Welcome to Gaia! ::

For Kyri rp

Fingers sheathed in black cloth lightly stroked the morbid wand in her possession. It hadn't been long since she'd received it from Ianna, but it already was beginning to bring problems to her. She couldn't touch the thing. Well, she could, but not without being violently jerked into some mental haze she didn't care much for.

Kyo sighed and sunk deeper into another of the many couches the HQ had to offer, her eyelids beginning to feel heavier by the minute. Just what had she gotten herself into? Nothing she couldn't handle... hopefully.

Wow. This place sure was lively. Really, what was she doing here anyways? It didn't really matter now... she didn't feel like getting up when sleep was drawing so near and nothing was around to keep her from it. Visions began to lick at the corners of her mind, waiting for the precise moment when they could yank her deep into the void of sleep.

"You awake, hun?"

Patricks voice rang through the HQ with the easy grace of someone who had no issues with anyone. The rather swollen male had his pale Ghostly child at his hip and Yashimas geisha doll in the other hand. He noticed Kyo, just slightly, when passing through and...so... he'd decided to talk to her.

"Is that a wand? What kind?"

"Huh...? Ah..." Kyo shook her head slightly, letting loose that black matted hair. Her free hand quickly brushed the strands away, exposing one side of her face. She blinked groggily at him, then slowly slid her vision to Yashima and that bulging stomach. Pregnant?

"Yes, it is." She lifted the wand slightly so the man could get a better view. "It's a... Mind Flayer. Is that kitsune from this place as well?" She nodded to Yashima slightly.

"You knew he was a kitsune." Patrick seemed pleased at that knowledge, giving his son a little bounce. Yashima didn't make a noise, thrusting his thumb into his mouth and holding out his little hand demandingly.

He wanted the wand. He knew he probably wouldn't get it, but it didn't feel like a girlthing... So it was a boything. Maybe not a friendly boything, but a boything.. or it soon would be.

So many friends were going to become boythings! It pleased the little Kitsune to no end.

"His name is Yashima and he likes wands that are boys." The dark man grinned, head giving a little bow in aknowledgement. "I'm Patrick. You are?"

Kyo simply nodded to the statement. He didn't ask for an explanation on how she knew, so she simply focused on the way the child reached for the wand. "Yes, it's a boy..." She murmured softly, not quite sure if she should hand over the wand or not.

Well, one so young couldn't possibly see the things she could. "Watch the top, okay?" She told the boy softly, as if she expected him to understand. Hopefully he wouldn't stick it in his mouth.

"I'm Kyo. Pleasure to meet you, Patrick." She replied, sliding the base of the wand into Yashi's hand.

Yashima just beamed at her at her words, hand tightening over the base of the Mind Flayers wand, other hand moving to grip the wand jut under the bolbous top to keep it from falling out.

There were pictures, all around his head. Another boything! Hurrah! The wand was clung to, tail flicking from side to side, te tip moving to catch in Yashimas mouth. The toddler sucked at teh furry apendage, wide golden eyes on Kyo curiously.

"How'd you know it was a boy? Most Gaurdians don't, at first, unless it's something gender-specific."

"It's an... ability I could do without." Kyo replied steadily, choosing her words carefully as she did. "Most likely the main reason I was chosen to raise him." The corners of her nearly bloodless lips twitched, then curled upward into a smile that almost made her look normal. Heh. Kitsunes were always cute, in her opinion, even if her own had come soaked in blood and smelling of decay.

The wand lay dormant in Yashima's hands for the moment, though the little something hidden inside must have been able to see the pictures, or at least feel. Though, if it could send anything back, it didn't respond for a little while. It wasn't the wand's fault Kyo saw a few things she shouldn't have when she touched it. She was the one that had prodded open the pocket of memories that had accompanied, but still lay dormant, in the wandling.

Then, for Yashima, there came a sliver of golden color, but one that faded quickly. The child might not have noticed.

