Cal + Karma
A rp with Cal
Inle-roo
Inle was not a big fan of nature, the outdoors, or anywhere she might encounter other people. In fact, she would have been perfectly content to live the rest of her life at home or, better yet, in her room, where she could sleep and sleep and never have to deal with people and things and her kids. Unfortunately, things didn't work out that way. Sometimes she had to deal with people and things and her kids, and today was one such occasion.
The television didn't seem to hold as much power over Calumet as it once had. The tacit toddler would no longer spend endless hours on the couch fixated on the goings-on behind the glass screen; no, now his time on the couch was spent staring out the side window. There were no cartoons there. All there was there was the Outside, a place he rarely ventured. It seemed he wanted to change that. Calumet had become somewhat subdued, somewhat fussy, and Inle had noticed. So in order to bring her happy, problem-free child back, Inle gave him what she thought he wanted--out. More specifically, a trip to the park. She wasn't about to stick him in one of those ridiculous baby swings, so she planted him in the sandbox with a couple of colorful toys and let him have at it.
Cal was not happy with this. Why would he want to be in a sea of blah-colored gritty stuff when he could be out of this yucky box, where the few flowers that hadn't succumbed to the cold were sitting bright and cheery not a few yards away? He glanced at the bench where he knew the Crazy Lady who took care of him was. She was reading, it looked like--she certainly wasn't paying attention to him. Now was his chance! He made a moue of disgust as he crawled out of the sandbox--this stuff was gross!--and made his way happily to the flowers.
He liked flowers. He remembered what had happened last time he had been in these flowers and was almost disappointed that Asrafel wasn't there to share in the prettiness before he got distracted by a tulip. Cal smiled at the flowers. They were all so pretty! They reminded him almost...of candy! With a happy smile, he reached for one.
What Cal didn't know was that Inle HAD been paying attention, kind of. Every now and then she would look up from her book to make sure he was still there and not taking a sand-bath. Sand? Check. Toys? Check. Baby? ...where did her kid go? With a sigh that was more of annoyance than worry, she scanned the park. He couldn't have gone far, he wasn't THAT good at walking yet. There was a slide in a separate sandbox, but she didn't see him there. He wasn't by the swings. ...did that flower just move?
Bookmarking the page with a finger, she got up and moved towards the suddenly-dancing flowers, peering into them only to find Calumet happily playing with them. Petals and dirt adorned his clothes, his skin...and his mouth.
"Cal, is that a daisy? Good choice." Her tone was that of a mother long resigned to her child's particular brand of eccentricity. Calumet smiled up at her, a white petal sticking out of his mouth like a wayward tooth.
The television didn't seem to hold as much power over Calumet as it once had. The tacit toddler would no longer spend endless hours on the couch fixated on the goings-on behind the glass screen; no, now his time on the couch was spent staring out the side window. There were no cartoons there. All there was there was the Outside, a place he rarely ventured. It seemed he wanted to change that. Calumet had become somewhat subdued, somewhat fussy, and Inle had noticed. So in order to bring her happy, problem-free child back, Inle gave him what she thought he wanted--out. More specifically, a trip to the park. She wasn't about to stick him in one of those ridiculous baby swings, so she planted him in the sandbox with a couple of colorful toys and let him have at it.
Cal was not happy with this. Why would he want to be in a sea of blah-colored gritty stuff when he could be out of this yucky box, where the few flowers that hadn't succumbed to the cold were sitting bright and cheery not a few yards away? He glanced at the bench where he knew the Crazy Lady who took care of him was. She was reading, it looked like--she certainly wasn't paying attention to him. Now was his chance! He made a moue of disgust as he crawled out of the sandbox--this stuff was gross!--and made his way happily to the flowers.
He liked flowers. He remembered what had happened last time he had been in these flowers and was almost disappointed that Asrafel wasn't there to share in the prettiness before he got distracted by a tulip. Cal smiled at the flowers. They were all so pretty! They reminded him almost...of candy! With a happy smile, he reached for one.
