¤ Cool Autumn Nights - Aubrey + Aziz ¤

[Aziz]

*Sorry I've been out! Had a few difficulties mixed with a heeping portion of writer's block*

"Thank you," Aziz said taking the ticket and looking at it curiously. His curiousity didn't last long and he quickly looked up to stare at the entrance in amazement. "So we can go in now, right?"

Walking in wonderingly, he stared about himself with wide eyes. It was better than what his parents had told him. The corridors were each filled with wonders...Statues, paintings, sculptures, and other miscellanious things.

The rehead managed to pull his eyes away from a picture after a few moments of browsing to look at the brunette besides him with adoring eyes. "You, Aubrey...are amazing. Thank you so much for bringing me....If there is anything I can ever do for you, short of taking you off this backwater planet, I will do it," he swore, only realizing a moment too late what he had said.

...Ah, well...Some humans believed in other planets, right? He could just pretend to be one of those humans, if the other asked.

[Aubrey Beaumont]

(( No problem. ^^ But I seem to have some bad timing. XD; I'll be staying at my father's house for the next two weeks and will only have itnernet access a handful of times. I'll try to post as much as possible, but it may take me a while. ))

Aubrey had followed the other inside, gazing around in subdued admiration at the paintings, sculptures, and such that he'd seen quite a few times before. Occasionally he stole a glance to the other and laughed quietly to himself at how amazed the other seemed to be. He was like a kid in a candy shop, but even more entertained. But when the other turned and started to talk to him, he could help but give him a smile, accompanied by a light blush. Though, it momentarily faultered when he heard the 'planet' bit.

"Planet?" Aubrey questioned, his voice full of wonder initially. It changed quickly to amusement, though, when he figured that the other was trying to be sarcastic. So, what does one counter sarcasm with? Their own bit of sarcasm, of course, "Oh, so you're from another planet or something, huh? So that's why you said you lived really far away!"

After he'd said the statement, he'd laughed. It was just a bit eerie, though, how he'd hit the truth right on the head and didn't even know the difference. Honestly, he hadn't been serious in the least. It would have creeped him out a lot if he had suddenly relized how true his sarcastic retort really was.

"But, honestly, I just brought you here and got you a ticket. It's nothing to call me amazing for, surely. It doesn't take a miracle to walk a few blocks down the road and give a woman behind a desk two twenty dollar bills," He smiled kindly, turning to slowly pade to the next exhibit. As much as he believed that he hadn't done anything special enough to qualify as 'amazing', it was nice to receive compliments from someone. Outside of family, friends, and teachers, he didn't get many. So, hearing an almost-stranger dote on him was actually quite lifting.

[Aziz]

Eyes widening, Aziz stared at the other in shock. How did the boy know?! Well...He did sound sarcastic, so perhaps he didn't know...But maybe he did? Az was confused.

He followed after Aubrey with a calculating look in his eyes, trying to decided what to say next. "Still...I really appreciate it," he said before adding in the same sarcastic tone, "After all, I am an alien, right?"

Tapping his cheek curiously, Az just had to ask. "So what planet would I be from?" If the brunette knew exactly where he was from...Then he obviously had to know about the other planets, so it would be safe to talk about space...Otherwise it wasn't. Right?

[Aubrey Beaumont]

"Oh, I don't know..." Aubrey said quietly as he considered the other's question. What planet? He honestly didn't know how to answer the strange question. He stopped to think on it for a moment before giving up, shrugging his shoulders, "You seem to like art a lot, so maybe it would be someplace really pretty. You're nice, too, so it would have to be somewhere pleasant."

He didn't know any better way to describe his little guess. Besides, it wasn't that it mattered anyway, right? Aziz wasn't really from another planet, as far as he was concerned. It was just an innocent little hypothetical question to the brunette, so he didn't see any harm in trying to come up with an answer. Even so, he thought that it would've been nice if the other really was from another planet. Not that it would've been completely unbelieveable to Aubrey--the nerd in him insisted that there were such planets outside the known solar system that were indeed inhabited. But, honestly, it would;ve made the other teen quite a bit more interesting than he already was.

