~6~
Chapter 7:
Looking Through Your Eyes...
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*-Simon-*-Simon-*-Simon-*-Simon-*-Simon-*{****************}
"-seriously? All of them?" Simon blinked, brow quirking half in amusement, half suspicion he's being put on.
Raphael chuckled, giving waiving faintly, settling closer to him, stretching his arm out along the back of the bucket seat of the Farris wheel cart, smirking, turning more towards him.
"Yup- all of them."
"No they're not!"
"Yes they are!"
"Oh come on. You're pulling my leg."
"I'm not- it's the truth. ALL circus's, fairs and carnivals are just nomadic groups of aliens with really crappy glamours and camouflages. Same goes for the 'Strips, Piers, Boardwalks and other random tourist trap type things scattered about.
Makes sense if you think about it; sometimes the best place to hide is in plain sight."
Simon giggled, rolling his eyes exasperatedly, settling closer, flashing a bright, teasing grin, lightly pushing his shoulder.
"Oh come on Raph, you're putting me on."
Raphael laughed, blinking in surprise, waving animatedly.
"I'm not! Why would you think I am?"
Simon snorted, brow quirking teasingly.
"Maybe because I've known Mags for months and you may have plenty of 'crazy Mags stories' but he has a pretty good assortment of 'Tormenty Raph' stories to match. He says it's practically your hobby- and gotta say just from today I'd totally agree. It's practically a reflex with you; like my babbling or Mags's flirting. Probably don't even realize you're doing it sometimes."
Raphael chuckled, shrugging with a bit of a conceding little head tilt, settling closer, hand slipping over, coming to rest on his shoulder, squeezing.
"Okay- point."
Simon grinned, bouncing lightly.
"Ah ha! S-"
Raphael held up a finger, smirking right back.
"Counter point?"
Simon snickered, head tilting, brow raising expectantly, giving a playful little wave.
"Go for it."
Raphael chuckled, squeezing his shoulder, using his free hand to gesture.
"Alright, granted with most people that'd be fair-"
"Exactly s-"
"However, as we have more than established tonight...you-Angel..." Raphael cut him off with an adorably teasing grin, pretty fire eyes sparkling warm and bright, holding up a finger for emphasis, playfully tapping the tip of his nose, drawing a soft giggle and a cute little blush from Simon.
"Are most definitely NOT most people."
"Okay sure fine...you're not messing with me just to be a jackass. Doesn't mean you're not doing it as like an attempt at flirting or something- like pulling pigtails or whatever."
Raphael huffed out an amused laugh, brow quirking, bright, dizzying fire eyes glimmering impishly, leaning in, flashing a teasing, worryingly appealing, knowing little smirk.
"You don't think I know how to flirt Angel?" he murmured, fingers trailing from his shoulder down along his arm, touch feather light and distracting, causing a dizzying little shiver to slip down his spine clear to his toes, a soft little whimpery sound escaping.
Those bright eyes flicker in interest, smug smirk picking up a tick, a low, growly, shiver inducing little chuckle sounding. It's soft and warm and right next to Simon's ear, breath tickling his skin, sending his pulse racing and his head spinning. Simon flushed clear to his ears, glancing away, swallowing, taking a couple deep breaths to try to somewhat curtail his reactions...or at the very least keep from passing out as he's suddenly lightheaded and feels like he's freaking electrified.
Raphael shifted closer still, hand on his arm sliding down, thumb brushing lightly against his pulse point. He feels it jump, breath catching. Raphael hummed softly, leaning in, nuzzling lightly just behind his ear.
"You know Angel your pulse is really racing...don't know if I should be flattered or concerned." Another one of those dizzying, all too appealing little chuckles slips out.
It's warm and kind of growly and completely intoxicating...there's also just enough of a teasing lilt to it for him to latch onto to keep him from completely getting lost in it.
He swallows, pulling back just enough to glance over at Raphael, giving the best approximation of a glare and unimpressed look he can muster (which likely reads as more pouty/petulant and slightly desperate but it's better than that embarrassing sound, giggling like an idiot or freaking passing out just cause a stupidly pretty guy was all flirty and sat super close).
Simon huffs faintly, quirking his eyebrow.
"And YOU know trying to prove you're not screwing with me by screwing with me is kinda counterproductive, right?"
Raphael blinked in surprise, shaking his head, laughing brightly, placatingly holding his hand up.
"Hey! I'm not screwing with you: I'm flirting with you. We are on a date...I realize it's been a while since I've been on one but I'm kind of given to understand that is something you do during a date in order to express interest and signify that you believe the date is going well.
Am I wrong?"
Simon huffed out a faintly exasperated, slightly breathless laugh, rolling his eyes, shifting closer, hand coming to rest on Raphael's arm, tapping lightly for emphasis.
"You're not wrong...but you're not totally in the right either."
Raphael's head tilted, playfully pouting, giving an altogether fake wide eyed innocent look.
"You do not think the date is going well?"
Simon snorted, hand trailing down his arm, catching his hand, kind of playing with his fingers, smiling, shaking his head.
"Raph, you can literally read my emotions; you know that's not true. It's a wonderful date- best of my life."
"Mine too."
Simon smiled, brow quirking.
"Doesn't mean you're not messing with me."
Raphael sputtered.
"I'm n-"
"Dude?"
"What? I'm no-"
"Raph?"
"W-"
"Raphael? Come on."
'I'm NOT messing with you!"
Simon snorted.
"I'm N-"
"So you're really gonna sit there and tell me you weren't purposefully pushing my buttons just to get me to react?"
"I-uh...w-well...umm..."
Simon smirked, pointing triumphantly.
"See... you were messing with me."
"I-okay...kinda b-but it wasn't actually like that..."
Simon smiled, catching the beginnings of the golden blush dusting his sharp cheekbones. He can't help leaning in a bit, head tilting.
"Alright...I'll bite. So if it's not you messing with me- pulling pigtails or whatever than what was it?"
"I-um...w-well...I just-uh..." Raphael shifted, trailing off, reaching up, scratching nervously at the back of his neck, glancing away, shrugging, that pretty little shimmer of gold flickering on his cheeks, creeping up to the tips of his cute elfin ears.
Simon swallowed, equal parts intrigued and enamored by the sudden, near shy turn in his up till now oh so confident, self-assured date. He shifted closer, tugging lightly at their still entwined hands, squeezing.
"You just?"
Raphael shrugged, giving a bit of a halfhearted wave, the pretty golden glimmer flickering brighter, near glowing. Simon swallowed, squeezing his hand tighter to keep from reaching up, tracing along the pretty glimmering trail, trying to keep his focus on the here and now and the conversation and not get completely lost in stunningly beautiful, adorably blushing man sitting next to him.
"I-I wasn't messing with you...Nothing like that. B-but you were right I was kinda trying to get you to react. But it wasn't just to like mess with or tease you or anything...I just...I-umm..."
"You just...?" He murmured coaxingly, settling closer.
Raphael sighed, glancing up near sheepishly.
"I just really like you reacting to me and I kind of just wanted to get to see more of it. Guess I got a bit carried away...sorry..."
Simon blinked, flushing, reaching up brushing his hair back.
"O-oh...um...that's uh..."
Raphael glanced up, brow quirking, a light hint of a smile tugging at his lips, head tilting.
"Is that you mocking me or-"
"Or."
Raphael huffed out a soft laugh, the smile picking up a tick, those pretty eyes sparking teasingly, head shaking.
"You don't even know what the 'or' was."
Simon giggled softly, shrugging, squeezing his hand, again playing with his fingers, tugging him a bit closer.
"True...but I know it's most definitely nothing even remotely close to the first option so the second one has to at least be closer, right?"
Raphael chuckled, squeezing his hand back, those pretty eyes shimmering in amusement, giving a soft nod.
"Right...so that is okay...yes?"
Simon smiled shyly, nodding eagerly.
"Um yes...most definitely okay. Like SO okay...that's j-uh...um...so yeah..." he trailed off flushing brightly, glancing away.
Raphael gave a low, soft little chuckle, settling closer to his side, stretching his arm out along the back of the seat, fingertips brushing lightly against Simon's shoulder. Simon smiled, resting his head on his shoulder, cuddling in close. Raphael hummed approvingly, hand slipping over, fingers lightly carding through Simon's soft light brown curls. Simon gave a soft, contented little sigh cuddling even closer.
"Mmm...That feels good. I really like you doing that..." He breathed, subconsciously leaning into the touch.
