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 Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 1:27 am
"Who wouldnae want you around? You seem pleasant enough comapny," Anson told him, reaching over to ruffle the boy's hair.
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Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 1:39 am
"Everyone." The alter shrugged, clearly not upset by that fact. He just didn't like people not wanting to learn. "I'm often thrown out of shops, sometimes slapped by females, and sometimes men look like they'd like to hurt me. I think perhaps I have an aura about me that makes certain people unhappy." That was the only way to explain it. He hadn't done anything wrong. He's touched a few women's dresses, just to see what fabric the clothes were made of -- he was called a "perv". He picked up jewelry on sale and carried it out of one store so he could compare it with something from a neighboring shop -- he was called a "thief". He told a man his wife's figure resembled that of a man's -- he was called a long list of names, most he'd never heard before in his life. What was wrong with any of that? Things like that upset people, and he didn't understand.
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Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 1:41 am
"Maybe it's just your lack o' social skills an' common sense," Anson suggested, not trying to insult the boy. "I take it you grew up a little sheltered, eh?"
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Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 1:54 am
Lauss nodded, not offended in the least. It was rather hard to upset the boy, after all. "I was only able to speak to Miss Lee for most of my life, and I was only allowed outside a few times. Most were to come here to visit Faolan and Miss Ellandra. There were other servants in the house, but most weren't interested in speaking with someone like me." With an essentic. With a floating dragon thing. And he wasn't bothered by it, either. It was what it was. He took a sip of his lemonade, making a face at how sweet it was and setting it down. Did they have anything more bitter? Black coffee would be good. Even water would do better than this. Too much sugar.
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Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 1:59 am
"I think you just need t' get out more around th' people, but also t' be more aware o' what you're sayin' an' doin'," Anson observed. "Maybe you should sit in with some o' th' little ones in their classes at th' school an' th' daycare. Gi' you a chance t' see where they are education-wise an' also gi' you an excuse t' be hangin' around an' listenin' in on their lessons about how t' act right in public."
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Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 2:15 am
"What do children learn at their age? Their minds haven't developed enough to preform simple calculations or reasoning." What could they possibly be teaching them? "I'll go, though. It would be interesting to study the habits of small children. I haven't met many, you know." He knew teenagers, adults, and babies, but he hadn't ever spent a significant amount of time with a child or toddler.
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Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 2:18 am
"Actually, children are pretty good at reasonin' if you gi' 'em a chance. While their minds is developin' is th' perfect time t' start teachin' 'em," Anson said, smiling. "I think it'll do you an' th' wean both some good t' spend time together."
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Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 2:29 am
Lauss nodded, a bit excited now. "May I meet a child first? So I know what I'll be interacting with?" He knew what they looked like, but that was about it. Were children smart? Nice? Were they like babies and simply spending all of their time with eating, sleeping, and cellular reproduction?
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Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 2:32 am
Anson blinked a little, the laughed. "Sure you can, lad." He got up, picking up their glasses to set in the sink. "Let's gae o'er t' th' daycare an' see if w' can find you a few new little friends."
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Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 2:40 am
Lauss' eyes lit up, and he stood from his seat, grinning at the man. "Do you know many children?" He was curious how Anson would know so many young ones and Lauss wouldn't. Then again, Lauss didn't have daughters, nor did he have a job that had him going out and talking to people.
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Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 2:43 am
"I get enough o' them o'er t' me place thanks t' me kids," Anson told him, ushering Lauss out the door and shutting it behind them. "Come along, lad."
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Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 2:52 am
Lauss hopped alongside of Anson, smiling with a giddy anticipation. He suddenly remembered something, rushing back to the front of the house for a moment and picking up one of the flowers, dirt and roots still hanging freely from the bottom, and he hurried back to Anson's side, intending to drop off the flower on their way. "You have kids aside from Rory, then? I don't remember meeting them..." He blinked, looking down at the pansy in his hands as he wondered once more what they were like.
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Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 3:02 am
Anson had paused when Lauss went back then followed him a bit. He took the flower from the boy and put it in a pot for him to carry it around in. "I hae three daughters. One o' them's older'n Rory an' th' other two are younger'n him. We'll hae you come o'er fae dinner some night. You can at least meet Kendra and Sally since they still live wi' us. Annie doesnae come o'er as much anymore. She keeps herself busy wi' her own children an' her husband. It's th' way o' it."
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Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 3:11 am
Lauss nodded, taking mental notes that Anson had four children, two daughters who lived with him, Kendra and Sally, and a third that sounded very much like Ellandra. In fact, when imagining the woman, he basically imaged Ellandra with black hair and brown eyes. "I'd like to meet them. Perhaps they might not mind me helping them study." He smiled at the thought before stopping in front of the Grady cottage. "I'll be just a moment, sir," he explained as he walked up to the house and knocked softly at the door. He was expecting Ziazan or Faolan or Ellandra, figuring Rhian was locked away somewhere he could never see her. He figured Faolan wouldn't be working, either, if Anson had time off to escort him around the camps.
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Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 3:15 am
"Well, Annie's already graduated, but th' other two would appreciate it, sure," Anson said, waiting with Lauss at the Grady home.
Eventually a very sleepy Faolan answered the door. "Lauss? What's wrong?" He noted the potted plant and arched a brow. "Tha' fae Rhian, eh?"
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