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 Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 7:24 pm
((Oct 4, 2005))
It probabely looked a little funny... the woman carrying an egg so big that it didn't seem she would be able to lift him. Most of the people walking seemed to think so, but Zero was much too busy trying to shift some weight to her back in order not to fall on her face (...and create egg omelete) to notice any odd glances.
Part of what might have made Karma decide to give her this one was very obivious. He was not so heavy to her, moreso that the weight completely threw her off-balance.
Ah, the wonder of robotics.
Still mentally cursing of deciding to go for a WALK when Karma rang up her cellphone instead of taking her motorcycle, or well, even the car, Zero finally managed herself into the house, managing to land the egg on the nearest couch instead of letting up tumble on the floor.
Whoa, nice save.
The sound attracted a curious, however, and just as Zero managed to her back on her feet, her brother was tumbeling down the stairs.
"What took you so lo-What the HECK is this ?!"
"An egg, genius."
"It's ******** HUGE !"
"Tell me when you're done stating the obivious." The woman trailed off a bit, stretching.
"Whatever. Explaination ?"
"Well, I got a phonecall earlier, from Karma... she's a long friend of mine." She shrugged, slipping beside the egg to sit. "Turn out she found a breech in a wall that opens to another dimention. ...I told you this place was wierd, get used to it." She tried to ignore the fact Wren's eyes became as big as pool balls, and instead continuing. "...From what I understood, the people of that world are dying in some way and another, and are sending their children trough the breech in the wall in order to allow them to survive. She said they where people like animals, you know... like antros. Of course, Karma can't take care of them all..."
"And that's the tale of how you wound up with yet another kid to care for ? Not much can be done now, so... What he is, exactly ? That egg is way too freaking huge to be normal."
"...Well, yes..." Shifty look, cough... "...Adinosaur."
Pause.
"...A WHAT ?!?"
"You heard me just fine."
"But, dinosaurs are instinct ! Are you sure this isn't some kinda joke ?!?"
"Look, Karma wouldn't joke with something like that. And in that world, they weren't... but now they are." She sighed. "...She told me that a note came with him, saying he was the last. And male."
"You're still crazy. A freaking DINOSAUR, Siren !"
"I've seen wierder. Ill manage."
"Do you even KNOW how to take care of an egg, for starters ?"
...
"...Oops."
"Wonderful." He sighed. "...Well, eggs need warmth... So I guess you're gonna have to hatch him."
...
Zero gave her younger brother the GLARE FROM HELL, as he visibely imagined the whole and started laughing.
"What ?! It's perfectly logical that it would happen, you're his mommy after all !" Snickersnort.
"You. get out of my FACE. Before I KILL YOU." The elder reploid looked none-pleased, Wren scampering back up the stairs before Zero could find anything heavy (...excluding the egg) to throw at him, still laughing his a** off.
She sighed, gentely replacing the feather necklace that had came sightly loose from it's landing on the couch, running a blue finger across the egg's shell. Now that she was home, she could think on how to handle this.
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Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 7:26 pm
((Oct 6, 2005))
As the moon slowly replaced the sun in the sky, the house was perfectly quiet.
Well, until a certain male robot started laughing his a** off.
"OH GOD. Siren, I wasn't SERIOUS..."
Zero unfurled rom the egg just enough to peer up a bit indigantly, revealing a bit of the heating blanket that was stuck underneath. "It wouldn't stay on. It kept sliding off."
Gigglesnort. "That's why they invented tape."
Snarl. "I am NOT putting TAPE on this egg."
"Okay, okay... Seesh. You look silly tho. I guess you're graduating to full-on mother, uh ?"
"And you're the main male influence, "daddy", so I wouldn't be too quick to laugh if I was you..."
Zero was very pleased with the shade of crimson that her brother's face turned, curling back again for a quick nap.
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Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 7:26 pm
((Oct 6, 2005))
However, it was not too long after that Zero was awoken by... a sound ?
A crack...
Tensing, she sat on the bed and removed the heating blanket, running her fingers over the tiny crack that had formed on the smooth eggshell. What was she supposed to do ? Break the shell ?
...No... She had to let nature work on it's own. She decided that she would simpely watch, unless the infant's life became in danger somehow.
At first the crack was barely visible... but slowly, very slowly, the infant within worked his way out, and Zero lost track of time. The next she knew, it was one hour later than when she had last checked the large blue LCD numbers of her alarm clock.
The egg finally came undone, and out came a wet infant, right into her awaiting arms. He was about the size of an human baby... but it was impossible to miss the fact that he was a dinosaur. Impossible.
And then, he screamed. It wasn't an ordinary scream, wasn't the simple reflex of an infant drawing his first breath. It was deep and pratically heartwrenching, and Zero could not help but wince.
It was as if he knew that he... had lost everything.
Her first reflex was to warp him into one bedsheet to dry him, then pull him as close as possible. The screaming didn't stop... but then, could she really ask him to stop, as painful as it was to hear ?
No. She couldn't.
"Ronen." She whispered, not sure where the name came from, but accepting it nonetheless. "Ronen Cian, the ancient song... You might be the last, but you will never be completely alone. Remember this."
The screaming and the sobs continued for a few more minutes, Zero remaining completely still, hugging him the closest she was able without hurting him. She listened in sillence was almost seemed like a countless voices screaming out a pain that had built up for centuries.
Finally, the scream became softer and softer until none was left, and Ronen was fast asleep, spent from both the hatching and the screaming.
"...My poor dear..." She gentely kissed his forehead and knew that even if there was a free room for him, he was not going to see it tonight. She could not bring herself to leave him all alone... not tonight.
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Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 7:27 pm
((Oct 9, 2005))
"...What do dinosaurs eat ?!?"
There had been the main worry for a bit. Ronen had seemed to... somewhat calm down from the events following his brith, the baby stegosaurus carefully warped in a red blanket and held in Zero's arms. The reploid at least knew that reptiles where cold-blooded and thus kept him as warm as possible in order for him not to get cold.