Raphael hummed, nodding, kind of nuzzling against his hair, taking a deep breath, expelling a soft, growly kind of sigh that made Simon's heart flip, sending a thrilling little shiver clear down to his toes.
"I know-I can feel your emotions...your reactions, remember?"
Simon nodded lightly against his shoulder, shifting a bit so he could see him better, waving, the gesture slightly impeded by their still entwined hands.
"Yeah I remember. Seems like that'd get kinda hard. Do you...I mean is it like a power? Like can you just tap into it when you want? Or is it more a sense- like sight or smell or whatever...like it's just there?"
Raphael shrugged faintly.
"Eh kinda a mix of both. It's basically a sense. I can't shut it off altogether but over the years I have found ways of minimizing the input, focusing it. Usually the easiest way is to focus on the emotions of just one person- someone you don't actually mind the input from. Barring that I do have pretty strong mental shields I can use when I really need to block something out but those take a lot of energy and even with them I can't generally shut it down entirely.
It is pretty overwhelming sometimes- especially in crowded, busy places- a kind of sensory overload."
Simon set up faintly, freezing.
"Crowded busy places? L-like Night clubs, the Pier, the carnival and all the other random, bustling, super touristy type places we've went tonight?"
"I-well...yeah b-"
Simon gasped, shifting, looking over at him, eyes wide and concerned.
"Raph? Dude! Why didn't you tell me? We could h-"
Raphael chuckled softly, shaking his head, flashing a soft, warm smile, waving him off, again squeezing his hand lightly.
"Angel it's fine. It was my idea to come to these places, remember? I wanted you to get a chance to see other non-human beings- just people watch.
Unless you have an exceptionally powerful telescope that only really works when you're actually around people. Well...okay I do actually have the telescope but that's kinda frowned upon. Didn't think suggesting being Peeping Toms would really give the best impression for our first date. I mean I may be a retired alien Supervillian but I'd kinda prefer it if you didn't think I was THAT kind of Villain."
Simon chuckled, nodding.
"Uh yeah...probably best to stick to the cool, dynamic, theatrical, shark tank having Supervillian rather than the creepy/perv-y type. A lot more interesting."
Raphael grinned, giving a slight nod.
"Kinda my thinking..."
Simon laughed, squeezing his hand, flashing a reassuring smile.
"Well no worries about that. I don't need any Alien superpowers to know that's about the furthest thing from who you are."
Raphael smiled, relaxing, tugging him closer, squeezing his arm.
"I'm glad. I know the emotion reading can feel kind of invasive sometimes. I hope you know it's never intended to be that way. Sometimes it kind of feels that way even to me. Like I'm doing wrong or overstepping even when I know there's only so much I can do to tramp it down. Like when you catch something intimate or private and you know it's something the person would never want you to know. Almost feels like snooping in someone's diary but I really can only control it so much."
Simon squeezed his hand, looking over catching his eye.
"I'm sorry. That seems like it'd be really tough. And oh dude! You're Ace! That's gotta REALLY suck sometimes. Well not the Ace thing but like the reading people while Ace thing. Like there's gotta be a LOT of emotions and reactions and just like 'stuff' you pick up on that you really don't want to know anything about, especially with you being so sexy-uh...I...uh I mean..." He trailed off, cheeks warming.
Raphael smirked, brow quirking teasingly.
"You think I'm sexy?"
Simon huffed faintly, exasperation winning out over his embarrassment, brow quirking sarcastically.
"Raph, dude? You can literally read my emotions and reactions. And I've been 'reacting' all night. Pretty sure you know exactly what I think of you..." He gasped softly, eyes widening, expression going near guilty.
"Oh um...I-Sorry if it makes you uncomfor -"
"It doesn't."
Simon blinked at the rather quick response, shifting.
"I-it...it doesn't?"
Raphael shrugged, flashing a bit of a smile, shaking his head, pretty fire eyes flickering over Simon, shimmering warm, lightly glowing. He swallowed, again shaking his head, gaze slipping up, locking with Simon's, glimmering eyes flaring bright.
"It most definitely does not bother me..."
Simon swallowed, flushing brighter, nodding, kind of fidgeting.
"Oh-t-that...um...that's uh..."
Raphael's head tilted, a bit of hesitation shimmering in those pretty glimmering eyes.
"Does that bother you?"
Simon blinked in confusion, head tilting right back.
"Does what bother me?"
Raphael shrugged.
"That I'm attracted to you..."
And again the only response to that Simon could come up with was confused blinking.
"D-does it bother me that that most beautiful person I've ever seen is attracted to me?"
Apparently it was Raphael's turn with the confused blinking.
"The m-Y-you think I'm beautiful?"
Simon shrugged, head shaking faintly still in confusion.
"I-yeah? Haven't we already est-"
"Yes but...I mean...l-like this? You thi-"
Simon gasped, finally clicking on the confusion. He couldn't help a faint giggle of relief finally figuring out the sticking point. Raphael somewhat balked at the sound, beginning to pull back slightly. Simon shook his head quickly, entangling their fingers, squeezing his hand, tugging him back close.
"Sorry-that wasn't a laughing at you laugh...it was just a surprised laugh. I-I kinda thought we already covered this. Back in your library? When I like thought it at you really loudly?"
Raphael chuckled, giving a faintly conceding nod and a half shrug.
"I-well...yeah we did...a bit...but...I mean that was more abstract and like right after you found out and when you were still on that 'Alien's exist and I didn't accidentally take out a quarter mile of national forest with wall décor' high.
I kinda figured after it settled in a bit- became more real...after like the initial crazy thrill type thing wore off it might change o-"
Simon sighed, squeezing his hand, tugging him closer, looking up, meeting his eyes, holding his gaze pointedly.
"Raph, the only way it's changed in the last few hours is I'm more attracted to you. You're brilliant and funny and amazing and without a doubt the most beautiful person I've ever seen. Either version of you is...but especially this version."
Raphael blinked in shock, that pretty golden shimmer glimmering, glowing, trailing clear up to the tips of his cute elfin ears. Simon sighed dreamily, feeling that same urge to reach up, to trace along the pretty glimmering trial. This time he didn't fight it down. He shifted forward, reached up, lightly brushing Raphael's hair back, tucking it behind the cute little pointed tip, lightly tracing it, trailing down to his cheek, and along the pretty glimmering trail, brushing lightly against his jaw. He swallowed, shaking his head.
"God you are so beautiful..."
Raphael gave one of those adorable, faintly high-totally-not-a-giggles like back at his workroom, the pretty glittering gold intensified, glowing faintly. Simon giggled delightedly, flashing a warm, completely enamored, totally charmed full on dimpled smile.
"Especially when you blush like that."
Raphael huffed out a soft, breathless little laugh, shaking his head, movement a bit too quick and more than a little unsteady.
"Phoenix soldiers don't blush..." He mumbled, unable to quite tramp down the cute little smile tugging at the corner of his pretty lips.
Simon chuckled, leaning in.
"Just like they don't giggle, right?"
Raphael nodded. Simon snickered, nodding back.
"Of course...I must just be confused. Kinda get that way around particularly beautiful guys."
And there went another one of those adorable totally-not-a-giggles.
Simon bounced lightly, flashing a warm, delighted grin. Raphael huffed, rolling his eyes, giving a fairly convincing exasperated half glare, a faint adorable smile tugging at the corner of his lips belying the otherwise serious expression. Simon laughed softly, squeezing his hand, tugging lightly, kind of nodding over his shoulder.
"Do you want to get out of here?"
Raphael kind of startled, the pretty glimmer brightening, clearing his throat, reaching up, nervously scratching at his neck.
"Oh uh Simon I-not...th-"
Simon gasped, eyes wide, flailing animatedly.
"Oh crap! No wait! That came out wrong. Sorry-uh...I-I kinda really suck at sequiturs. And timing. And especially timing sequiturs. Sorry, I SO did not mean it like that.
I-I didn't mean get out of here like 'get out of here'-though where the conversation was I see it and-oh wow- major misstep- again sorry-" He swallowed feeling his cheeks heat, shaking his head, waving over his shoulder.
"I was going back to the conversation before that part. T-the empath thing? I just...this has been a lot of people tonight. Like a LOT a lot. I appreciate that you wanted to show me all of this and it was amazing, totally out of this world- and no I really could not pass up the pun- but I don't want you to be miserable our whole date."
