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 Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 11:01 pm
There was a mixture of terrifying and wonderful tied in with nerves and the general joy of a second date. A first for Mordread, as was obvious by the fact he was being calmed down by a ten year old who was, at the moment, acting more like an adult than her very frazzled father.
"Things will be fine, daddy," Morgan soothed as she sat down on the edge of his bed. Currently, said father was pacing back and forth, hands running through his messy hair. It had, at one point, actually been tamed and put down nicely but it hadn't stayed that way for too long.
"You'll behave, won't you?" he asked, stopping in his pacing to look at the little girl who had even donned her best - or at least, what was 'her best' for the time being. She was decidedly not in a dress mood and so she was wearing her one pair of jeans that weren't torn or otherwise stained - her 'dress' jeans she called them - and a bright green shirt that said 'Got Football' on it.
"I'm not the one you have to worry about," she pointed out to Mordread, swinging her legs back and forth and letting her bare feet skim the plush carpet, "I'll try and keep Dax in line, but I'm not making any promises. He's weird."
"Understatement. Of. The year." Mordread muttered under his breath, checking in the mirror for about the hundredth time that night. Morgan rolled her eyes and hopped from the bed, grabbing her father's forearms and making him stand still.
"Rothe threatened him with maiming."
"Oh really? I really need to talk to that boy..."
"He won't really do it. God. Why do you two hate each other? He's your son, you know." The ten year old frowned, letting go of Mordy's arms and crossing her own over her chest. For a kid, she certainly had that 'look' that most adult women, usually of the mother variety, gave down pat.
"You wouldn't understand."
"I know, I know, I'm just a kid. I'll understand when I'm older and it's not a conversation we're supposed to have. I gotcha. But jeeze, dad, you're goin' to wear a hole in the ground. Chill out, okay?"
Sigh. "I'm going to get the twins ready, then." Without giving Morgan a chance to tell him that he'd already changed them three times, he left the room and headed upstairs to Kayleigh and Gabriel's room - but not before peeking in and making sure Dax hadn't torn off the sleeves of his shirt again, wasn't wearing anything obscene, and hadn't decided to forgo pants. Satisfied that he was just playing his X-box, Mordread went into the nursery.
Okay. He could do this! Just focus on getting the babies ready.
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Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 11:41 pm
"Now, don't look at me that way." Elijah had heaved as his fingers wriggled within the casing he kept his rodents. Leopold had sat, poised and peculiar, near the far corner. With glowering eyes, the brown and tan mouse had stared; it was almost a disdainful sight with the two standing frustrated with one another.
"Come now, you know I'll be coming back. I've always come back, haven't I? Why do you insist on being such a difficult bugger? Can I say good-bye, or are you simply going to make ill-faces at me, Leopold?" Elijah had bitten down on his lip as he thought. It seemed as if, whatever he did, Leopold did not fancy the ideology of his leaving without their accompaniment. Self-righteous and filled with hubris, the mouse wouldn't approve of saying good-bye, and it was clear he wasn't pleased with the situation.
On the other hand, Houdini had seemed generally fine. The white rodent had nipped Elijah's finger, allowed a bit of a pat, and had accepted the gifted carrot for what it was worth with no troubles asked. Idly, Elijah were wishing the two were more similar than different. Houdini had always been the more tame of the two, the more trusting and enthusiastic.
Leopold's beady eyes had blinked. He had dropped to his four paws, inching towards Elijah's hand and the small piece of carrot resting in front of it. His nose had twitched, his eyes had grown rounder as he pressed forward, doubled back, and stalled. Finally, he had given in, and Elijah had patted him lovingly as a child would a precious stuffed toy. Tenderly and sweet, the man was particularly pleased with the farewell as he shut the casing.
"Behave for Remington, now. Both of you. If I get the good word, then I'll make sure you get something nice." Elijah had smiled faintly, setting a hand on the case before pulling away. Both little mice had stared at him curious, wriggling their whiskers and pattering the cage as they would, Leopold scoffing his carrot down, Houdini peculiarly making scrutinizing expressions for a mouse.
"You treat them like bloody infants, Eli - hurry up and go, or you'll be late again. It isn't right to keep folks waiting on you." The gruff dissent of another man had filled Elijah's small apartment - and attention had shifted briefly. Elijah had wrinkled his nose defensively, brushing the comment away as Remington urged him on.
"Whatever you do, don't do that weird thing." Remington had cautioned, the young man straightening Elijah's habitual hunch when they were in the doorway.
