Pheonix was always a curious sort (in more ways than one). Always wandering about from place to place; no real goals in her life. But it was a perfectly fine way of living... at least for her anyways. In this random travel, she happened upon the diner at oh .... lets say about 9AM. There were only a few people here at the moment, business men, truckers, and the occasional school-attendee. Pheonix was none of the above, for the various things that made up her person left her without any real place in society. Then again, Pheonix never really cared about such things; she just lived her life without regret and without caring about the opinions of others. Though in this modernized world, many people were all-too quick to judge based on appearances. So Pheonix herself was forced to hide things that made her ... unique.

A large jacket upon her form, covered up her raven-black wings. Though they weren't very large, so hiding them wasn't that much of a problem. But wolfish things are a different matter, for they tend to act on their own free will at times. Especially her ears, purely white they were; but peaked, looking like perfectly-shaped wolf's; but Pheonix kept them hidden within the locks of her long, thick, hair. More easy to conceal was her tail, yes Pheonix did have a tail. It too was wolf-like. Purely white just like her ears. But Pheonix always wore that as a kind of belt. A strange one yes, but it did suffice. ... Except it sometimes escaped and Pheonix must be quick to snatch it up and hide it again. But like said before ... Pheonix never worried about what others thought of her.

And so back to the business at hand ... Breakfast. Pheonix was tired, never being a
morning person, but she had awoke half an hour ago and couldn't go back to sleep. So she visited this diner. Once she'd entered, none inside even turned to look at her; with the exception of a waitress who took her order.

"Coffee ... black is fine. And I think I'll have an order of hashbrowns covered with cheese."

Pheonix never had complicated tastes, and she always knew just what she wanted. She returned the waitress's smile, who left to get her order ready. But Pheonix's own smile quickly faded, as she'd almost forgotten another strange aspect about her. Her incisors were rather noticeable fangs, though could be hidden if she'd only kept her mouth shut. Anyway, luckily for Pheonix the waitress hadn't noticed that. Now sitting alone, waiting for her small meal: she began talking to herself.

"Hmmm ... Wonder what place this is I've stumbled across this time around. It certainly is different ... which may be good or bad."

She looked around from time to time, noticing the decor of the establishment.

"Surely hope they have good food here .... Though anything is better than what I've been forced to eat lately."

Pheonix wrinkled her nose in disgust at that. She never did relish the taste of "wild game". Especially when it happened to be only rabbit and the occasional squirrel. But when one is left to their own devices and no assistance from civilization. They make do with what they can get.

"Ell ... Guess I can't complain."

Being a solitary wanderer, Pheonix always spoke to herself; often as if there were another person sitting directly across from her.

Uh oh. Someone left the window open, which was evident in the fact that the napkins ruffled out of their holdster. Or, it should have been evident. Unfortunatly, all the windows were closed. The door too. Too early for the usual traffic.

Nosey little kids these days. The little boy in the seat directly to her back was just another example of that. Dark gray hair, so shaggy that it was in desperate need of a haircut, that veiled unusual gray eyes. Not just gray eyes, but gray eyes doing something odd. Look close enough, and through the mess of hair, and you'd see they are flashing lightning like patterns through them, in the same electrical blue colour. Smiling deviously. Dressed in little kids blue jeans and velcro sneakers, with little blue clouds on the outsides of them. Light ups, too, with flashing blue lights whenever he stepped. White tee-shirt, a couple sizes too big. Loose and flow-y. Rippling in the wind that had blown in. Or, rather, around.

The boy turned over in his seat, stood up on it, and leaned over the back of her booth. Smiled innocently. A napkin flew out from the holdster, whipping past them. Still smiling. Hair got blown a bit too, but did he seem to mind. No, not really. Pointed to her.

"You're funny."

Kept smiling. Had his mother ever told her son not to talk to strangers? Either she had, and he ignored her, or she had flat out forgot. Or he flat out didn't care. Hmmm. Stopped smiling, and continued.

"You're talking to yourself. Or do you hear voices? Mommy said all the wierd people hear voices. You're wierd."

Didn't seem old enough to understand that it wasn't nice to diss people. Calling people names wasn't socially acceptable. Flat out rude. Then again, four year olds didn't seem to catch that easily.

Meet Haze, the Goddess of Wind and Storms. Or, should we call him Zefirino, and a god at that.

Pheonix, jolted from her thoughts, gave a laugh. Obviously amused by this curious little boy, she turned in her seat.

Its not weird to talk to yourself. But if the voices talk back ... then that might be a sign one needs ... help."

She leaned back, putting her feet on the booth across from her table; head still turned towards him.

"Yeah well. Guess I am weird. But thats ok. I like being different."