Raphael smiled, shaking his head gently, waving him off.
"Angel I haven't been miserable a second of our date. Pretty sure it's some kind of record for me actually. I loved getting to show you about- show you all the things you've been surrounded by but never got to see, never got to really experience. It's been wonderful."
Simon sighed softly, relaxing from his misstep, hesitantly settling back close to Raphael's side, giving a faint nod.
"It has been for me too...best night of my life. It really has been wonderful but I'm sure it's been a lot for you and I've seen more than I could have ever imagined. Maybe for the rest of our date we can just go somewhere nice and quiet, park and talk, how's that sound?
I actually even know the perfect place. My favorite place in the whole city...well second favorite now. Your place kinda totally blows everything else clean out of the water.
Even so this place really is something else. Think you'd like it."
Raphael smiled, head tilting.
"And you would be alright with that being the rest of our date? Just setting in my car and talking for the rest of the night?"
Simon laughed softly, brow quirking.
"Parking at my favorite place in the whole city, setting and talking with the most fascinating person ever about Aliens, myths, legends and the mysteries of the universe with the most beautiful person I've ever met till the sun comes up?
Uh yeah...that actually sounds like pretty much my ideal date.
So...yeah?"
Raphael chuckled, nodding faintly.
"It really does sound kinda perfect, doesn't it? Maybe we can stay here on the Farris Wheel a little while longer then we can head out? It's a beautiful night and the view from up here is pretty amazing. Plus since we're the only ones on here and so high up the only emotional/reactionary input I'm getting is from you- I am more than okay with that."
Simon giggled softly, nodding, squeezing his hand.
"I am too..." he paused, head tilting, glancing around the ground below them at the random people milling about, hesitantly holding up a finger.
"Though I'm pretty sure the dude running the ride forgot we're up here. We've been stopped here at the top for nearly an hour..."
Raphael chuckled, giving a slightly flippant little wave.
"I know he did. Not really his fault though..."
Simon quirked his eyebrow.
"Not his fault that he forgot to do his job? That doesn't seem like something you'd...wait..." he trailed off, head tilting, holding up a finger.
"Oh my god Raph! Did you seriously do the memory wipe thing on him?"
Raphael blinked, eyes widening, shifting faintly.
"Umm..."
Simon groaned, rolling not only his eyes but his entire head.
"So that's a yes. W-"
Raphael held his hand up placatingly, flashing an irritatingly endearing, sheepishly apologetic smile.
"Sorry Angel. I really don't do that too often, just when it's really necessary. I just kinda really needed a break and I thought it'd give us a bit of privacy and a chance to talk and get to know each other.
Also I'd give me a little reset. He'll be fine- he'll be back in about half an hour- figured hour and a half would be enough of a break for me. He'll remember then, come back, apologize for forgetting us, probably give us a voucher for a snack stand or something to keep us from complaining to management and that'll be that...see? No problem."
Simon blinked.
"Dude...that is SUCH a supervillian thing to say."
Raphael chuckled, shrugging, giving a bit of a dismissive little wave.
"Well you know- always good to play to your strengths."
Simon huffed, rolling his eyes, faintly shaking his head. Raphael shifted closer, slipping his arm around his shoulders, gently squeezing.
"Ah come on Angel. It really is totally harmless. He's totally fine I promise, I got a much needed reset and we got some time to just us...that's nice yes? You wanted to park, to talk. We can start now...anything you want."
Simon huffed faintly before shrugging, glancing over, brow quirking.
"Anything?"
Raphael smiled, shrugging.
"Anything within reason. Where are we starting?"
Simon's head tilted at the qualifier before shrugging it off, shifting more towards the other man.
"Okay so you're like psychic? With the whole Empath type thing right? Oh but there's that Jedi, Darth Vader type hold thing too- the dolce-"
"Dal seicig-"
Simon shrugged.
"My words easier- that thing. That's basically like telekinesis right? And you have the whole recollection reconfiguration thing- the thing you used on the Farris Wheel dude which sounds like quasi mind control s-"
Raphael shifted faintly, beginning to shake his head.
"It's n-I don-"
"I know, relax- I wasn't saying anything bad- just listing...you're fine." Simon waved him off, totally unconcerned, lightly patting his arm, going right back to it, counting them off on his fingers.
"So we have the empath thing and the telekinesis thing and the totally not mind control thing-and the elbow barb type things and...is that all of your like Non-human abilities?" He paused, glancing over head tilting.
Raphael shrugged, flashing a teasing smile.
"All the ones YOU know about."
Simon blinked, setting up eagerly.
"There's more?"
A bit more."
Simon bounced eagerly, shifting closer.
"Like what?"
Raphael chuckled, flashing a teasing wink.
"Gotta save something for our anniversary, don't we?"
Simon huffed.
"Oh but that's a whole year away! You're really gonna make me wait that long?" he pouted.
Raphael chuckled in amusement, shaking his head.
"It's not gonna work."
Raphael again shook his head.
"Oh come on- you're not really gonna make me wait that long are you?"
Raphael flashed a teasingly flirty smirk, shrugging, giving a flippant little wave.
"Yes I am. That's that. I'm unbreakable...you'll just have to wait."
"But wh-"
"Uh uh...already decided. Have to save some mystery, gotta keep your interest after all. Besides it's not like we're gonna be lacking in topics. We have plenty of other more interesting topics."
"More interesting than you?"
"Yes, far more interesting."
Simon snorted, shaking his head.
"Not possible."
Raphael chuckled, rolling his eyes, that cute little golden blush flickering along his cheeks again.
"Oh come on Angel. We just have one night for me to try to explain the entirety of non-human life on earth to you. Which basically stretches clear back to the entirety of human life on earth- or even before. There is a LOT- an infinite number of crazy, amazing, fascinating, beautiful, terrifying, fantastical, utterly mind-blowing things to cover and like a matter of hours to cover it.
We don't have the time to waste on me."
Simon set up, meeting his eyes, shaking his head firmly.
"It's you; that could never be a waste of time."
The pretty golden flush brightened, shimmering like starlight. Simon swallowed, squeezing his hand tighter to keep from reaching up yet again, tracing along the pretty glimmering trail. Raphael smiled softer, squeezing his hand, lifting it to his lips, pressing a soft lingering kiss to the back of his hand.
"Angel, there's an infinite number of non-human wonders I can tell you about. You've been studying these things all your life- it's your passion, your childhood dream come true. This is your chance to find out the truth about everything you've ever wondered about. Roswell, The Bermuda Triangle, The Nazca Lines, the Scape Ore Lizard man, space travel, other worlds, galaxies- the mysteries of the universe. I can tell you the truth about all of it. all you need to do is tell me where you want to start."
Simon smirked, shifting forward a bit, head tilting.
"I want to start with you."
Raphael huffed, shaking his head, waving him off.
"Mothman?"
Simon shook his head right back.
"You."
"Chupacabra? Come on- that is WAY more interesting than me."
Simon giggled, shaking his head, brow quirking."
"Uh yeah...I'm not interested in dating the Chupacabra."
Raphael snickered, nodding.
"Probably for the best: they're basically the Black Widow of non-terrestrial beings."
Simon scrunched his nose.
"Eww..."
Raphael nodded.
"Yup."
Simon chuckled, shaking that away, starting right back up.
"So what about the elbow bar-"
"Vampires!"
Simon blinked, head tilting.
"Vampires?"
Raphael shifted forward, nodding eagerly.
"Yeah: Vampires, werewolves, fairies, demons, dragons, trolls, ogres, gargoyles, goblins, angels and so much more..."
Simon blinked again, hesitantly holding up a finger.
"I-wait...I thought we were talking about Ale-er-non-human beings?"
Raphael nodded eagerly, swallowing, shifting closer, holding up a finger for emphasis.
"We are but it's so much more expansive than humans can ever even begin to imagine. All of those beings I mentioned? All those myths and legends and campfire story type monsters? They're not myths. Not really...not completely in any case. Every last one of them- and so many more- are based on some being that inhabited this planet at one time...most of which STILL inhabit this planet to this very day.
They're people you know, you see on the street, in the coffee shop...at work.
Just from the three work events Mags has dragged me to I can tell you just at the office here you have four Itheoirí, no fewer than seven fost criatura or Iallach criatura respectively, a pair of diablillo, a démoniste, two Gargarita and a surprisingly personable-though way too chatty for my tastes- Itheoir-fostvulpe named Todd that apparently works the intake desk who cornered me by the punch bowl at last year's Christmas party and proceeded to tell me the entirety of his life story-
Well minus the alien were-fox part for obvious reasons."