"What weird thing?" Elijah had asked, not quite understanding.
"That weird thing you do when you're thinking. Just keep your hands still; you've been doing it all week, and for the love of anything ... It's weird. The coins? They work, but whatever you've been doing? It's like watching something come out of the closet to eat you. In fact, just don't do anything."
The conversation had continued a moment over the confusion, and in the end it was dropped with a pat on the shoulder and a good luck wish. "Take care of my boys." Was the only thing Elijah said, waving before scampering off - and like that he was on his way, a few butterflies flittering within his stomach as he mounted his bike and went along down the road after checking the napkin. He had managed to keep hold of it, as tattered and messy as it seemed to have become...
It had taken some time. Elijah had gotten lost more than once, but he had eventually found the house to his relief. He'd removed the key from the motor-bike, standing the item up carefully. It was old and rusted and not particularly nice, but he didn't seem to mind the matter, handling it as well as he did anything he needed or valued. He was cautious with the item, ensuring it safely stood before backing up and scurrying off to the door. all the while, he became more aware that he hadn't prepared well. Meticulous and worried, he straightened his collar, fixed the tan canvas-like jacket, and dusted himself off as well as he could. His hair was a lost cause, and he paid little heed as he inhaled a few deep breaths.
What a rush, what a rush - but no sooner had his worry subsided did he knock on the door...
And suddenly he felt that pang of panic and wished he had spent more time preparing than he had.
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Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 12:04 am
"I'LL GET IT!" came a terrifying voice. Well, it wasn't necessarily terrifying to anyone who didn't know the bugger, but hearing Dax say he'd get anything was a horrifying experience that everyone in the family knew to avoid. Which meant Morgan was up on her feet and rushing toward the door to beat her brother.
He had an advantage, with his wings, and glided down the stairs just a second before the girl could grab the doorknob, pushing her busily out of the way. There was a sound of a scuffle for a few moments - some name calling and the like that children usually generated, before the locks were hurriedly unlocked and the door open.
Standing there were two kids - one, the boy, taller than the girl with pigtails...Though she looked more put together than Dax. Who, frankly, looked like crap. After his father had checked on him, he'd ditched the outfit that had been set out for him and had put on one of his elder brother's older shirts. "I suck c**k." Yeah, such a LOVELY shirt for an eleven year old to wear. Iamel was SUCH a good influence. Really.
"Hi!" he said cheerfully, "You going to bone my dad?"
Oh god, it was a good thing that Mordread was upstairs with Kayleigh and Gabriel. Otherwise he would have been completely mortified.
"Dax!" Morgan growled, though it was obvious she was used to the way the boy talked, "Be polite or I'm tellin' Rothe and he's going to get Lady on you." She shook her head, hip bumping her older brother off to the side before beaming up at Elijah. She really was adorable, "Hi! I'm Morgan, and that moron is Dax. Please don't worry, he's going to be locked in the basement before too long."
"That's QUITE enough," came a low drawl from the stairs. The alien boy stood, dressed quite formally in a victorian-era suit complete with a cravat, in the middle of the staircase with a rather wicked looking whip at his side. Morgan skittered aside immediately, and Dax gulped. "I warned you, Dax, to be on your best behavior for Catbitch, did I not?" He made his way down the stairs and stood in front of Elijah, scrutinizing him. "You are the one that finally got Catbitch out of the house?"
Morgan looked at her eldest brother with a snicker, "You may not want to call him that, Rothe."
The blue skinned boy raised a brow, "Hush, Morgan love. I'm talking to the adults."
Morgan rolled her eyes and went to sit on the bottom stair, pulling Dax with her. It wasn't a moment later that Mordread came down the stairs, dressed in a pair of jeans and a simple white shirt with a small jacket over it. On each of his hips was a husky child, one dressed in a little suit and the other adorned in more frills and lace than she obviously liked.
"Stop torturing Elijah," Mordread said tiredly, stepping around his children and smiling warmly at the man, "Please disregard the children and meet Kayleigh and Gabriel. I guarantee they're better behaved."
"Hey! I was being good!"
"I know, Morgan," Mordread said idly as Kayleigh, the lighter of the two, reached out and waggled her paw at him.
"Hi! Pwetty man." She said cheerfully, obviously more outgoing than Gabriel who had his head tucked shyly against his father's shoulder.