"An ability, mm." Patrick chose not to question that, watching as his toddler toyed about with the wand. Yashima was always so very attentive and clingy to the things he decided were worth being clung to.

Then he noticed he was being watched, pausing and blinking up at teh woman curiously, head tilting to one side. "..fukafuka?" He offered, giving teh little wand a small shake..Then the color! A mild little flash, but he squealed none the less, tail poofing up like a cats would.

All for the better that Patrick didn't ask. She wasn't very defensive -she'd have told him the basics of what her abilities fell into- but she didn't openly display anything either. Not often, unless she needed to. She simply nodded to Yashima, smiling again.

"How old?"

The gold flickered away, then came again. Longer and a bit brighter, the tendril twisted and curled into some incomplete shape before fading away. On the third try, it managed a wavy circle inside another, creating something of an eye. Huh.

Patrick simply didn't like to pry. There was enough odddness in his life - from being pregnant to the little gaurdian of death he first adopted - that he didn't have to ask and pry for weirdness anymore.

"Not very. I just got his wand in December... I think December? Either way, around that time... And he's been growing pretty fast. He can walk now. And almost-talk."

"Kitsune," Yashima supplied helpfully to the woman before training his eyes back onto the wand. The movements brough a little giggle from him, fingertips wriggling gently on the shiny black bit.

"Oh, December. I see... Hm. Well, I don't doubt he'll be clever when he grows up. He seems to understand what we're saying now... or most of it. Talking... might all be a matter of getting it out of him. He seems like a quiet one." She tilted her head slightly at him. "Yes, kitsune. Very good."

The eye squished itself as if blinking, then shimmered away at the giggle as if it had managed to hear. It was black as if nothing had ever happened in that dull mind link. Maybe it was waiting for Yashima to do something- show it more things. Maybe it was resting or something. Kyo watched Yashima with a tired gaze, but really was curious as to if he were really communicating with it.

"Does... a baby just appear?"

"Well, first it becomes this little wispy thing... and then this bigger, more solid-ish wispy things where it talks in your head in baby talk.. and then a baby just appears. I'm not sure what EXACTLY happens because I was in the other room when Yashi grew."

Patrick grinned sheepishly, shoulders rising in a shrug. Yashi, on the other hand, concentrated on the little wand, squeezed his eyes shut and pushed as well as he could at the other with his mind. Yashima was no telepath but he'd gotten practice with Kay and now this little wand, so the pictures of himself were being thrust at the wand with his mind were as good as he possibly could.

Kyo nodded, knowing she wasn't going to remember this later without taking notes but also too lazy to get the materials for it out. Eh. It'd just be a surprise for her. She smiled. "That's alright... It might be a case of... 'The watched pot never boils'?"

The dark of the wand practically absorbed the pictures Yashima shoved at it and gave no sign of stirring for a moment. Then, a white line, twisting and splicing itself into a very shaky outline of the fox child. A hazy color of purple would soon flood. It didn't know what it was, just this color. What else? The white line came back, creating that same image of the eye.

"]"Something like that, but less cool." He agreed, laughing and glancing down at his son and her wand. One eyebrow arched... "Well, at least he's not chewing on it. He's at the stage where EVERYTHING goes into his mouth."*

Yashi squealed happily and almost beamed at the sight of his little purple white shaky outline and small fingers gave little pets at the wand. Good good picture! He agreed, giggling and squishing his face again together and shoved at the wand, mentally, a little picture of his own most prized possesion - his own white wand!

Mine.


* NOT FORSHADOWING HE'S JUST BEING A FATHER DAMN YOU.

The woman blinked slightly. She'd never had a child with a fetish for putting things in their mouth. Unless you counted the child of her adopted son, who pretty much nibbled on everything at that age. "Ah.. No, it wouldn't be good if he put it in his mouth... There's a sharp barb at the top."