Pheonix often encountered inquiring minds. And didn't mind answering questions given by the younger ones.

"Its better to be different than to be just like everyone else. Because then life world get boring rather quickly."

Her coffee arrived, and Pheonix took it without comment, though did give a small smile of thanks to the waitress.

"Don't you think so too?"

She asked the boy, taking a sip as she waited for his answer. Though Pheonix had noticed there was something rather ... odd with that breeze about.

The boy blinked.

"I like being different too. No other kids have my shoes!"

Kind've missed the point of the 'difference' topic. It wasn't just little characteristics. A compilation of many things that made you you, as opposed to everyone else. Not just things like fingerprints. No, it was deeper. But how do you explain that to a four year old?

"But I like wearing my shoes... I don't want them to always be different. I don't think they are boring."

Again, the childlike naive air that couldn't grasp the breadth and depth of the topic. The wind died down before he had started speaking with her again. A man a few booths away made a disgruntled noise and straightend his disturbed newspaper.

"Don't you like things to be the same sometimes?"

Did not smile, and spoke in utter seriousness that should be uncommon in a little kid. Not enough to push any alarm buttons, but enough to be classified as wierd himself.

"Its good that you're proud of your shoes. Always like yourself for who you are, not what others say."

Pheonix said with a soft hint of laughter to her voice. And her tone only changed slightly in giving a reply to the boy's question.

"Nah, not really. But I get bored easily, so I like things to be different.

That wasn't the whole truth, for sometimes Pheonix did wish she could be the same as other people. She was tired of hiding what she was all the time, even if she didn't even know what she was. Pheonix had been cast out so often for her differences that she'd given up on fitting in. But Pheonix wouldn't tell the kid that. He was too young to worry about such things.

Who'd imagine? Me sitting in a diner talking to some little kid about 'differences'. But at least I'm being kept amused and out of trouble by this conversation.

Pheonix mused, and took another sip of her coffee.

The boy nodded, and sat back down in his seat. Stared at the table a minute, then scooted out, moving to sit at the table with her. Manners were forgotten. With four year olds, there is only curiousity.

"What's your name? I'm Zefirino il Tempesta, and my house is on Elm Street."

As if this was customary? No, the little kid just wanted to share. Share all the things he was proud of that came to mind. Where he lived, his parents, his pets. His fish.

"And I have a fish named Zeus. I won him at the fair last year."

Paused, and looked up at her with his unusual gray and flashing eyes, still distorted with overgrown darkgray bangs. Smiled, and continued.

"Do you have a fish?"

Everyone at preeschool had a fish. How could she not have a fish? She wasn't in preschool.

Usually, Pheonix wasn't accustomed with talking to children. She was always afraid she'd say something ... inappropriate for a child to hear. But this morning was different, Pheonix was acting different today for some unknown reason.

"Well then, its a pleasure to meet you, Zefirino. My name's Pheonix, Emerson."

Pheonix usually didn't give out her last name, no reason why though. She gave a slight smile, being amused by this rather curious child seated before her.

"Zeus is a very good name for a fish."

Pheonix remembered those fish won at the fair. Usually goldfish, and Pheonix herself had won one when she was a child. Though it died a few days later. ...
Well, that doesn't matter.

Pheonix took a sip of her coffee again, set it down and added a bit of sugar to it, then took another sip. Upon placing the cup back on the table, Pheonix shook her head.

"Nah. I don't have a fish. I travel too much, and fish like to just stay in their little fishbowls. They don't really like travel."

She gave a soft laugh, and started to wonder what was taking her breakfast so long. Ah, its just as well that it wasn't here. Being so engaged in conversation at the moment.

Zefirino nodded. Fish didn't like to travel. He liked to travel.

"You like to travel? I've gone all the way to Grandma's house in the USA!"

Another small, but very large accomplishment for the little boy.

"And mommy says that, if we are good, she'll take me to Europe with her on a sebastical."

Sabbatical. Paid vacation from work. Awww. Europe. The god had, in fact, been to Europe. All over. And to Mexico, Latin and South America (Those last two being more personal than work related), India, Japan, Australia, and China. The US was a frequent stop as well, 'specially in the Dust Bowl states.

"And when we go on sebastical, I wanna go see the Eiffle Tower."

Nodded. Finished the story with that.

A jingle announced the opening of the door to the diner. A young man entered, glancing up with an annoyed look, at the bell. He hated bells; jingling of any sort, actually.

He walked in, sighing deeply, and ran a hand momentarily through his blond hair. He made sure that his hair was covering his ears, and pulled his black cloak tightly around himself.

Sitting himself on a barstool, he noticed a waitress coming toward him. He motioned her over, and said, "I'll have a coffee, with a LOT of cream and sugar." The waitress went back into the kitchen, presumably to get his coffee, and he glanced around the small diner.