Simon blinked yet again, holding up a finger.
"Umm...Todd's a werefox?"
Raphael smirked, holding up a finger
"An alien werefox. He's a fostvulpe-well technically he's an Itheoir-fostvulpe, a kind of hybrid. See fostvulpe are a type of fost criatura. They're really similar to werewolves...only it's not just wolves- there's an entire menagerie of animal alter egos they can have. Also Fost Criatura come about the animal transformations naturally- it's just a part of them. They're not transformed by a bite, scratch or curse or what have you.
There are beings like that but they're actually a whole OTHER type of non-human being: Iallach-criatura.
Very similar but view each other as VERY differently. Don't get them mixed up they get very huffy about it. Lots of drama, lots of animosity, lots of misguided mistrust. See, Iallach's tend to view Fost's as the cause of their 'curse'...which okay technically they ARE but this is going back over a millennia to a crashed ship and an onboard computerized medinanites system run amok.
You know the Doctor Who episode with the gas mask creatures? Yeah pretty much the same deal. Only it's not just one little French town and it wasn't magically resolved in an hour through the power of love. The medinanites got released from the ship, spread and transformed and got into the bloodlines and continued on down to this very day.
Nowadays most Iallach are technically born however with Iallach's the 'curse' can be transferred to others via bite or scratch. They see it as something like a communicable disease. With Fost's that's not the case- being bitten or scratched by a transformed Fost's is the same as being bitten or scratched by any normal animal.
For the majority of Iallach's the transformations are seen as some evil curse from the stars transforming them into savage, instinctual, repulsive monsters. Causing them to even spread the curse. Fost's kind of take exception to this...as well most people would when someone views you as some evil, uncivilized, diseased monster. Obviously this view doesn't set well with the Fost's as they're basically exactly what the Iallach's turn into. So yeah...
Again learn the difference and keep it straight. Mix it up and you're in for a lot of placating and soothing...or you know; just feign ignorance and dart the other way as soon as their backs are turned in order to neatly avoid the headache inducing minefield altogether...usually my method.
Todd was pretty wily though- I ended up having to use a bit of the recollection reconfiguration to make him forget he saw me just to get away. All in all seemed like a nice enough guy though." He chuckled, shrugging reaching up, brushing his hair back, giving a bit of a wave.
Simon blinked, shaking his head faintly.
"Wow..."
Raphael smirked, nodding.
"I know right? Told you it was fascinating."
Simon shook his head faintly, brow quirking slightly.
"Not that...though gotta admit-yeah- totally fascinating. Not what I was wowing though."
Raphael's head tilted, smiling curiously.
"It really is. So if it wasn't that then what were you 'wowing'?" He murmured, a teasingly flirty little smirk tugging at his pretty lips.
Simon settled closer, again catching his hand, squeezing, looking up, meeting his eyes.
"Think that's the most I've ever heard you talk." He paused, head tilting the other way.
"Kinda makes me think you're trying to distract me."
Raphael blinked, head shaking slightly.
"What? No I'm not. What makes you think I'm trying to distract you?"
Simon snorted softly, brow quirking pointedly.
"Roswell, Bermuda triangle, Chupacabra and Todd my coworker/alien-werefox? Dude- come on. You're throwing all the shiny, sparkly things at me hoping something peaks my interest enough that I forget the original topic. I know that trick.
It's the same trick I use with Mags when I want him to drop a subject. Bout the only way to get the guy off a topic."
Raphael freezes for a moment before kind of slumping, nodding.
"Yeah...I know...It's pretty effective usually."
Simon nodded.
"It is-and it would be with me too...at least it would be if the original topic wasn't so important."
Raphael huffed, shaking his head, trying to yet again wave him off.
"Ah come on Angel: there are SO many more interesting things we can talk about besides me."
Simon smiled, shaking his head.
"No there's not. I'm not on a date with A vampire or a demon or the Mothman or a chupacabra- thankfully- again eww- or even Todd my coworker werefox. I'm on a date with you. I want to know about you. That's the most interesting thing to me."
He sighed, faintly shaking his head.
"I-but...I'm really not that interesting Angel."
Simon actually snorted at that, sarcastically quirking his brow.
"A psychic, empathic, centuries old alien supervillian 'isn't that interesting?'
Dude! My last date was a dental assistant who lectured me for nearly twenty minutes on gum hygiene, proper brushing, the horrors of gingivitis, and then went on for nearly an hour on his 'passion in life': collecting, cataloging and mounting bugs.
He was the most aggravating person I'd ever met- and the most boring/condescending. I couldn't get him to shut up about himself. I ended up trying to bribe the waitress to help me sneak out."
Raphael chuckled, brow quirking.
"She took the bribe?"
Simon snorted, shaking his head.
"Didn't have to- she'd heard the gingivitis/bug conversation. The second I'd started to ask she just said 'oh thank god I don't have to set off the fire alarm' grabbed my hand and hustled me out the kitchen exit."
Raphael laughed brightly, shaking his head in amusement.
"That was nice of her."
Simon snorted, nodding emphatically.
"It wasn't just nice-it was an act of mercy. I tried to pay the bill but she refused to take my money. Said his card was already on file and after putting me through that conversation dude deserved to pay every last penny. Even through a lava brownie sundae to go on it for my trouble. Well two- said she deserved one too just for the residual creep out."
Raphael chuckled, giving an approving head tilt.
"Sounds like I'd like this girl."
Simon laughed, nodding.
"You would; Blake's awesome. Oh and she's actually Ace too- Ace/Aro. We actually became pretty good friends. I'll have to take you by the restaurant sometime and introduce you."
Raphael smiled, nodding.
"I'd like that..."
Simon smiled back, catching his hand, squeezing.
"I would too...and you did it again."
Raphael blinked, head tilting innocently, feigning confusion.
"Did what?"
Simon smiled, tugging his hand, lifting it up, lightly playing with his fingers.
"Tried to distract me. Again a good effort...again it's not gonna work."
Raphael began to shake his head before huffing faintly, kind of slumping, giving a slight shrug.
"Come on Simon. We'll have plenty of time after our anniversary to talk about me. All the time in the world. Right now we just have a few hours. The reconciliation reconfiguration works best when it's done within ten to twelve hours of whatever you're trying to reconfigure. I saw you in the library at a little after nine thirty. It's already nearly three. We just have a few hours left.
There's so much I can tell you about. So many things that you'll find more interesting."
Simon settled closer, again squeezing his hand.
"I'm sure you do...and I'm sure they're fascinating...but I'm ALSO sure none of them are anywhere near as interesting- or are going to hold my interest half as much-as you; my date. I do want to learn about all that stuff but like you said after our anniversary we'll have all the time in the world for that.
We just have a few hours. I don't want to spend them trying to learn the entirety of alien history. I want to spend them getting to know my date better. Nothing is going to distract me from that."
Raphael's brow quirked, head tilting.
"Nothing? Almost sounds like a challenge?"
Simon chuckled, brow quirking right back, leaning in, giving a slightly dismissive little shrug.
"Wasn't intended as one but if that's the way you wanna take it you're welcome to. Though fair warning it won't be a challenge you win."
Raphael chuckled, setting forward in interest, shifting closer, bright fire eyes sparking excitedly, flickering over Simon in interest.
"Okay that one was definitely a challenge."
Simon shrugged, head tilting, brow quirking expectantly.
"So what are you gonna do about it?"
Raphael gave one of those soft, growly hum type sounds, shifting closer.
"Hmm...What indeed. You really think there's nothing I can do to distract you?" he murmured, playing with his fingers, tugging him a little closer.
Simon felt his cheeks warm, nudging his shoulder, giving a slightly breathless little laugh. Raphael hummed softly, settling closer still, free arm slipping up around him, hand coming to rest on his shoulder. Simon giggled softly, flashing an impish, playful little smirk right back, shaking his head teasingly.
"Nothing you're gonna do on a first date. Especially in public on a first date. Let's face it neither of us are that kinda guy."
Raphael chuckled, smirking teasingly, giving a flippant little wave.
"Hey you don't know that: I'm a psychic alien supervillian. I'm very complicated."
Simon laughed, brow quirking pointedly, squeezing his hand.
