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 Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 8:49 pm
Corbin grumbled about the cold weather as he was pulled into the park. His tail wagged behind him, partly covered by the sleeve of an old sweater. His dad had fashioned it when the boy had complained that it his tail was cold. As of now he was in a parka a few layers of pants, along with a toboggan that had holes for his large ears.
His red eyes flashed as he held onto his father's hand who was trudging ahead of him. "Why are we here?" He asked simply.
"We've been in the house too long." The other pointed out with a frown. "Besides, maybe you'll make more friends here or that flaafy will be here."
The Zangoose's ears went up as he searched for his friend. No luck. With a sigh he moved away from his father and started to build snow into a ball, rolling it and watching as it got bigger. "I'll make a snowman..."
Greg realized his son was ignoring him and smiled softly, crossing his arms. Such a picky kid. He walked to a bench and sat down, pulling out a book and reading.
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Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 6:57 pm
So they wound up at the park again. Not really a surprise- when you had a kid, you took them to the park. It was a great place for younger ones to play and meet other children. perhaps...another hyrbid would be there. Toby needed more friends.
It was considerably cooler here now than when they had last visited the park and encountered Tyra- a layer of now snow blanketed the ground.
Nik was wrapped in a warm, black wool peacoat, scarf wrapped around his neck. It was sure brisk today. Next to him, Tobias followed along. The cubone was wearing no hat as always- he never took off the bone helm long enough to get a hat on. Ian had managed to get the boy into a warm, forest-green jacket and a pair of black snowpants, a tan scarf wrapped around the boy's neck. Toby loved earth-tones.
The boy's tail was tucked carefully inside the snowpants- the short, tan fur he had was not very insulating at all.
"Go on now, why don't you go play." Nikolai said coaxingly.
Toby looked up at him for a moment before shrugged and toddling off, sitting nearby to watch Corbin. The cubone seemed to have taken a curious interest, though he made no move to be social.
Then again, the cubone wasn't the most social hybrid- he was content to play by himself at home, or play with Nik's cat. Even after a few weeks to get used to things, he was still terribly introverted. But then again, the boy had only met one hybrid so far- maybe if he met more, he'd come out of his shell.
Ian could only hope.
The older man sighed and ran his fingers through his hair, heading over to the bench where the other man sat. Perhaps he was the caretaker of the hybrid that was making a snowman. Either way, it probably wouldn't hurt Nik to make some more friends in the program either...
"Good afternoon." he said politely, smiling slightly.
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Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 6:46 am
Greg glanced over at the man and smiled, laying his book to the side. "Ahola!" He returned with a small grin. He glanced around and caught sight of the Cubone. "Ah, so you're a guardian too?"
It took Corbin a bit longer to notice the ground Pokemon for he was very focused on his snowman. He got the first snowball as large as he wanted it (which was about to his waist) and moved to start on the second one. He paused when a flash of tan hit his vision and looked up. His ears went back as he looked to his father but he was busy talking.
More out of habit then anything, the Zangoose approached. "Hey..." He said slowly, sitting down in front of the other boy. "What's your name?" He took a moment to stare at his skull helmet, trying to decipher if it was a hat or not. "What's that on your head?"
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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 8:14 pm
Nik nodded his head. He was trying to get better at small talk and if anything, at least the little boy was a good conversation piece.
"Ah yes indeed. Obviously you are too...what one is yours? I mean...I know which individual but what type..." he said, blushing a bit at the delivery. Damn, he was so socially inept at times.
Toby didn't mind the fact he went unnoticed. He still wasn't very social, despite Ian's attempts. He was a serious boy; serious and withdrawn. He was content to just watch. He hadn't even really wanted to go out- too much snow. Snow was just frozen water. Too much water made Toby almost as uneasy as those vines the Chikorita girl had...
He looked up but still remained in a squat, only moving to habitually tighten his grip on his bone club as the boy approached.
"Tobias. Yours?" he responded and respectfully inquired curtly. At the mention of his skull, he looked away. He flicked his eyes back up to the boy though. "What does it matter?"
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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 8:48 pm
Greg blinked once before slowly decoding the man's words. Years as a psychiatrist made it fairly easy for him to make sense of nonsense. "Zangoose. Yours is a cubone, right? Corbin's is his name."
Corbin snorted. "My name's Corbin." He edged closer to eye the helmet and try to see under it. "I just wanted to know. Its kinda cool..." He reached up one of his claws to poke it. "Whats it made of?"
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Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 11:51 am
Nik kept his head down, still blushing a bit. At the hospital, he could speak with his patients, their families and the staff with ease and elegance. But outside of that situation, he fell apart.
"Y-yeah. He is. True to his type, he refuses to take that skull helm off around anyone..." he said, shaking his head. "A Zangoose though...that must be interesting. I don't know much about them, though. But...I specialize in people. What's he like?"
Toby drew back as the boy moved a bit closer to his personal space bubble. "It's my helmet. I don't take off." he stated. He swatted at the other ones wandering claws. "Don't touch it. I don't like it when people touch it. It's...it's made out of bone, okay?"
