[hr][hr] [center][h1][color=RosyBrown]Zoe Flores[/color], [color=mediumorchid]Christoph Tanner[/color] & [color=HotPink]Aira Rivera[/color][/h1] [img]https://i.imgur.com/61iRm2J.gif[/img][img]https://66.media.tumblr.com/0d3fb449ed172a18f554dbfc37220f7c/tumblr_obblvh1Rrt1utakteo1_250.gif[/img][img]https://i.imgur.com/NS6qia1.gif[/img] [b]Location:[/b] Rivera Family Home (West Vancouver; Canada). [sup][b]Interacting With:[/b] Each Other.[/sup][/center] [hr][hr] Chris pulled into the driveway with his station wagon, trying not to think about how his hand-me-down car looked parked at a house this nice, or how awkward he felt moving in with a woman he had just met yesterday. Besides, technically this was squatting, which didn't make him feel any better. Maybe he should suggest they move into his house instead. It wasn't as nice, but it felt more morally defensible, plus he wasn't sure he wanted to leave his studio behind. Deciding that was exactly what he would bring up, he got out of his car, locking it behind him on instinct. For a moment he just stood there, unsure on how to proceed, and if just knocking on the door was the way to go. The black dress shirt she'd found in one of the draws now helping to cover her body, as much as it could anyway, Zoe ran her hand back through her hair. The other lifting, joining the first as she gathered it all up. Tying it back in a messy bun on the top of her head. It felt... strange. Walking around on two feet during the day again when she had spent so long on all fours, twitching her nose, and being bombarded with carrots and lettuce. Honestly, it made her never want to see another salad again... Closing the gap between herself and the kitchen bench - the groceries had [i]finally[/i] been both ordered and delivered - she began to go through the bags one by one. Putting it all away where it belonged. Just another thing she could cross off her never-ending list of things she needed to do... Deciding to just go back the way he had went in last night, Chris found that the door hadn't even been closed. He also found Zoe standing in front of an open cupboard wearing nothing but a dress shirt. [color=mediumorchid]"Somehow, wearing more clothes has made you seem [i]less[/i] dressed. Also, impossibly, hotter."[/color] Chuckling softly as the voice that was quickly becoming very familiar to her filled the room, Zoe smiled. Glancing back over her shoulder at him as she continued to put the groceries away, [color=RosyBrown]"Oh really..? Just you wait till I get my hands on my riding leathers or heels..."[/color] [color=mediumorchid]"I've never really been one for leather, but on you?"[/color] He let his voice trail off at the end of the question, coming fully inside at last. [color=mediumorchid]"I would offer to help put things up, but I don't know where anything goes here."[/color] [color=RosyBrown]"I've just been putting it where I think it goes... what makes sense."[/color] [color=mediumorchid]"Fair enough I suppose. We can always fix it later."[/color] Chris grabbed a bag and found some space for the contents, making sure to take time to admire his... whatever she was at the moment. He was going to let that question sit for a while longer, worried he'd ruin the mood with a serious discussion. [color=mediumorchid]"So I brought all the important stuff over, but I was thinking on the way back that it's a real shame to have to leave my family's home behind, and my studio."[/color] She paused. Hesitating a moment before she finished what she was doing. Putting the packet of pasta away in the cupboard before turning to face him. Chewing on her lip as she fell against the counter; her hip resting against it, [color=RosyBrown]"..so what do you want to do..?"[/color] [color=mediumorchid]"I... hadn't actually planned any farther than bringing it up."[/color] Chris looked over at her and found he couldn't quite decipher the look she was giving him. [color=mediumorchid]"Probably not my best idea, forget I said anything, I can live with it, and I don't want to uproot the two of you."[/color] [color=RosyBrown]"I can go anywhere; I prove that just by being here. I live in Barcelona. So it's not to much uprooting me; it's Aira..."[/color] [color=mediumorchid]"Then we'll ask her, but it can wait a few days. She's already going to have a lot to process at the moment."[/color] Chris put the last of his bag into the cupboard, then turned to face Zoe. [color=mediumorchid]"Speaking of Aria, has the little one woken yet?"