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 Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 9:59 am
His new pile was running out fast too. Frowning, Anoki slowed down a little, to make it last. At the mention of horns he lowered his head a little, beginning to feel self-conscious again. No one else had horns. Then again, it looked like she wanted some. Did that make him cool?
"Y-you have w-w-wings." That was pretty cool too. Maybe she could fly, like the birds that sometimes came and chirped outside the windows. He had tried to chirp too, but it never sounded right.
"In my previous placement I taught Magickal Ritual, as well as common mathematics. Here however, I am to teach the spellcasting class once the children are of age." Judging by the announcement D-Corp had made, about some of the children recieving their eggs, Raven guessed she wouldn't have too long to wait. "And what do you do, mister... what was your name again?"
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Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 1:50 pm
Earako had been holding her wings close to her for warmth, but at Anoki's statement, she streached them out. She was quite proud of her wings, mostly because Da' said they were pretty. Still, it was too bad that she couldn't have horns too.
"I bat!" She explained, pulling her wings back against her again as the chill started to sink in. Maybe she was glad that Da' had insisted she wear a coat after all, "'bino bat." She added, for sake of clarity. "'bino mean 'ite."
"Michael. I'm a photographer." He dismissed the profession with a shrug, "Not quite as cool as teaching spellcasting to genetically modified children, I guess. But it pays the bills."
"They seem to be getting on well." He added, gesturing in the direction of the industriously building children. "The Kid was pretty shy when we first met."
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Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 5:37 pm
Wow, they were even prettier when they were stretched out like that! Anoki's fingers trembled, he wanted to touch them, but he instead stuck his hands in the snow. "Real p-p-pretty."
And she was a bat? Had he heard of those? Unsure, Anoki tried to picture the pages of his animal books, but failed. He shrugged slightly, but nodded as Earako spoke, and replied with information about himself. "B-b-ibex. S'a g-goat, sorta."
Raven nodded calmly. He seemed like the sort of person who would be involved in artistic endeavors, to her at least. "What type of photographs do you take? Portraits, or landscapes, or something else entirely?"
Her interest wasn't entirely feigned. If she could find the right sort of photographer, then she might be able to send a gift back home. Not to mention a certain unfinished project of hers.
"Indeed. Constructive activity is cohesive to building relationships. When two or more children work together to achieve a goal they are often forced to connect in ways that they would not have otherwise."
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Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 6:19 pm
"Tanks." Another chirp, and Earako couldn't help but half open her wings at his words, just to show him. So Da' had been telling the truth when he'd said her wings were special. Hopefully he wasn't telling the truth about other things, like sleeping upside down making her brain explode.
"'bex." She repeated, trying out the new word. She'd never heard of one before. She hadn't heard of a goat either. Apparently, they had really cool horns.
Her pile of snow had run out. Standing, she retreated to an area she hadn't yet made use of. Looking at her small hands, she frowned. She wouldn't be able to bring over very much. Chewing thoughtfully at her lower lip, she knelt. She would just push a bunch of snow over. That way they'd have more. It meant crawling in the stuff, but that was ok. Her pants were already wet.
The small pile she managed to push over wasn't exactly impressive, but it was bigger than what she could have carried.
"Fo' me an' you." She told Anoki, parroting his earlier generosity.
"Whatever strikes me." He gestured vaguely to the area surrounding him, as if to indicate it was all worth a picture. "Or a magazine is looking for.
He couldn't help but smirk a bit at her statement about the children. The woman did like her words, didn't she? Well, whatever made her happy. It was hardly his place to complain.
"Yeah. It's nice to see them making friends." He responded, blandly.
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Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2006 9:13 pm
Anoki nodded. "I-bex." He learned that word really well! It was hard, and had some of the funnier letters on his alphabet sheets, but he could say it and spell it better than any other word.
Looking around, he pouted. Out of snow again. But there was more, and he could share it! "Th-thank you!" he chirped, patting the pile. Of course, he made short work of that one as well. The snow kept on disappearing! Pout reforming, he staggered to his feet and over to another pile of snow.
It was hard to see over the pile. Anoki kept tripping over his feet, but managed to stay mostly balanced. Everything was going perfectly! "Got m-more!"
Of course, the snow in his arms meant Anoki didn't see the rock until he tripped over it, falling face-first into a carefully structured mountain of snow.
That made sense. After all, there was no career without money. "Do you find that compromises your artistic vision at all, or is it conversely freeing to work within such limits?"
The man had a frustrating attitude. Raven was positive that he would have rather been frolicking in the snow than conversing with her. She would have snubbed him completely for it, but that would have left her with nothing to do. A boring conversation was better than none at all. And it was her duty, as a teacher, to get to know the parents of her eventual students.
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Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2006 9:34 am
"I-bex." Earako repeated, stressing the I to show that she'd gotten it right. She could talk just like him, if she tried hard enough. Really she could. Maybe she would work on saying words the same way he and Daddy did.
And then the snow was gone again, leaving Earako patting what they'd already formed into smoothness while Anoki went to fetch more. Their mountain was getting big! Soon they'd be able to crawl inside, safe and warm. Which would be nice considering the wind was starting to pick up.
Except, Anoki beat her on crawling into their cave by falling into the whole mountain, the whole structure taking on a decidely less mountainy look. Earako jumped back, wings open, startled by the unexpected. It took her a second to realize that her new friend might have hurt himself while falling.
Moving to his side, she did her best to grab his arm, and tug him back to his feet. He was bigger than she was, but she was going to help!