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Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 6:54 pm
Greg pulled out a cigarette and lit it, inhaling the smoke in thought. "He's.... quiet at home but around other hybrids he seems to open up a bit. He's into dancing ballet and yoga, much to my displeasure. What's your job?" He exhaled and held the pack toward the new man. "Want one?"
Corbin, sensing he wasn't wanted in the bubble, eased back. The Zangoose watched the boy, processing everything slowly. He looked back at his tail and decided it was like the same thing. The boy didn't like his tail being touched or petted and this kid didn't like his helmet being touched. "Well... its still cool... Where'd you get it?" The boy went back to idly rolling another ball of snow on the ground.
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Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 8:03 pm
Ian nodded politely, fighting the urge to say something when the other man lit a smoke up. He was a doctor, yes, but it wasn't his place to lecture people who hadn't come for consultations.
"Ballet and yoga? How interesting for him. But I wouldn't worry- they'll be great assets to his health. It good for him to have such activities." he smiled, perhaps in some way trying to console the man a bit. They were a bit strange for a boy to take up but...not too odd. Society had a weird way of viewing things at times. "Job? I'm a doctor. Specialty in cardiology, though I do dabble. Erm, I don't smoke, though. You see one cancerous or emphysemic lung, you're put off from smoking for the rest of your life." he said, waving dismissively in a polite manner.
Toby felt much better as the boy backed off. The last hybrid he met had been so loud, so active...she didn't seem to understand the concept of personal space. She was NICE and she DID give him a bracelet but...she was so overwhelming. This one though...this boy seemed to understand things. Toby liked that. He could handle that.
Tobias seemed to relax a bit, mittened hand straying up to rub the front part of it. "Someone special gave it to me." he said quietly. Truth be told, he didn't recall if She had given it to him, or not. But he liked to think She had...
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Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 1:33 pm
Gregory grinned and exhaled. "Suppose they would be..." He mused putting the cancer stick back into his mouth. "So we're both doctors, that's cool. I smoke because I'm a doctor though my field is completely different. I'm a psychiatrist." He knocked the ashes off the end of his stick. "Seeing all those crazies makes you need an escape from it." His brown eyes went to Ian then he hit himself in the head, before extending his hand. "Sorry I forgot to introduce myself. Name's Greg."
The Zangoose wagged his tail and nodded. "That makes sense... I got something from my dad and I won't let anyone touch it." He reached into his jacket and pulled out a cross necklace. "Isn't it cool? I have to take it off when my uncle comes over though."
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Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 9:12 pm
Ian laughed a bit. Psychiatrist...now there was a field. He imagined it was more difficult, in a way, than medicine- medical disorders at times were cut and dry- you knew what people had if you did the right tests. Mental disorders? They seemed more undefined blurred, difficult to pin down. The brain was still a mystery, even nowadays.
Simply put, psychiatry was a respectable profession.
"There are other ways of coping though, aren't there? You'd think chemical dependency is a poor coping habit." he blurted. Apparently, less respectable was the other man's smoking habit. it was the doctor in Ian. He quickly shut his mouth, biting his lip.
Damn it, Ian. Shut. Up. You aren't on the clock and thus you have no justifiable reason to antagonize this man. You want to make friends in the program. Not enemies, his mind snapped.
He swallowed and smiled sheepishly, taking the other man's hand and pumping it in a friendly gesture, hoping he didn't screw up too badly. With that remark.
"Ian Nikolai. S-sorry about that...It's a doctor's habit." he blushed, laughing nervously. "But...I understand needing an escape. The medical world...it's no easier at times."
Tobias watched the boy pull a pendant out of his jacket, eyes watching the charm curiously. Tyra had a bunch of necklaces and bracelets too...but this one was different. It was simple enough not to be too girly. He thought so, anyways.
"...aren't necklaces a girl thing?" he asked, stating his observation all the same.
Still, it was kind of neat. He reached out to poke it with a mittened hand, but stopped halfway. He drew his hand back, remembering the Zangoose's mention of not letting anyone touch it. He put his hand back on his helm, stroking the muzzled front once more. The boy's necklace was like his helmet. No touching.
"What is it?" he said, referring to the cross. He'd seen the symbol before, but he wasn't sure what exactly it meant or if it was just a neat design some people liked. "Why would you have to take it off? Is he jealous or something?"
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Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 10:41 pm
Greg chuckled as he gazed over at the flustered Ian. He held up the cigarette and put it out in front of the man so he could see it then put it out. "Eh, its a good relief after trying to talk to a guy who thinks he's a taco." He leaned back and closed his eyes. "Ian... Don't worry 'bout it. I shouldn't really be smoking."
Corbin eyed him with a slight glare. "No!" He huffed cradling the necklace in his palm. "Its a boy necklace!" He watched the boy's hand warily shying away from it then relaxed when he stopped. "Its a cross... I wear it cause it protects me..." He put his ears back. "It burns uncle Reggie... Dad said its cause he's a vampire....whatever that is. All I know is this shape hurts him real bad."