Ronen was mostly calm, but well... had his moments. Expecially when he was hungry. Then he could probabely deafen a whole room.
And right now, he was hungry. And visibely had his preference set on something other than milk.
As for Zero ?
"WREEEEEENNNNNNNNN !!!!!'
...Panic.
The newly-evolved armature peered down the stairs. "Zero ?"
"What does stegosoruses eat ?!?"
Ronen stopped screaming for a moment of bliss as the fandangle looked it up.
"Stegosauruses are herbivores."
"...Herbivores." Zero looked down at the little blue boy, who was very happily muching on the leaves of a celery stick that Zero had taken out of the fridge to make spaghetti sauce prior to the panic.
Sweatdrop.
"...Guess it's time for a garden."
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Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 7:29 pm
((Oct 16, 05))
Dear Diary -
I figure it would make sence to write things into a book... as I have done for most of my children so far.
Ronen is an angel... thanksfully, because heaven know that when this boy starts screaming... It either deafen you or attempt to wring your heart out. Im serious. Im never going to forget the scream he let out when he was born...
I wonder if it means that he... allready know. That I won't have to explain to him that there is no one like him left... in his home world, or even in this one.
It might sound cowardly... But im scared of how he would take it. Ronen HATES being alone. He's yet to spend a night completely alone in his room...
Im also looking into a set of lamps for his room. Since dinosaurs are cold-blooded, he's gonna need a way to keep his temperature up...
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Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 7:30 pm
((Oct 25, 05))
Dear diary -
Ronen's still scared of being alone. Day, night, whenever, if there's not SOMEONE with him, the poor dear gets scared, I think...
He's still young, maybe he will grow out of it ? I hope not, because I won't be able to keep him in my room forever...
And it's a little ironic... some parents spend years and years trying to make their kids eat salads, and that's all he eats... Wren wasn't kidding with the herbivore thing. He loves tomatoes, probably because they're so watery and easy to chew. He makes a mess out of everything when he eats one... but god, he looks so cute. Expecially the little eyes he gives me. How am I supposed to be mad ?
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Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 7:31 pm
((Nov 5, 05))
Zero finally taking a vacation = good.
Me stuck with a dinosaur child...
...perticular.
Ronen's not a... difficult child, really, it's just that he needs some sence of familiarity or else he flips.
...And I was the familiarity left behind. Err.
If I hear one more sentence with "Shirren" and "babysitter" in it, I swear...
Discovered that Ronen + fruit juice = love. Cherry expecially. Do not deny this kid his cherry juice, less you want to go DEAF.
I guess he's just very expressive. Or take from Zero.
Im so dead when she reads this...
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Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 7:31 pm
((Nov 15, 05))
When Zero opened the door, an asleep Sei laying against her shoulder...
She didn't expect to see her brother LOOMING.
"And where WHERE you ?!?"
"Quiet." She hissed a bit, pointing at Sei with her free hand, and attempting to make her way to his room to let him down.
"Well ? You where supposed to be back at least 5 days ago !"
"So you can dissapair for years while making me think that you're dead, and I can't take 5 extra days of vacation ?" Zero's voice was icy, and it gave the boy the cue that he had to drop the god damn subject, PRONTO.
"Well, now that you're back, you might be able to dislodge him from the heatduck."
The woman carefully set the toddler down in his bed, then raised a confused eyebrow.
"Heat... duck ?"
It didn't take too much for her to figure it out, as she was lead to her room, and was faced with a dinosaur napping in a ball in front of the airduck.
"Picking him up from that spot once he's on there is a free ticket to becoming deaf. Have fun."
"Hey, when did he gr- Shirren, damnit !" But of course, he had magically dissapaired. "...Jerk."
She decided to not test if his statement was right... only checking to make sure he was curled in a way that wouldn't have him sore the next morning, and watched him for a moment, until she finally left again, to gather up the rest of her charges.
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Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 7:32 pm
((Dec 14, 05))
Damn, I space out of journals faster than you can say "holy s**t." But granted I've been very busy...
Ronen discovered a love for wax crayons, and surprisingly enough, he hasn't tried to eat them yet. Im not complaining. >_> He makes cute little masterpieces. He likes to draw dinosaurs (...duh?) and nature scenes, particulary.
My little boy is so cute. Mannn.
I've been hanging up his drawings in his room, hoping it would make it more familiar to him... And I think it's working. He almost managed to sleep the whole night alone with a nightlamp, but woke up from some kind of nightmare and came right to me.
But that's okay. Baby steps... We'll do it.
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Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 7:41 pm
Dear Diary...
Today my little boy spoke his first word !
...Shirren.
Why do I somehow feel grumpy about it ? >_> Silly brother of mine. He's definitively Ronen's daddy figure, even if he'll never admit it ! Hahaha, so cute.
I got some heating lamps installed into his room, to keep it at a better level of temperature for him, and Ronen seems to appreciate. It was pretty much his biggest christmas present... He got a ******** of coloring books as well. He likes it so much, in fact, that no one's been able to take him out of it all day... Wren's with him, I think.
...
Ohhhhh boy. I can allready see who will get to honnor to get him out of there eventually. That's right... me. Ack.
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 8:24 am
Dear Diary -
He said mommy !!! He said mommy !!!! <333
...Heh, forgive me. Ronen said mommy this morning. Im probabely more giggely and happy about it than I SHOULD be, but who cares ? He's starting to talk more and more too, moreso than the words I mentionned in the journal, and he's almost able to form complete sentences. My cute little boy is growing up.
Also, last night marked the first night Ronen was able to spend entirely alone. Im so proud of my little boy... I found that soft music helps ALOT with the nightmares he seem to have. I plan to teach him that you should never let fear stop you, and I think this is a good step in that direction.
Wow, it's almost as if im getting used of that "educate a child" thing. Haha, riiiiight...
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 12:53 pm
The door of the office building was pushed open with a soft grunt as Sajhiri shouldered her way inside. She wasn't paying overly much attention to her surroundings, as her eyes were scanning over a piece of paper in her hands. The confusion caused by the note from Karma asking her to come to this address for a 'pickup' was written all over her face, from the furrowed brow to the pursed lips.
