|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 8:01 pm
[reserved - christmas present]
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 8:02 pm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 8:06 pm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 8:16 pm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 1:20 am
[easy as pie]
A couple of weeks after Teyr's arrival, Bernard had invested in a simple easel. One side was a whiteboard, the other a blackboard. That day it was set up in the kitchen, next to the table. The whiteboard side was covered with a neat alphabet and numerals, carefully printed by Bernard, now slightly erased in some places. Ennea was in the process of writing the first five letters of the alphabet along the top of the blackboard. She then turned to her audience, and pointed to the first letter. "A," she stated.
"A," Zwei repeated. Even though he took this seriously- so much of what Ennea taught him was from books- he was bored. They had gone over this so many times already. "B, C, D, E." When would they get to the new stuff?
Impressed, Ennea clapped her hands three times. "Good! Write?" She offered Zwei the chalk, and watched him shakily print the letters in question on the board. He was still wobbly, but much improved. Satisfied, she held out another piece of chalk. "Teyr write?"
At first Teyr was watching attentively. Like Zwei, he considered reading a necessary skill he wanted to learn properly. But perhaps the choice of the classroom was not the best, as his attention kept flickering to the counter. Dinner was already set up there- Bernard had bought a pan full of lasagna, a loaf of bread, and a cherry pie from the local market. All of it looked delicious, but Teyr was giving special attention to the pie. It looked so red and shiny and he just wanted one bite-
It didn't take long for Ennea to see that something was off. "Teyr?" she repeated, more sharply. "Write? Teyr!"
Teyr tore his eyes off the pie and looked at Ennea quickly. "Sorrysorrysorry!" he twittered. "What?"
"Write? Please?" Ennea was rarely impatient, but her tone came across as such. Rather, she was concerned. Was she teaching properly? Neither of the boys seemed all that interested. Bernard had done such a good job keeping her interested... but no, she couldn't ask for help. He'd made it clear that these two were her responsibility, and she would do right by them.
Sensing Ennea's unease, Zwei glared at Teyr. Why was he making her upset? "Write," he repeated. Maybe then they would learn something new.
It seemed that Teyr's head had become a blur, it nodded so fast. Quickly he ran up to the board and slowly, painstakingly, began to copy the letters. It took him longer, but his were also somewhat neater than Zwei's.
The lesson continued on that way for a while, with Zwei quickly assimilating everything, and Teyr constantly being distracted by the food. When they were finally at the last six letters, Ennea was relieved. They seemed to be understanding, for all the trouble it was.
Teyr stared at the board. This time he was asked to go first, so he didn't even have Zwei to watch. Maybe it was punishment, but Teyr just tried to push through. U wasn't that hard, just a curve. And V was a pointy U. W was a bit harder though, and again Teyr's eyes drifted towards the pie...
"Still busy?" Bernard set a pile of books down on the kitchen counter and peered at the blackboard. "Good work," he said gruffly. "We'll hold off on dinner until you're done with the lesson."
Even though Bernard spoke quickly, Teyr caught the meaning, and gasped. Dinner would be even LATER? He couldn't let that happen! His focus took grip, and he raced through the last four letters. They weren't as neat as his standard, but he didn't even look at them before pulling himself into his chair at the kitchen table.
Ennea was stunned. "Good, good!" she exclaimed. "Zwei write?"
But now it was Zwei's turn to be distracted. How had Teyr done that so fast? Was he just pretending to write slowly? It didn't make sense. But either way, Zwei could not let Teyr beat him. Just as quickly, he chalked the last letters on the board and was slithering into his seat before Bernard could even get the plates out.
Ecstatic, Ennea applauded. "Good, good, good!" She was so proud of them for getting it! But what made the difference? Smiling, but confused, she looked at Bernard.
Bernard winked as he cut the lasagna. "Sometimes, my dear, you have to find the right incentive."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 1:28 am
[of motors and motives]
Bernard North was not a man one could call "up on technology." To him, advanced meant charging an enemy, and technology consisted of radio towers and assembly lines. Upon moving to Gaia, however, one of his housewarming gifts was a small television. Bernard kept it in the kitchen, which had become the equivalent of a family room. Today, however, it was off while he penned a letter.
Bernard's Letter
Dear Annika,
Although this letter is quite late in coming, I assure you the contents have been felt for some time. However, my situation here has become complicated, and
As Bernard was writing, Zwei slipped into the kitchen. Ennea had engaged them in a game of Hide and Seek, and it was his turn to seek. His little experience had taught him to first check for Teyr in the kitchen, probably in the refrigerator.
