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 Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 3:53 pm
Tan Pan laughed again at that, a little less constricted than before. "I didn't think you were. And go ahead. We actually did come in here for shopping as well." she explained, indicating Shai, who was already hugging a rather large stuffed spandex frog he'd found.
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Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 4:00 pm
"Ah," Henri said and went around, gathering what he needed before plucking Izzy from the ground and leading the other family to Crescent Point. There was a boat docked beside the rocks, and the lighthouse didn't seem to be own. Henri's little house was visible, though.
The boat was white with a long teal streak on either side and appeared to be electric, like the canopied boats businesses give tours on. The canopy itself was too worn to know what shade of blue it may have been in the past.
"Alright, everyone. Go on in!"
Izzy giggled and rumbled into the boat. She stumbled, and when she stood, her hands left strange wet circles that quickly dissolved. Sweat? Perhaps. She went and sat on one of the benches risen from the boat.
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Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 4:08 pm
Tan Pan's sister had opted out of tagging along - Karyn was hitching a bus back to town before the rest of them as she had some work to finish up, and Rin Kin was going along as she had a date that evening to get ready for. That left the former redhead with her children to go on the boat ride - though, they'd been the only ones invited anyway.
The twins chose to hold their mother's hands nervously once more as they got on the boat. Neither of them had ever seen a boat, let alone been on one, so they were a little bewildered at first. SuSu, however, immediately climbed on and went to sit with Izzy, grinning about happily.
"What a pretty boat!" the girl exclaimed. "This is gonna be so much fun!"
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Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 4:12 pm
Izzy nodded and then curled up, laying her head and torso in Susu's lap. She liked having friends!
"You can sit down anywhere," Henri offered, getting on himself and unhitching the boat from its post. It seemed to just float there, unmoving. He then went to the front of the oat and sat at the wheel. He waited, though, for everyone to sit down. He wouldn't want to scare those boys any more than he had to.
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Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 4:17 pm
Tan Pan took a seat a little further towards the front, but not so far that she couldn't easily monitor out of the corner of her eye how SuSu was doing. The boys, now seated a little more firmly, took hold of the benches instead of their mother, and took to looking around a bit. Shaking her head, she smiled that light smile once again - this was way more frequent than usual, another indicator of today being a good day.
Asuka Suli smiled lightly and pat Izzy's head. The other girl was nice and she didn't object to being hugged and laid upon and whatnot. SuSu always had been affectionate.
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Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 4:20 pm
Izzy smiled and giggled and rolled to her back to look up at Susu. Yay! Friend!
The engine started then, and instead of jerking to a start, the boat crept forward slowly, accelerating at a lethargic pace. It was not an especially loud boat, or an especially powerful one, but it was good for little sea-exploration. Henri brought the boat out a ways and the dropped the anchor. The boat floated contentedly and the man pushed back a piece of the canopy so he could sit in the sun, and he did. Beside Tan Pan. He just sat and smiled at her, not sure what to say.
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Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 4:29 pm
Tan Pan was a bit unsure as to how to start conversation but knew she probably should. Finally, she settled upon a topic.
"I hate to ask but is Isabella your biological daughter or...? Sorry, for asking. I don't mean any offense by it, I was just curious." she asked shyly before quickly explaining herself.
At this point, Kyon and Shai had gone over to opposite sides to carefully poke their small heads over the edge of the boat and stare out at the water. Neither wanted to fall out of the boat, so they didn't get up very far, but it was okay to be curious.
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Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 4:31 pm
"No," Henri said with a small smile, "She's an adopted child from a business called D-Corp. She's a human with Chiton Magnificus DNA infused into her somehow. I figured it was a very nice couple, her and I, considering where I live."
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Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 4:36 pm
"oh! That sounds exciting. I've heard of that business a few times but haven't really ever had any contact with them or the children from there. She seems like quite a sweet child, though." the woman commented softly.
Tan Pan had heard of many adoption agencies all over but had yet to really be approached by any of them. She was, in a way, thankful, because she knew she'd be unable to say no and then where would she be?
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Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 4:37 pm
Henri nodded.
"I'm sure they don't want to burden you with another chil...especially from D-Corp. They come with dragons, you know. Real ones. Real, big ones."
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Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 4:40 pm
"Oh. Well that does sound like a bit of a hassle..." she commented softly, "though it would be sad to see little ones with no homes or families to call their own. I'd like to take them all in if I could...but they need homes that can care for them..."
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Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 4:55 pm
Henri smiled and placed a hand on Tan Pan's knee. It was more of a reassuring gesture than an affectionate one.
"I haven't had Izzy for long, and I already know what it's like to be a single parent. I can't imagine having three of them. If you ever need anything, I live right up there." He pointed to the lighthouse, still stark white and black against the horizon.
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Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 5:07 pm
Tan Pan laughed again, not feeling at all perturbed by his hand. Usually, she would have, but he didn't seem the type who'd be putting the moves on her - not that she felt really like anyone would want to put the moves on someone like her anyway.
"I've been at this for five years, so I've gotten used to it by now, but thanks." she said, smiling warmly at him once more. This one seemed strangely brighter than her previous smiles.
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Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 5:08 pm
Henri removed his hand. Such a brave woman!
"How old are they?"
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Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 5:10 pm
"Asuka is seven and the boys are almost five." she answered with a quiet nod, glancing quickly around at her children to make sure they were all behaving. When they were quietest that could be a good or bad sign.
At present, SuSu was quietly humming and sitting with Izzy still. The boys had settled onto the same side of the boat and were watching the sunset.
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