A pale face poked in the egress after she passed, a hand adjusting a pair of spectacles balanced on a non-human nose. Saedare called after Jhiri, "Do you want me to give Rebecca her bottle, mother?"
Sajhiri blinked and turned to look at the Aduthule woman and she nodded after a moment. "Oh, yeah sure, hon. I'd appreciate that. If she starts screaming, you can put her in the stroller and head around the block. You know how she hates the truck if it's not moving."
Saedare smiled and disappeared back outside where a large silver truck was parked.
Sayuri pushed open the door with one hand, the other supporting a just-walking Aini. Sayuri stooped as she entered the Fourth Wall office, watching Aini's faltering steps.
'Almost inside, you're doing really well,' she encouraged the fennec girl, who had the tip of her little pink tongue protruding from her mouth as she concentrated.
'There!' she said, swinging Aini up in the air as they went inside proper to the large waiting area. Sayuri rested Aini on her hip, and the toddler played with the collar of Sayuri's kimono.
'Oh hello,' Sayuri nodded at the other woman there.
Another pair entered into the shop a moment later, Youko glad that at least this time he didn't have to grab Kaeru by the collar to make him stop and shuck off his coat and shoes. The boy seemed to be used to this routine by now... although he still hadn't gotten used to putting them in the right place. Instead, he left coat and shoes in a heap before springing into the main waiting area and immediately diving INTO the toybox that waited on the other side.
"BANZAIIIIIIIIII!!!" he screeched, sending plushies in a spray around the box as Youko winced and picked up the boy's shed clothing.
Somewhere within the depths of the Fourth Wall building, there was the sound of a door opening and then closing.
Karma came to the conclusion that she was getting to the point where she was, as much as she hated to say it, getting too old to pull all-nighters constantly. But the paperwork was all in order, the phone calls had been made, the eggs had all been checked, and now, she decided, she was going home to take a nap before starting all over again.
The foxcoon slunk down the hallway toward the waiting area, one ear lopped over in exhaustion and the dark rings under her eyes hidden by her mask. As she drew near, however, the sounds of voices caught her ear.
...visitors. Crap. Quickly, she veered off into the bathroom, cracking the tap and splashing her face with cold water in an effort to jolt herself awake. It worked....sort of. It was enough to bring her back to alertness, at least. Too much water, and she'd look like a drowned rat.
Pausing to towel the beads of cold water out of her fur, she headed back out to the waiting area to greet the people.
Andraste petted her belly and stared at the little otter, who was rubbing his nose in a strange manner. "I feeeel...people." He said and pushed one strand of his black hair out of his face to see better.
The mother didn't dare to mention that this feeling could be a result of seeing people enter the building, so she just kept silent.
Jacosa was wearing a funny new pocket, which was yellow and fuzzy and was much too girly for Andraste's likings. He loved it though and there were some crayons and paper inside.
They entered the building and the otter grinned. "Said people are here. HEYO !" He screamed and suddenly noticed that some of them were even familiar.
Sayuri laughed as the frog-boy did a rather interesting dive into the toybox.
'I give that an 8.6,' she joked as Aini squirmed in her arms. She turned as someone else entered and smiled.
'Andraste,' she called, and Aini squirmed to get down even more.
'Osa!!'
And, unaware of the other presents, Zero was slowly making her way torward the center on foot, with Ronen carefuly nested in his coat and on her shoulders, which probabely was a fact that no other would be able to reproduce, since, well... Ronen was not exactly a feather.
The plan was to go see Karma... to chat a bit and show her that Ronen was doing well, and then go catch a bit to eat. The reploid had spotted a vegetarian restaurant which would probably fit the dinosaur's tastes to perfection, and the loss of one meal worth of meat wouldn't kill her.
Sajhiri moved to the front desk where she signed in. Sayuri's hello made her turn in surprise. "Say?" she asked in surprise. She'd not seen Sayuri since dropping a few rambunctious gargoyles into her lap around the holidays. "You have some idea what...this...place..." her words trailed off as she lookd down at the little fox walking on it's hind legs. She was no stranger to anthros, but babies made her doubletake at their cuteness.
The Banzaii-ing Kaeru made Jhiri jump before she chuckled and looked towards Youko. "Long time, no see, my friend. Is that little fellow yours?" The addition of the otterling and Andraste made Sajhiri's brow further furrow. "I'm beginning to see a pattern here. Are all these kiddos from this place?"
Youko snickered, moving to hug Sajhiri lightly as he nodded. "Yep, the hellion in the box is mine. His name's Kaeru and yes, he came from this place. Karma brought him to me just before my birthday this past summer." He stepped back then, lifting a brow as he let a grin spread across his face. "And I'm guessing that if you're here, you're about to get one too. Congratulations!"
Sayuri finally let Aini down again as she was starting to make small whining noises, and Sayuri knew that if she didnt get her way she would dissolve into a screaming tantrum.
'Ok,' she said, as she placed her on the floor.
'Just don't n** anyone,' she scolded, as the fennec toddled towards Kaeru in the toybox, occasionally falling back with a small bump onto her furry tail.
'Yes, congratulations,' Sayuri smiled at Saj, casting glances at Aini.
At last, Karma arrived in the waiting area, smiling and doing her best to be pleasant as she scanned the people who had arrived, recognizing most but not all. Her eyes fell on the dark-haired woman whom Sayuri and Youko were speaking with and she racked her brain.
She'd made an appointment with someone today amid all of her phone calling and filing. It was fortunate they had all shown up when they had, or she likely would have forgotten about it completely and gone home to zonk out, leaving the poor lady in the lurch. Maybe investing in a planner might not be a bad idea...
Crossing the waiting area, being careful not to step on small tails, flippers, hands, and the like, she approached.
"Sajhiri?" she tried amiably. If it wasn't her, the worst she could do was fix her with a strange look and say no, after all...
Before Andraste was able to even greet somebody, Jacosa had already spotted the fennec fox and squealed. "I-Knee !" He toddled towards her quickly and almost pushed his pocket onto her nose. She so had to see and like it. "Lookit !"