As he ran his hands over the counters looking for flesh, he knocked a small device to the ground. Immediately, the box on the table lit up with images- a man and a woman talking about a new brand of tomato juice. Or, what Zwei saw, a tiny man and a woman stuck in a box.
Although Bernard was aware of Zwei's presence from the start, he only set his pen down when the television came on. "I'm afraid Teyr hasn't come in here, Zwei." Although, in truth, he was rather relieved. Teyr appeared to have an unnatural fixation with food. He tried to resume his letter, but paused when he noticed Zwei staring at the TV, and laughed. "That's just a television. A TV. Here, watch." He pushed a button on the remote, and the picture changed to a scenic beach, with a monotonous voice droning on in the background.
Zwei's eyes widened, and he didn't move an inch. The game was completely forgotten in favor of this new toy. How did it work? How did the people get in there? "How?" Zwei asked, his tongue almost tripping over the word.
"Like this." Quickly demonstrating the way to switch channels, Bernard dropped the remote into Zwei's outstretched hands. "Try it yourself, so long as you don't break anything." With that, he returned to his letter.
As soon as he had the remote in his hands, Zwei pushed the buttons rapidly, switching from channel to channel in an eyeblink. Soon he tired of that, and began actually studying what was on each channel before changing it.
Bernard's Letter
Dear Annika,
Although this letter is quite late in coming, I assure you the contents have been felt for some time. However, my situation here has become complicated, and I am having some difficulty adjusting. At this point, to be quite frank, I feel I am a bit out of my league.
I'm sure you recall my letter some months ago, regarding the strange person found in my backyard. Although I am disappointed that you were unable to visit for Thanksgiving holidays, your gift to Ennea was most appreciated. While she is still shy and does not handle stress well, she is now able to go among other people with less worry about her appearance.
However, the matter of stress is still vital, as I have been shown. During an attempt to find out more about the sort of person she is, I sent her to a research facility of some type. I know now that I should have gone with her, but then I did not. Not only did these people not provide helpful information, the research they are doing involves small children, and placing them in homes with unsuspecting adults. As you may guess, they sent Ennea home with one of these children. With little choice in the matter, legal documents being what they are, we have accepted him into our home.
However, the news does not end there. Two weeks after that day we went to find out more about this facility. However, Zwei (the child) wandered off, and by the time I located him, they somehow managed to saddle Ennea with another child. Perhaps wisely, we have not returned to that building since.
Free to do what he liked, Zwei lazily flipped through the different channels. Most- like the ones with people talking, or just scenery- were boring. Some had brighter lights and more action, but Zwei couldn't really understand what they were saying, and it wasn't long before he kept going. Then, suddenly, he hit something he could almost understand.
'We have to do it, Jack! We have to work together!'
Zwei watched in amazement as the people on screen pulled devices out of their pockets. In a flash of blinding light, they changed from being normal people to being dressed in tight-fitting outfits in different, bold colors, all wearing capes. "Super Sparkle Rangers!" they shouted, racing off to fight some sort of monster.
Now this... this was interesting.
Somewhat boredly, Teyr wandered into the room. He'd been hiding in his closet for the past half hour, and was tired and confused and hungry. Mostly hungry. When he saw Zwei he recoiled, but then he saw the television. Entranced, he sat down next to Zwei. "What?"
"Shhhh," Zwei hissed, not taking his eyes off the screen. He needed to see what happened next!
Bernard's Letter
The children are both boys. I have impressed it on both them and Ennea that she is their mother, and that while she is not able to do everything that a mother should be able to, she is to try her best. I have furthermore impressed it on them that I am not their father. Not only would that look disgraceful, I am not sure I have the strength of will to go through that again.
The younger of the two boys, who we have taken to calling Teyr, seems to be relatively normal for a child his age. He is curious and struggles to keep up with his elder brother. He eats a lot- more than one would think is necessary, which makes me wonder how normal he is. But I must remind myself that he is a growing boy. My one concern is that he seems to constantly apologize, but I assume that he picked this habit up from Ennea, and that he will grow out of it in time. Aside from these points- and his unusual eyes, and the wings that sprout from his hips- he appears to we a reasonably well-adjusted child.
The elder of the two, who I have named Zwei, is a very odd child. I do not mean this only in appearance, though that is odd enough. His body resembles that of a Naga, yet there are pieces of metal seeminly mounted to it. But it is more than that. His demeanor is altogether too serious for one so young. He fixates on the rules, and attempts to punish anyone- himself included- for breaking them. I have never met such a perfectionist child.
"Go go Sparkle!" Zwei yelled, waking Bernard from his thoughts. He was up on the tip of his tail and brandishing a butter knife at the television. "Go go hero!"
