█║ WHO: Alex, Lil, Vivi, Zul █║ WHEN: Early afternoon █║ WHERE: The Bakery █║ WEATHER: Hot outside
"You're sure about this?"
Alex exhaled slowly, the tension in her shoulders visible. "I'm sure, Zul."
She walked along the concrete path, him floating at her side, like they had the first time they'd passed the bakery - not that she'd remember. Her arm was looped with his and he was resting his hand over hers, leading her though she knew the way. They'd had a bit of a long chat before deciding to pay visit to the bakery and its occupants, mostly to reacquaint, otherwise to prepare: Alex had informed him she hadn't tried to make contact with old friends, something he'd understood, given his own position. "You don't have to do this if you're not ready," he tried again, met with a sharp turn of green eyes.
Her hair was looped, wearing one of her typical tank tops in Army green over black jeans, the sleeveless top putting her lightning scars from neck to near-elbow on display, especially with her hair in a messy looped bun at the base of her head. Her usual smile was absent, idly worrying her teeth over her bottom lip, feeling nervous and guilty, but she was still sharp with him. Some things never changed. "I'm aware, Zul, but like you said of yourself - it's time. I miss them." She shrugged, feeling the tightness of her scars, now old and familiar to her. "There's no harm in creating new memories."
He winced, but she didn't address it. Zul floated forward and opened the door to the bakery when they arrived, holding it open for Alex.
She entered, rubbing her hands over her jeans before glancing around. There was definite familiarity here: she knew the layout, had memories of certain scents and faces - immediately recognizing two. One, however, she hadn't expected to see there. Approaching the two that were speaking, she offered a tentative smile, eyes turning over two very important women in her life that came from different parts of it. "Vivi," she greeted the owner first, her voice light and testing. "Lil. It's been a dog's life, girl! How are you?"
The demon hovered towards the entrance, glancing around for Cesc or Shep or -- or anyone that would delay the inevitable. The story of why she'd been gone, and what he'd done, seemed daunting in the face of someone Alex had been so close to. It wasn't the ideal way to spend the day, but those gathered deserved to make their own minds up about the whole ordeal.
Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2016 10:02 pm
"Mm, my darling," Vivi was cooing, leaning against the far counter to talk with Lil, her hair draped over her shoulder in a fishtail braid. She was inclining her head and speaking in a low, thrilled tone, her eyes bright, evidently delighted by whatever she and Lillian were in confidence about. "I wouldn't say that to him-- I would tell him--"
Whatever her next advice was stopped in its tracks as Vivi's gaze swept to the door as it jingled open. Immediately, she straightened, her eyebrows lifting, her lips parting in a smile. Some color rose to her cheeks, but it was just a tint of pink and not a full blossoming of red. She pressed both her palms to the countertop, and in a high tone she cried, "Zul--Alex!"
Cesc had, of course, filled both his guardians in when he'd heard what had transpired with Alex and Zul. And while she had listened to his story, stock-still, a hand over her mouth, she endeavored to show none of that shock now. She was determined as ever, was Vivi--Alex may have lost memory, but she would not feel a loss of love, acceptance, or adoration.
She skirted the edge of the counter to come out to the bakery proper and threw her arms around the Italian woman without hesitation. If Alex had no memory of her, this would probably stick out from here on...
"Ah, Zul! If you are looking for the boys, they are in the back," she said over Alex's shoulder, cheerful. "Not the kitchen--our back, the garage."
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Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2016 10:16 pm
Lillian giggled as she leaned in to listen to the always wise and powerful Vivi. This was almost a daily routine of theirs now while the boys were out and about training. It was truly the best part of her day.
Before she was able to gobble up anymore advice the jingle of the door broke them out of their gossip stupor. Lillian mimicked her friend and quickly straightened up. Not wanting to bother or distract she quickly looked down at her tablet and swiped a few more appealing faces to the right.
"Oh my god..." Lillian muttered under her breath when she saw the familiar woman enter the bakery. Holy s**t it had been way too long since she saw her! And whoever the raevan was beside her...what was his name again? Lillian struggled to remember as she hurried over to join them.
"Alex!! I've missed that lovely face of yours." Lillian brushed away the curls hanging in her eyes to get a better look at her old friend. "As always, you look amazing! How have you been?!"
Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2016 3:31 pm
Vivi was in motion, and both Alex and Zul knew what that meant. The Raevan shifted to the side and the woman barely had her arms open in time to wrap around the Frenchwoman as she was set upon. Her embrace was tight in return, arms finding a comfortable and familiar hold around Vivi, cheek flush against hers and her slightly parted lips tilted towards her jaw. "Vi," she murmured softly, fondly, another affectionate squeeze shared. She very well remembered the scent of her hair and skin, her warmth, the way her presence was like a sweet taste on the tongue.
Zul, for his part, simply nodded with a slight hesitation. His blue eyes lingered on the two, and by the time Lil joined, he moved out of the bakery. It wasn't his time to speak with Vivi, not yet.
It was a struggle for Alex to not get lost in the moment, pulling back enough from Vivi to extend a hand and cup Lil's cheek. "You're one to talk! You've grown so much! And how do you two know each other?" She smiled, warm with a touch of bewilderment at how small the world felt sometimes. Then again, given the whole Raevan situation, maybe it wasn't so small after all.
"I've been well, just -- busy. You know how work can be." Lil and Ty would know best, given their parent's long absences. "But you? And Ty? If you tell me he's taller than you, I'm going to cry."