Of course he had also noticed that the cool flying frog guy was there and...there was someone else as well. Someone blue. He stared at the boy for a moment.
Andraste blinked and then waved at Sayuri and Youko. She knew those two. For a moment she turned to her belly and then decided to walk towards the other grown-ups. "Hello." The woman greeted and smiled slightly. "Looks like everyone had the same idea." A chuckle escaped her lips as she saw Sajhiri. Another victim.
And it was at that moment that the blue-haired woman entered the door, and her eyes whidened a bit.
"Well, who-ah." She commented, clearly having not expected to see so many people here. Maybe it would be better to come back later, but Ronen had been looking forward to this... Beside, there seemed to have plenty of kids his age.
"Allright, down weee goooo~~" Zero ducked down, and Ronen gave a surprised yelp at first, but it quickly turned to a little giggle and squees of delight as she disloged the dinosaur boy from her shoulders and helped him take off his coat. "Stop wriggeling, cutie, or ill't take longer."
He pouted a bit, but compeled, his tail waving back and forth calmly until he finally was free, and rushed to the otter boy. "Hi !"
Sajhiri's jawdrop was Stooges-worthy in its comedic potential. Youko and Sayuri's indication that she was here to get a baby left her gobsmacked. After a moment or two she managed to shake off the shock. "You're sure? I mean...well I wouldn't mind another little one around the house. With the rest of the Menagerie all grown up, Rebecca could really use another little one to play with." She glanced out the window to make sure her biological daughter wasn't making her adopted daughter's life a living hell inside the truck. Seeing all was in order, she scanned around the room quickly filling with little ones. "Where in the world do they come from, though? Is there a part of Gaia that evolved differently? Or are they from somewhere else? They're so darling!"
At Karma's address, Sajhiri turned to the foxcoon and smiled. "Um, yes, that's me. I received a message to come here for a pickup?" She looked a little confused, but a bit excited at the prospect as well.
Youko stepped back to let Sajhiri talk to Karma on her own, the grin not fading in the slightest as he fully recognized that 'poleaxed' look. He knew it intimately, it was the same look he'd had when presented with Kaeru. Speaking of Kaeru... He turned then, eyes widening as he darted towards the boy. "NO!"
Kaeru stopped dead, mouth open as he paused in his attempt to catch a fly that was buzzing against the window. It had just been SITTING there, and obviously it didn't have a long life expectancy. "WHAT? I was just gonna taste it..."
"No eating bugs outside the house," Youko reminded him, sighing inwardly. It was bad enough he liked to gross out his sisters by munching on bugs. He didn't need to worry about what the boy was flicking up with his tongue everywhere ELSE.
Sayuri nodded, then noticed the blue haired woman and gave a small nod and a wave in her direction, chuckling at the child she had entered with. So many children! She hoped that none of them started the other's crying, she didnt think she was quite up for that level of noise.
'Hi Andraste,' she raised an eyebrow.
'Well you're looking...fuller then last time I saw you,' she said, a slightly triumphant look on her face. She had been right in her thinking that Jacosa's mother was pregnant.
Aini watched, eyes round at Kaeru.
'Yoo eats flys?' she asked, radiating awe (well as much awe as a toddler could).
'Mama say I cant eats wrigglies,' she complained, as Jacosa came over.
'Lookit wat?' she flicked her ears at the otter boy.
Karma's smile widened a notch at the response she recieved and nodded. "Yes, follow me please?" she asked, beckoning Sajhiri to come with her as she left the waiting area and headed to the left, down the hallway.
She made a mental note to herself that what she really needed to do was get some new toys for the waiting room. The kids were getting bigger every time she saw them and one toychest with a few odds and ends was not going to cut it very soon.
Jacosa huffed as Aini didn't recognise the most marvellous bag/pocket/carry-around-thing ever. He was just about to speak as the blue one came over. Was he a dog ? No...doggies had fur. A brown paw scratched the small one's head before he started to smile. "I Cosa, that I-Knee. You ?"
Quickly he opened and closed the plush pocket to show Aini how great it is and that everybody was supposed to like it. As he noticed Kaeru though, he was quite amazed. "How does taste ?"
Andraste blushed and nodded slightly. "Yes, I am..." It took her while to say the word. "Pregnant." She grinned and looked at her feet. "Jacosa will get a sibling quite soon."
"Ronen." He answered, pointing at himself, his nose wriggeling a bit at the thought of eating bugs. Bugs weren't for eating, ewwww...
He didn't comment on that, however, as he plopped sitting on the ground, and mimiced Jacosa's movement with a giggle, then peered as he worked with the pocket, visibely more than a bit interested in the sound it made.
Zero decided it was better to keep herself sillent, at least until Karma was done with the other woman, and simpely sat nearby.
Sajhiri gave Sayuri and Youko a little wave, her eyes lighting up, before she turned to follow the proprietor down the hall. The seraph wrung her hands a bit in anticipation, feeling her heart pound. "This is really interesting. I hadn't really thought about another baby, but now that I think about it, my daughter really needs another little one to play with, and I miss having a pile of youngins about. I'm happiest taking care of babies."
She smiled warmly, her eyes flitting about curiously as they passed the doors.
After last nights (almost) catastrophe with fanged women and not-babified children, Akilah had demanded to go back. His demanding consisted of screaming and screeching out 'FOOF' and 'FWINE' until Patricks ears started to bleed...so why the hell not?
Not like he had...y'know. Other kids to take care of. Or a job. heaven freaking forbid.
Still. The kid was contented, riding on his fathers shoulders, hands tugging at his hair like a rider would a favorite (albiet psycho) horse.
"Eeee~" The meerkat squealed when Patrick pushed open the Fourth Walls door, pain written on his brightly pierced features. "Eee! Fwoof! Fwine! Churrrr~"
Sound affects were cute. The psycho clutching meerkat? Not so much. "Yes, Akilah. We're here." And in an animal house it appeared! Look at all the kiddlets and peoples and and and...so many.