"Go go," Teyr parroted, holding a soup spoon in each hand. There was a jar of jelly next to him, sans lid, and one of the spoons was covered in purple goo. The other was pointed at the television.
Bernard had to lunge forward on his bad knee to prevent Zwei from impaling the television with his knife. "No," he said sternly. "Understand, Zwei, that what you're watching is just a picture. Like in your books. You cannot influence the action from this end." He sighed. "At the very least, you cannot try to break anything. That was a rule. Do you understand?
"Yes," Zwei said quietly, letting the knife fall to the floor. He hadn't meant to break a rule. He wasn't even sure what rule he was breaking, but he knew that he had to be more careful. Icosa wouldn't like it if the Sparkle Rangers were distracted.
"Yes," Teyr echoed, and quickly added a follow up question. "What's hero?"
Smiling in spite of his annoyance, Bernard lurched to his feet, wincing as his bad leg shook with his weight. "A hero is someone who helps people. I believe what you are watching is about superheroes, however. A superhero is a kind of hero that fights bad people in order to save a large number of innocent people."
"Superhero," Zwei repeated, his eyes wide. That meant they were even better than a normal hero, didn't it?
"Yes. Now, you can watch, but do not break anything. Understand?" Satisfied as the boys nodded, he left them to their television and went back to finish his letter.
Bernard's Letter
Then again, Annika, I suppose that boys will be boys no matter what they are like. Isn't that right?
In any event, I sincerely thank you for your gifts this holiday. Whenever you have time, I would enjoy it if you could come visit and meet the people I find myself sharing my life with these days. It seems that fate has provided support for my time of need, before I even knew I needed it. However, I suggest fate take a good look and make sure it did not goof.
Please give my best to your wonderful husband and children, and next time, I promise it is I who will do the visiting. As always, my love to you, to Mother, and the rest.
Your faithful brother,
Bernard
As Bernard folded the letter, he glanced up at the television. The show had ended, but Zwei and Teyr were busy enacting their favorite parts. Bernard considered this, and then set the letter aside. The post could wait. Now, he needed to see this small act, and what it showed the future holding for all of them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 8:44 am
It would be on a Saturday that you open your mail box (if you have one) and notice there is a rather thick envelope stuffed in there. There is no postage stamp and a very vague return address. But you recognize the font and the company's name. 'Seven of Seven Inc' scrawled in majestic font across the upper left hand corner. As you open it, you may strangely find yourself drawn to the letter, there is a mass of notes inside. They read as follows:
Letter Congratulations! You have managed to succeed in raising your child. (IE: Not killing him or her or getting killed yourself. Haha we kid of course.) We would like an update from you on the following: Guardians Name: Child's Name: Sin: Virtue: Gender: Current Attitude: Likes: Dislikes: Any abnormal growths: (if any, example: Feathers molting, horns growing larger, scars ) Current hair style: Current clothing preferences: Dominant celestial trait: (The sin or virtue) Please summarize in your own words how difficult or easy it was taking care of your child. Did you manage to care for them in a kindly fashion? Or were you forced to discipline them? As well do not be alarmed if you suddenly find your child achieving a massive growth spurt in the next little while. We are finding that the children from our facility have strange growing patterns and are rather unpredictable. Although please let us know if anything unexpected occurs. Sincerely the technicians from Seven of Seven Inc. Ps. Please just leave your letter back in your mail box one you have completed it our courier will pick it up. Thank you.
You would notice the letter seems overly friendly...strange since the scientist were so ...cold before.
(Just take the from Guardians name to Dominant Celestial trait and pm it to the mule, the summarization doesn't have to be long just have fun with it.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 3:44 pm
It would be on a Saturday that you open your mail box (if you have one) and notice there is a rather thick envelope stuffed in there. There is no postage stamp and a very vague return address. But you recognize the font and the company's name. 'Seven of Seven Inc' scrawled in majestic font across the upper left hand corner. As you open it, you may strangely find yourself drawn to the letter, there is a mass of notes inside. They read as follows:
Congratulations! You have managed to succeed in raising your child. (IE: Not killing him or her or getting killed yourself. Haha we kid of course.) We would like an update from you on the following:
Guardians Name:
Child's Name:
Sin:
Virtue:
Gender:
Current Attitude:
Likes:
Dislikes:
Any abnormal growths: (if any, example: Feathers molting, horns growing larger, scars )
Current hair style:
Current clothing preferences:
Dominant celestial trait: (The sin or virtue)
Please summarize in your own words how difficult or easy it was taking care of your child. Did you manage to care for them in a kindly fashion? Or were you forced to discipline them?
As well do not be alarmed if you suddenly find your child achieving a massive growth spurt in the next little while. We are finding that the children from our facility have strange growing patterns and are rather unpredictable. Although please let us know if anything unexpected occurs.
