.blue is the same old misery

[Ginny Weasly]

"Immortal until you die..." Ginny repeated with a small smile. She raised an eyebrow at the two, shaking her head slightly, "And have you two any idea how old Todd is?"

She glanced over, seeing Todd slump in Xaver's arms.
-He ok?-

[Xaver]

-He is unconscious.-
Xaver's tones no longer held their soft, relaxed state. They were sharp, and fixed - the gears in his head turning quickly.

"That's how we live!" Laylenn said over her goblet, both unconcerned, used to her little brother's state, and ignorant.
Turk, though, slipped off the bench, wading through the tension he could easily feel radiating from Xaver's creature, and placed his hand on Todd's head, running his fingers through his brother's hair, a frown set on his mouth.

[Ginny Weasly]

-Is he breathing?-

Ginny focused on Laylenn, "I see." She studied the little girl, then looked at the two boys, a frown setting upon her own face. A worried one.

[Xaver]

-Slightly.-

Xaver cradled Todd to his chest, much as he held Cody when his son had long since nodded off to sleep, the skinny blond's head tucked into the cup of his palm, his arm running the length of the boy's back, soft, silky-feathered bright golden wings draped loosely over his arm. Xaver frowned down at the thin boy, then jumped slightly, looking up.
Surprised - though it was actually a moment before footfalls sounded in the hallway, and a figure rounded the corner, into the mess hall. Xaver had heard the man long before he'd neared the room.

[Ginny Weasly]

Ginny had taken a step towards Xaver and Todd, but stopped as a man appeared in the doorway. She half turned, instictivly positioning herself to be able to protect the children.

[Xaver]

"So for once, the rumors were true. You are back."
The man's voice even sounded like a sneer.

Turk gripped the loose fabric of Xaver's jeans, at his knee, and Laylenn, soundlessly, moved, ducking behind Ginny.
Xaver scowled, half annoyed at the others tone, and because of the impact he had on the children - though he remained stationary.

The man stopped, finally, when he was in close range of them all, his gait light, and smooth. He was tall - about Xaver's height, perhaps taller - though he was massive, bulked up and huge, where Xaver was lean. The other male was wide in comparison - though in no way was Xaver scrawny. Just more athletic - built compactly into a whipcord of strength.
He smiled at Ginny, brown eyes not hiding his interest, even as they moved from her, and over the three little ones, his expression souring..

[Ginny Weasly]

Ginny's own eyes never left the man, showing nothing. She absently reached back and put a hand on Laylenn's head, rubbing it slightly.

She didn't smile back, "Rumors are rarely true." She said, softly.

[Xaver]

"Neither are they ever really pleasant," he returned, eyes brown as dung fixing on Ginny. "But sometimes they are true."
His eyes flickered over to Xaver, who's expression darkened, considerably.
"And still unpleasant."
"Good to see you too, Belain. I see you've changed for the better."
The man scowled.
"I see you've changed for the worse, Milord." He nodded pointedly to Laylenn, who, beneath the protection of Ginny's hand, poked her tongue out at him.

[Ginny Weasly]

"Laylenn, don't be like that." Ginny said, not able to keep a smile from her lips. The girl had done exactly what she herself wanted to do to this stuffy brat of a man. She pushed her hair behind her ears and smiling wanly.

[Xaver]

"Yes - didn't the filthy breeders that bore you teach you not to test those who would so easily skin you? And enjoy it?"
At the little girl's expression, the man laughed, though the sound stopped, immediately, when Turk stomped his foot. "You shut up!"
"Turk-"
"But-"

"Don't talk to my sister like that."
It was Todd.
The little boy suddenly jerked away from Xaver, wiggling away from the hold of his arms, and coming to stand on the floor, beside Laylenn, his gold wings shimmering as they folded, naturally, behind him. He didn't waver, though his pallor was still oddly pale, and creamy, his silvery eyes burning with an anger that made Xaver stare..

[Ginny Weasly]

"I suggest you listen to the boy. Children are dangerous." Ginny smiled slightly, starring at the man with utter dislike.

[Xaver]

The man, Belain, laughed, outright, in their faces.
"A child? Give me a break, lady. Especially ones like them-"
"Have you a reason for your intrusion?" Xaver interrupted, scowling darkly.

"Of course. You are needed."
"I am not here on business."
He wasn't even there on purpose.
Xaver rose, then, uncurling from his position on the bench to his full height, the bunched muscles of the hard planes of his still naked torso lengthening and stretching as he straightened.

"It doesn't matter."

[Ginny Weasly]

"It matters more than you do." Ginny muttered, not even intending to say it outloud as she turned her back on the man and gently shepered the children to the benches.

[Xaver]

Xaver fought the smile that fiercely edged its way to his mouth, though, in the end, his lips tilted upward into a bemused, proud smile.
"Perhaps," Belain said darkly, scowling now. "Though more than your pretty face, and these brats, t-"
"I have declined. I will have none of your tongue, Belain. Do not push my patience."

The man shook his head, knowingly, and grinned, in a way that was both haughty and mocking.

[Ginny Weasly]

Ginny smirked, her temper showing through, "You really should stop talking to these children like that." She said tensely, turning and giving Belain a look.