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Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 12:35 am
The frenzy was something that had not bothered Elijah in the least, as if he were accustomed to the arguments and noise of family. He had, after all, grown up in quite the large one - and the occasional scuffle had been customary. He had listened with somewhat interest at the argument beyond the door. The 'I'll get it' and what he estimated was the race for the door. Before long it had been opened, and he had blinked - eying the two children who stood before him.
Then it had come. Elijah had felt flustered, the sinking feeling in his gut causing him to stare briefly at the young boy who had cast such an inquisition. But it was lost to the seeming continuation of a children's quarrel, and the beckon of the basement - which Elijah had taken to be the wild and fantastical imagination of a child who couldn't possibly have been too old.
Yes, there was mayhem to be found within the house - and Elijah was somewhat perplexed by the systematic nature of it, which seemed so much more dysfunctional than that of his own. He hadn't dealt with such matters in ages, and while he was not mortified, he was particularly curious watching the scenes unfold. His mouth had opened as if to respond to Morgan (who appeared the most sensible of the two who had emerged) - but before he could gather himself he heard the echoing words if inquisitions and brutal language. Well. Well. Well.
Elijah was a mellow man by nature, but when rhyme stood to reason he could gather a will. He straightened himself, his shoulders lax and loose and eyes pressed forward with general curiosities and tired expressions - as if sleep were an unfamiliar thing for him. Yet, he was wide-awake by all means - and he met Rothe's scrutinization with that of his own analytical stare and devious grin. Not a breath of fear or recoil befell him at the unusual sight of Victorian era garb, nor the monstrosity know as the whip. Elijah had never been worried about such things - and the bewilderment which befell him was more in regards to the unexpected chaos than the presence of such an wild pack of young ones.
"Language is a beacon not to be abused, I'd mind your words - you come across more seriously in such cases." Elijah had directed firmly, obviously not having a taste for the harsh realm of curses. It was a customary action that his patience would be void and he would not ignore the correction. It was almost instantaneous in its subconsciousness.
His features had eased as the analysis stopped - no longer of interest as Elijah planted his hands into his pockets, a look of particular contentment on his face. He may have said more, and it appeared he may have been planning on giving his name and specifying, but before long that familiar voice had entered his mind - and he met, perhaps, the calmest of the bunch. He was teeming with particular amusement, almost laughing at the wildness of it.
Indeed, he had been unprepared.
And for the first time since the door had opened, Elijah had found well enough words and that genuinely happy smile. "Name of anything, you're all quite energetic, aren't you?" He had looked to Dax, seeming to hum in his thoughts as was customary. "To answer your question: no." Then to Morgan. A light bow of introduction had been given of his head. "And it would be a pleasure to meet you, Miss Morgan." The to Rothe again, Elijah expression steady and challenging, as if he thought it a necessity. When someone sized him up, he equally did so - and it seemed to his mind the familiar case and ideology of a date reporting to the parents of their love interest. In the case of Mordread, however, it appeared the son was looking out for the father. Nevertheless, Elijah was stable, even in his flustered and skittish state. The tint to his face had failed to disperse after the bewildered uttering of Dax and his forward inquisition regarding erotic matters. "I suppose you could say so; I am Elijah." He had introduced, that sheepish grin returning to his face.
He had leaned somewhat, waving in a friendly manner to the two little twins which Mordread held. Then he had looked up. "Quite a few handfuls you have here." He had spoken, the comment ambiguous. Yet, there was a nonchalant tone to Elijah's eyes which appeared to ease over the idea that he meant anything ill of it. "Hello, Mordread." He had uttered, straightening himself and grinning curiously at the two little twins - so tame and polite, and seemingly well dressed. He could imagine the occasion, but it was a fine sight, he'd say - they looked well.
"I wouldn't worry; haven't been torturing me at all. An interesting bunch!" And so eager ... Yet, he supposed children did that sort of thing when encountering someone particular. He hadn't thought of it - but it was there, in the back of his mind. "Are they always so enthusiastic?"
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Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 12:52 am
"Language, language. It's a term of relative affection in this house. Catbitch. Our eldest brother started the trend, and I continue it - though I admit I hold no fond feelings for the man." No, Rothe really didn't like Mordread very much at all. He found him cowardly, and no bit a man at all. The scrutinizing look was simply because the better the man the more Mordread would be out of his hair and he'd have free reign to do whatever he wanted.