What Cal didn't know was that Inle HAD been paying attention, kind of. Every now and then she would look up from her book to make sure he was still there and not taking a sand-bath. Sand? Check. Toys? Check. Baby? ...where did her kid go? With a sigh that was more of annoyance than worry, she scanned the park. He couldn't have gone far, he wasn't THAT good at walking yet. There was a slide in a separate sandbox, but she didn't see him there. He wasn't by the swings. ...did that flower just move?
Bookmarking the page with a finger, she got up and moved towards the suddenly-dancing flowers, peering into them only to find Calumet happily playing with them. Petals and dirt adorned his clothes, his skin...and his mouth.
"Cal, is that a daisy? Good choice." Her tone was that of a mother long resigned to her child's particular brand of eccentricity. Calumet smiled up at her, a white petal sticking out of his mouth like a wayward tooth.
Baniru
"Uhmaaah Ban Ban boom!"
Karma was toddling about the park as he did nearly every day- his surrogate mother certainly couldn't keep him inside for long, and Aekea wasn't the best of places for a child his age to be wandering around.
Baniru had, therefore, decided to drag her little charge to the park nearly every day. It wore him out, kept him from screaming and kicking at her, and besides, she didn't have anything better to do with her time besides lobby cans from trash and try to earn a few dimes.
"Yeah, ha ha. Bani go boom." the woman muttered unenthusiastically, gaining a curl to her upper lip. She dared to fear what her kid would be like when he was capable of holding a knife.
With a slight sigh, she decided it better to sit on the bench where Inle was previously enjoying her book- it was vacant for the time being, (no messy, awkward conversations today!) and it was easier to view Karma play from the distance.
Karma himself was taken to the sandbox. He had seen some brightly coloured plastic stuff submerged in the grit, and colours that bright made him think of only one thing- Calumet, and as always the big ball of lights he could make.
"De de de..." he gurgled out, picking up a yellow shovel and smacking it repeatedly into the sand.
Karma was toddling about the park as he did nearly every day- his surrogate mother certainly couldn't keep him inside for long, and Aekea wasn't the best of places for a child his age to be wandering around.
Baniru had, therefore, decided to drag her little charge to the park nearly every day. It wore him out, kept him from screaming and kicking at her, and besides, she didn't have anything better to do with her time besides lobby cans from trash and try to earn a few dimes.
"Yeah, ha ha. Bani go boom." the woman muttered unenthusiastically, gaining a curl to her upper lip. She dared to fear what her kid would be like when he was capable of holding a knife.
With a slight sigh, she decided it better to sit on the bench where Inle was previously enjoying her book- it was vacant for the time being, (no messy, awkward conversations today!) and it was easier to view Karma play from the distance.
Karma himself was taken to the sandbox. He had seen some brightly coloured plastic stuff submerged in the grit, and colours that bright made him think of only one thing- Calumet, and as always the big ball of lights he could make.
"De de de..." he gurgled out, picking up a yellow shovel and smacking it repeatedly into the sand.
Inle-roo
The abrupt appearance of Karma and Baniru drew both Cal's and Inle's attention. Inle had crouched on the sidewalk next to the flowerbed and had been trying to brush dirt and various bits of foliage off of Cal, and Cal had brought his arms up to flail aimlessly in an attempt to stop her. They froze in what appeared to be a humorous tableau at the arrival of others, staring at them for a moment before turning to look at each other.
Cal recovered first, shaking off his mother's hands in order to crawl over to the very place he had just escaped from, curious about the sandbox's noisy new occupant. He stopped at the edge, small hands braced on the ledge. He found himself hesitant to return to the sea of grit, but there was someone to play with in there! Cal didn't yet recognize the small body as Karma--he had only met the other boy the one time, months ago, and Karma was facing away from him anyway.
With a frown, Cal looked for some way to get Karma's attention without actually venturing into the sandbox, grinning a bit as he he saw a small plastic pail close enough to the edge. He scooted towards it, leaning over the ledge and stretching his arm out, fingers wiggling as he tried to snag the half-buried handle...there! He got it! Now...what to do with it? Well, that was easy! He reached back, the pail clenched awkwardly in his hand, and--
"Don't throw that, Cal!" Inle cautioned. If it came down to it, Calumet probably wouldn't know enough to defend himself in a fight and the other boy looked to be bigger than he was.