"An asexual psychic alien supervillian. Complicated yes, no question...but that kind of complicated? Yeah, no...Not buying it. You're back to screwing with me- and yes this time it is totally intentional- don't even try denying it."
Raphael began to shake his head before giving up the ghost, shrugging, giving a flippant little wave.
"Hey you started it. You challenged me...have to work with what I got, figured it's a good place to start."
Simon huffed exasperatedly, shaking his head.
"Yeah well not gonna lie it's an effective as hell distraction but it's not gonna work. Not on this...
Nothing is gonna distract me here."
"Nothing?"
Simon shook his head firmly.
"Nothing, nothing."
Raphael quirked his eyebrow.
"Not even an alien werefox?"
Simon chuckled, shaking his head, curls bobbing animatedly.
"Nope- not even an Alien werefox."
Raphael quirked his eyebrow, leaning in a bit, holding up a finger.
"How about a Vampiric alien werefox?"
"Not even a-w-wait...Vampiric alien werefox?"
Raphael smirked, shifting forward a little more, turning towards him, head tilting concedingly.
"Yeah-Like I said; technically Todd's a hybrid. He's an Itheoir-fostvulpe. He's half fostvulpe and half Itheoirí."
"Itheoir-something or other...that? You said that before, when you were listing all the like supernaturalish alien coworkers, right?"
Raphael nodded.
"Yes."
He blinked.
"A-and they're Vampires?"
Raphael shrugged, giving a kinda 'yes and no' gesture.
"Yes-well in a sense. They're what the Vampiric myths are based on...though the truths a fair bit different."
Simon nodded, relaxing slightly.
"Ah okay...so they don't feed on blood?"
"Uh...well...not ALL of them. Todd, Layla and Kenzie do. Sasha's actually a separate subtype. A fair bit different though. They're not Sangrivores so at least there's that. He's a totally different type of Viativore: what's called an Itheoirínam."
"Which means?"
"Soul eater."
Simon swallowed, shifting in his seat, giving a quick, nervous nod, eyes wide, swallowing again.
"O-Oookay...uh...that's uh...y-yeah-"
Raphael gave a soft, inviting little chuckle, shaking his head, giving a reassuring little wave.
"It sounds far worse than it is. He's a type of energy vampire. He doesn't feed on blood, rather a person's energy and essence. Though it's kind of a tradeoff. Sangrivores feed on blood but it requires a fairly small amount and it's something they do in private, usually with an intimate partner.
Itheoirínams on the other hand feed constantly, draining energy and strength from anyone in their immediate vicinity. It's why if you've ever been around him for a long period you end up feeling drained, irritated and exhausted."
Simon huffed out a faint chuckle, relaxing faintly, shaking his head.
"Man...And here I thought that was just the weirdly in-depth bird watching and gourmet coffee lectures..."
Raphael chuckled, head tilting concedingly.
"Okay so it's probably a bit from column A and a bit from column B. Actually that's a pretty effective, clever feeding technique. The more ire they can rise in someone the more they have to feed on. Even so they're generally considered a fair bit less dangerous than most other types. Though under the right circumstances any of the itheoirí could actually be quite deadly. They're generally fairly peaceful though.
There's actually five different types o-"
"Raph? You're doing it again."
He chuckled.
"I-hey you're the one who chal-"
Simon sighed, shaking his head, waving him off.
"It wasn't a challenge; just a way to get you to keep talking."
"And I am-"
"Yes you are...but not about what I really want to know."
He sighed, shaking his head.
"Simon i-"
Raph please?" he murmured, squeezing his hand, pouting, settling closer, resting his head on his shoulder, giving the best, most disarming puppy eyes he could muster.
Raphael began to shake his head before kind of blinking, slumping, groaning, rolling not only his eyes but his whole head.
"Ah damnit- Mags was NOT kidding. Damn those puppy eyes..." he grumbled, slumping more in his seat, giving a little halfhearted wave.
"Fiiine...what do you want to know?"
Simon positively beamed, settling closer, giving a triumphant little fist pump with their still entwined hands, squeezing, cuddling close.
"Hmm...Okay so I know about the psychic abilities. What other abilities do you have?" he startled, shaking his head.
"Oh umm, not like that's not impressive enough or whatever, just like the way you talked there's a lot more."
Raphael shrugged, head tilting concedingly.
"There are-a LOT a lot. Honestly it's kinda too much to list...hell I don't even know if I can list them all."
Simon giggled, brow quirking, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
"Now you're just trying to impress me."
Raphael gave a slight breath of a half laugh, shaking his head, reaching up, brushing his hair back.
"Wish I could say that was the case..."
Simon tilted his head, shifting closer, squeezing his hand, bright eyes flickering with concern, shifting over him.
"Y-you really don't know all the abilities you have?"
Raphael sighed, giving a halfhearted little wave, shaking his head.
"N-not exactly. See the thing about phoenix soldiers; we're not born with all these abilities. I mean we're pretty resilient and we have the barbiau-uh these-" he trailed off, raising his arm, hesitantly gesturing towards the dusky red barb tip at his elbow and the trail of descending dusky red marks along his forearm, continuing.
"But generally that's about it so far as natural defenses go. All the rest come at a cost. Each ability is either acquired or amplified by a near death experience. Again not the kind of 'near death experience' like today with the killer décor. The kind with blood and pain and unimaginable terror. The ones that you think are gonna be your last breath, last heartbeat. Every time we come back from something like that; for the very brink of death- we come back stronger, with a new Demiglyph, an enhanced ability or a new ability altogether."
Simon blinked, brow furrowing head shaking faintly.
"A Demiglyph? What's that?"
Raphael sighed, shifting, reaching over pushing up the sleeve of his shirt up a few inches past his elbow revealing a deep intricate reddish black design on his lower bicep.
"A tattoo?" Simon's head tilted curiously, leaning in, looking over the mark in interest, reaching up, lightly tracing along the elegant, intricate swirl.
The texture was just the slightest bit different than the skin around it, seemed a bit warmer too. Raphael's breath hitched, a little shiver slipping through him, shifting faintly. Simon glanced up, catching his eye before startling, pulling back, flushing brightly.
"Oh man sorry...I should have asked. That was like super invasive and forward. I sh-"
Raphael shook his head, waving him off.
"No, no Angel, it's quite alright, you're fine. And no-it's not a tattoo. Nothing that simple- or that painless. It's not something you choose to get- neither is the ability attached to it. They form after a near death experience. We have no control over which ones we get and so far as I can tell there's no rhyme or reason as to which you get when.
They seem to kind of go in an escalating order. As I'd said the Recollection Reconfiguration ability- and the corresponding Demiglyph- most commonly forms right around the twelfth near death experience...though I've known some who had it by the fifth and some who still hadn't developed it after twenty so it really does just seem to be a game of chance. There are some who believe the manner or cause of the near death may be a factor as to which forms but...well...no one's really jumping at nearly killing themselves just to collect data for a theory.
It doesn't actually matter. We nearly die, claw our way back from the brink of death, and emerge with a random ability and a fancy corresponding sigil as a parting gift to remember it. They hurt like hell, even with my advanced, rapid healing they still take nearly a week to heal and them forming feels like a red hot coal against your skin every time something brushes against it. Even just the air touching it is excruciating."
Simon gulped, eyes widening guiltily.
"Oh man I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have tou-"
Again Raphael waved him off, flashing a faint little smile.
"Again no apologies necessary Angel. They hurt like a bitch when they form but after that there's no pain."
Simon shifted, head shaking slightly.
"I- but you kinda hiss-"
Raphael shrugged, shifting, reaching up, brushing his hair back, nodding lightly.
"Umm...yeah, it wasn't a pain sound though. Again Angel, you're fine."
Simon relaxed faintly, nodding in relief.
"Okay good...I really d-wait..." he trailed off, head again tilting, gesturing towards him.
"I-b-but you...back in the library? You said y-"
"Nearly died three hundred and ninety-seven times, yes..."
Simon swallowed, holding up a finger.
"I-s...so...wait-so those...that...you? You have-"
"Yup..."
Simon blinked, looking him over, head shaking.
"W-bu-I don't see any!"
Raphael gave a surprised laugh, brow raising to his hairline.
"Umm...yeah it's only the first date and we've already established I'm not that kind of guy."
Simon startled, flailing faintly, flushing clear to his ears, waving animatedly.
"Oh my god, dude! I SO did not mean it like that! I wasn't I didn't I j-"
Raphael laughed brightly, reaching over, resting his hand on his arm, squeezing lightly.