Noticing the woman with the fur belt, he looked her up and down. Other than the belt, there wasn't anything really amazing or outstanding about her, at least not from the back. However, she was talking with a child. That was odd, unless, of course, the child was hers.

Kez leaned one arm against the bar, and studied the pair carefully. He smiled slightly, wondering when the last time was that he had actually had a conversation. He watched, and waited, perhaps for his coffee; perhaps for something more.

"Sabbatical, huh? Sounds ... fun."

Pheonix felt her ears begin to twitch, but she quickly stopped them by putting a hand to her head. She yawned, acting as if she were stretching in boredom. Someone was watching her ... maybe even studying her. Pheonix wasn't very happy about that.

"I heard the Eiffle Tower is really cool. Hope you get to see it."

Pheonix smiled slightly, though not enough to show anything ... unusual. After a few moments, she turned; seeing Kez watching them. Pheonix was only a bit annoyed, she didn't really like being stared at as such. She inclined her head slighty,

"Heeey .... you gotta question to ask or something??"

She wasn't asking in a rude manner or anything. Just a simple question. Pheonix was just curious as to why that guy was watching her so.

Zefirino blinked. Looked at the guy watching them, and pointed.

"He's different too. Look at his clothes... They look funny."

Innocent preschoolers remark. Stopped pointing, and made a sad attempt at whispering across the table.

"He's doing what mommy hates. Checking you out."

Snickered childishly, and gazed deviantly through his flashing eyes. Oh, Grace might owe him a favour. Grace or San. Didn't matter. Either would be interesting to talk to.

Kez raised an eyebrow in mild surprise as he heard the voice call to him. He smiled a half-smile and answered, "No question. I was just ... watching. And, well, actually, I was wondering if that was your child?"

He raised his hands up to his hood, and almost lifted his hood protectively over his head. But, he stopped himself mid-gesture, and put his hands back on his lap. He then realized that his motion had probably looked quite strange.

Looking to the child, Kez stared into his eyes. There was something odd about this particular child; something ... disconcerting. He continued to sit where he was, but he asked, "Would you mind if I went over there to talk to you?"

Pheonix laughed, at both questions and even at Zefirino's remark. She was surprised by Kez's first question. But most of all she was surprised at anyone actually wanting to sit and talk to her. Pheonix didn't have the most ... welcoming of appearances. Then again, she supposed she was just hiding herself all too well.

"To answer your first question: no, we're are just new acquaintances. And to your second: if you're that bored as to wish for conversation with me. Then I don't mind."

Pheonix knew there was something different about both these people. But she gave no sign as to what she sensed. Not like she was an average person either.

Kez stood and made his way slowly to where the two were sitting. He sat next to Phoenix.

After a brief moment, he lifted his hands to his hair, to make sure that it still covered the tips of his ears. Then, thinking about it for a second, he moved his hands and simply used his magic to make it seem that his ears looked normal. Yes, this took a little more concentration, but it was worth not having to worry about the position of his hair.

Looking to the child, Kez felt there was something incredibly odd about him. He seemed ... older than his years.

Of course, weren't they all?

Kez shook his head slightly, all these thoughts and actions having happened in seconds, and turned to Phoenix. "So, may I ask your name?" he asked, in a half-polite, half-inquiring tone.

Zefirino felt rather left out. Now, wait just a second. Grace didn't just walk in here... This was still his time to play with magic. Didn't need Ms. Love to waltz in and ruin this egaging opportunity.

"Her name is Pheonix. And my name is Zefirino il Tempesta, and my house is on Elm Street, and I have a fish named Zeus. I won him at the fair last year."

Had that not been exatly what he told Pheonix? The little boy must have been accustomed to repeating such information. Probally enjoyed it. Probally a social creature, rather than an unsocial one.

"Pheonix doesn't have a fish, cause she wants to travel a lot. And I am going to go on sebastical with my mommy to Europe, so I don't know what I'll do with Zeus."

Awww... Innocent little four year old. With gleaming, flashing, incredibly amused eyes.

Kez raised an eyebrow in amusement at the child. "A fish? Oh, right, I don't have a fish either ... but I'm glad that you have one ..."

Kez smiled as he thought of when he'd been so young; so innocent. However, when he looked into this child's eyes, he wasn't so sure about how innocent he was.

Kez sighed lightly, and said to Zefirino, "You might not want to reveal all that information to strangers, though. What if I wasn't as friendly as I am?"

He brushed a hand through his hair slowly, and decided that he could tell them his name. "My name's Kez," he said quietly.

Looking into Zefirino's eyes, Kez felt compelled to ask a question. "How old are you, really?"