"I'm glad to hear it." the foxcoon replied just as warmly as Sajhiri's smile. "Its always nice knowing the children are going to good homes. I always worry that there'll be a time that one will come through and have no takers..."
Karma paused at the third door on the left, turning the knob gently and pausing to look over her shoulder at the dark-haired seraph, lowering her voice a bit.
"So far, this one seems really cooperative. He came through the rift and went right to sleep. I called you right after getting him settled in one of the cribs, since you didn't list a particular preference on species. He was still napping last I looked" Saying so, she eased open the door slowly so that she wouldn't startle the little angel inside.
The 'little angel' however, seemed to be wide awake and busily gnawing on the corner of the powder-blue blanket Karma had tucked around him the last time she'd been in to check on him and still found him snoozing. He'd apparantly been working hard at it, too...the fibers were frayed and soggy and the little silver lamb didn't even look up as the two women entered.
"They're good," Kaeru whispered, sidelong to Aini and Jacosa as soon as Youko's attention was elsewhere. He WAS a frog, after all.. and frogs ate bugs. HE liked them. As he watched Youko walk away, he waited until the fox's back was turned, then let his tongue zing out, catching the unsuspecting fly and reeling it in again almost as quickly. It was an instantaneous reaction, and within a span of a second, he was sitting there in the toybox again as if nothing at all had happened.
Sajhiri tiptoed in behind Karma, expecting a snoozing baby, and instead found herself staring down at a wide awake ball of fluffy wool. She blinked, both brows heading ceiling-ward, at the mess in the crib and the cause of it. "Looks like I'll need to stock up on chew-resistent teething items, eh?"
She leaned over to scritch the little fellow under the chin. "Just look at you. A little silver lamb! No doubt you'll be a big silver ram some day!" She chuckled then looked ponderous as she glanced back towards the hall. "Just like my truck...a big silver Dodge Ram. Oh!"
She laughed out loud and looked to Karma. "That's what I'll call him...Dodge! He goes through blankets like my truck goes through gas. It's kind of fitting," she grinned.
'Congratulations!' Sayuri squealed, actually hugging Andraste.
'I did kind of suspect from what you were saying last time we met, but wasnt sure how to tell you.' she smiled, letting the woman go.
Unfortunately for Jacosa, the pocket thing that he was trying to show her was eclipsed for Aini by what Kaeru did next.
''gain, gain!' she clapped, wriggling around on her bottom, her tail wriggling excitedly.
'Do it 'gain!'
A tension seemed to pass out of the foxcoon at Sajhiri's positive reaction to the youngling and she gently reached into the crib, shooing the corner of the blanket out of Dodge's mouth. Before he could protest, she'd picked him up, taking a quick peek into the leg of his diaper to make sure he was not in need of a changing, and then offered him to his new mother.
"You want to go say hi?" she goaded the little lamb. They could worry about paperwork another time. She had Sajhiri's contact information, after all, and the papers could be completed by mail just as easily as they could be filled out in the office.
"Ronen. Nice ta meetcho." The otter grinned and his tail flicked from side to side. This one looked nice, but he had some bad things on his back. "Ouch...how did get that ?" An extended finger pointed on the almost spiky things.
Eyes turned back to Aini for a moment and he pouted. She wasn't even interested in his famous bag...A slurping sound was heard from Kaeru's direction and Jacosa turned towards him. The fly was gone. That was a really cool thing to do, but the otter knew that his tongue wasn't able to do it. First he could fly and now he could eat flies...life was unfair.
So he decided to sit down beside Ronen and showed the pocket to him. "Wanna try ?"
His ears perked up though as he heard a familiar chirr. Dark otter eyes looked for the source. Today was best friend day !
Sajhiri's expression melted into a motherly smitteness. She just could never resist the little ones. The flood of Menagerie members was a testament to that. Her tower was filled with beings of every shape, size and species.
She reached out to take the little lamb into her arms, and cradled him gently to her. "Aren't you the handsomest little lamb ever?" she cooed to him. "Hi Dodge, I'm here to take care of you."
The lamb looked up at her, wide-eyed for a moment, until the compliment about his utter cuteness. that seemed to make him comfortable and happy, and he merrily began chewing on a lock of Jhiri's hair.
Ronen perked a bit, just fast enough to see Kaeru's tongue zoom right on the poor unsuspecting fly, and see it retract as quickly as it zoomed.
...And while the idea of eating flies was still gross to him, Kaeru's mighty tongue-fu impressed him indeed.
"How you do that ?!?" He asked, surprise apparent. "Was aw-som !"
Then his attention turned back to Jacosa, who had just spoken, his tail still wagging, but slower, out of instinctive caution and Zero's learning that he might hurt someone with the spikes on it. The spines on his back weren't that much of an issue... they couldn't pierce or cut. The dinosaur boy gave it some thought for a moment before answering. "Always had tat." He admitted, visibely not really having thought about it before. "Like you have tat." He pointed at his fur, visibely trying to draw a parallel. "And me don't."
...It made sence in his mind, at least.
But then, he forgot all about it when he was presented the pocket. "Sur !"
Karma stood silently, watching the two of them with a satisfied smile. This was, without a doubt, her favorite part of this occupation -- watching new families begin.
After a short time, she spoke.
"If you need supplies or anything, I have them in the supply closet" she offered. The seraph had already mentioned her love of babies, but it never hurt to make sure that a parent was well-stocked. Her supplies might not have been top of the line since she purchased them in bulk, but there were plenty to go around.
The minute he saw Jacosa, the little meerkat squealed, bouncing more, chirruping and churrings wildly. Patrick could only wince, reaching up and trying to pull him down once again.
"A-Akilah! Stop!"
"Eee!" He squealed, letting himself be taken down from his high perch. While the fly-snapping thing caught the little furry things attention, he wasn't the one who had petted his belly before! Small paws reached out for Jacosa, flexing and squeaking more, writhing to try and free himself from bejewled hands.
Akilah couldn't walk, but he could wriggle! And...drag and stuff..
