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 Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 1:36 am
It is not often that Xue has any reason to visit a bookstore. But today, Xue is on a mission. The books he's looking for are not for him, but surprise presents for his big brother. Since he's the least likely person to go to a bookstore, he's been deemed the perfect one to go pick them up without anyone being the wiser.
Which is how Xue finds himself parked in front of a bookshelf in a fairly large bookstore (it even has a cafe), staring at the list in his hand. He's wearing his usual leather satchel filled with monster-catching gear, and his butterfly net is leaned against the shelf. Even though he's on an important mission, it doesn't hurt to be prepared.
But now, as his eyes start to glaze over from looking at so many books, Xue wonders if he'd notice a monster if it came up and bit him. He hadn't realized he'd be stuck checking every single book in the store. But the clerk hadn't seemed to understand when he asked for help, and while a nice lady pointed him in this direction, he had yet to come across anything promising.
Frustration practically rolls off of Xue as he pulls out yet another book and compares the writing on it to what's on his list. Please, please let this be it! gonk
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Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 6:10 pm
Meirou blinks as she is hit by the projections of frustration, just on the other side of the bookcase Xue is looking through. She turns the corner, projecting a curious greeting to her kin, grinning once she notices who it is.
"Xue~!" She chirps, flouncing over to hug the boy she hasn't seen in YEARS (well, to her anyway). Oh my goodness, Xue hasn't changed a BIT! Jilan must have been right about wonky time flowyness and such. sweatdrop
Meirou smiles brightly, taller and older than Xue would remember her being, but still the same old girl. How has Xue been? Meirou went to the Si-Space Danish with Xiao Huo and High Priest Kouyo, and she's missed him so much!
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Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 11:01 pm
Xue blinks repeatedly. He hadn't thought anyone was there, or anyone he knew, or-
Does he know this lady? She looks familiar, but Xue isn't quite sure. At least, until she starts addressing him. Even then it takes him a moment, but finally the pieces click.
Mei? surprised But Mei wasn't so big when he saw her before! Oh, maybe this is like what happened when Kar got big, when it all happened in one night! Xue has heard of that happening a lot, and he's been waiting patiently, but it hasn't happened to him. Not that he's impatient, but it does feel weird when his family (and now his friends!) grow up, and Xue's still little.
Perhaps now would be a good time to actually listen to Meirou, but Xue's projections seem to crash into hers, and it's clear he isn't really listening. For the moment, he's too excited to see a friend, and quite content to take time away from his tedious mission.
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Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 1:31 pm
Meirou grins, nodding happily again. It's the magic of the Space Danish/Silver World! YEARS pass there while it's only like, a few days here in Gaia!
Meirou assures Xue that if he too enters the mysterious portal to the Space Danish, he too will grow! Meirou met all sorts of Porcelain in the Space Danish, and she even went to school. But it was a far better experience there than back in the Golden World.
Ah, but Meirou forgot to bring Xue his present! She wasn't planning on meeting him here, of all places! But soon he shall get it!
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Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 6:13 pm
Space Danish World what what? Xue is terribly confused, but he recalls hearing something that might have been something like that from Des, who heard it from the awesome dinosaur, who heard it somewhere else. But like in a game of telephone, the message had been very distorted by the time it got to Xue, so all he really associates with it is jam and hot dogs and dead people. And Oneechan, of course.
... Meirou didn't go have a picnic with dead people, did she? eek
His curiosity prompts him actually to actually listen to what Meirou is trying to tell him. So it's a world full of other Porcelain? Woooow. Xue would love to go and meet new friends and try this school thing he's heard so much about. But he isn't sure he wants to spend years away from his family...
Xue is momentarily thoughtful, but then looks up sharply. Mei has a present? For him? Really?
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Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 4:56 pm
Yes, yes! Space Danish World! AKA, The Silver World, though not really. It's not really 'dead people' there too...But Jam and Hot Dogs sound like fun~!
No, no. Not dead people. But picnics, yes.
Yep, sort of like the Golden World, but not exactly. Xue should go sometime! What is years there, is like, a few days here in Gaia. He could grow up and tell Meirou what his experience was like...
Yes, of course! Meirou bought Xue a present from the Silver World! But she will send it to Des' home, addressed to him, so he is sure to get it!
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Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 7:32 pm
That's a relief. While Xue thinks that dead people don't really count as monsters, they're still kind of scary to think of living with. But if there aren't dead people around, a picnic would be lots of fun. He should have done that instead of coming to the bookstore. But if he did that, he wouldn't have met Mei, so maybe it's for the best.