--chucked it in Karma's general direction, turning to glance at the Crazy Lady. What did she want? Luckily, the bucket landed with a wet-sounding flop several feet away from Karma.
Cal recovered first, shaking off his mother's hands in order to crawl over to the very place he had just escaped from, curious about the sandbox's noisy new occupant. He stopped at the edge, small hands braced on the ledge. He found himself hesitant to return to the sea of grit, but there was someone to play with in there! Cal didn't yet recognize the small body as Karma--he had only met the other boy the one time, months ago, and Karma was facing away from him anyway.
With a frown, Cal looked for some way to get Karma's attention without actually venturing into the sandbox, grinning a bit as he he saw a small plastic pail close enough to the edge. He scooted towards it, leaning over the ledge and stretching his arm out, fingers wiggling as he tried to snag the half-buried handle...there! He got it! Now...what to do with it? Well, that was easy! He reached back, the pail clenched awkwardly in his hand, and--
"Don't throw that, Cal!" Inle cautioned. If it came down to it, Calumet probably wouldn't know enough to defend himself in a fight and the other boy looked to be bigger than he was.
--chucked it in Karma's general direction, turning to glance at the Crazy Lady. What did she want? Luckily, the bucket landed with a wet-sounding flop several feet away from Karma.
Baniru
Baniru had made herself comfortable in the warm sun and bench she was sitting on. The woman leaned back, gently rested her hands on her lap, and pretended to nap, all the while keeping her eye half cracked on her little one.
Safe to say that the pail hadn't hit her child... though she would never, Baniru liked to think those were powers that only she could reserve for later use. If she saw even the slightest inkling of apprehension touch her baby from a stranger's fingers, well. She'd most likely aggro. You know how mothers get.
The woman squinted a little, her inverted, honey eye stuck on the other woman with her child in the flowerbed- didn't she know that stranger? A light aquaintance, perhaps?
She most definitely recognized the child.
Karma blinked a little at the loud sounding flop that rang into the noon air a little ways away.
He first looked to the left
then looked to the right, and spying the person he was just thinking of, all but dropped the wonderous yellow shovel in a few blinks.
"Maae ba!" he actually giggled for once, scooting his body in Calumet's general direction, "Naa ban bani naa."
What was he saying?
With world domination ruled out, your guess is as good as mine.
Karma fidgeted a little and drew his arms up, reaching for the sky, as if he were cornered in a fight. There was a big s**t-eating grin on his face.
He began to wave his hands around.
"Caalaa... caalaa!"
Safe to say that the pail hadn't hit her child... though she would never, Baniru liked to think those were powers that only she could reserve for later use. If she saw even the slightest inkling of apprehension touch her baby from a stranger's fingers, well. She'd most likely aggro. You know how mothers get.
The woman squinted a little, her inverted, honey eye stuck on the other woman with her child in the flowerbed- didn't she know that stranger? A light aquaintance, perhaps?
She most definitely recognized the child.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Karma blinked a little at the loud sounding flop that rang into the noon air a little ways away.
He first looked to the left
then looked to the right, and spying the person he was just thinking of, all but dropped the wonderous yellow shovel in a few blinks.
"Maae ba!" he actually giggled for once, scooting his body in Calumet's general direction, "Naa ban bani naa."
What was he saying?
With world domination ruled out, your guess is as good as mine.
Karma fidgeted a little and drew his arms up, reaching for the sky, as if he were cornered in a fight. There was a big s**t-eating grin on his face.
He began to wave his hands around.
"Caalaa... caalaa!"
Inle-roo
If Inle showed any recognition of mother and/or son, she didn't show it. Moreover, she wouldn't know it, as she had endeavored, mostly successfully, to shove the entire night of the party out of her mind. Part of her was still paranoid that the cops were going to break down her door one night and arrest her for letting babies around alcohol--even though it WAS Stae's party and establishment, the psycho had left her in charge--in spite of the fact that the party had been several months ago. No, now she was content to watch Calumet from the safety of the flowerbed, just to make sure he didn't get into any trouble. Or more trouble than he usually managed to get in, anyway.