"Anyway, it's not like that's true, huh?" He said offehandedly, giving the other a smile, "But it would be nice if it was, I guess?"

[Aziz]

"Would it really?" Aziz thought quietly outloud, saddened slightly that the brunette really did think it was all a joke. "I thought most people ran away screaming at the thought of aliens or something like that." At least, that's what the reactions of the Humans in the books that he read back at home in Sensaforia. Than again...Those were labelled as fiction. "Do you believe in aliens than?"

Walking over to a bench and sitting down, the half breed tapped his cheek curiously. "If I lived on a planet...That is, if there were other planets...I would be from a sensual and sensative and cultured place...It would be named...Sensaforia. You are kind and sweet, so I can see you living there too."

He chuckled, almost nervously. "Wouldn't that be nice?"

[Aubrey Beaumont]

"I suppose I do," Aubrey nodded, following the other to the bench and sitting down as well, elaborating once he was seated, "I mean, why not? There are tons of planets in space, so I think it would be kind of odd for Earth to be the only one that had people on it. It just seems kind of ridiculous to think that we're the only people out there. Maybe there aren't other civilizations on Neptune, Venus, Saturn, or any of the planets 'closer' to Earth, but there are other solar systems out there."

In all actuality, Aubrey could've been marked off as another one of the human population and firmly believed that there wasn't any life in space beyond earth. But, a few sciences classes had managed to get him thinking about the possiblities. After a while, it just seemed like common sense that there could be other populations off on another planet.

"It would be nice," Aubrey admitted, thinking over the possibilities. Living on a nice, cultured planet? Oh, it sounded like paradise compared to Earth. Even so, it didn't really exist, though... Well, as far as the human boy knew, at least, "To be honest, I don't really like the way this world works. Some country's always fighting with another one, the general population has the personality of a brick, and you have to pay an arm and a leg to visit anywhere beautiful for only a week or two at the most whenever you can even find the time for vacation. This Sensaforia of yours sounds excellent in comparison. Too bad it isn't real, huh?"

[Aziz]

Fidgiting in his seat, Aziz didn't respond for a moment. He really wanted to tell the other the truth...But his father said that humans, while very artistic, were also very narrow-minded and would lock him in a padded room if he told them he was an alien...Aubrey didn't seem narrow-minded like that though...

Glancing around, the Sensaforian hooked a finger into the brunette's shirt and pulled him close. "...Okay. Sensaforia is real, but don't scream, please," he quickly whispered. "Please, please, please...It's my homeplanet and there's others out there. I really don't know why I'm telling you, but..." A thought struck him than.

What did his mother tell him about mates? Oh, yes. It hit you all at once that this was the person for you...That you couldn't seem to help yourself from talking to him...That you'd just be drawn to them...Well, didn't he feel that Aubrey?

Shaking his head in exasperation at himself, the orange eyed youth offered a small smile. "I'd like to take you with me home...I think you're my mate..."

[Aubrey Beaumont]

The brunette was startled at first. Even though the other had just said a few simple sentences to him at one instant, it was a lot for the human boy to take in at once. Not only was the other telling him that the Sensaforia he mentioned earlier was real and that there were other such planets, but even more shocking to hear was that the other wanted to take him there. But then, his mind shifted to the last thing Aziz had told him. Mates? While he surely wasn't an expert on what the term meant, it didn't take a genius to figure out the gist of it. Once it had dawned on him, he couldn't help but blush.

"I won't scream," He whispered in return. It was obvious by just his expression alone that the boy was having trouble figuring out just what to do or what he wanted to say. At length, he smiled, "You're... really not joking around, are you? Either that, or you're a complete jerk for leading me on like this, you know.."

He smiled, showing that he was really just kidding about the last part. The brunette couldn't even make himself think the other was just insane. Aubrey believed him, and he honestly had no idea why. If it had been anyone else, he probably would have screamed. Either that, or he would've just led himself out of the museum right then. But, there was no way that he could have done that to the other, even if he had wanted to.