The wand was traced in white, unable to work with two colors at a time yet. A small swirly was drawn in blue. It liked the wand, trying to praise Yashi with its little random designs. Then, the eye. More?

"He won't... He doesn't eat other children. Just his own wand, his hand and his brothers building blocks." Patrick grinned at the stunned woman, shoulders rising into a casual shrug.

"So do you have any more sprogglets? Or is it just him?"

Yashi giggled quietly, wriggling at the little swirly happily. The eye appeared once more and his face crumpled in thought - what could he send the little wand?! What of interest?? So, yashi just wrapped his fluffity blue and black tail around the wand and petted at it curiously. His nose wrinkled.

And he sent over the vision of his geisha doll. Pretty!

Kyo nodded, reassured. It wasn't her child she was worried for, really. She didn't want the barb at the top of the wand to go through the roof of Yashi's mouth was all. Now that Patrick had assured her nothing of the sort would happen, she let it go and turned to his next question.

She seemed to consider, calculating. "I have twenty-seven, him being the twenty-eighth," She informed the man. She didn't seem to notice the extremity of that at first, but when she did, she helpfully added, "They're all in and out, though. Most of them are grown. The number of those I care for at home constantly is... four, counting this one." All grown up? And yet she only looked about twenty...

The wand-dweller dropped the word as soon as it was presented, for it did not understand any of it. There came a rather curious blue scribble, as if it didn't know what quite to think of the doll. Was this another being in the world outside? Very odd...

An outline of Yashi's picture was etched, followed by the eye. Were there more like him outside? The outline of his wand came too, followed by that haze of purple, then Yashi's outline. Was he, the purple haze, Yashi's wand? Of course, this could easily be misinterpreted.

"No... I don't mind." Kyo began, then seemed to flinch slightly. The little runt of a baby had spat the pacifier out of his mouth and was now proceeding to wail. It was an odd sound, with what sounded like two pitches. "He's not. The one that is to grow... from the wand is... right there. That purple-" She was cut off by a searing pain in her left shoulder. Zetsu was at it again. He wanted to leave! He wanted to go now!

The wail had started up again and the pain in her shoulder left to throb. "I'm sorry." She apologized to Sibuna, leaning down to pluck up the pacifier. "I need to get this one home to his father." The book was set on the gestured table before the woman left, swaying as fast as she could towards the exit with screaming child in tow.

[ Message temporarily off-line ]

Tovar frowned at the display, features and expression dark, lips drawn into a severe line.



The coils of wire and various other jewlery crafting supplies started merrily back at him, at if perfectly oblivious to the fact that they were being rather irritating. Sighing, Tovar consulted The List again.



"Damn Michael, picking up new hobbies left and right. Can't he just get his things..." Mutter, grumble, mutter. Sulk.



Tovar was rather used to running utterly pointless errands, but he had been in the middle of helping Etain with his school work when Michael demanded he go out and get necessary busy-work supplies. Right. Then. Tovar was hoping his prompt response to the demand would mean more frequent lessons in the next few days but...he sort of doubted it. Grimacing, he pulled down a roll of hemp and a coil of silver wire from the shelf, dumping both that and a large tube of glass beads into the basket. Now, he wanted charms or something... By the looks of it, Michael had scribbled a few rough approximation sketches in the margins of the list he'd given Tovar. Squinting at the designs, Tovart endeavored to find some sort of matching metalwork in the aisle - or at least something similar enough to Michael could magick into the proper shape.



He was, despite the distraction of errand running, heavily aware of the stic - uh, wand - stuffed in the back pocket of his jeans. Since he'd gotten it, it hadn't left his pocket for very long (which was honestly probably the only reason Tovar hadn't lost the poor...thing).



"Avarice, put that back."



"Don't get yer panties in a wad, D, you know what I gotta do."



"But that lady saw you."