"Angel? Relax...that time I really was just messing with you.
Sorry couldn't resist.
I do have a lot of them but they're all easily covered up. Thankfully they are- Demiglyphs are one of the hardest aspects to hide. They're even harder to hide than my eyes, skintone, ears or even the barbiau.
Even with my apex camouflage fully enacted most non-human beings would pick up on them should they actually catch a glimpse of them...and they are only possessed by one non-human type race in the entirety of the galaxy. Part of the reason I prefer suits- it's just much easier."
Simon's head tilted curiously.
"Huh...that seems kind of odd." He startled, flashing an apologetic smile.
"Oh um sorry- I j- like the elbow barbs and all the rest seem like they'd be a lot harder...why would that stand out so much?"
Raphael sighed, giving a kind of hesitant shrug.
"I-well..."
Simon shifted closer, squeezing his hand.
"What?"
"I-see...t-"
"Raph? Come on...you can tell me..."
He sighed, shrugging.
"I'd rather wait and explain after our anniversary."
Simon blinked, head shaking.
"I-why?"
He sighed giving a halfhearted little shrug.
"Because..."
"Because?"
"Because then I'll have a full year of memories for you to draw from and you'll actually know ME rather than all the terrifying aspects of my kind. That's a part of me- in the past it was a big part of me but it's not anymore. At least not if I can in any way avoid it.
I never wanted to be that person- I never liked being that person. I hated it-near every second of it...but it's there...and it's not going away. It's not something I'm proud of but it's the only reason I'm still standing here today so...I-it's just...it is what it is.
I know that's not me anymore and that's not the me I want you to know. I want you to see the real me...the person I am now. But telling someone you're not the monster everyone thinks you are and showing them are two very different things. And the more I just tell you the more likely you are to see me that way.
If I have an entire year I can show you who I really am. I can't do that in just a couple hours. And the more we talk about me-about my kind, about the specific details of my kind and my past and how I got here today- the further I'm gonna seem to the person I actually am now...I-I j-" He trailed off, shrugging faintly, giving a halfhearted little wave.
Simon settled closer, squeezing his arm.
"You're just afraid you're gonna scare me off?"
Raphael huffed faintly, shaking his head, glancing up, catching his eye.
"No...I'm afraid I'll scare you, period."
Simon shook his head right back, squeezing his hand.
"Raph? You're not gonna scare me."
Raphael scoffed, brow quirking, giving a slightly helpless wave.
"Simon? I scare everybody. Most every person I meet- every person who sees me, the real me- is terrified."
Simon smiled gently, shrugging unconcerned.
"Well...like you've said several times: I'm not most people."
Raphael gave a soft breath of a laugh, head titling concedingly.
"True...you most definitely are not..." Raphael trailed off, settling closer, slipping his arm around Simon's shoulders, squeezing.
"You're not afraid of me...even when I'm this close I feel no fear from you whatsoever."
Simon smiled, reaching up, running his fingers through Raphael's hair, brushing it back away from his face.
"No, I'm not..."
Raphael swallowed, taking a deep breath, reaching up, tangling his fingers in Simon's soft curls, thumb tailing along his cheek. Simon's breath catches, he shivers softly, leaning into the touch.
Raphael's breath catches too, those gorgeous fire eyes glitter bright, shimmering like a beacon, calling him in. Simon hums softly, eyes fluttering closed, beginning to lean forward. Raphael begins to lean in before gasping, catching himself, quickly pulling back, that bright, glimmering gold shimming enticingly along his cheekbones clear up to his ears.
"I-sorry...I just...I don't want to screw this up. I like how you are with me now...how you react to me. I like that I can look in your eyes and not see any fear, any uncertainty...I...I just don't want that to change."
Simon shook his head, settling closer, snuggling in, resting his head on Raphael's shoulder. He hummed softly, squeezing his hand, lifting it to his lips, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to the back.
"You're not going to."
Raphael huffed, shaking his head.
"You don't know that."
Simon quirked his eyebrow, smiling gently.
"And neither do you. You already told me you're not that kind of psychic; remember?"
Raphael gave a surprised laugh.
"Well...yeah I j-"
Simon sighed, shaking his head, settling closer, squeezing his hand.
"Raph? I get why you're so worried but I really don't think you need to be. I know why you think that. You're so used to that reaction it's all you ever get. I get why that's what you'd expect when you open up to someone about yourself but like you said I'm not most people. Especially on this.
I'm not going to react like that."
"But Simon? You don't know that. You can't possibly. I know you're saying it like a cute little joke or whatever but the Supervillian thing? That's way closer to the truth than you can imagine. The majority of the universes population sees my kind as little more than vicious, evil monsters that feed on chaos, death and destruction.
They see us as some of the worst beings who've ever existed, the bane of the entirety of the civilized universe. The mere glimpse of Demiglyphs or barbiau or any other distinctly Phoenix soldier identifier is enough to throw people into a panic-a frenzy. They see me as the literal makings of their worst nightmares..." He sighed, shrugging, looking up, meeting his eyes.
"I just...the last thing I want is for you to look at me and see what they do."
Simon shook his head.
"I wo-"
"You keep saying that but you don't really; not for sure. I just...I'd rather you get to know ME first...without all of that baggage...that's all. I never get that. People who see me- the real me? T-they don't see me...they just see 'that'. I just...I just wanted the chance for you to see me before you see...well...me...t-that's all..." Raphael trailed off, glancing away, giving a somewhat defeated little half wave.
Simon sighed, shifting closer, squeezing his hand, settling his head against his shoulder.
"Okay I get that. I know what you're saying. It's kinda like the vampire thing, right?"
Raphael blinked, head tilting.
"The vampi-"
Simon nodded, turning enough to catch those pretty eyes.
"You know- the alien Vampire people? Like when you said they were vampires it kinda freaked me out. But it freaked me out because I have all this like pop-culture Vampire randomness floating around in my head.
It threw me because you say vampire and it's like a switch in my head goes off. I know those people- I've known them for months. And yeah Sasha's kinda intense and squicks me out but the other three are some of the nicest people in the office. There's some of the only ones who don't refer to the SCU as the FBI loony bin.
In my head I know them but this one thing gets tossed in and it kinda overshadows like ALL the rest of it.
If you know all the myths and legends and tv shows and all of that and you find out someone's a vampire from outer space that's likely to color your view of them...shift it to something totally different. Even if everything you know about them tells you something totally different."
Raphael nodded, shifting more towards him.
"Exactly! I just really don't want you to see me like the myths and campfire story monster/boogie man other non-humans see me a-"
Simon nodded like a bobblehead, curls bouncing animatedly.
"Yeah but Raph, don't you see? This is exactly what you want."
Raphael blinked, head tilting.
"How do you fig-"
"It's the perfect time for me to learn about Diflino-gwydn. I don't know all the legends and myths and campfire stories about Phoenix soldiers. I know nothing about any of it. It's a totally clean slate for you. All I know is what you tell me. What I see- and so far? Everything I see doesn't scare me. It freaking amazes me. Totally fascinates me. Takes my breath away in the most wonderful way possible.
You're gorgeous, and amazing and brilliant and nerdy and creative and j-Raph- You're like the most utterly fascinating person I've ever met. I know you're really hesitant about talking about yourself and I get it. You've never got to talk about yourself, really talk about yourself- with someone who didn't already think they knew exactly who and what you are just from the barest glimpse of an intricate tattoo, shimmering fire eyes, or cute little elfin ears. I can't even imagine how hard that's been, how disheartening.
And if it's genuinely gonna make you uncomfortable or upset o-or if there are things that are just too hard or too intimidate or too whatever else for you to feel comfortable talking to me about I get it, I do. I know you've had an unspeakably hard life. I'm sure there's a lot of things you really don't want to talk about and I'd never push you on something like that...but...Raph?
I like you, a lot. I'm on a date with you- the best date of my life. I just want to get to know you. The real you. It's your narrative and as you're talking about yourself and all the myths and legends are just that I'd much rather get the information from the actual source rather than some random wild-eyed theories and bigoted preconceptions."
Raphael seemed to hesitate, a bit of a hopeful glimmer of light flickering in those pretty fire eyes before kind of pulling back, shrugging uncertainly.
"I-but Angel...the thing of it is their opinions-"
Simon shook his head, cutting him off, squeezing his hand, leaning forward.