Sincerely the technicians from Seven of Seven Inc.
Ps. Please just leave your letter back in your mail box one you have completed it our courier will pick it up.
Thank you.
You would notice the letter seems overly friendly...strange since the scientist were so ...cold before.
(Just take the from Guardians name to Dominant Celestial trait and pm it to the mule, the summarization doesn't have to be long just have fun with it.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 1:52 am
[short notice]
Bernard dropped a thick stack of mail on the kitchen table, then eased himself into a chair. It was one of those wet days that made his bones ache even more, but someone had to go out and get dinner. Still, he was exhausted.
"Ennea, clean the boys up for dinner!" he called. There was a loud noise from upstairs, as if someone had dropped something heavy, followed by silence. After a few seconds he could hear movement again. There was no way to tell if they were listening, but Bernard was too tired to go and enforce the rules.
Instead, he sorted through the mail. Most of it was catalogs from companies that refused to leave him alone, despite the fact that he had no interest in pet grooming supplies, women's shoes, CD clubs, cookbooks, or pajamas. And he had no idea why he was even getting most of these catalogs. Sighing, he put a catalog advertising magazine subscriptions (as if he needed more mail) aside, revealing a large envelope. Oddly, there was no postage mark oh it, and the only address was "Durem." Bernard almost discarded it, until he saw the name of the sender- Seven of Seven Inc.
"The nerve," Bernard muttered, ripping the envelope open. Inside was a form letter, as well as a blank form of some kind, a return envelope with no postage, and a couple of other notes. "'Congratulations,'" Bernard read, "'You have managed to succeed in raising your child. IE-'" He paused, and reread the last line. "What is that supposed to mean?" Quickly he scanned the rest of the form. Most of it looked fairly standard, if they wanted an update on the condition of the kids. But there were some things that confused him. Sin and Virtue, for example, as well as 'Dominant Celestial Trait,' whatever that was.
As Bernard was puzzling over these enigmatic terms, Ennea rushed downstairs breathlessly. "Washing up," she stated. "Dinner now?"
"In a moment. Ennea, please go to my room and get me the folder in the top drawer of my desk." Bernard gave the instructions slowly and enunciated each word to make sure she would understand. "They're the papers we got from that company the boys came from. Bring them to me quickly."
At the mere mention of that place, Ennea paled noticeably, turning her complexion from cream to chalk. That place was horrible, even if the boys weren't. But she was bound to do what Bernard asked, so she ran back upstairs quickly, retrieving the folder as quickly as possible. "Here," she said, depositing it on the table. "Go now?"
Even though he knew it would upset her, Bernard shook his head. "I'd like you to stay while I read through this. Remember, you are their parent, not me. I will help you with the writing, but they are your responsibility."
Gulping, Ennea nodded miserably. She didn't mind being a mother; in truth, she was still learning what it meant. But when Bernard started talking about responsibility, it usually meant he was angry with her, and she hated that.
Bernard was in fact angry, but not with her. The cryptic company was to blame, and while he was too furious to properly read the papers accompanying the boys when they arrived, he would now.
A few minutes later, he put them down, removed his glasses, and rubbed the sides of his nose. 'Angels and demons," Bernard mumbled. It sounded crazy to him, and he considered himself an open-minded individual. But it was right there, in writing. A company based on creating demonic-angelic hybrids. How did they even manage to exist?
And yet, it explained more than it didn't. Zwei, for example. While he didn't seem particularly despairing, he had an unusual obsession with rules. That had to be Justice, didn't it? And from the little information they had on Zwei's biological parents, who were apparently very special within their races, he seemed to be quite like them.
When Bernard's thoughts moved on to Teyr, though, he was convinced. It all fit perfectly. Teyr's desire for food, almost constantly, regardless of when he had last eaten. His repeated apologies, even when he had done nothing wrong. He was both of his parents, down to a T. There was more information provided for the angel of Humility and demon of Gluttony- but Bernard had read enough. He closed the folder with a sigh.
"Ennea, set the table, please. We'll discuss this after dinner."
Eager to change the subject, Ennea jumped up. "Yes!" Then, as an afterthought, she looked anxiously at Bernard. "Icosa's okay, yes?"
"Yes," Bernard replied automatically. When he realized what he had done, he looked up at her, and smiled slightly. "Thank you for asking. Yes, I'm fine. We're all fine. Things are just... different than I had expected. But now that I know what to expect, I think we'll be alright."
Bernard didn't know it yet, but those would one day be added to his collection of famous last words.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 12:29 am
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 12:30 am
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 12:32 am
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 12:35 am
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 12:37 am
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 12:44 am
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
