She flared her wings and crown for effect, sharp against soft, brow lofted again as she asked him. After a moment she returned her appendages back to their relaxed postures and gave another nod. "I can say with certainty that I am happy. Happier. Zeke can drive me up a wall some days but he's not...he's not a bad person."
It was somehow odd to say that, but there was assurance to herself in her words even as she said them to him.
"A couple years ago things were rough. I wasn't happy with anything or anyone, even myself. Especially myself. But now? Yes. I am happy. I live in a lovely home with two Guardians - one high energy and borderline smothering, the other more my pace - I have everything I could possibly want or need, I have a few friends to call my own, and I'm here with you now, forging that connection that we probably should have had from the start." Another nod, to herself more than to him this time. "Just having you agree to meet me here today made me happy, Zul. I was so worried that maybe, after all this time, that..."
She trailed off with a shrug of her shoulders. If he had said no she couldn't have blamed him. He had no obligation to be friendly to her, family ties or not. She hadn't had much of an opinion of him for the longest time, but as with Alex she had felt that maybe there had once been some dislike from him for whatever reason he once had. The fact he had come out to give her a fair shake when she had asked him so randomly out of the blue? That meant the world, the moon, the sun, and the stars to her.
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Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2016 7:12 pm
"It is not an obligation," he assured her, his smile gentle. He took a moment to consider, biting the inside of his lip in thought before he continued, "It could be a more selfish gesture, in that if you like something, you'll keep it, and perhaps think of me with a fondness, a memory of this day being favorable." Zul shrugged, his smile a touch distant, then. "I'd be just as happy to buy you something because you desire it, birthday or otherwise."
Zul floated quietly at her side, a silent audience as she recalled the day in question. A chuckle chased her words, shaking his head a little, the warmth in his expression returning. They also suitably spoiled me. That sounded very much like the two men he knew and loved.
She posed a question to him, and he could only retain his smile, crooked and not quite reaching his eyes. "We're doing what we can," he agreed in a neutral tone. Doing alright? Perhaps only alright. Not good enough, by his count. Another soft bit of mirth escaped his lips as her crown writhed. "She's arachnophobic. If -- " The Sigel started to recount their experience in the forest, but he stopped abruptly. He had no way of knowing how that had affected the Widow, and damn if he was going to bring it up again. " -- if you could see her around small spiders, you'd think they were man-hungry lions. Actually, she can face lions easier than spiders. It's not against you, I promise, she's just -- she's Lex." Distance touched his blue gaze, but he kept his attention on the Frei with him, not wanting to let their time spent dip into heavy, unpleasant topics.
When Anya spoke, there was experience and heft in her words, drawing his sympathetic gaze. "You are far wiser than most, my friend," he replied, his tone a touch apologetic again. Apologizing that she had to be so aware of things that she felt that way. "I was young, and so were you. Life tempers us, and we are making good on what we believe in, now. That has to stand for something." Zul shook his tri-horned head, deciding to not let her wonder - to not let things go unsaid between them, things that would halt the cultivation of a possible friendship. "You were different, when you were born. The others I had met, they were wide-eyed and curious and...children, like me. But you? You were - immediately independent, and I had taken it personal."
He laughed, but it was tight, almost humorless. "It sounds so horrible, out loud, but it's the truth. I had thought we'd be friends from conception, but I was arrogant, and felt like I wouldn't have to earn your trust. Foolish, isn't it?" The Sigel chuckled, threads of his usual humor more audible this time. "We've lead very different lives, but here we are. Not much worse for the wear." He glanced at their reflection in the slow pass of windows, pausing in front of a store that specialized in accessories - clothes and jewelry alike - eyes lingering on an encrusted flower that reminded him of Melisande.
"But you've friends to call your own, you said. Who do you claim?" Blue eyes turned back to her, interested in who she had deemed worthy to allow close.
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Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2016 3:36 pm
"It could be a more selfish gesture, in that if you like something, you'll keep it, and perhaps think of me with a fondness, a memory of this day being favorable.
"You know...I never thought of it that way." And the way she said those words, coupled with the soft widening of her eyes, spoke volumes for the validity of her statement. After a moment her lips tugged at the corners and Anya's expression shifted from awed surprise to one of consideration as she looked at Zul. "You're very eloquent, Zul. I might even go so far as to say you're rather dangerous because of it - both to others and to yourself." She closed a bit of the space between them, enough so that when she lowered her voice he would be able to hear her over the cacophony of waves, gulls, and the humans around them.