"I find that artistic vision rarely succeeds in putting food on the table." Michael responded, looking perfectly comfortable with admitting that he'd 'sold out'.
"Hell, the artsy sorts that think they're only legit when they're starving, I think they're looking for misery. And there's enough in the world when you don't seek it." His tone had an edge of passion to it, at odds with his seeming detachment so far.
His attention was yanked away by the sudden impact of child and snow, though he didn't go rushing toward it. Sure, he spoiled Earako, but he tried not to coddle her. And he had a feeling the lady he was talking to felt the same way. She certainly didn't seem like the maternal type.
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Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2006 12:05 am
... okay, that hurt. Not as much as knocking over the books had, but more than getting his finger stuck in the clock. And he couldn't really breathe with his head in the snow. And something was pulling on his arm, which hurt even more, but at least dislodged him a little.
After further effort he was able to lift his head, and hurried to take a few deep breaths. The best he could do was quick short breaths, but they were enough. Then, he looked at Earako, horrified. "S-s-s-sorry!"
He'd ruined their mountain. Now she would probably be mad at him. People got mad when he messed things up.
Sparing a glance towards the children, Raven deemed them able to handle the situation and yawned. "Yes, of course. Those who claim their way is better usually do get what they want, it's simply that they don't always know what that is."
To most she may have sounded like a hypocrite, but she spoke with such certainty. After which, she yawned again. This was tedious.
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Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2006 6:48 pm
"No. No say." Earako let go of Anoki's arm in favor of kneeling next to him. He was all covered in snow now, which must be all wet and cold and hurting. She wanted to help wipe it off, but her gloves were covered in snow from her earlier work, so she couldn't. She decided to try and reassure him instead. He looked scared. It was important to get it right, and she did her best to form the words as clearly as he did. "Da' say no polyize fo' if not you' fau't."
She used her firmest voice, like her Da' did when she was upset. Trying to be reassuring, as much as she could at her age. It was hard though. She wasn't grown up enough to know everything yet.
"You kay?" That was the imortant thing. That's what dad say. The question, even in her whispery voice, was insistant in tone.
"Something like that." Michael responded. He wasn't sure that was what he meant, but it seemed close enough. A glance toward Earako and her boy, "Of course, sometimes things get thrust on you, no matter what you think you want."
What were they even talking about at this point? Art? God, he wanted a cigarette. The woman seemed bored somehow, and he resented it. So, he wasn't her usual intellectual crowd. Didn't mean he didn't have something to say.
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Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2006 10:05 pm
Anoki climbed to his feet slowly and unsteadily. Once he was upright and stable he felt a little better, and managed to breathe deeply. He tensed, then shook off the last bits of snow clinging to him. His fur and scarf were a bit wet, but other than the occasional shiver he was fine. A slight headache had started near his temples, and his knees were slightly scuffed, though no injuries could be seen. In fact, he was far more worried about Earako than himself.
What did she mean it wasn't his fault? Of course it was! He was the one that smashed into the big mountain. It was her mountain in the first place, and now it was just a big crater. How could she not be mad about that.
"S-sorry," he repeated stubbornly. His mama always said to say sorry, so he would. Or else she would be mad too.
"That is the certainly true." Following Michael's gaze, Raven watched the two for another fleeting moment. "In which case all you can do is make it work with the extra requirements."
Did all parents have to go through the painful process of chitchat and pretending to be friendly every time their children felt like talking out of school? If so, she had new respect for them. Then again, she still didn't see much of a point in this type of meeting in the first place.
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Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2006 10:54 pm
"No say." Earako repeated, her tone stubborn. From her still kneeling position, she looked up and frowned at Anoki as he shook off the snow. She did her best to imitate her Da's actions when he found her hurt, looking him over for injuries. Finding none, she got back on her feet, still obviously concerned. The mountain was more or less forgotten with the introduction of a new focus. Her attention span was long for a child her age, but that didn't mean her thoughts weren't easily derailed.
"No hurt?" She asked, biting her lip as she stared at him. It wouldn't be good if he was hurt. He wouldn't want to play with her again. In an attempt to show where her loyalties stayed, she kicked the mountain, making a small indent in the snow. "Ba' moun'in." She scolded, pairing the words with a firm nod.
"Learn to love the complication." Michael responded, absently, only half paying attention to Raven now. This time, it wasn't the children that had him distracted, but his watch. He double checked the time and frowned. No way to avoid being late. Lithle would not be forgiving.
"But, we've gotta go. I'm glad the kids had a chance to meet." He said, and meant it. Turning to the kids, he whistled sharply to summon his daughter. Maybe it was a demeaning way to call her, but she didn't mind, and the sound carried. "Say goodbye to your friend."
((I'd like to wrap this up, but I hope they have a chance for another PD soon. Earako's made her first friend!))
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Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2006 11:41 pm
All of the attention only served to make Anoki feel worse. After all, he was supposed to get up and start moving again, and he did, so there was no need for worry, right? Besides which, the whole ordeal of smashing the mountain was his fault, and now it was getting scolded instead of him!
"N-no hurt," he reassured Earako slowly, lip trembling. Maybe if he showed that he was okay she would stop worrying. And stop being mad at the mountain instead of him.
Raven wasn't at all sorry when Michael announced the late hour. It would have been rude to make an excuse sooner, but any longer and she might have actually fallen asleep. Still, she smiled politely. That is a shame. It does seem that they enjoyed themselves."
Anoki ambled over to Raven, grasping the end of her skirt in one hand briefly before it was tugged away. "B-bye-b-b-bye 'R-rako!"
((Yes, this was a lot of fun! biggrin Thanks so much!))
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