Mordread brushed his son out of his way with his hip as he nuzzled the top of Gabriel's head, "My apologies for the terrors. And yes, they are. These two are actually going down for their nap soon which means they're pretty subdued." He grinned down at the youngest of his brood, Kayleigh already reaching out and demanding to be held by the newcomer. "I think she wants you to hold her. And it's really good to see you, Elijah."
Yes, he was nervous, but he was definitely more nervous about what Dax and Mordread had done to the poor man. He wasn't worried about Morgan, being that she was the most put together of the bunch. Then again, Dax was a harbringer of Death, Rothe was a criminal and the twins were hyperactive puppies.
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Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 11:26 pm
"Mm."
The word 'catbitch' resonated like a set of nails on a chalkboard. It was grating and disagreeable, if only in terms of usage and language. Elijah said nothing more of the matter, disregarding it as something that did not wholly concern him - and as much as it pestered him, he had no real desire to debate or quarrel language, language.
Thus he had shrugged a bit, giving each child a look of particular curiosity. He had heard quite a bit about them, but meeting them was certainly a different scenario. Enough so to get his fingers working in their general habits, the coin he'd taken from his pocket appearing or disappearing. A nervous tick. It was clearly a nervous tick. "Good to see you as well; I hope you've been well. " He had responded, watching Mordread until Kayleigh had caught his attention.
He looked genuinely surprised by the openness the child exhibited, staring for a moment with that look of perplexion and uncertainty - as if he had never handled a baby before in all his life. "H-huh? Oh. Oh." He had stammered, as if caught off guard by the idea. He seemed reluctant, as if he didn't trust himself with the action. But, Elijah overcame the issue, as he did many other things, accepting the will to hold Kayleigh.
"'dorable little bugger, en't she?" He had murmured somewhat, voice accented and proper as it so would be. "Not shy at all, eh? Not shy at all, being so small. "
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Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 12:04 am
Kayleigh looked incredibly happy that Elijah took her into his arms and she giggled, reaching out and poking his nose with one of her tiny little paws. It may have been odd to be holding a puppy that wasn't really a puppy but could talk and giggle and was pretty much a large baby...But she wasn't thinking about that at all. She didn't really comprehend that she was different.
Mordread simply smiled at his daughter's attention toward his date. Dax looked like he was about to make a snide comment, but Rothe's hand shot out and covered his mouth, determined to keep the boy's mouth shut. He really didn't want this to be fubarred because of a smart alec little brother who didn't know when the shut his mouth.
"Dad's been nervous," Morgan added, coming up behind him and nosing at his side. She looked so much like him, and it was obvious that she was the only one of the bunch that was his biological daughter.
"I have not!"
"Have so!"
Mordread blushed deeply, coughing and busying himself with petting through Gabriel's hair.
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Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 12:19 am
Elijah's head had shifted back somewhat at the feel of something poking his nose. Instinctively, his mouth had wriggled a bit once the pressure subsided. Indeed, it was rather bizarre holding a puppy that appeared more human than anything. Elijah may have thought twice about it, but it was the world of Gaia, and he supposed there were logistics behind it all. There were humans, non-humans, semi-humans. The diversity never seemed to end - but the feeling of a paw against his nose was enough to make him wriggle a bit, the bits of hair somewhat tickling. "Hey now, you'll make me snee---CHOO." Elijah had sneezed despite himself, blinking a few times to regain his composure. Fortunately, he hadn't jolted too much.
Then he had looked down at the voice of Morgan and her indication of her father's nervousness. Indeed, she was the only one with a true resemblance. It was a wonder Elijah hadn't noticed at all. "Nervous, huh?" he had said to the little girl. "Well, I do hope you kept him from being too nervous." He had seemed almost bemused by the idea of anxiousness.
Yet he was anxious too. His stomach churned regardless, and those thoughts of wishing he had properly prepared himself. He had done this or that, fretted over this or that - but he had spent so little time, wanting more so to ensure Leopold and Houdini were secure and understood he was coming back.
"Sometimes you have to be the adult. Adults are jumpy too." He had glanced towards Mordread thoughtfully. Then he had recalled. He remembered something conversationally - that his daughter had dressed him before. The young one in his arms was far too small to have been an aide. "Did you dress him this time? You did a well job; I commend you for that if you did." Whether or not he was joking was for one to guess, but he seemed generally sing-song about the matter as he lightly tapped Kayleigh's nose, returning her prior action of poking his with her paw.
