Seaside [open]

[six_lives_left]

It had been bound to happen eventually -- after tinkering around with the various Shiny Things brought back from the Ruins, and getting accustomed to little things like living in a proper building, Serin had gotten a little restless

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[viral_lord]

At that moment, X had his hands somewhat full. Perhaps, in retrospect, it hadn't been such a good idea to let so many of the cyberelves out at the same time. But, since they'd all been stored on the same data recorder, X hadn't been sure how to let them out one at a time.

So now he was sitting on the couch in the middle of the main room of the condo, watching as five assorted cyberelves flitted around him. He was vainly trying to keep an eye on all of them as they explored the room around them.

[six_lives_left]

And may X be wished with damn good luck in that task, indeed. Inquisitive and nosy little critters -- especially Maya and Kynite -- they poked and prodded and peeked into everything.

Granted the little X elf was staying a little closer, but that wasn't necessarily better.

Serin trotted into the room and stopped, blinking, at the bright-coloured and flitting elves.

"Are you busy, right now ...?"

[viral_lord]

X pulled his attention away from the elves for a moment to look distractedly over at Serin. Which might not be the best idea if he intended to keep track of them all.

"Serin? Not especially - I don't think..." He paused and gently tried to coax the little X elf into letting go of his hair. "I just let them out for a bit... They won't wander off and get lost, will they?"

[six_lives_left]

"I don't think so, no. They'll stay here if they want to stay with us; and they haven't left yet, so I don't think they want to."

Serin watched the elves consideringly, briefly distracted.

"I should let the others out too, but I need to ask something first --"

Giving himself a bit of a shake, he recounted his conversation with Mega.

"... So, he would like to come up and meet you, if you didn't mind ..?"

It did take come coaxing, but X elf did eventually let go. Unfortunately, this was just to slip within X's shirt-collar and around the back of his neck.

[viral_lord]

"Well, that's good. I don't think we could keep track of them all if they were prone to roaming far off."

X frowned a bit pensively as Serin explained what he'd told Mega. He hadn't wanted Serin to go about openly telling people that X was trying to keep a low profile. X shrugged it off, however, his expression turning thoughtful as he considered the implications of Mega claiming him as a brother. Hopefully, he'd be able to explain his reclusiveness without mentioning the virus or the local Hunters. It would be too suspicious to turn Mega away.

X opened his mouth to answer Serin. But the tiny elf X decided at that point to dive down the back of his shirt. X gave an undignified squeaky yelp and started as the elf tickled his way behind his neck.

[six_lives_left]

Serin fidgeted, slowly becoming aware that he had erred in some way and trying to mentally review what he'd said and done, but he couldn't find a flaw that was too terrible. That he know of, in any case.

As X yelped, the little elf squeaked with fright and fluttered back out of X's collar -- tickling at X's neck with neon-light wings as he did so -- and pitched on the back of the couch, wings quivering and eyes wide.

[viral_lord]

X shivered and twitched a bit at the tickling wings. But once the elf had moved to the back of the couch, X shook himself slightly and shifted to glance at the frightened little creature. He pitched his voice in a soothing tone. "Hey, now, it's okay. You just startled me. Don't be afraid." He slowly reached out to try to soothingly pet the trembling flitter's back and wings.

[six_lives_left]

Curious, Serin stayed quiet to watch X, the other elves eventually using him as a convenient perch as they did the same.

The flitter watched X's hand carefully, brilliant green eyes still wide -- but he didn't flit away. And once X began to pet him, he squeaked softly again and started to calm down, his wings lowering from their tense and flight-ready posture.

[viral_lord]

X gently stroked the top of the tiny elf's head with one finger for a moment more before he glanced up at Serin. X blinked when he saw the other four elves clinging to various parts of Serin.

He shook his head slightly. "It's all right, Serin. I don't mind if you bring Mega up to visit." He paused briefly, looking thoughtful, before continuing.

"Though... Next time you meet someone, could you try not to mention that I don't want certain people to find me? I'd rather it didn't get around. It'd probably be safer, actually, if people didn't know that I'm avoiding anyone in particular."

[six_lives_left]

"If that's what you'd like, I can do that. I didn't know what else to tell him ..."

Serin gently removed Martina from her perch in his hair -- provoking a giggle -- and nodded.

"It's you he'd like to meet, though."

[viral_lord]

"That's okay." X smiled reassuringly at Serin as he continued to gently pet the itty Xling with one hand. "I can explain some things to Mega. It'll be interesting to meet him."

[six_lives_left]

"I'll be right back then -- he's waiting to hear if you were willing to have company ..."

Serin trotted back towards the door to fetch Mega, as various elves scattered away from him to resume their investigation of the nooks and crannies of the room.

The itty Xling, on the other hand, was utterly relaxed by this point, half-closing his eyes and sighing softly.

[mega_bluebomber]

Mega was still waiting where Serin had left him, keeping an eye out for the other's return. He straightened when he saw Serin coming back and took a few steps toward to him to close the distance.

"What did he say?" he asked.

[six_lives_left]

Nodding, Serin smiled and gestured for Mega to come in.

"It's fine, and he said he'd like to meet you."

"Come on in --"

And he held the door for Mega, waiting.

[mega_bluebomber]

Pleased, Mega matched Serin's smile with one of his own and entered the condo. He looked around, taking in everything from the furniture to the color of the walls to the kind of appliances and light fixtures that were in use.

His attention was suddenly caught when something flittered across his field of vision. "What-?" Was that a tiny person? Flying?

[viral_lord]

The condo was quite spacious and well-furnished in tasteful colors. If Mega knew anything about expensive furniture and fixtures, he'd soon realize this must be an expensive condo.

Once in past the entryway, the main room opened up with a high ceiling. The second floor hallway wrapped around three sides of the main room and overlooked it like a balcony. The far wall had large windows and doors opening onto a balcony-patio. There was a sitting area in the main room, a bit off to the side of the entryway hall.

As Mega stepped out of the short entryway hall and into the main room, X stood up, uncurling from his seat in the corner of a comfortable couch. He turned to face Mega, watching him with unveiled curiosity. He looked much bigger than Rock, or even the Blues X had met briefly. But the facial resemblance was there, still.