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 Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 8:26 pm
Nikiana was pacing her office, having distracted Ala for the moment with a blank sheet of paper and a box of crayons. This child was starting to drive her nuts! The koala girl was constantly asking if they could go to the park and Niki, while fond of the park, preferred to only go occasionally. But she couldn't work with Alaqua constantly climbing up and down her and she couldn't work at the park, either. No, she really needed some time alone in her lab. Which meant, she needed someone to watch Ala. There was no way in hell she'd ever take the toddler down to her basement lab. Probably not even when the kid grew up.
But who would watch her? Niki didn't know any one with kids, really, so asking around about a good babysitter was out. Besides, the babysitter probably wouldn't want to be in the house when Niki was in her lab. No, Ala needed to go somewhere else. But where? Once again, she was back to not knowing anyone who she could dump a two-year-old off on for a few hours on short notice.
Then, idea! Tara! Duh, why hadn't she thought of Tara before?! Tara loved children, she could handle Alaqua for a few hours so Niki could get some lab work done. Wonderful!
Still wondering why she hadn't thought of Tara earlier, Niki rounded up Ala and tossed her, well not literally, into the car, strapping her into her carseat. A short drive later, they were at Tara's house and knocking on the front door.
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Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 8:44 pm
A loud raucous knocking on the door echoed through the house, bringing the owner to weary aching feet with a groan. "You had better be delivering my books!" One Tara S. ****** called out juggling the heavy weight against her as she moved towards dark wood door.
Said heavy weight shifted a pair of green arms to pillow against Tara while the top one tightened around her neck. Aysel snuggled her head into her new mommy as they made their way to the front of the house.
Tara smiled to herself before twisting the door open, "If you don't have my books you have just made a grave---Oh...Nikiana..........And....a...kid?" The mage blinked at her old friend in surprise.
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Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 8:51 pm
She grinned, about to greet her friend with a big howdy, but stopped suddenly. Both from her friend's tone and the child clinging to Tara. Oh yeah, now she remembered why she didn't think of Tara right off. The two hadn't exactly parted on good terms last.
"Hey... Tara.......... and... kid...." Niki suddenly felt a bit awkward just asking Tara to take care of Alaqua for a few hours. Since when had Tara gotten a kid? The mage had sworn that she'd never have kids, just act aunty to them.
Ala peered over her mother's shoulder at the woman. "Hihi!" She chirped, waving.
"Uh... can we come in?" Niki managed, patting Ala's hand that wasn't occupied with waving.
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Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 9:02 pm
Aysel turned a bit to watch the other little girl and adult. Distangling one of the lower arms she returned Ala's wave before pulling her mommy close again. "Hi.." she mumbled softly, taking Ala's greeting to include her.
Tara nodded shortly, stepping back into the hallway. "Of course.. of course.." Awkwardly she shooed Nikiana into the hallway, carefully closing the door behind her. "Ahh...you..." she shook her head for a moment before adressing Alaqua directly. "And what is your name?"
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Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 9:08 pm
Niki opened her mouth to say something, but Tara beat her to it. But the mage stopped and turned to talk to Ala directly. She should say something... but.. what do you say to an old friend whom you haven't seen in a long time and you last parted rather... awkwardly?
"Me Alaqua." The koala child happily announced, oblivious to the tension between the adults. She looked at Aysel. Cool, she had four arms! "What's her name?" Ala asked Tara, pointing to Aysel.
"It's not nice to point, Ala..." Niki muttered and the koala girl dropped her arm.
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Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 9:20 pm
Tara watched Nikiana closely, "Nice to meet you Alaqua. This is Aysel." The mage nodded at Nikana awkwardly and shifted from foot to foot. "Aysel, meet Alaqua and," Tara grinned, a mite evilly, "Auny Niki."
Aysel smiled at Nikiana as oblivious as Alaqua to the tension. "Hi.." The toddler watched for a moment before reaching out to Niki. "Aunty!" The toddler said with a disarming smile.
A sappy smile drifted over Tara's face as she gazed at Aysel.
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Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 9:30 pm
Niki groaned slightly. Great, she was an Aunty now. She'd get that stupid magic-loving, science-hating Tara back for this one day. Though, she more than likely was deserving everything she got. If only she could remember why she and Tara had parted on such terms....
And, suddenly there was a second child wishing to cling to her. Great. She came here to dispose of a clinging child, not pick up another! But she reached out and took the kind of odd looking child into her arms.
"So.. uh... how'd you end up with Aysel...?" Niki asked, juggling the two kids about to keep from falling over with the weight.