Zefirino smirked on the inside. Because, yes, he knew that most people were afraid of giving out information. What did it matter to him?

"Kez is a funny name."

Nodded, his face not stern, but not happy or sad. Just kind of... Content. His age? Oh, this'd be fun.

"I don't remember... But I know I am old... I think..."

Oh, two thousand or so years old... Let's divide that number by five hundred, and, voila!

"Four."

Yippee. Four years. And could do long division in his head. Not typical. But they didn't know about that.

"How old are you?"

Because he had asked.

During the two's conversation, Pheonix breakfast had finally arrived. So, while they were talking Pheonix ate. She glanced back and forth between them, each time one spoke. This was certainly an amusing morning. Putting her fork down and pushing the plate to one side, Pheonix leaned back again in her seat.

"Hey Zefirino. Why are you in this diner, alone?"

Pheonix leaned forward slightly, and picked up a scrap of paper. She began idly tearing it into strips.

"But what I really want to know is, why you two have engaged me in conversation. Rarely people do that, so I'm rather curious as to why you did so. "

Kez noticed the child's hesitation, but decided to ignore it for the moment. Looking to Phoenix, he noted slowly, "Well, you look more interesting than the other buffoons in this place, and I need someone to engage in intelligent conversation." He had also decided to ignore the comment about his name.

Looking back and forth between the two figures, he frowned slightly. "So, can I call you Zef?" he asked Zefirino. Without waiting for an answer, he continued, "Zef, how come you aren't here with your parents, if you're only four? And," turning to Phoenix, he concluded, "how did you come to meet Zef?"

Zefirino nodded. Sure, they could call him Zef. Some kids just shortened it to Z. Then again, they didn't get his attention.

"Because mommy left to go to work, and forgot to take me to preschool. And I don't have a daddy."

Now, considering none of this was true, he could say that that had been yesterday, considering today was Saturday. And that she had forgotten him. And that she probally died. And that he was now a little orphen, so pity him. Oh, mortals and their minds. They couldn't figure it out yet, and this made the boy seem to smile with glee.

"She's different. And we like different people. You're different too. You've got a funny name."

As if 'Zef' was normal. Hah. Hahah.

"Ell, I was talking to myself. As I tend to do. And Zef here appearantly thought I was amusing. So he sat there and started talkin to me."

Pheonix took a quick sip of her coffee, almost emptying the cup.

"Not that I mind or anything."

She added with a small smile, as she too was amused by this turn of events.

There was something definately different about both Zef and Kex. And Pheonix well noticed it ... But then again, she wasn't normal herself.

Kez looked down at the tabletop. "Where the hell is my coffee?" he muttered, so low that he was sure no one had heard.

Raising an eyebrow at Zef, he replied slowly. "I guess I am different. But, aren't we all."

Shifting his weight on the seat, in order to make himself more comfortable, Kez lost his concentration, and for a moment his ears were visible. But, it was so quick a moment that Kez didn't know if anyone had seen. He hoped not. They could raise unwanted questions.

"So, I take it you don't get talked to often?" Kez asked Phoenix as he raised his hand for the waitress.

Zef nodded. He had indeed been talking to her. And, yes, he was definatly different. The minor gods eyes picked up on the ears faster than the normal eye might have picked it up. And, because most gads didn't really care what others tought, harped on it.

"You know, YOU are more different. You have pointy ears and illusions."

Dropped his pointing finger, and grinned. Whether Pheonix thought Zef was insane, or whether she believed him, was only up to time. Whether Zef was scolded for pointing and exposing the elf was up to Kez. And Zef liked this uncertainty of things to come almost as much as he liked having absolute power over them.

The winds inside the diner picked up again, sending a napkin whirlling into the face of the waiter that Kez was waiting for. Who glared at him, thinking it was thrown at her.

"Nope ... Most people seem to avoid me for some reason. And I don't offer my attentions to anyone, so I don't engage in conversation much. Just as well ... there aren't many people worth talking to nowadays."

Pheonix stifled at laugh at Zef's little announcement. She knew that Kez was different, but not really sure how. And the matter was amusing to her, because Pheonix felt like the most different of the three. But she hid it well, and few were the occassions that ordinary people noticed Pheonx's "differences".

"Illusions? ..."

Physical differences, Pheonix easily caught sense of. But other matters ...
Pheonix didn't grasp them so easily.

Kez stiffened at the child's remark. There was DEFINITELY something different about him. He wasn't a child of four, that was for certain.

Swallowing slightly, Kez's lips tightened, and he said slowly, "If we're going to talk about that, we may want to go to a place that's a bit more secluded."

Staring into the child's eyes, Kez knew that he wanted ... no ... needed to find out more about him.