Calumet blinked as if dumbfounded, like an infant listening to the meaningless babble of a Nobel prize-winning scientist. Words held little meaning for him; his world was based on color and light and images and, being mute, he didn't process spoken words correctly.
Like the words Karma was saying made any sense anyway. He frowned at the other child, gaze following the rise of Karma's arms. Was there something up there he was looking for? All Cal could see was blue sky and fluffy clouds and blinding sun. What, was that what Karma was reaching for? The sky? No! He couldn't let his re-newfound friend go up there! It was so big, and he would get lost! Uncharacteristic frown deepening, Cal threw himself at Karma while remaining seated, chubby arms wrapping around the other boy as if to hold him to the earth.
Inle winced, tensing.
Calumet blinked as if dumbfounded, like an infant listening to the meaningless babble of a Nobel prize-winning scientist. Words held little meaning for him; his world was based on color and light and images and, being mute, he didn't process spoken words correctly.
Like the words Karma was saying made any sense anyway. He frowned at the other child, gaze following the rise of Karma's arms. Was there something up there he was looking for? All Cal could see was blue sky and fluffy clouds and blinding sun. What, was that what Karma was reaching for? The sky? No! He couldn't let his re-newfound friend go up there! It was so big, and he would get lost! Uncharacteristic frown deepening, Cal threw himself at Karma while remaining seated, chubby arms wrapping around the other boy as if to hold him to the earth.
Inle winced, tensing.
Baniru
Baniru's nose wrinkled. She had a good memory, and she recognized the boy as the certain shattered who had control over colours, if she was correct. He seemed friendly enough, but-
Oooh. Here's to hoping Karma didn't pummel the other child.
The mother winced as well, before lightly calling out, "Excuse me, is that your boy?"
Well of course it was her boy. She just needed an attention grabber.
Karma's grin faded as Cal's frown grew, and he quirked a curious brow. What was that boy plotting? Yes yes, the sky was pretty and all, but where were the colours? The lights?
Maybe this child was really another child PRETENDING to be his friend!
... and then it happened.
Totally taken aback by the amount of physical contact that Calumet had thrown upon him, Karma froze up, his eyes aghast.
Yet, unlike his mother...
The boy felt no need to writhe away from his colourful friend. His tiny muscles relaxed- and something so strange spread across his face that one would think he had never experienced it fully before.
A smile.
"Saa!" he giggled eagerly, two pudgy hands patting Cal on the back, "Saa... saary!"
You know, if you said that right, it sounded a lot like 'Sorry'.
Oooh. Here's to hoping Karma didn't pummel the other child.
The mother winced as well, before lightly calling out, "Excuse me, is that your boy?"
Well of course it was her boy. She just needed an attention grabber.
Karma's grin faded as Cal's frown grew, and he quirked a curious brow. What was that boy plotting? Yes yes, the sky was pretty and all, but where were the colours? The lights?
Maybe this child was really another child PRETENDING to be his friend!
... and then it happened.
Totally taken aback by the amount of physical contact that Calumet had thrown upon him, Karma froze up, his eyes aghast.
Yet, unlike his mother...
The boy felt no need to writhe away from his colourful friend. His tiny muscles relaxed- and something so strange spread across his face that one would think he had never experienced it fully before.
A smile.
"Saa!" he giggled eagerly, two pudgy hands patting Cal on the back, "Saa... saary!"
You know, if you said that right, it sounded a lot like 'Sorry'.
Inle-roo
Inle sighed. Busted already! But at least it hadn't come to blows. Cal had never actually been in a fight, and Inle was happy for this way out of a potential one. Although it almost looked as though the two were getting along...
"Yeah," she called back, hoisting herself up and brushing dirt off her pants, "sorry about that, I'll get him."
Cal giggled silently at the other boy's apology, though he didn't recognize it as such. He paused at the sudden shadow that was cast over himself and his little friend, looking up at Inle's frowning face.