[/color] Nodding her head lightly, Zoe turned back to the bag of groceries that she was unpacking, [color=RosyBrown]"She woke up not long after you left... I ran her a bath and we spoke- she's still calling me Athena... and now she's in her room drawing again..."[/color] [color=mediumorchid]"Do you want me to go keep her company?"[/color] [color=RosyBrown]"That would be helpful... yeah... I'll come join you guys once I'm done here."[/color] Nodding, Chris spared one last look at Zoe before heading down the hall towards Aira's room, glad he had learned her name at last. Coming to the door he remembered, he knocked softly. The pencil coming to a stop on the page at the sound of knocking, Aira twisted her body slightly. Sitting on the floor with her legs to one side as she stared at the door, waiting to see who was there. When he didn't get an answer, Chris eased open the door, ready to close it again if he had to. [color=mediumorchid]"Aira, are you there? My name is Chris. I'm a... friend of Zoe. I mean, Athena"[/color] Remember what Zoe had said about Aira, he decided to correct himself to make things easier. Staring up at the man standing in her doorway, her still wet hair pulled back in a braid, Aira twisted where she sat. Her legs swinging around until she was able to cross them underneath her, [color=HotPink]"..your the man from my pictures..."[/color] [color=mediumorchid]"From your pictures? You mean when I painted with you last night?"[/color] Shaking her head lightly in response, Aira tore her gaze away from the man, instead looking around her at all the pictures she'd drawn in the last few weeks. Littered about the room making it more of a mess than it used to be. Pushing some of them aside, looking at each of them until she found the one that she'd been looking for, she stood up. Her braid bouncing lightly over her back as she closed the gap between them; the picture held out towards him. One that showed the two of them standing in front of a wall painting together, much like they had done the night before. [color=mediumorchid]"That's... me and you, last night."[/color] Chris gently took the offered paper, actually impressed by the girl's skill, even as he wondered at what her ability was making her draw. [color=mediumorchid]"Do you remember painting together last night?"[/color] [color=HotPink]"..no..."[/color] [color=mediumorchid]"No need to worry about it I suppose."[/color] Chris muttered, before turning a bright smile on Aira. [color=mediumorchid]"What are you drawing now?"[/color] [color=HotPink]"..a mermaid..."[/color] [color=mediumorchid]"Can I watch you draw?"[/color] Chris asked, running out of things to say. He would probably be just as wary as the girl if someone walked into his house and started asking him questions, not to mention she was still a young child who's life was going through a lot of changes. None of that made this any easier for him. Nodding her head lightly, Aira reached out. Her touch soft, gentle as she took hold of his hand, already leading him back to where she'd been sitting on the floor drawing, [color=HotPink]"You can draw too. Athena said you were good at it."[/color] Chuckling as he was dragged across the room, Chris nodded. [color=mediumorchid]"I suppose other people say that sometimes."[/color] Sitting down next to her, he took an offered pencil and piece of paper, then waited for her to start drawing again before he started sketching her. With quick pencil strokes, he stayed true to reality at first, but left some blank spaces around her head, which he later filled with rabbits with butterfly wings, sitting on her head, or playing with her braid, or being distracted by a painting on the wall. It wasn't his best work by far, but it was certainly the most fun he had had with art in a long time. Part of him had forgotten what it felt like to forget exhibits and commissions and just draw something for fun. [color=HotPink]"Athena says you're staying... is that true..?"[/color] Pausing in his drawing, Chris took a moment to look at Aira. After his hesitation, he asked [color=mediumorchid]"Do you want me to stay?"[/color] Head tilting lightly to the side, Aira continued to draw, [color=HotPink]"Will you keep drawing with me..?"[/color] With a grin, Chris waved his paper in the air. [color=Mediumorchid]"I love drawing, and it's more fun together. There's also painting, and even carving and sculpting we can do."[/color] [color=HotPink]"Then you can stay."