It does sound interesting. Maybe Xue will ask Des about it sometime? He's still nervous at the thought of spending any prolonged period away from home on his own, but since Mei seems to have had so much fun (and gotten so big!) then maybe he will have to seriously consider it.
Xue didn't know Mei had their address! But more importantly, he has nothing for her. Not yet, anyway. On a whim, he starts poking through his bag, but there isn't much in there that's present material. Just the monster book and a flashlight and some food and a few other things, none that he thinks Mei would like. sweatdrop
He reaches into his pocket next, and pulls out the list of books he's supposed to be looking for, that he'd hastily crammed in there when he first saw Meirou. He makes a face at it, before having a better idea. Maaaaaybe, since Mei is so smart, she can help him find a book? surprised
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Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 8:03 pm
Meirou nods, listening to him happily. She's glad Xue came to the bookstore too~! Perhaps they can have a picnic the day they decide to go to the City Museum?
Meirou was nervous too when she went, but Renka, her tutor, made it a lot more comfortable. He was a teacher at this amazing school where boys AND girls could learn together! ...Though the boys sure did enjoy flirting and talking about girls...like Meirou...
She shakes off the projection of mild embarassment, bringing back a smile. Meirou looked it up right when she met Xue in the huge book of addresses Kanna has in the apartment! There's not that many 'Des' people in Gaia. sweatdrop
Oh, Meirou doesn't need anything in return~. She got Xue something little, but nice. It mildly reminded her of him, so... She giggles lightly, smiling brightly. She's rather flattered that he would even think of giving anything in return.
Oh, books? She would be more than happy to help~! And don't worry, Xue's expertise lies in monsters! Meirou's only book-smart, while Xue could probably survive any kind of monster!
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Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 9:46 pm
The big tall museum, right? Xue would love to go exploring it, and a picnic along with it would make it a super-fun amazing day! He's almost tempted to drag Meirou over there RIGHT NOW, but he doesn't know where it is and anyway, there's other things to do first.
While Xue has never actually attended school, he's seen a few up close, and thought that it was normal for girls and boys to learn together. There are some schools that only teach one or the other, but from what he saw, they looked like the exceptions rather than the rules. But he's hardly an expert, and more interested in hearing about what Meirou saw and did and met and read and everything!
And why shouldn't boys talk about Mei? She's smart and pretty and nice and awesome. Xue talks about all the people he likes all the time, and is glad to count Mei among them. Unless she'd rather he didn't, which he hopes isn't the case. sweatdrop
... oooohhh, Xue sees. He'd never have thought of that, but now he remembers that Des is in that funny book, for people to find her if they need books or cooks or something like that. In that case, he'll check the mail every hour until it comes!
He doesn't let the issue of gifts go, but is willing to focus on a different gift first, and gladly hands the paper over to Meirou. There's a holiday coming up for dads, he explains, and his biggest brother is also a dad, so Xue and Kar and Ying and Lin want to get him a present. They wrote down lots of books for him to look for, but he only needs to find one or two.
The first couple of books on the list appear to be histories, or maybe historical fiction, about knights and sorcerers. The bulk of the titles, however, are related to parenting. Most are serious, but titles like "Dads for Dummies" and "What To Expect When It's Too Late To Be Expecting" are present as well.
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Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 5:02 am
Well then, they'll just have to organize a date, won't they? Meirou is sure it'll be fun, and Kanna'll probably want to supervise, so Des can come too! And Xue's family if they want. 3nodding
Back in the Golden World, it's really rare to find a school that teaches both boys and girls. That's why it was a little exciting to see. Meirou's old school only taught girls, and..well.. sweatdrop She really didn't like that school.
Well, it's the way they talked about her that was a little...Well...Xue'll understand when he's older. 3nodding But since Meirou knows he's a nice guy, Xue can talk about her if he wishes~.
Meirou laughs at his enthusiasm, cheerful and happy. She is glad he'll be expecting it. She'll make sure to send it by express mail tomorrow so he won't be waiting long!
Oh, Father's day? Meirou looks the paper over, a bit surprized at the last few titles. Ah, so it's THIS type of Father's Day. His first one?
She begins to scour the bookcase, pulling out the relevant titles, mentally checking them off as she goes.
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Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 7:08 pm
Xue isn't sure if his whole family should come. There would be so many people asking Mei questions that Xue would never get to talk to her, and all of them would crowd the museum. Maybe Des, or one of his siblings, or both. But not everybody. @_@;
The way? Were they saying bad things about Mei? If that's the case, Xue doesn't ever want to grow up, and he'd be glad to set these boys straight. Grabbing his butterfly net, he twirls it a little, feinting at the bookcase next to him. If they don't want to get caught, they'll have to apologize! 3nodding
Whenever it comes, it comes. Xue is very excited to see what it is, but doesn't want to put Mei through more trouble, since she was already nice enough to get him something.
