Welcome to Gaia! ::

Across from the T.O.Y.S. shop, Neri walked along a smooth dirt pathway in a large park. The park was different than the ones she was used to; the grass was much greener, the trees much taller and their leaves much more numerous, making the park shadier. It was nice, and she wondered if the place seemed so magical because it was so close to the shop she had obtained an angel and a demon from. But then, she wasn't even sure if the shop itself contained magic; although her immortals had powers, they weren't neccesarily derived from magic.

"You're in my shade, Rhodri."

"I'm not even close to you, Jatham!"

Speaking of immortals...

As usual, Jatham sat on her left shoulder, Rhodri on her right. And as usual, they were bickering. They had been talking like that a bit more often over the past day, since Rhodri had grown. No longer was he the short pushover, now he stood a chance against Jatham. But he was still pretty submissive.

"Would you two shush? We're lucky no one seems to be around this park at the moment." Again Neri wondered if the shop and its unique energies had something to do with it, but she also considered the possibility that she had just come at a quiet time. It was noon after all, many people were probably at a restaurant or at home eating lunch. Neri had even bought a picnic basket and blanket that morning so she could eat at the park.

"I'm sorry, Neri."

"Are we there yet?"

Neri smiled. "I'm looking for a good place to sit on the grass."

"Well I'm hungry."

"Neri made enough to feed six people. I'm sure even you will not be hungry once she finds a spot."

"'Even' me? Are you calling me fat?"

"Shush!" Neri exclaimed, stepping off the path and onto the soft grass, looking for a good spot.

Neri had unfolded and settled down her blanket under a particularly large tree before she noticed the other girl, and... was something flying near her? It almost looked like a disfigured bird... No wait, it was an angel! It's shape was similar to Rhodri's! Except it was blue, and its wings looked real.

She waved to the other girl, smiling brightly. "Hi! Is that blue flying thing yours?" She didn't want to say angel and turn out to be wrong, but she didn't realize how odd she sounded until after she asked.

"Blue flying thing?" Jatham snickered.

Rhodri frowned. "Shouldn't we conceal ourselves, Neri? I'm not sure that you should let just any random person view us."

Neri shook her head. "Nah, it's fine, it looks like she has an angel!" she said in a low voice. To anyone passing by, it would look like she was talking to herself, or two little toys on her shoulders, if they could see well. But the woman with the blue angel could probably tell who she was talking to.

"Awww, he's so cute! And kinda like my angel, always trying to protect me." She giggled and shook Skie's hand. "I'm Neri. This is my angel and demon, Rhodri and-"

"Jatham, it's a pleasure to meet you, miss Skie," he interrupted, winking at the woman. "And your handsome little angel, there."

Rhodri shook his head. "Must you call every angel or demon you meet handsome?"

"Yes, because they are. And notice I never called you handsome." Jatham leaned forward to glare at the angel across Neri's throat.

He sighed. "And notice how I never cared."

Rolling his eyes, he replied smugly, "Riiiight. You know you want my approval."

Rhodri clenched his teeth. "Never! I only need Neri's approval, and certainly not that of a demon's!"

"Which I give whole-heartedly," Neri sighed, cutting in. "Sorry Skie, they argue a lot. But I guess that's expected, huh?" She smiled again. "Wanna join us? We're having a picnic. Let's see..." She opened the basket and started to take things out, laying them in a straight line. "There's the two egg sandwiches, the ham sandwich, the turkey sandwich, and the two peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches... The fruit bowl, the veggie bowl, and the sodas and juices... Ah! And the cookies." She beamed as she brought out the biggest Ziploc container. "Chocolate chip, sugar, and walnut."

"Hmm... Could I say both?" Jatham smiled suggestively. "I'd say I'm an intentional flirt."

Rhodri smiled. This angel wasn't as... "odd" as the others he had met. Sure, he was a little hot-headed, but at least he wasn't like that disturbing gold-winged angel.

Neri giggled again. "Nah, I just made a lot because I feel it's better to make more than less." She took an egg sandwich and unwrapped the clear plastic wrap. "And I wasn't sure how much these two eat. But go ahead, take what you'd like, I don't mind!"

"Yes, there's probably more than enough cookies in that container to feed a small city," Rhodri added.

She laughed. "No there's not, silly! But maybe close." She grinned.

Jatham grinned as well. "Yeah, feeding time!" He jumped off her shoulder and landed on the blanket, which was large enough for Neri's group, the food, and Skie's group, with space left over. Sitting with his legs to one side and his upper body weight leaned on one hand, he grew to his full six-foot size to better enjoy the food.

Rhodri was slightly different, sliding down Neri's arm instead of jumping. He sat cross-legged like Neri, and grew to about five and a half feet, close to the same as Neri.

Neri gestured to the food. "Eat up!"

"Thank you!" Neri beamed at the complement.