"C'mon, kid, off." As Inle bent to pick him up, Cal panicked and scrabbled over the lip of the sandbox, crawling across Karma's lap in order to hide behind him. Save me from the big crazy person! the gesture seemed to say.
"Yeah," she called back, hoisting herself up and brushing dirt off her pants, "sorry about that, I'll get him."
Cal giggled silently at the other boy's apology, though he didn't recognize it as such. He paused at the sudden shadow that was cast over himself and his little friend, looking up at Inle's frowning face.
"C'mon, kid, off." As Inle bent to pick him up, Cal panicked and scrabbled over the lip of the sandbox, crawling across Karma's lap in order to hide behind him. Save me from the big crazy person! the gesture seemed to say.
Baniru
Karma squirmed uncomfortably as Cal scrambled behind him, and just when he had enough pushing and shoving and bad feelings, there was a giant leg in his line of sight.
Crossly the toddler began to smack with two pudgy fists, taking out the discomfort he had just experienced onto Inle's shin with baby growls.
This would teach... whatever it was to stop doing whatever he thought it was doing to him!
Baniru groaned when she dared to look over. Greeeeaaaat... now of all places he did this. She'd have to start making the time outs stricter, or at least teach him without hearing the word 'NO' screamed five times each sentence.
"I guess I'm the one that owes you an apology," she called, getting up and walking over to try and drag Karma off and away before he actually hurt the woman and her child.
Crossly the toddler began to smack with two pudgy fists, taking out the discomfort he had just experienced onto Inle's shin with baby growls.
This would teach... whatever it was to stop doing whatever he thought it was doing to him!
Baniru groaned when she dared to look over. Greeeeaaaat... now of all places he did this. She'd have to start making the time outs stricter, or at least teach him without hearing the word 'NO' screamed five times each sentence.
"I guess I'm the one that owes you an apology," she called, getting up and walking over to try and drag Karma off and away before he actually hurt the woman and her child.
Inle-roo
Inle and Cal bore twin looks of bemused confusion as Karma attacked Inle's leg. Cal's expression changed faster, into amusement, and he leaned over Karma to give Inle's leg a few flailing whacks. Inle frowned down at the pair and stepped back. Great, just what she needed, someone teaching her relatively calm child all about violence.
Hey, this was AWESOME! Cal wasn't exactly sure what he was doing, but it made the Crazy Lady go away! He made a mental note to do this more often (although he would likely forget all about it within moments). He patted his friend on the back as Inle retreated as if to say "good job!"
"Quite alright," Inle called back, "I'm used to getting beaten up by kids." Only one reason among many she hated the little brats. Her own children weren't safe from that emotion--most of the times she couldn't wait for them all to grow up and leave her in peace.
Hey, this was AWESOME! Cal wasn't exactly sure what he was doing, but it made the Crazy Lady go away! He made a mental note to do this more often (although he would likely forget all about it within moments). He patted his friend on the back as Inle retreated as if to say "good job!"
"Quite alright," Inle called back, "I'm used to getting beaten up by kids." Only one reason among many she hated the little brats. Her own children weren't safe from that emotion--most of the times she couldn't wait for them all to grow up and leave her in peace.
Baniru
"Oh," Baniru replied sheepishly, trying many times to hoist Karma up into her arms and failing, "I'm glad I just have one. My.. uh, my name is Baniru, it's a pleasure."
Karma giggled with pride before he had to wriggle and matrix his way out of his mother's grasp. Eventually he found himself smushing against Cal to try and get away.
"Maaabaan," he chortled unpleasantly, before standing on his wobbly legs with his arms stuck straight out for balance.
He tugged at Calumet a little before he began to run as quickly as any toddler could run, tripping through dandelions and pitfalls in the grass, and dropped food stuffs that seemed to be littered everywhere.
Baniru sighed in aggravation. God, she feared that Karma would grow up to blow up the universe someday. The woman didn't feel like following the boy, he wasn't going fast or far.
Karma giggled with pride before he had to wriggle and matrix his way out of his mother's grasp. Eventually he found himself smushing against Cal to try and get away.
"Maaabaan," he chortled unpleasantly, before standing on his wobbly legs with his arms stuck straight out for balance.