[/color] Chuckling and returning to his sketch, he decided to add a crown on Aira's head. [color=mediumorchid]"I'm glad to hear that, milady."[/color] Giggling, a smile breaking out over her features, she swapped out the color she was using for another one, [color=HotPink]"You're funny. Athena said you were funny. It's why she likes you."[/color] Pulling a face without looking up from his paper, Chris pretended to be offended. [color=mediumorchid]"She likes me because I'm funny? Why I never! I'll have you know I was voted most serious person at the clown tryouts."[/color] [color=RosyBrown]"Says the man who stubs his toes and falls through walls while walking."[/color] A smile lighting up her features, no longer as tired as they had been the night previous, Zoe made her way into the room. A soft chuckle falling through her lips, she slowed to a stop beside him. Folding herself down on the ground beside Chris before she reached forward. Placing a plate full of wraps down for them with one hand as she lowered two soft drinks down with the other, [color=RosyBrown]"..thought you might be hungry..."[/color] [color=mediumorchid]"Actually, I'm starving."[/color] Chris said, bumping Zoe's shoulder with his head for her wall comment while reaching for a wrap gratefully. [color=mediumorchid]"Thank you Athen.... Uh, Zoe."[/color] Raising her brow, Zoe turned her head to look at him while he attempted to figure out what name to call her, [color=RosyBrown]"You too, huh..?"[/color] [color=mediumorchid]"She's very convincing.[/color] Chris explained with a shrug. [color=RosyBrown]"..mhm..."[/color] Picking up one of the drinks, Zoe held it out towards him. Her attention drawing back to the little girl who was already munching hungrily on the wrap without hesitation. The sight bringing a smile to her lips, [color=RosyBrown]"..did you show Chris the drawings you showed me, Aira..?"[/color] Shaking her head, using a single hand to grab up a fistful of the drawings that were around them, Aira continued to eat. Holding the pages out towards Chris. Taking a moment to bite out of his own wrap and sip from the offered drink, Chris balanced his meal on his knee and wiped his hands before taking the drawings. The pile he held was in an entirely different style to the picture Aira had in front of her, and the subjects in the frame varied vastly. From a picture of an entire lake full of dead animals, to a couple sitting together in a tall tree, to a fire reflected in what seemed to be the eye of an animal. At the very end, the most detailed picture was one of a hospital falling over, and two people silhouetted against the scene. In one of their hands, a newspaper fluttered in the wind, the headline reading 'Georgia to Pass Contested Powered Registration Bill.' Looking up at Zoe in surprise, he gestured to the pile of papers he was holding. [color=mediumorchid]"Are these [i]all[/i] from..."[/color] He trailed off his question, glancing at Aira happilly munching away. Meeting his gaze, a weary expression on her own, Zoe nodded her head in response, [color=RosyBrown]"..but look at the date on the newspaper... that's this Friday..."[/color] [color=mediumorchid]"That's... worrying for a number of reasons, but if this is the future, it's the future in America. I feel bad for the people there, but it's not like we could warn anybody."[/color] [color=RosyBrown]"..can't we..? We haven't even tried..."[/color] [color=mediumorchid]"The most we know from this picture is that a hospital somewhere in America will collapse on Friday. I can't read the name of the hospital, and even if we can be fairly sure that this is in Georgia, that newspaper could actually be from anywhere. I would love to call someone and warn them in advance, but with only this much information, I can't think of any way we can help."[/color] [color=RosyBrown]"..it's worth a shot isn't it..?"[/color] Her lips parting from one another, Zoe searched his eyes, [color=RosyBrown]"..we have the prior knowledge that something... disastrous is going to happen. I don't know about you, but... I'd rather not watch it pass knowing that I didn't do everything I could to try and stop it..."[/color] Chris was about to keep arguing when he looked into Zoe's eyes and the fight went out of him. [color=mediumorchid]"I... alright. There's no harm in trying. I may not know anybody in Georgia, but I do know someone in London I met once with a scary good memory and possibly too much time on her hands. I can give her a call."[/color]