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Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 1:58 pm
"Gesundheit!" Morgan excused the man when he sneezed, offering her arms to take Kayleigh away if he wanted to hand her over after being made to sneeze, "I can take her if you don't want to." Yeah, the little girl quite liked responsibility, and seemed as though she had to take it being the second oldest in the house at that time. Dax, was, technically but he was pretty much more childish than the twins sometimes. "I didn't dress him this time. He said somethin' about not being a doll and kicked me out of his room."
"Well, I'm not a doll, and I can dress myself if I have to. I just prefer to remain undressed." And then he realized how bad that sounded, coughed, "I mean..."
Dax finally pried his brother's hand away from his mouth, "No, you meant what you said!"
"Dax!"
"What?! I was speaking the truth!"
"Basement."
"But--"
"BASEMENT!"
Rothe took the whip and tapped Dax's ankle with it, causing the boy to flee downstairs, the blue skinned pre-teen following him. Morgan whistled, knowing full well that their brother was in trouble, and Mordread looked like he just wanted to get out of the house.
Fast.
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Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 12:44 am
Sneezing was such an involuntary action that Elijah had been incapable of holding in another. He had sneezed once, then twice, before his shoulders had sank and he had blinked a few times, wriggling his nose until the tingling feeling had vanished into the air. It was an amusing factor, and thus he had only shaken his head, smiling faintly as he did relieve himself of Kayleigh by handing her over to Morgan and patting her head lightly. It seemed what was appropriate to do. It was what Elijah had gone through, anyway - beyond the array of pinched cheeks or swooning statements in a grocery store. How overwhelming being a child was. There was so much attention to the matter - and when he thought back, there was a curiosity behind how much it could be craved.
"To tell you the truth, I've never been good with babies." He had paused a moment, his face long with a bit of a nervous etch. Children were wonderful little things, surely, but there was a line of admittance. "Handling them; I've never really done that before. Lil' buggers, though, eh?" He had seemed to hum a moment before straightening himself and fixing his shirt.
If anything, what had ensued caught Elijah off guard. His eyes had grown wide for a moment, his face flushing a bright red as he cleared his throat and looked to his feet. He couldn't help but laugh somewhat about the slip-up, but it was an internal ordeal. Bashful, if not somewhat modest regarding such matters, it was rather clear Elijah was somewhat flustered.
"Well, shall we be going?" He'd looked up after a moment - his mind idly churning to what Dax was likely about to go through. Punishment was never a pretty thing.
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Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 11:30 am
"I hadn't, either, until I met my ex." Mordread confessed, "He had two kids at that point, and I had just managed to make my way to Gaia. Somehow we ended up with a brood of seventeen before we broke up, though the house was divided in half when he left me." He'd grown used to children, and had taken to 'motherhood' like a duck to water. It was one accomplishment that he was proud of in his life that he was making for himself. After everything he'd been through, it was good to have something he could look at, point to, and say "I do this well" when it mattered.
At least this was something that could not be taken away from him.
"I miss them," Morgan said with a shrug. Especially her twin. She hadn't really ever had a chance to know him very well, and while some would discredit the twin bond as mythical, she would be the first to tell them to eat their own hat. "But I get to see Dad every now and then. So that's okay." Morgan shifted the girl on her hip before beginning to take her upstairs, "We'll be fine, daddy. Go have fun."
Relief flooded the panther as she told them to go and he nodded toward Elijah. "Yep. Got that hat? I have the suggestions to dump into it."
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Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 7:17 pm
If there was one thing common about Elijah, it was that he had a tendency to put his foot in his mouth on the occasion. Calm, collected, but a nervous twitter ran about his mind - and somewhere within there he had imagined duplicating. "Well, sometimes they're like rabbits."
By the times the words had escaped, he had seemed thoroughly surprised. His face had flushed as he cleared his throat. "Which isn't bad!" He had corrected himself, biting on his lower lip sheepishly.
It had taken him a moment to settled down, but the tension wore off with a heaving breath. He had given Morgan a look, as if sympathizing something. Well, family was precious. When it was family. He hadn't thought of what to say before she had gone, ushering them on their way- but to miss someone gone. Well, he very well knew what that was like, and sometimes he missed familiar company. Only sometimes.
"Hm?" Elijah had looked to Mordread curiously, laughing at the thought of a hat. "If a helmet may constitute a hat, there's one on the bike." He had grinned crookedly. He had turned to openthe door and hold it open, lowering his head somewhat as his smile grew. "You have an interesting family."
It was true, and somewhere in there he felt it was necessary to add.
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