He tugged at Calumet a little before he began to run as quickly as any toddler could run, tripping through dandelions and pitfalls in the grass, and dropped food stuffs that seemed to be littered everywhere.
Baniru sighed in aggravation. God, she feared that Karma would grow up to blow up the universe someday. The woman didn't feel like following the boy, he wasn't going fast or far.
Inle-roo
Inle watched with not-quite-sympathetic amusement as Baniru tried to wrangle her kid upwards. "Inle, likewise."
Cal put his hands to his mouth, silently giggling behind them at Karma's resistance and cheering him on. He blinked owlishly at the tug, looking up at Inle as if asking "wtf?" before using her pants leg to hoist himself up, teetering unsteadily after his friend. Inle watched him run off, not too concerned; really she could stand to lose a kid or two. Or more. She sighed. "I'd kill to just have one. Something about Gaia attracts kids to those who want them least."
Cal put his hands to his mouth, silently giggling behind them at Karma's resistance and cheering him on. He blinked owlishly at the tug, looking up at Inle as if asking "wtf?" before using her pants leg to hoist himself up, teetering unsteadily after his friend. Inle watched him run off, not too concerned; really she could stand to lose a kid or two. Or more. She sighed. "I'd kill to just have one. Something about Gaia attracts kids to those who want them least."
Baniru
Baniru sighed and sat down on the edge of the sandbox, watching the toddlers madly scurry away into an empty grass clearing. The wind was starting to pick up- it smelled like rain, despite how sunny it seemed.
"I'm afraid that more might come to my house, or something. He's a handful as it is," she looked Inle up and down for a moment, before continuing, "How do you stay sane?"
Karma finished running when he coincidentally tripped and landed flat on his face, on a particularly squishy plot of foilage. When he managed to right himself with his pudgy little arms, there was mud plastered all across his mouth and nose.
"Blech," the toddler said accordingly, vainly trying to scrub his face off.
"I'm afraid that more might come to my house, or something. He's a handful as it is," she looked Inle up and down for a moment, before continuing, "How do you stay sane?"
Karma finished running when he coincidentally tripped and landed flat on his face, on a particularly squishy plot of foilage. When he managed to right himself with his pudgy little arms, there was mud plastered all across his mouth and nose.
"Blech," the toddler said accordingly, vainly trying to scrub his face off.
Inle-roo
"That is the way Gaia seems to work," she admitted. "Just one big baby dumping ground." Inle sighed, glancing at the toddlers and moving to sit near Baniru, looking at the other woman. "I don't," she replied with a rueful grin.
Hey, his friend was stopped! Why did his friend stop? And so messily! Cal pondered this but forgot to stop running; his mad dash was ended with a fall too, except he tripped and landed on Karma rather than the grass. Oops.
Hey, his friend was stopped! Why did his friend stop? And so messily! Cal pondered this but forgot to stop running; his mad dash was ended with a fall too, except he tripped and landed on Karma rather than the grass. Oops.
Baniru
Baniru chuckled. She doubted she could stay sane either, what with more than just one little brat desecrating her life.
Idly she wondered exactly how many kids Inle had, before the exact same thought flew from her mouth.
"How many kids do you have? Three? Four?"
Oh. If only she had known.
The clouds overhead were moving in faster now, large and dark and cold; wind was picking up in short gusts, and Baniru found that she had to repeatedly keep pushing her short hair out of her face.
It was getting darker by the moment.
Karma let out a startled noise of suprise when Cal landed on him, something that sounded inbetween a young elephant and a turtle dove. It didn't hurt, it's just that it had never happened before.
Boy, he didn't like it.
"Off!" the toddler commanded with a huff, trying to roll away. Just what was Calumet trying to do?! Squish him!? He wasn't a bug!
Idly she wondered exactly how many kids Inle had, before the exact same thought flew from her mouth.
"How many kids do you have? Three? Four?"
Oh. If only she had known.
The clouds overhead were moving in faster now, large and dark and cold; wind was picking up in short gusts, and Baniru found that she had to repeatedly keep pushing her short hair out of her face.