Her other arm remained around Vivi, fingers light against her hip. "And you, ma belle? You're good, Shep is keeping himself busy? Business is..." Green eyes flit around the bakery - only small pieces struck any sort of memory. Most of it looked new to her. "...well?"
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Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2016 7:34 pm
Vivi looked back and gave Zul a parting smile as he went out the side door, but once he was out of sight, all her attention returned to Alex. She watched her keenly. Was there any flicker of recognition? To herself, to Lillian, there was. That was not gone. But then, Rhedefre had not said that it would be. The holes, the gaps, they were... elsewhere.
"Oh, the Shepard, he keeps himself as busy as he desires." Vivi waved one hand as though gently clearing smoke. "And the business, it is as good as ever. We have so many brides this year! The cakes have been to the ceiling. Ce--"
She bit off the words, the story--how Cesc improved in his decorating skills. She continued quickly, as though it had been a blip: "C'est la vie! But, what a pleasure it is to see you! Has it been so long between you and petit Lillian? A true shame two such lovelies are not more often together!"
Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2017 8:32 am
Lillian caught a glimpse of Zul as smoothly moved out of the room. She slightly remembered the raevan from events here and there but never actually met him. Maybe another time.
For now Lil was delighted to give all her attention to Alex. She giggled and rested a hand over Alex's. It had been ages since their lives last crossed and when they last did it wasn't the best of times for the Maevin crew.
But now was different. Things were looking up and Lillian couldn't be happier.
"Little old me? Ya think?" Lillian gave a little twirl but kept their hands intertwined, "I'm finally coming into my own. It took long enough."
She looked between Vivi and Alex as memories of their first meeting came into focus. It was an old recollection but one that kept it's warm and fuzzy feel. A truly fond memory of hers. "Well, we like our treats and this is obviously the best place to get them. The boys all bonded really well and Vivi's too amazing to just leave alone. It all just kind of fell into place after that."
Lillian held onto Alex's hand, not wanting to let go, but seeing them together made her want to get in on the love. "Augh...just come here." Lil let go to cuddle into Alex and Vivi for a good old group hug.
When it was time to pull away Lil's smile had yet to fade, "Oh? Tyson? Well I guess we'll need some tissues. The boy has finally surpassed me but Iorek keeps his ego at bay with hovering. I think he's about...this tall now?" She gestured around the height the teen had reached, he had grown about a good head taller than her.
"Oh my goodness, you should see the kinds of cakes these girls are getting! They're gorgeous!" She laughed and bumped Vivi with her hip, "You guys are wonders. I don't know how you keep up with all the orders. Or how you keep your patience...some of those girls are so rude. Alex, you should have seen this bridezilla that came in not too long ago. I literally thought fire was going to shoot out of her eyes."
"But yeah...it really has been a long time. I'm so happy to see you. What's been going on? Are you traveling again or something?" And why haven't you called? But Lillian couldn't ask that. She wasn't innocent either when it came to communication. Just like their parents the Maevins had a tendency to disappear and reappear in people's lives all too often.
Gah! I didn't realize it was my turn to post! Sorry girls! heart
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Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2017 5:58 pm
"I suppose we were busy," she offered Vivi with a small smile that said she was likely more guilty than Lil would ever be, "but we're here now, mm?" Lillian came in for the group hug and Alex was all too happy to indulge, kissing the girl's head. "You'll never stop coming into your own, that's the beauty of life, sweetheart. You'n Ty -- I refuse to believe he's tall, shh," she interjected herself with a slight grin, " -- you're always so much more than the last time we see each other, and each time, I swear you guys are amazing and have grown so much...it does my heart good."
Her pose relaxed, the nerves melting away in the face of two she loved dearly; her weight settled onto one hip, still keeping a flighty touch with Vivi (was it allowed? she didn't know anymore, time was a fickle mistress) and watching Lil with all the pride and love of a mother. "I read up on the Yelp reviews, I've seen some amazing pictures." Some that included Cesc, the Sigel she had no recollection of. Actually, a lot of the photos were of him, but who could blame people for the shock of floating, winged beings?
There was a slight shift, visible in her green eyes, trying to 'remember'; as usual, it faded quickly, and she only subtly shook her head. "This is gonna sound weird Lil, but bear with me." She cast Vivi a brief, apologetic glance - she didn't want to make things uncomfortable, but she wasn't the type to avoid an elephant in the room - and explained lightly.
"Some time ago, there was an accident. Zul apparently wiped my memories of where he and his kind are from. It wasn't a problem, initially, I didn't feel like I'd forgotten anything, you know? Certain things were just like...trying to recall a certain day in primary school, there weren't a lot of details." Alex bit the inside of her lip and shrugged, unfettered. "But after a few months, I realized I'd...forgotten a great deal, especially when I discovered I didn't even know where my brother lived!" She laughed, then, and any anxiety she might have had about the entire issue was absent. The time had passed, and she was on the mend, the best she could be; it showed in the mirth at the corners of her eyes and the easy comfort she carried despite the weight of the words. "So I've been working, because I bury myself in work and ignore problems, you know me -- " the words punctuated with an arched brow that said 'guilty as charged' " -- but I've been rebuilding. Relearning. It's taken some time, I...I haven't seen Vi since..." Hesitation, and then there - the faintest touch of regret. "I don't know."
Her eyes lowered briefly and her vaguely sad smile remained. This wasn't something new for her, but it wasn't so shocking and horrifying, anymore. Almost a second later, she brightened like it hadn't happened at all. "So if there's anything sad about it, I'll never know, hm? I feel fine. I'm doing well! And there's plenty of new memories to be made."