"I'll have you know my tastes run rather rich." There was a lilt to her voice as she uttered the words and the corners of her lavender eyes crinkled. When she pulled back from him she was regarding him with one brow raised, curious as to what he thought of that little "warning". Truth be told - although she wouldn't tell him as such just yet - a simple seashell would make her happy and remember this fondly. Something they found together and shared a moment in; it would mean the world over and more than something that could simply be mass produced and bought on a whim.
He explained about Alex and she nodded, considering that as well. "Perhaps the next time I see her I'll make sure to wear a big hat. Then again...There's not much that can be done about this." She raised her hand to gesture to her unblinking, jewel-like eyes. "All the same...I'm glad to hear it's not...well...me that does it." It was a weird statement to say for her. On one hand it wasn't her in the sense of her personality or mannerisms. On the other it was because of unavoidable physical features that were a part of her. She clucked her tongue. Humans continued to prove that they were quite odd indeed.
"You think so?" She looked at him again when he said she was wiser than most. The fact he said 'my friend' made the internal bubble float a little higher and that felt good but she couldn't focus on that too much just yet. "It took me a long time to get there, trust me. For the longest time I was...stuck and I couldn't see a way out. I kept sinking and sinking until one day someone came along and helped to pull me out. I can see now that what I was doing to myself was no good and I should have gone ahead and asked for help from the beginning."
Perhaps that did make her wise. Wiser, really, than she had been before that point. "It's almost kind of funny how the bad things you go through make you realize things that now just feel like common sense. Almost like...How did I not see it before?!"
"It stands for so much. You are right; we were young and dumb and wholly well...I know I can say I was certainly full of myself." She bit her lip after saying it then shook her head with a sigh. "Really? That's...wow. I never realized." The Widow blinked in surprise, staring at him with wide purple eyes as if what he was saying was maybe somehow untrue. After a moment she spoke again.
"I want you to know that I never felt negatively toward you. To be honest, until recently I don't think I ever really formed much of an opinion of you as far as who you are. That's kind of...Weird I'm sure. I mean you come around and then there's holidays and such but...Maybe I was too young to remember anything from then. I don't know." A strand of hair came loose and she tucked it behind her ear. She was almost grateful for having to do the action. "I do know that I was arrogant up until...well...Maybe I am still arrogant, just less so than I was before. I'm not quite sure." The hand was moved from her ear to her chin and again she bit her lip. There was something caught in her throat and it came out in a puff that was not so much a scoff but also not quite a chuckle either.
"Regardless, we were both young and stupid and as I've taken to saying lately...the past is past. What matters now is the present and the future. What you felt then, Zul, was then. This is now. I'd hardly say you were or are being horrible to me right now. And as for not much worse for wear...I'd say so. We're rougher around the edges now but that means we probably mesh better. Think about it - when we were younger we were smoother and slid right off of each other. Now we have crags to keep ourselves locked in place!"
There was genuine amusement in her words and as she said them her face lit up considerably. It wasn't perhaps the most perfectly uttered of comparisons but dammit all if it wasn't appropriate or worked even then!
Zul came to a pause in front of a window and Anya had to stop herself from accidentally leaving him. Turning, she followed his eyes to the object that had caught his interest and found it was quite the pretty piece.
"If it's the flower you're looking at, I'm not sure if it'd suit you." She put on the barest of frowns and tightened her brows as though trying to picture him with the flower on his person. "Then again, I can't really say unless you try it on. Shall we go in here? It doesn't seem like it's particularly busy." She leaned to look inside the shop doors. The place was bursting with displays but the number of people seemed rather small. Three maybe? She couldn't be sure - it was one of those 'too long to see the back wall' kind of stores.
"Claim?" She lofted a brow at him, letting her expression say the word 'eloquent' for her instead of her lips this time. "There's only a handful, really. A couple are more acquaintances to be honest but there's Cesc. He's a Raevan who lives in Gambino; his Guardians own a bakery not too far from the Lab. Um...There's Iorek. He's a funny one; I initially didn't like him very much but I guess he kind of grew on me and he's definitely a good sort." She chewed her tongue a moment. She supposed she would have to put in the potty humor on this next Frei's name as much as it still irked her to do so. "Revontulet is another, although I haven't seen her that much. I think she moved recently..." A hummed note came next. Why was it so hard to recall those she got along with when asked about them? She knew these people; it should be easy! "Oh and then there's Ethiriel. Truth be told we've only just gotten reacquainted so I don't know too much about her, but she is nice. Ah...And I've met other Raevans of course but those few are the ones I'd say I'm closest with."
She floated just inside the door of the store, hovering near a display as she waited for him to follow her in.
"How about you? Who do you claim?"
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