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Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 9:39 pm
Aysel hugged her new 'Aunty' before staring at Alaqua. Cautiously the toddler reached a hand out and touched the furred child. Coral eyes widened as her touch revealed soft fur. A soft gurgle of surprise and pleasure escaped the toddler. The bottom two arms held onto the Nikiana as the top two reached towards Alaqua.
A dark flash of irritation settled over Tara. "Would you like something to eat, or drink? Or at the very least sit down. It's a bit of a...story.." She said darkly. A nearby light popped and flickered unsteadily.
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Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 9:44 pm
Ala released one hand to touch the luna moth child back. All smooth. But a different smooth from Ter. A smoother smooth. She grinned and wondered if Aysel's dots felt different. Lucia's hadn't, but the lynx child had also been soft and furry.
Niki nodded. "Yeah, uh, sitting down would be nice..." Standing with two children clinging to her did not sound like a fun way to listen to a story. Clearly Tara wasn't happy with how she'd been landed with the child.
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Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 10:03 pm
Nodding Tara took Aysel back from Aunt Niki. "No!" The toddler squirmed reaching back towards Alaqua. She wasn't done yet! Tara simply shook her head and gestured to a formal room directly off the hallway.
"This way," she said ignoring the squirming youngster in her arms. The mage made her way into the sitting room and seated herself on the only comfortable piece of furniture, leaving the hard uncomfortable chairs for for Nikiana.
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Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 10:12 pm
Eh, the formal sitting area. Tara was still holding a grudge against... whatever it was that Niki did. Because it was obvious that Niki had done something. Tara wouldn't act like this if she were the one to fault.
Ala frowned as the strange smooth smooth kid was taken back to her mommeh. Aww... she hadn't gotten to find out if Aysel's spots felt different.
Niki drew Alaqua into her lap as she took a seat on one of the chairs that looked the least uncomfortable. Eh, well, perhaps standing would've been better...
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Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 10:24 pm
As soon as Tara was seated Aysel finally managed to squirm out of her mother's tight grasp. For a moment the luna moth child wobbled as she tried to stand steadily. As she found her balance she wobbled over to Alaqua and Aunty Niki. The toddler clung against Niki's leg as she stared up at Ala.
"'La?" she asked.
"Yes, well..." Tara watched Aysel for a moment before shaking her head. "Aysel arrived today. Some place," Tara hesitated, not sure what was public knowledge and what wasn't. Did Niki even know, the mage wondered. "Some place blackmailed me to take her.. Well. That's not exactly right. They were kind enough to allow me to take care of Aysel. And blackmailed me to stay here." A dark smirk quirked her lips. "So I guess I'll be seeing you around far more often."
Green eyes tracked the toddlers. "And you, Nikiana? Since when did you have a child? I thought your precious work took first place in your life," Tara nearly spit out.
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Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 10:34 pm
Nikiana watched the catepillar girl make her way over to her and Ala. Ala grinned and clambered down, actually getting onto the ground, Niki noted with mild surprise. "Go see your room?" The koala toddler asked.
Niki looked back up at Tara spoke. Huh. Sounded like something D-corp would do. Well, they did do it, with Niki anyways. Though what they could've dug up on Tara would be interesting to find out...
Niki blushed at Tara's harsh words, ducking her head. "Well, I've had Alaqua for a little while now. Like you, I didn't have much of a choice. She was given to me. Apparently they found out about..." Niki's voice trailed off. That was what it was. The thing that had split the two friends. Niki remembered now.
"So... what did D-corp found out about you..?" She was pretty sure, almost positively sure, that it had been D-corp. After all, they'd told her that they were doing genetic manipulation and after they'd practically blackmailed Niki into taking Alaqua.... it didn't take a genius to put two and two together and get four.
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Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 10:54 pm
Aysel shook her head before throwing all four arms around Ala. Her hands began to stroke the soft fur. "No woom.." the caterpiller muttered, still fascinated by Alaqua's fur. "Play woom though."
Tara raised an eyebrow. "D-corp..." Suddenly the mage chuckled. "So they succedded where you failed huh. Not surprising." Tara shook her head. "As for my secrets. They remain secrets," She said firmly.
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Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 10:58 pm
Ala seemed puzzled over the fact that Aysel had no room. "Go see pway room then?"
Niki snorted. "So it seems..." She mused, looking at the two children. "Not that I exactly failed..... just didn't get the results I wanted." Well, so Tara didn't want to tell what dirt they had on her. Maybe she could figure it out later. After all, if D-corp figured it out, surely she could. With just a bit more time. Even if that meant snooping about in D-corp's files to find out about it.
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