Dodge's eyelids drooped sleepily. He opened his toothy maw to yawn loudly, letting out a little contented bleat before snuggling against Sajhiri for a nap. His little ears flicked back and forth, as if still following the sounds of conversation, perking whenever his new name was mentioned.
"Little Dodge, he's adorable, Karma. Thank you so much!" Sajhiri paused, peering at the foxcoon curiously for a few moments. There was a strange sensation she got from close vicinity to the woman. Something she usually felt in Tir Nan Og. Perhaps this was a kithain? But she'd not found a bloodline leading to her in her research yet. She'd have to look into that when she got home. "I think I should have most of what I need but ah...what would be best to feed him. Does he eat human food or would he prefer...ah..wheatgrass smoothies or something?"
Karma blinked, watching the other woman stare at her for a few moments. She managed to keep herself from squirming, but felt a bit uncomfortable as she wondered what it was that was stare-worthy. Had she forgotten to brush her hair? Had she sneezed on herself again?
...and just like that the conversation, blessedly, resumed once more.
"Its mostly a trial-and-error thing." the foxcoon explained. "Some of the kids prefer 'people' food, and others stick to what you'd expect them to eat. I'd definitely plan to keep him on a vegetarian diet, though."
Her eyes fell on the sleeping lamb as she spoke. He really WAS a cutie. Then again, after the traumatizing experience of having Angellica arrive late at night, every baby that had come through the rift since had seemed like the most adorable thing in the world by comparison.
Quinn felt a little guilty for leaving Moss with the sitter, but neither he, nor Belen, seemed to mind very much and she thought it beneficial that the pair socialize without the other every once in a while. So, armed with a spray bottle, some lotion, nebulizers and Belen's travel bowl, she had brought the Axolotl to the center to play and to perhaps check with Karma to make sure his breathing treatments were progressing as they should.
Not bothering to knock this time, she swung the door wide, chirped a fond hello and sat Belen on the ground, cautioning him to be wary of the others. Wouldnt want him to get stepped on simply from lack of attention.
Strong swimming legs allowed him to toddle slowly, even though he wasn't quite old enough to be able to do so. It gave Moss fits, watching his younger brother walk when all he could do was crawl behind. Such was sibling rivalry, she supposed.
She took a seat on one of the plump couches, eagle eyes trained on her diminuative, yet very independant son.
Dodge's jaw worked in his sleep, rocking in a circular motion as he chewed his cud instinctively.
Sajhiri smoothed his ears back and smiled warmly. "Vegetarian, got it. I guess lambs drink milk just like human babies, so it should be ok for a while to go that way."
She gazed on her latest addition lovingly. "I know the perfect room for him. I think he'll love it."
"Kaeru!"
The boy wilted slightly when he realised he'd been caught fly-catching again. Dammit, this was so unfair. "But I was hungry!" he wailed, throwing one of the toys in a fit of anger.
"Then we'll go home and get you something to eat," Youko replied, moving to scoop him up before he could start a full-out tantrum. "And a NAP," he admonished, ignoring the protests of the frog as he set the boy down and swatted him lightly on the behind to get him moving towards the coats. He waved to those he knew, and pulled his own coat on, helping Kaeru as well.
It was amazing to him that children moved 10 times SLOWER when they were whimpering.
Karma was about to say something and, instead, stifled a yawn that had come out of nowhere.
"Excuse me." she said, somewhat embarrassed. "I've been up since about this time yesterday and I was on my way out when everyone came in. If I'm going to drive myself home without nodding off, I'd probably better do it soon."
She reached out, gently tickling one of the twitching silver ears. "If you like, I can send you home with the paperwork, or I'll mail it to you...whichever is easier for you. There's no rush to get him into the records as long as it gets done."
Actually, she liked to get everybody into the records as quickly as possible since it was less to have to do later, but she didn't want to create an air of urgency and turn something so lovely into something so....official.
Sajhiri smiled. "I can bring the paperwork home with me. Not a problem. I'll get it back to you ASAP. Thank you again, Karma. Go get some rest."
She slipped back out of the room and back towards the waiting room with her brand new bundle of...er...wool...in her arms.
Aini watched as Kaeru was taken away by the mean man - who she poked her tongue out at. Well now what would she do? She sidled over to the Jacosa and patted him on the shoulder.
'Osa,' she said, looking at the dinosaur boy with him.
'oo dat?'
'Hows it going anyways?' Sayuri asked, motioning at Andraste's growing bump.
Karma watched her go and then exited the now-empty nursery to head for her back office. There was no fumbling for the papers this time as she'd learned after about the fourth or fifth adoption that it was in her best interest to sacrifice an entire afternoon making all of the adoption papers into stapled packets.
Grabbing one of said packets out of the wire basket in the corner of her desk, she headed out into the waiting area. Placing the packet on the edge of the counter where it would be easily-noticed, but out of reach of the playing children, she quietly grabbed up her coat and slipped out.
Yeah, no more all-nighters...
Andraste smiled slightly. "It's not so easy, because I can't go to work anymore, but the father...Ranjit...he's living with us now. I'm a bit afraid of the birth though."
Jacosa waved to Kaeru as he left, but wasn't too sad about it. Now Aini had come back to play !
He looked at his fur while listening to Ronen and it took him a while to understand the boy's words. "Cool." It was alright, not everybody had fur and not everybody spikes, right ?
"Is Ronen." The otter explained to the fennec fox and motioned her to sit down with them.
His eyes were sparkling as he noticed Akilah and smiled. "Keela ! Can I hold ?" He really wanted to show his 'little brother' to the others. The otter knew about babies and everyone should know. "I get baby siblin." He stated proudly.
Phew...finally it started to became exhausting. Didn't he know that one was well ? His eyes darted towards Belen and he waved.
Ronen simpely nodded in confirmation and smilled at Aini. He was a bit sad that Kaeru had to go... but what could he do ? He could always see him again later !
It took alot to keep this one down, it seemed.