"You'll have to explain to me what being mates means exactly," Aubrey said quietly, reaching up to gently pull the other's hand from his shirt. Instead of dropping it, though, he experimentally laced their fingers together and smiled. Aziz had to be right, or else it wouldn't have felt right to grab the other's hand, would it? It felt natural, almost, and he was subconsciously relieved that it felt as such. He laughed quietly, shrugging one of his shoulders, "But I think I have an idea as to what it means."

[Aziz]

Aziz paused at that. Aubrey actually believed him? Well, that just kinda confirmed that they mates, so that would explain it. "I can explain everything...And as much as I love art, we should probably walk and talk."

Standing, they left the building before the hybrid began to speak. "No, I'm not joking. My parents met on Earth while travelling to see all the musics and arts...So, I came to do the same though I never expected to meet my mate..."

The halfbreed scratched his cheek embrassedly. "Well, I suppose it is only right to tell you all of what being a mate entails, but I must warn you I've never prepped for such a talk. I was pretty sure whoever my mate was, he'd already know..." He laughed. "I still can't believe you didn't scream, but I guess mother was right about mates...Not that I doubted him, but still..."

Az coughed. "Well...A mate is what it sounds like, so I suppose you're on the right track already. Mates are two destined for each other, even if seperated by worlds or years...They have a bond that connects them...A bond both of us have...Um...Eventually, we'll probably have kids...and I don't know what else to say. By law, if someone insulted or hurt you, I could beat them up...But I doubt anyone could hurt you. Oh! And...Just so you know before hand, Sensaforian is a vegetarian planet...so no meat, if you like that stuff."

[Aubrey Beaumont]

"Kids?" First and foremost, the other's comment on having children had completely caught him offguard. The expression that Aubrey had on his face could only be described as puzzled. He was certain that the both of them were male, but that was the whole problem! While he believed in the existance of other civilizations outside of Earth, he'd certainly never thought of the possibility of two men having children. To his human mind, that was just impossible. Certainly, the other couldn't have meant what he'd said in the way it implied. He figured he'd let his mind jump one step ahead of himself in the confusion and laughed at himself a bit, "You mean like, adopting a kid or something, right? I guess that's a stupid question, though, seeing as it would be impossible any other way."

He shook his head softly, still smiling. While the situation was confusing, he was happy. Shifting away from the subject of children, he considered the other statement made about Sensaforia, before giving an initial indifferent shrug as a response.

"I can do without meat, honestly. It's not a huge issue," He stated, musing silently to himself just how quickly he'd agreed to go with the other. He stopped to think about it, though, when he realized how much he would be leaving behind. First and foremost was Amelie. Unlike a great portion of brothers and sisters, the two of them got along extremely well and had been co-dependent on the other for years. It would be odd to not have her there anymore. But, what could be say? He couldn't just turn Aziz's offer down--he really did want to go with him, after all.

"Can we visit here again sometime?" Aubrey asked quietly, "I want to go with you, but I'll still miss being here sometimes.."

((Edit: Won't have the computer access back 'til I can get a ride home Sunday, then I should be on normal schedule again. Band has me tied up 'til then. xx; See you then.))

[Aziz]

Aziz tilted his head to the side in hesitant thought. "Well...We're really not supposed to come back to Earth after we find our mates...Something about how savage it is here, but honestly...I have never seen anything wrong with this planet," he mumbled, biting his lip before nodding. "So, sure...We can."

He than realized what Aubrey had said about kids and laughed. The brunette seemed to have this ridiculous idea that they would adopt! Why would they do that unless the younger was infertile...Oh. Right. Human males couldn't procreate together for some odd reason. Hm. Az wondered why that was before answering his mate's question. "No, in my...culture, I guess you could say, males are able to have children. That's why when I mentioned my mother, I said 'him'," he said, shrugging. "Meaning that we can't come back while you're pregnant, but could before or afterwards, I guess."