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Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 9:28 am
Damn, he still thought he could have handled it smoother. It was easy to put on airs at the hospital, because it was just that- an air of false amicability. You could be positive and tactful, but there was always a distance, always a wall you kept between patients and yourself. Outside the hospital...it was more real. You couldn't just BS stuff off the clock- or Ian couldn't, anyways. In the real world, that pesky wall had snuck up, making it hard to connect in a way that was less than awkward.
Clearly.
He laughed nervously at the other man's comment. At least he was taking it well. "Yes, I imagine so." he smiled politely, the blush at his own stupidity finally fading. He had to be careful with his next comment. It was an opening for him to open his big mouth and start lecturing again. But Greg probably didn't need to hear it. "Well...we all have our vices, I suppose."
Another hint that led Toby to wonder if necklaces were something for boys and girls. First, Tyra gave him one- somehow implying it wasn't too abnormal for boys to wear necklaces- and now Corbin was wearing one... interesting. He still didn't think he'd want much around his neck, though.
He stared at the pendant a bit, trying to gather how it would protect someone. "Protect? Like...my helmet?" he said, hands still fidgeting with his helmet. "It looks kinda small to be any use..."
He stopped fidgeting when the other mentioned vampires. He crinkled his nose a bit (though it wasn't visible) and dropped his arms, crossing them over his chest. Vampire? Yeah right!
"Vampires are a fairy tale. Your uncle's probably crazy." he stated firmly. "He's probably just some guy who's really pale an' has an..." He paused a moment, trying to recall the word. "...An allergy to what your necklace is made of."
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Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 5:33 pm
"Yah vices..." He seemed to drift from reality for a moment. He stared off toward the sun then brought out his pack again. He thought better of it and sighed stuffing it in his pocket.
"Dad said its supposed to mean that God's watchin over me and protecting me." He said in a matter o fact voice. Corbin's eyes suddenly narrowed into slits, his fur standing up slightly. "My uncle's not crazy! He's a real vampire! I can prove it!"
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Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 6:02 pm
Very slowly, awkward silence seemed to be creeping forward to envelop them. He had to say something...keep the conversation up. It was his fault it'd gone down this awkward road anyways.
"Mmhmm...like, for example...I'm a workaholic. Tobias has actually been helping me cut back on work and get into bed before four in the morning. Before I had other people to worry about...I worked long hours, picked up whichever shift I could find. Silas and Raven used to tell me I was working myself into the ground. They said I hid in my work. Perhaps...it is true. Though I'm not sure what I'd be hiding from." he shrugged.
He did look like the type to overwork too. He looked a little more worn than he should be, premature gray hair here and there, dark circles under his eyes. Still, Toby had been good for him- he wasn't half as pale as before and the dark circles were a little lighter now...
Toby snorted again under the helmet. God? It sounded like another story. How could someone believe a tale about some guy who knew what you were doing and where you were who was invisible and everywhere at once? That sort of information was not readily accepted (unless in the form of a chubby guy in a red suit).
True, he'd heard it before- in this world, it was hard not to hear about it. But when he asked Nik on his thoughts, the other man was dismissive. Ian was a man who put his faith in science and medicine and nowhere else.
"'less you're talkin' about San'a Claus, it's jus' another fairy tale. Mr. Nikolai said that God is 'no more than a silly story made to scare people into listenin' to other people and take their money away." he iterated, eying the pendant again. "Prove it? How?" he asked, a little curious this time. He still didn't believe the other boy, but he was curious as to what he was going to say.
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Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 12:06 pm
Greg studied the man for a second, taking in all his features. His brother would say he stared a little too long but he was trained to study people. The fact was, that usually managed to look at them from a psychiatrist's stand point rather then a friend's.
He cracked a small smile. "That's dependent... you and I are doctors, its hard to see the world from any other view after so many years." He gazed up at his son. "Corby saved me from myself... sounds stupid but its true. I mean, don't they say the one that cures the crazies ends up crazy himself?"
He shook his head and brought a fresh cancer stick to his mouth but didn't light it. "You see me as having an unhealthy habit... and I see you as someone who's too young to be so tired. Who's need to overwork himself could be caused by a confusion that's unsettling him or a past experience that's trying to be blot out. Hell, it could just be you like to work and are socially awkward outside of it. Lord knows I am. Its just how we are..."
Corbin looked confused and a little offended. His father had told him about God and stuff and while he didn't understand it, it was still his father's words. As for the vampire thing, he knew that one to be true. "Its not just a story! You wait! Uncle Reggie comes to our house every night! I'll ask Dad if you can come to my house to meet him." He nodded thoroughly believing this would work. He'd shown Trya his dancing outfit so that meant he could show Tobias his Uncle.
His ears went down as he looked to his half finished snowman. "....wanna help me finish it? We could make it have a bone helmet... only made of snow." He interjected temporarily forgetting that they were arguing.
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