"Baby sibilin ?" Ronen tilted his head and blinked. Being the youngest, he had no smaller sibilings... more older sibilings you could shake a stick at, but younger ? Nope. So the thought confused him a bit.
"Here there, 'Cosa," Patrick chirrup gratefully when he moved towards teh otter and the little dinosaur. The fish-like Fourth waller was seen with wide eyes but he carefully manuvered so he could in NO WAY step on him - Patrick is a wee bit paranoid with child safety. "I think Akilah wants to see you again."
Indeed, he did. As soon as they were close enough, he wriggled until he was put down and crawled his happy way over to Jacosa. Clingage commenced, wide black eyes peeking at Ronen as the small 'rat' chittered.
"You have a baby sibling? Really? Where?"
Sajhiri moved to the door of the office and she opened it to wave to Saedare outside. "Can you get Naeva's old infant seat out of the back of the truck, love, and set it up? We're bringing home another little one!" Saedare looked surprised, but did as was requested.
Sajhiri picked up the papers from the counter and she settled onto one of the couches to put them in her bag and still balance the sleeping lamb in her arms. She gave a quiet smile to the other 'parents' in the room.
Belen toddled on his hind legs slowly, before dropping down to scuttle about on all fours. He walked suprisingly well for one meant to never leave the water and though he still wheezed from time to time, it didnt sound quite as severe as it had.
He made his way over to Jocasa, climbing onto his tail. He remembered playing with the tail in his bowl and he remembered that the Otter liked water, just like he did.
He grabbed on and made his version of the purring noise Makana made when she was happy. It was a good noise and he liked how rumbley it made him feel.
'You'll be fine, you have support and that's the most important thing,' she glanced at the wall-clock and sighed.
'Well I am sorry to have to go so soon, but I left Catta with my neighbour and the poor woman is only so patient.' Sayuri smiled thinly.
'It was nice to see you again.'
She went over, and picked Aini up, who was just about to go over to Ronen and poke his spikes to see what they felt like.
'No! No!' the fennec toddler yelled, squirming for all she was worth.
'Osa!' she wailed, as Sayuri managed to hold her still.
'You...can..see him soon,' Sayuri said, avoiding flailing limbs and a tail.
Saedare poked her head in once more, and called out "It's all set, mom. Did you have a baby when I wasn't paying attention or something?
Sajhiri chuckled, getting up and shifting the lamb so her adopted daughter could see. "Nope, but we've been asked to look after this little darlin. His name is Dodge."
"Like our truck?" the Aduthule asked incredulously. "Really mother, if he grows to hate you for that, I'll be the one to say 'I told you so.' Named after a truck indeed. The poor dear." She shuffled back out of the building to Dodge's vehicular namesake.
Sajhiri offered a small wave to those in the waiting room, and headed home to make her new child comfortable.
"Nooo stay !" Jacosa wailed as Aini left and pouted. His eyes flicked towards his mother. Hopefully she wouldn't get the bad idea to take him away as well. "Baby inside mommy's belly." He pointed at Andraste, who had moved to sit down after Sayuri left.
The otter gladly accepted the meercat and smiled. One paw gently petted the baby's head as he suddenly felt something tickling his tail and he bursted into laughter. His head turned towards the strange feeling and he noticed the no-fish. "Oh hey."
"Ah-Haa." He nodded, not really understanding, still. Baby in someone's tummy ? Odd, odd... How did it get there ?
Before he could think more about it, his attention was caught by the meercat. "Who ?" Visibely, Jacosa was getting this question alot today.
"You'll protect him from being squished, won't you?" The humans request was light as he stood up and stepped back. Time for Akilah to learn how to interact on his own.
Not like the meerkat had such a hard time of it anyway. Akilah squeaked happily when Jacosa patted his head, floofing up quite comfortably against the other with a churr. Curious eyes turned to the dinosaur, head leaaaaaning in to sniff at him curiously. Smelled like him! Different..older...but like him. And Jacosa. And...that weird fishy thing on his tail.
"Churr?" The small fluffed thing inquired, one tiny paw reaching out past Jacosa to poke lightly at the dinosaur, glee lifting in his eyes. "Eee~ Keerah!" That's as close as he could get to his name at this point, wriggling happily still
"'Course I do !" Jacosa said proudly and cuddled the small one carefully before turning towards Ronen. "Is fiend. Keela. And that is Ronen. He's blue and cool." The otter tried to make both of them acquainted, but somehow it wasn't so easy. Hopefully they would like it anyway.
Andraste waved at Patrick. "Hey there. Nice to meet you again."
"Kee-la." He repeated, as if it would help commit the name to memory. He visibely didn't mind being poked, and only smilled as the little paw found itself on his arm. It seemed not many people around here didn't have fur, and he wasn't upset, instead gentely moving his arm forward so that the merrkat would have an easier time reaching it.
"Hi." He continued to smile, tail continuing to wag, however kept safely out of the infant's reach.
Belen looked up at Jocasa, a smile spliting his face in two. "Ghaaaaa," he issued, grinning like a fool. "Caa Caa," he grunted again and again, trying to show Jocasa that he could say his name. He hugged his tail harder, making his purr noise.
It was then that he noticed the others. There was one with skin kind of like his, not soft like Cosa. And a smaller one, though not as small as himself. It was the leathery one that facinated him, however.
He hopped off of Jocasa's tail and scurried over to Ronen. He had steps on his back kind of like the ones at Belen's house. Only, these ones were much smaller and he thought he could climb them.
He dashed up Ronen's tail and stretched his body, trying to reach one of the spikes with his sticky forelegs, concentration creasing his usually sunny countenance.
"Hey," He greeted Andraste, grinning more when he spotted the stomach, eyebrows arching slightly. "Congratulations seem to be an order, don't they? Well..congrats. All the luck wih the newest sprogglet." A light wink, rubbing hte back of his neck.
Akilah squeaked happily, wriggling. One of his hands still remained firmly curled in Jacosas fur, not tugging hard enough to hurt, but his other paw curled around Ronens finger.
Hi? Was that the hard things name. Pausing, the small meerkat peered up at him and chirruped, "Hi~" Giggling, bouncing a little, small tail curling up behind him-- when belen ran up!