"Are based on nothing more than legends, scary stories, ignorance, prejudice and fear. They know nothing real. For god's sake they don't even know the real name of your type of non-human!
I don't want their warped view of your 'kind'. I don't want to learn about you from twisted myths and prejudicial fear mongering stories. I don't want to learn about Diflino-gwydn from someone who doesn't even know the proper name for the beings they're talking about."
Raphael blinked in faint surprise, that pretty hopeful glimmer shimmering again in those oh so pretty eyes.
"B-but Angel? It's not that simple. They're not just prejudices, not just legends. There's truth to them."
Simon gave a soft breath of a laugh.
"Raph you just told me there's truth to all legends. Why would the legends about your kind be any different than our legends about theirs? And again I don't even know their legends- and I'm more than okay with that. Just means I'll be more capable of forming my own view of you that isn't warped or shaded by all these other things.
I-it's kinda like If someone who knew next to nothing about vampires decided to write a story about them."
Raph quirked his eyebrow.
"They did- turned it into a movie - several movies."
Simon chuckled, head tilting concedingly.
"Exactly same deal here."
Raphael chuckled softly, relaxing, settling closer.
"Yeah...I guess. Except I don't sparkle."
Simon snickered, brow quirking teasingly, nudging his shoulder.
"You do when you blush."
Raphael laughed, rolling his eyes, settling closer.
"Yeah well I don't sparkle in the sun..."
Simon grinned impishly.
"You would if I made you blush when we're in the sun."
Raphael laughed again, relaxing a bit more, giving a slightly flippant wave, shrugging, shaking his head.
"Oh you know what? What the hell; you probably got a point...and hell if you don't than at least I'll know to be on the lookout for it. Though...um...maybe we can stick to more the basic Diflino-gwydn things rather than specifics about my past? That? Honestly I'd really need a lot more time than just a few hours the first day I've known someone to get into that. Even someone as amazing as you Angel."
Simon perked up, nodding eagerly.
"Of course- totally understandable. No personal details just like the broad stroke, basic, general type things. Totally fine with that...
S-so...we're good?"
Raphael huffed out a faintly charmed huff of a laugh at the bright, eager look, giving a slight, waving concedingly.
"Yeah...we're good. I'm not exactly an 'open book' but if anything we can go over the cover and the back blurb."
Simon bounced lightly in his seat, flashing a brilliant, beaming smile, a bright, excited little squeaky type noise sneaking out. Raphael chuckled softly, shaking his head.
"Damnit you're gonna make it impossible for me to keep firm...on like...anything...again damn those puppy eyes."
Simon giggled, shrugging, smile shifting into a brilliant, dimpled grin.
"Don't worry...promise I'll only use my powers for good."
Raphael chuckled, flashing a flirty little wink.
"Well that makes one of us."
Simon snickered, shaking his head exasperatedly, nudging his shoulder. Raphael hummed softly, settling closer, stretching his arm out along the back of the seat, fingers brushing against his shoulder.
"So where are we starting?"
Simon beamed, thinking for a moment before nodding, turning more to look him over.
"Okay well you'd sa-oh!" He startled, jumping slightly, glancing around.
The Farris Wheel suddenly jumping to life, rotating. He glanced over the side, spotting the Goblin looking Carnie down by the lever, looking up at their car, bright orange eyes wide and wild.
Simon glanced over, catching Raphael's eye. He smiled faintly, settling closer, waving him off.
"Don't worry Angel, no take backs. We'll still talk...But maybe this isn't the best place for it. Car would probably be better. And anyw-" he's cut off by the squeak of the wheel reaching the bottom, the carnie darting forward before it even comes to a complete stop, reaching forward quickly unlocking the safety bar, pushing it out of the way, shaking his head, placatingly waving his hands, nervously fretting.
"Oh Man! Dudes! I am SO sorry! I coulda swore the rig was empty! I knew it was! Please don't tell my boss-I'm already on thin ice as it is after the thing with the Llama and the tilt-o-whirl.
Really sorry here let m-" he reached into his pocket pulling out a crumpled handful of brightly colored papers, holding them out.
"Here's some vouchers for the snack stands- there's like sixty dollars' worth there. You can get whatever you want. Actually h-here's eighty-they're kinda pricy but that should cover whatever you want. Please just d-"
Raphael huffed faintly, exasperatedly rolling his eyes, snatching them out of his hand, glaring condescendingly.
"Just don't let it happen again. Next person might not be as forgiving of such incompetence."
He nodded erratically, reaching up, fingers raking though his wild greasy hair, nodding again, eyes wide, pupils kinda blown.
"Yeah-totally- I won't ever. Thanks for covering for m-"
Raphael scoffed.
"I'm not covering for you- I'm on a date and standing here listening to you spin and flail is just wasting even more of our time. Thankfully I had a delightful companion to keep me company for the time so it wasn't a total waste but again the next patron you forget may not be so lucky.
Now if you'll excuse us-" He paused, judgmental gaze flickering down to the paper nametag stuck to his shirt another slightly exasperated sigh slipping out.
"Phineas we have places to be and you've wasted more than enough of our time...perhaps you should head off before my decorum gives way to irritation."
Phineas' bright orange eyes widen, large bat like ears fluttering nervously, nodding erratically, whirling around, all but darting off into the still milling crowd. As soon as he was out of earshot Simon whirled to him, pointing, waving the food vouchers in emphasis.
"How did you know he'd bribe us with food vouchers?"
Raphael hesitated, shrugging.
"Umm..."
"Raph? What did you do?"
"I-nothing..."
"Did you implant the idea for him to bribe us with food vouchers?"
"I-Maybe I really am just that kind of psychic?"
Simon snorted, brow quirking.
"Or maybe you just memory-wiped him into giving us food vouchers."
Raphael shrugged, settling by his side, slipping his arm around Simon's shoulder, head tilting concedingly.
"Or maybe I just memory-wiped him into giving us food vouchers."
Simon gave a disbelieving laugh, exasperatedly shaking his head. Raphael blinked in completely fake innocence.
"What? I thought you might be hungry. We can grab some food to take with us. Just no cotton candy."
Simon blinked head tilting.
"Why? You don't like cotton candy?"
Raphael snorted, shaking his head.
"You wouldn't either if you knew what it actually was."
Simon sputtered, eyes widening, flailing animatedly.
"Dude! Don't tell me that!"
"Just sayin'..."
Simon huffed faintly, near sulking.
"But I love cotton candy..."
"Again you wouldn't if you knew what it was really made out of..." he all but singsonged.
Simon, irritatedly blowing a curl away from his face, kind of trudging along, a bit less pep in his step before pausing, head tilting, holding up a finger, mock glaring.
"You're screwing with me again, aren't you?"
Raphael blinked, head tilting right back, a way too appealing impish little sparkle lighting up those pretty fire eyes belying the otherwise totally straight face.
"Hmm? Of course not. Who would lie about such a thing?"
Simon glanced around, leaning in closer, teasingly nudging his shoulder.
"I don't know...maybe a super obnoxious retired alien supervillian with a kinda off sense of humor?"
Raphael gave a faintly gasping, surprised laugh.
"Did you just call me obnoxious?"
Simon quirked his eyebrow.
"Are you denying it?"
Raphael chuckled, shrugging, tugging him closer to his side.
"I generally prefer to go with 'charmingly roguish.'"
Simon snorted, nudging his side teasingly.
"Yeah and I'd like to go with 'Delightfully Loquacious' rather than 'Overly-caffeinated chatterbox' but we both know they're just the same thing with a prettier label."
Raphael chuckled softly, giving a slightly dismissive shrug and a bit of a flippant wave.
"Again point. B-"
"Ah! Uh uh, nope." Simon interrupted, turning in front of him, reaching up, kind of pinching his lips closed, holding up a finger for emphasis, meeting his eyes pointedly in only partial mock seriousness.
"No. Stop. Look at me. Listen to me.
You are just screwing with me. There is no 'Big Alien Secret' to cotton candy. There isn't a secret. Just quirky, unique, majorly unhealthy food and a fun atmosphere. That is all. There is no 'Big Alien Secret' to cotton candy or funnel cake or corndogs or caramel apples, or churros or caramel corn or any of the other foods that I only get a couple times of year when the carnival comes to town or I can drag people down to the Boardwalk to do the fun randomly touristy type things.
There is no secret...
None..."
Raphael snickered, brow quirking.