... well, not exactly. sweatdrop It's actually his fourth Father's Day, but according to the rest of his family, Eri still has a lot to learn. Xue thinks he's doing a pretty good job, and Vivi is such a sweet little girl, but he agrees that there's always room to get better. Right?
He stares as Meirou picks out the books with ease, a bit envious of her skill... and embarrassed at the trouble he had with the same task.
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Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 9:29 pm
Oh my. eek Xue has a rather LARGE family! She likes the idea of both Des and a sibling, because that way Xue can get started on introducing her to more people~.
Oh, not bad things...Stuff like 'She's so pretty' and so on...Y'know. Stuff guys say when they reaaaally like a girl? Stuff like that? Right..? sweatdrop ...And they sent her Red Festival cards too.
Oh no, no. Meirou was planning on mailing it soon anyway, since she wasn't sure when she'd see Xue again.
Fathers are always learning, and this is a fact of life! So are mothers, of course, but that was earlier in the year! Someday, later in life of course, Mei hopes she'll be a good mother....
It's ok, she assures him. Meirou's gonna teach him how to read, remember? She promised! 4laugh Soon, Xue will be reading more than she does on a daily basis!
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Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 10:08 pm
Yes, he does! Xue counts on his fingers. There's Des, and Eri, and Ying, and Kar, and Lin, and Bob, and Vivi. Six, not counting the ghost girl, or the ghost man, or Aunt Nai, or the people that don't live with them anymore... well, it's a big family, that's the point. But Des and someone else is good.
But Mei is pretty, so what's wrong with saying that? And Xue reeeeally likes her. But then, he reeeeeally likes a lot of people, like Oneechan and her dinosaur and Blue and Red... what's a Red Festival? confused
Oh yes, they all got very nice things for Des for Mother's Day. Xue cooked her breakfast! Except the toast burnt, and the eggs exploded... but he thinks the oatmeal turned out okay, at least. sweatdrop
Xue thinks Mei will probably be a great mother someday... but wonders if it isn't a bit early to be thinking about it. In his mind, that sort of thing is a looooong way away. They're both still young!
... well, Mei is older than him, but still.
surprised She remembered! After all that time! Xue is really looking forward to learning, especially if it means he can avoid more experiences like this one.
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Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 10:34 pm
Meirou watches him count, impressed by the number. 6 is still a lot! Meirou only lives with Kanna, and Kanna, that she knows of, has no family.
Aww...Meirou blushes as she's called pretty, and pats Xue on the head. Mei means 'sorta-love' by the way she said 'reaaaaallyy like'. Or like the way a boyfriend and girlfriend like each other. The Red Festival is a Porcelain Holiday where guys send elegant letters to the girls. Meirou finally hit the proper age to receive letters, so...She got quite a few.
Mother's day...Meirou and Kanna went shopping. And ate chocolate. Oh~ That's right~! Meirou found out she can still have milk and chocolate in the Space Danish too! Eat up while you're little, because if you don't have the tolerance, you get sick.
Meirou hopes she will too. It is a bit early, but...She doesn't know. She just was thinking about it and all.
And yes, she is older than him. smile
Of course Mei remembered! She would never forget such an important promise!
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Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 11:31 pm
It is a lot, Xue agrees happily. He's quite proud of his big family, and kind of pleased that no one else he's met has one as big as his. Not that he doesn't want other people to enjoy the things big families have, but it's also kind of special when it's just him. And small families are just as good!
He thinks for a second, before finally realizing. Ohhhhh! It's like it is with Oneechan and Blue! He understands now, but always thought that it was a grown-up thing... and isn't sure how he thinks about his new friend being a grown-up already.
... WHAT!?!?! NO CHOCOLATE? B-but Xue loves chocolate! It's his favorite food, and Des makes so many delicious things with it like chocolate cake and cupcakes and muffins and pie- Mei HAS to taste Des' chocolate pie! And ice cream and chocolate milk and and Xue CAN'T not have chocolate. He just can't. crying
Though he is still upset about the possibility of NO MORE CHOCOLATE, he tells Mei that she isn't that much older than he is. At least, he hopes not. He doesn't want all his friends to grow up without him...
Sniffling, he nods. Xue has been looking forward to it, so he's glad that Mei remembered!
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