Squeak! He gawked at the white thing, curiousity overcoming him. His butt wriggled a little bit before he sat firmly down on it once again. "...feesh?"
Andraste nodded slightly. "Thank you. How have you been ?"
Jacosa gladly wasn't someone who got jealous pretty easily. He just smiled at Ronen and nodded. "Babies like you as well, I see." His tail was wiggling as it was freed from the weight and his paws held to Keela, so he wouldn't drop to the ground.
"No fish, Keela. I thought too ! But no...is axosomething." He proudly explained. Every good older brother would have done so, so why shouldn't he ? Quite interested he watched the babies' reaction to Ronen.
Ronen seemed a bit surprised, wriggeling lightly under the added weight on his tail and back. He was a dinosaur... not a ladder.
Yet, he didn't mind too much, it seemed, as he stayed as still as he could, in order to allow Belen to, well... climb the stairs, so to speak.
"Gues so." He blinked, glancing at Akilah. The feeling of fur on his scales was a bit wierd, but not bad or annoying in any way.
"I've been...busy. Squirt's learned to crawl, the other one learned to walk and I got yet ANOTHER little brat." His head shook a little, nose wrinkling with a grin. "You? Other then the pregnancy?"
"Azkosomefung." he repeated dutifully, retreating a little when he saw the 'climbing' fish and cuddling up against Jacosa - well, as much as he could, considering his position. "Cosa." Nod nod, nosing against the others fur, wherever he could, with a little trill.
Belen stretched, fingers waggling as he tried, in vain, to reach the bottom spike. When it became apparent that he was just not big enough, something the Axolotl had had to struggle with a lot in his new human-sized environment, he shrugged and grinned at Ronen, another goofy smile plastering his face.
Tugging a bit on Ronen's clothes, Belen made his way around the dinosaur, perching on his knee and gazing up at him with wide eyes. He flung his arms out, trying to make the biggest motion he could, all the while sputtering, "Whooooaah, shooooaaa," which apparently meant that Ronen was very large indeed.
"Not much really." She smiled. "It was enough for me though. I really didn't expect it..."
Jacosa bursted into laughter as he heard Belen's sputtering and giggled madly. That was a strange baby !
He stroked Akilah gently and made sure that he was comforable on his lap. "Tis mine, tis yours. When bigger we can let 'em fight."
People did that with animals, he'd seen that on TV. Of course the otter had no clue that these kinds of fight could hurt. He just smiled. "Shall pet Keela ?"
Ronen couldn't help but giggle a bit himself.
"Ah gues." He answered, letting out a tiny yawn. He was getting a bit tired...
That was just to sign that Zero was waiting, as she gentely took Ronen in her arms after putting Belen down safely on the ground. "Time for your afternoon nap, hm, cutie ?"
"Not tired." He whinned, but yawned again, not protesting as his mother put his coat on. "We'll come back, allright ? Then you can talk to your friends again. Say bye, now." She smilled.
"'Mbai..." He trailed, curling into Zero's arms and almost seeming to be asleep before the girl had left trough the door.
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2006 3:15 pm
Dear Diary :
The visit at the Fourth Wall went well ! I didn't get to talk to Karma, but that's okay. Ronen made a few friends there, and didn't want to leave in the end... He was about to fall asleep right there, covered in babies ! It was just sooo cute. He would make a good older brother, probably... too bad he's the youngest.
He's starting to like music more and more... I will probably buy him a mp3 player soon, he would ADORE that. Shirren says he's turning up to be just like me... Bah, silly brothers.
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Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2006 6:57 pm
God I can't believe I havn't been writing in this. But I guess it was the wirlwind of things that happened. My baby isn't quite a baby now... Ronen started school a few days ago. Sniff.
Shirren says im getting all sentimental.
...
I guess I am.
He's starting to learn how to read and write... His teacher says that so far he does seem very talented, but he needs motivation to get things done. Eh, Ronen is a bit lazy, just like me. He does get things done, however, so I don't feel the need to step in just yet.
I did get him a mp3 player. He's in total love with it. Total, complete love. I had to give him big headphones instead of earbuds to make sure he wasn't listening to them in class... I do let him listen to music when he does exercices, however. It seems like it helps his concentration, and who am I to complain ?
He like softs songs, alot of classical with some slower pop songs. He's a bit of my antithesis in that point... but god, it's so cute.
My baby isn't a baby anymore, and it is odd when you realise this... he seem to have "passed" his two brothers in terms of visible age... which is a bit odd. But then, Gaia works oddly...
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Posted: Fri Mar 03, 2006 9:28 am
"Mom... ?"
Zero knew something was wrong the second she saw the look on Ronen's face. No tears or anything, but it wasn't expecially a good one either, and it was so rare to see him without a smile that the little warning bells in her mind started ringing in a split second.
"What's wrong... ?" She perked, scooting to the side of the couch to give him space to come. He let his backpack fall on the floor and went, leaning agaist the one he was brought up to consider his mother. Even if she was mechanical, the working of the circuits inside her still generated a warm, soothing heat he appreciated.
"Some other kids at school where mean." He whimpered. "Kept laughing at me because I don't have hairs... Kept saying I was different and laughing."
Oh boy. There we went... She knew this was going to come up sometime.
"Sweetie ? Being different isn't a bad thing."
"It's not ?" Red eyes blinked, as he looked at her.
"Of course not. After all, if everyone was like you... or like me... or like your uncle Shirren... If everyone looked the same, or acted the same, would it be a good thing ? Wouldn't it be boring ?"
Ronen pondered this for a second. "...It would be boring..."
"Hm hm. The other kids are being stupid because they don't realise that." Zero smiled a bit, gently scratching behind the child's neck. "They just don't realise that... or weren't brought up by their parents to realise it, or grown to realise it from having people other consider as different in family. They're just acting on ignorance, you shouldn't let it get to you."
Ronen thought about it for a moment, and nodded. What his mother was saying made sence... And he sure felt conforted by this.
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