"Are you trying to hypnotize me? You know that only works in the movies, yes?" He mumbled out of the side of his mouth, reaching up, pointing towards Simon's fingers.
"Also can you stop that? I'm not really a fan of the 'duck lip' look."
Simon snickered before regaining his composure, head tilting, pointing yet again.
"Yes IF you agree that you were just messing with me."
"B-"
"Uh, uh. Raph? Come on dude. There's a reason I purposefully avoid looking at the ingredients listed on something I like. There's a reason I don't go looking into how something I like is made. There is a reason I purposefully avoid looking at the health department rating on my favorite diners and fast food places and that hot dog cart on the corner by the office or think too long about the inner workings of that one lone Ice Cream Truck still roaming my neighborhood that's less of a 'Truck' per say and more looks like a near dead ringer for Edger the bug dude's exterminator van from MIB with the bug replaced by a badly made Papier-mâché Ice Cream Cone."
Raphael blinked, holding up a finger right back, brow rising.
"Uh kay...umm...first off because I don't want the duck lip look to end up permanent- sure. You caught me, I was totally screwing with you...you win...so can you- you know..." he trailed off making a little shooing type gesture towards Simon's hand still at his lips.
"Oh yeah...sorry..." Simon startled, flushing faintly, quickly pulling his hand away, reaching up, tucking a couple wayward curls behind his ear.
Raphael chuckled, settling back at his side, reaching over, lightly slipping his arm around Simon's waist, the couple again beginning to move, tugging Simon a bit closer, giving a little flickering wave picking back up.
"Thank you; no problem Angel."
Simon glanced over, flashing an apologetic little grin.
"Sorry, that was pretty obnoxious. I get kinda carried away sometimes. I know it's kinda childish but if I like something I just want to be able to keep liking it...even if it means actively turning into the comforting grip of blissful ignorance.
Raphael chuckled, giving a flippant little wave.
"As I said no problem Angel...think I actually find it charming."
Simon laughed, rolling his eyes affectionately. Raphael grinned, tugging him closer, the couple continuing moving down the boardwalk towards the parking lot.
"Oh and random idea...just throwing this out there totally apropos to nothing but thinking maybe we should split up the date planning going forward, keep it fair and balanced you know? How about you pick the activity or entertainment or whatever and I'll pick where we Dine- Seems fair, yes?"
Simon snickered, slipping his arm around Raphael, hand resting comfortably on his hip, nudging his shoulder lightly.
"Seems like you're too scared to let me pick."
"Not 'scared' exactly...just...cautious."
Simon reached over, catching his hand, kind of entangling their fingers, squeezing.
"Ah come on Raph? You're a big, tough 'Phoenix Soldier', 'Demon of the stars'. Where's your sense of adventure?"
Raphael snorted, gesturing over his shoulder.
"Uh yeah- think it kinda tapped out somewhere around the failing health department rating/shady hot dog cart/even shadier Alien Exterminator Ice Cream Van."
Simon giggled, rolling his eyes, waving him off.
"Oh it's fine. I've been going to them for years, I'm fine."
Raphael snorted, shrugging.
"Yeah you also eat Cotton Candy, Funnel Cakes and Corn Dogs..."
"Dude!"
Raphael chuckled, holding his free hand up placatingly.
"Hey- You said you wanted alien knowledge- the truth."
"I do!"
"Well then back to the C-"
Simon huffed, shaking his head, waving animatedly.
"Not THAT truth."
Raphael laughed brightly.
"Okay well how am I supposed to know what Truths you want and which you don't? I'm an alien, not a psychic.
Well...okay minus the a few quasi-psychic based abilities like the Recollection Reconfiguration and the dal seicig. I'm sure as hell not THAT kinda psychic...and I mean technically I am like 'empathic' but...there's a big difference between being able to read people's emotions and understanding and actually empathizing with them.
I'm gonna level with you: The Quendsion lunar Lava slugs are probably better at it than I am."
Simon giggled, settling closer to his side, squeezing his hand, shaking his head faintly.
"I think you're selling yourself short there. You've been doing great with me."
Raphael hummed softly, squeezing his hand.
"Yeah...maybe...now...but I'd kinda like to keep it that way. How am I supposed to know which truths are which?"
Simon smiled, shrugging.
"Simple rule: If it's something I like and you know something that'll make me NOT like it then keep that to yourself."
Raphael began to nod before pausing, holding up a finger, pretty fire eyes again shimmering with that impish light.
"But what if it's something that'd make you not like it but it's ALSO something that's dangerous?"
Simon sighed, head tilting concedingly.
"Okay well...that could be an exception I guess."
Raphael nodded.
"Okay good..."
Simon smiled, nodding back, the couple continuing down the midway.
"So back to the cotton candy. You know how spiders sp-"
"Damnit Raph!"
Raphael laughed brightly, squeezing his hand, tugging him in, slipping his arm again around his waist, squeezing lightly.
"Sorry Angel; couldn't resist."
"Yeah yeah...there goes that 'charmingly roguish' thing again."
Raphael smirked, winking. Simon rolling his eyes in false exasperation, waving him off before his eyes catch on one of the booths along the midway.
"Ooh! Look they have Deep Fried Oreos. Come on let's get some before we head out. I love those things"
Raphael blinked, swallowing, yet again holding up a finger.
"Uh yeah...you'd be better off sticking with the cotton candy."
{*_**_**_**_**_**_**_**_*}
*****EndOfChapterNotes*****
{*_**_**_**_**_**_**_**_*}
Anghenfil= Monster
Démoniste= Warlock
Diablillo= Imp
Gargarita= Gargoyle
Fost-criatura = former creature (A being who transforms into an animal) (Usually shortened to Fost)
Iallach-criatura= Compelled criatura (a being that is transformed by something else: curse, scratch, bite, Alien Medinanites run amok exc...) (Usually shortened to Iallach)
Itheoirí-fostvulpe Vampiric Werefox
Itheoirí=eaters (lovely I know but it covers it)= Umbrella term for any non-human being with Vampiric tendencies.
Sangrivore = A being that feeds on blood (sangre= blood in Spanish+ vore which...well...Carnivore, Herbivore, Omnivore...you get the idea...)
Viativore= (Viata=Life and Vore as above) more general term for beings that feed on others: whether it be blood, energy, emotions or any other aspect of a person's life or vitality
Itheoirínam=soul eater
Barbiau= arm barbs
Wow...kinda went a bit term crazy there but I had a lot of fun coming up with all the new supernatural/aliens lol. This is gonna be SUCH a fun verse to play in...Thinking we may have to actually meet 'Todd the Vampiric Alien Werefox' sometime lol. In V2 he's one of the members of the Brooklyn Vampire Clan- same with the other names I mentioned. I'm trying to work them in when I can kinda introduce them, fill them out. I don't even know if we'll meet all of them but I have them all planned out...and a few more...and a few more after th-okay so I kinda went filler character crazy. I have around 100 random, unique characters ready to drop in at a moment's notice.
(It didn't take as long as you'd think I made a chart where you just roll a dice and you can create a totally unique character in less than 10 minutes. It was kinda fun and I got kinda carried away but at least now I have a whole assortment of characters to drop in when I need an extra.)
Anyways I know this chapter was kinda an info dump but it's an Alien Supervillian on a date with a Scifi nerd/FBI agent who's life revolves around mysteries and the unknown. What else are they gonna talk about on their date? Sports?
I know this went like super long and kinda meandered but I actually really like it. I really adore this verse.
So as always here's the update list:
A Start Of Something New (Verse 7)
The Girl In The Mirror (Verse 4)
Nosey Neighbors (Verse 9)
Love Bug (Verse 2)
Picture Perfect (Verse 8)
You Can't Go Home Again (Verse 1)
A Study In Chaos (Verse 6)
This Is Why You Don't Wander Away From The Group (Verse 5)
Death Was Just The Beginning (Verse 3)
Hey next up is V3 then we loop around again...well...I think next is V3. I seem to be in a pattern where I end up doubling up on the verses and honestly Ch 8 here I've had planned for a while so I might have one more update on this verse before moving on. Don't think anyone's gonna take issue with that lol.
So what did you think about their date? How about the Supernaturalistic aliens? Obviously the Fost and the Iallach are this verses versions of Weres and Shifters from V2. We'll probably have a lot of overlapping and echoing things like that throughout the verses. I like the symmetry. Also I really like the term 'sangrivore' and Viativore.
So what do you think so far?
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