Wrapping an arm around his human, the hybrid started to wonder about how well he was explaining this. "I'm trying to tell you this the best way I can, but am I? Wendy would probably be better at explaining...I can't remember if I've left anything out...Oh, I'm Sensaforian and Jshiko...Not that it would mean much to you know, but-," he shrugged.

((Okay. ^^ As for me, I'm not really going to be able to get on Mon. - Thurs. for a week or two. Sorry!))

[Aubrey Beaumont]

(( No problem. I'll be a bit tied up during the weekdays myself, anyway. Band's taken over my life again. =/ ))

Aubrey stared at Aziz for a moment in utterly dumbfounded silence. Certainly, the other wasn't joking around. That's what had made the statement so odd. He certainly had every right to be confused, though. While he had believed in other cultures on other planets even before he had met the other, that didn't mean that he had ever even started to believe that women weren't the only gender able to have children. In fact, if someone else besides his mate had even suggested the idea, he definitely would've thught they were just trying to joke around with him. But, no.. Aziz was completely serious. He nodded, leaning in against the other when his mate's arm was placed around him.

"You're explaining everything alright, as far as I can tell," Aubrey smiled at the other, "I understand, but I guess it's just a little bit shocking. I mean, being from a different planet is one thing, but being able to have a kid of my own kind of caught me off guard."

He laughed quietly, shaking his head. He had definitely been caught off guard by that one, but it didn't really seem like a bad thing. In fact, it sounded nice--not right then, but as an option for the future. Aubrey rather liked children, anyway. They were--well, most were--adorable and interesting to play with. Having a child of his own to spoil and play with definitely sounded nice.

[Aziz]

Az smiled happily. "Good. I wouldn't want you to be confused. Though, I don't want to shock you too much either," he said, tapping his chin. "I suppose I'll just have to tell you as much as I can with as much detail so when you see for yourself, it won't be too shocking."

Now that that was decided, in his own mind anyways...The next question was what to tell Aubrey about next. Well, he had already started explaining planets and had mentioned his race, so he figured that would be a god place to go. "Now, I already told you what Sensaforia is like, planet-wise. Most of the people there are Sensaforian humanoids, meaning empathetic beings that look human except for their odd skin colours. I'm half that. My other half is Jshiko which is a shape-shifter from Jeskara. Jeskara is a planet with no sun and is kinda creepy...But it's not too bad," he said, shrugging before an idea hit him.

"Oh! I could just show you a map! How about that?" the hybrid asked enthusiastically. "Wendy has one in his systems and I'm sure he can throw a hologram of it up for you. Oh, and just so you're not shocked when you meet him, Wendy is my AI. I'd turn him on now, but my parents told me your computers here are less advanced."

[Aubrey Beaumont]

Aubrey nodded, listening intently as the other described the two races and other planet to him briefly, intrigued by the information. It was interesting to him to hear about such things that he had only been able to make broad guesses and predictions about before. But even more interesting at that moment was that Aziz was half shape-shifter. Curiousity was gnawing at him, but he decided not to bother the other. Besides, it was obvious that shifting between any sort of form on the city sidewalk wasn't a wise idea anyway.

"A map would be nice," Aubrey confirmed, his curiosity shifting from one subject to another at the second mentioning of this Wendy person. He hadn't paid much attention to it before, but regardless, he was glad Aziz had explained. So... Wendy was the name of his mate's computer? He wasn't quite sure he was understanding exactly what the other meant, but he was trying. He had already formed a mental image, anyway. Maybe it was something like those computers of sci-fi movies with the slightly creepy disembodied voices? Though, honestly, that did seem a bit humorous in his mind.

[Aziz]

"Then a map you shall see," Aziz said, smiling brilliantly. "As soon as qet to a secure location, that is." No, it wouldn't do to show off a map of the other planets out in the middle of the day. Most would either call him crazy or a few would want to capture him to tell about all the places out there or something odd like that.

"...Speaking of a 'secure location', where are we Aubrey?" the hybrid suddenly asked. He had been following his mate out of the museum, but he just realized that they were just kind of wondering...Which was bad since he had no idea where anything was in New York. The brunette should know though, right?