Jatham raised an eyebrow, noticing the blue angel's glance toward him. "Mmmmm... Got a crush on me, blue boy? Might as well admit it." He smirked.

Rhodri frowned at Jatham. "His name is Alcanion, Jatham, no need to be rude."

Jatham shrugged. "Maybe that's the type he likes."

"Or maybe you should stop taking the sin of pride too much to heart." He took a pbj sandwich and started to eat it delicately.

Grinning, he took the turkey sandwich. "You know how much I love those seven sins, clock-boy."

Pretending not to hear their conversation, Neri nodded at Skie. "Yeah, I just met one at the shop recently. I forget his name... but he creeped me out, even though he was an angel. And then there's the little demon, Flower, that my friend has. He's so cute! And like Rhodri, he's a Secret Santa Ascendant. Small now, but soon he'll be as big as these three!" She gestured to the angels and demon.

"Are we really the first you met? Huh. Well, have you ever been to the shop? People aren't always around, but lots of times we've gone we've talked to someone, whether human, demon, or angel."

((Mind if I join you two? If not, just let me know and I can delete my post, but if so, then I'll just edit ths one so as not to inturrupt your flow of rp. Unless it really doesn't matter.))

Observing the activity between the three immortals and two ladies was yet another being, though miniature in size. Hidden securely within the foiledge of the closest green tree within the park, the tiny angel had no fear of being noticed unless he moved too much or one of the other immortals sensed his aura and looked up.

He watched silently, still as a leaf, standing stiffly on a limb. Every now and then he would glance over his shoulder at a child, a young girl, who napped peacefully within the boughs of the tree. If he hadn't influenced her with his powers, he knew, she wouldn't have slept at all. It was only right that she get enough sleep, or it would affect her health in the end. Or so he told himself.

Not finding a reason to wake her, Raham let the girl continue to sleep through her blissful dreams, also concealed withing the leafy interior of the tree's greenery as he observed the others below. They posed no threat, and Neri's angel, Rhodri, had grown Raham noticed. It was an interesting turnout. Tilting his head curiously, the angel watched them all for a little while longer, an idea forming in his mind. It would be a good opportunity to meet other immortals in this world.

((Go ahead Tymiko! The more the merrier! ^_^ ))

Skie lounged around on the blanket, happily eating the proffered food. It was free, good, and best of she sharing good company. Too bad Alcanion's temper began to flare. His eyes narrowed and waves of heat began to emit from his body. Feeling that, Skie turned to him and poked him in the side of the head, grimacing as the heat lapped at her skin, "You set anything on fire and I'll dunk you in ice water for an hour, you hear?" She thought for a moment and amended that, "Or if you burn anything. You're not swaying me on this one. Now eat your cookies, you big blue bozo."

Alcanion muttered something in a foreign, ancient dialect and shoved his mouth full of cookie and turned his gaze skyward. Everything was pleasant save for the rowdy demon. If only he could simply roast the bugger in... and for this he paused, watching the other with a predatory glint in his eyes. Purple, bright purple flames with pink bases. Yes that would be amusing. A small smile played across his features as he entertained that idea.

Skie, in the meantime was watching him curiously, slightly worried. Why was he taking such a huge disliking towards this demon? Sure he seemed rather full of himself but didn't the term 'demon' mean that and a whole bunch of other things all wrapped up in one? She shrugged and picked a few pieces of brocolli as well, "A second home? Must be an interesting place." She smiled appreciatively.

Alcanion, always alert, was not too wrapped up in his thoughts of roasting a certain demon in neon coloured flames to feel the gaze of another upon him. Cautious, he turned his head to the side and pretended to sweep his gaze over the vegetation he felt the gaze coming from. The subtle movement of something within the embrace of a tree drew his attention and for a moment he dismissed it as a bird - or at least until his sharp eyes caught a glint of gold. Not wanting to reveal he'd spotted whatever it was, his gaze continued around while he watched out of the corner of his eye. Any threatening move, and he'd set the thing aflame.

Alcanion turned his attention towards the newcomer, head tilting to look over his shoulder with his chin pointed upward. His movements were languid and warm, as though the sudden 'arrival' of the visitor didn't ruffle his feathers at all. He didn't feel any negative intent from the golden angel but the very fact that he'd spotted him lurking in the edges of the tree's branches coloured his opinion.

Before Skie could respond, he shifted and flashed a smile at the newcomer, "It's only polite to introduce yourself first, comrade." He placed a hand on his chest, "I am Alcanion and this is my charge, Skie."

She shifted her gaze from admiring the gorgeous wings of the newcomer to Alcanion, questioning. Skie preferred introducing herself but apparently Alcanion felt some drive to. Shrugging, she nodded, "That's me. And that decision rests in my lunchmate's hands." As she said that, she turned to wait for Neri's decision.