It was getting darker by the moment.
Karma let out a startled noise of suprise when Cal landed on him, something that sounded inbetween a young elephant and a turtle dove. It didn't hurt, it's just that it had never happened before.
Boy, he didn't like it.
"Off!" the toddler commanded with a huff, trying to roll away. Just what was Calumet trying to do?! Squish him!? He wasn't a bug!
Inle-roo
"Too many," was the immediate response. Hmm, there were...she took a moment to mentally count. "Four, I think? That I consider "kids," anyway--the rest are old enough to look after themselves. Plus various wards and other pets." It was utter hell on someone as antisocial as Inle, but she tended towards resiliency. Besides, they'd all grow up and leave her alone someday, or so she hoped. "Count your blessings." All one of them, lucky soul.
His friend made funny noises, Cal decided. Somewhat like the silly moving pictures in that box, although his friend was neither animated nor small. He didn't seem to like being landed on, either. After a moment of awkward shuffling, Cal righted himself, looking down at his friend with a faint smile. What was he doing down there? Weren't they doing something? Oh yeah, running. With a beckoning motion that clearly said, "Back to work, lazybones!" he turned and did just that.
His friend made funny noises, Cal decided. Somewhat like the silly moving pictures in that box, although his friend was neither animated nor small. He didn't seem to like being landed on, either. After a moment of awkward shuffling, Cal righted himself, looking down at his friend with a faint smile. What was he doing down there? Weren't they doing something? Oh yeah, running. With a beckoning motion that clearly said, "Back to work, lazybones!" he turned and did just that.
Baniru
"Hah... " the woman couldn't help but let out a dark chuckle, lying back on the bench, "I'm suprised you're still alive. It sounds like alot of work. Luckily I've only got one hellspawn, and that's enough for now."
Baniru looked up to the darkening sky, shifting the weight on her other shoulder, "It smells like rain soon."
Karma looked at Calumet in curiosity, glad to be rid of the extra weight. What exactly was the other toddler doing? And why did he want him to follow? With some hesitation, Karma managed to stand on two wobbly legs, stick his arms out, and follow after with a teetering gait.
Baniru looked up to the darkening sky, shifting the weight on her other shoulder, "It smells like rain soon."
Karma looked at Calumet in curiosity, glad to be rid of the extra weight. What exactly was the other toddler doing? And why did he want him to follow? With some hesitation, Karma managed to stand on two wobbly legs, stick his arms out, and follow after with a teetering gait.
Inle-roo
"It is," she admitted, "but when they grow up I can put them to work. You know, as payment for taking care of them." She was joking, really. Mostly. Her head tilted upwards, and she frowned at the gloomy-looking clouds. She couldn't smell it, but it certainly looked like rain. "Yeah," she sighed, hoping against hope that it wouldn't start raining on the way home. She started to get up, frown deepening as she found that Cal wasn't in her line of sight. "Hey, where'd the kids go?"
Cal really had no idea where he was going; he was running for the sake of running. At length he came upon a tree and contented himself by running around and around the trunk, occasionally looking to see if his friend was still behind him.
Cal really had no idea where he was going; he was running for the sake of running. At length he came upon a tree and contented himself by running around and around the trunk, occasionally looking to see if his friend was still behind him.
Baniru
Karma, being the ever smart-a**, had followed Cal around the tree for a little while; that is, until he found out that they weren't going anywhere.
After that point in groundbreaking decision, he opted to stop running, coming to a dead stop.
"Your guess is as good as mine," Baniru whistled slightly, sighing, "Guess we should find them before the rain starts."
The woman stood, stretching a bit at the notion. Where exactly did those two head off to?
Well on the bright side, nothing was completely obliterated yet. Cal must be a good influence, or some such.
After that point in groundbreaking decision, he opted to stop running, coming to a dead stop.
"Your guess is as good as mine," Baniru whistled slightly, sighing, "Guess we should find them before the rain starts."
The woman stood, stretching a bit at the notion. Where exactly did those two head off to?
Well on the bright side, nothing was completely obliterated yet. Cal must be a good influence, or some such.
... to be continued ...