An audible hiss sounded from behind the shelf beyond Tovar's, followed by a lower. "Why are you so damn loud? That nut you call an uncle is corrupting you. ********. You even have his hair."



The conversation dimmed, and seemed to be quite finished for the moment. A small scuffing noise was present at the end of the display line should he be listening. A child, slightly hunched in his stance, was pacing down the aisle at a rather stiff pace. A grumpy expression populated his features, almost hidden beneath a mop of dense, green curls. As the boy -he couldn't be more than ten- made his way through, Tovar was ignored to a point. His stance almost completely changed at the new display of shimmering things. His shoulders relaxed and pulled themselves back- his walk turned into a sort of casual sway.



He was persued by another green-haired child, though this one had a more radioactive air to him. This one pinpointed his counterpart immeadiatly, and sent him in a bee-line to the other's side. A golden pair of eyes lilted upon Tovar, a shy sort of smile being offered even though the man might not see.



The one with the darker green hair gave the boy an idle sort of stare, grunting. His opposite creased his brow slightly, as if giving an uncertain expression. Then his eyes flitted to Tovar again, then his cart, golden gaze suddenly lighting up with glee. He was at the man's side at an instant, bobbing up and down alongside the stranger.



"Hey!" Dionaea grinned excitedly, showing off rows of serrated teeth. "Are you gonna make bead animals with those?" A pair of semi-transparent wings twitched on his back excitedly, giving off an obnoxious buzzing sound. Was he... some giant fly?



Meanwhile, the other made his way along behind Tovar, using the distraction to run almost feather light fingers over the man's back pocket and gently prod their way inside. Come on... this guy seemed like he'd have something good on him, though what his hand closed on seemed kind of wet. Avarice was going to try to ease the wand from the man's back pocket, not really knowing what it was, but wanting to see if he could get away with it all the same. And if he was found out? Run. Yeah, that usually worked. Little punk.



Tovar blinked, glancing sharply down at the boy. His attention was caught almost immediately, drawn to the mostly-transparent wings for a few seconds before drifting back to the boy's face. "Excuse me? Animals. Uh..." Not exactly. "Well, honestly, I don't know. They're not for me, you understand." No, just an old bitter man with too much time on his hands and not enough work ethic, Tovar grumped inwardly. Even so, the boy's cheerfulness had served to smooth the man's features -- if only temporarily.



"Tovaaaaaar." The high pitched squealy chirp of a call originated from the end of the aisle. Tovar looked beyond Dionaea, a start of surprise streaking across his features.



"Etain! What are you-- when did you dissapear?" He could have sworn the little boy had been with a few seconds ago... But by the looks of it, the unicorn had been distracted in one of the other aisles. In his little hands, Etain was balancing a rather large box of children's art supplies. He'd probably picked it up because the case was made of some sort of glittery plastic. With a determined expression on his face, Etain wobbled to his guardian and the two other boys - one of which was doing something in Tovar's pocket. Weird. He gave both boys a thoughtful once over when he approached, setting the case of stuff down carefully at Tovar's feet.



"What'cha doin'?" he piped up, apparently in question to the second boy by Tovar's back.



"We're getting things for Michael you know thaaugh!" Tovar jumped two feet in the air when he caught sight of the boy, nearly trampling Etain and Dionaea when he came back down. "What are you doing?"



"Messin' in yer pockets," Etain supplied cheertfully.



Everything was going swimmingly. Dionaea had taken his signal to go distract the man -albeit reluctantly- like the obedient brother he was and the victim to seem none the wiser... That was until Etain came tromping along. If looks could kill...



No, kid. Go the hell away. But it was too late. Tovar was freaking on him, and Dionaea was squeaking in what seemed like surprise, but was really a signal to run while he attempted another distraction. The boy could seizure on call in times like these, but with a sudden jerk of Avarice's head, the action was suppressed.



"I want your lent." The thief said darkly, twitching ever so slightly. Dion almost began to giggle, but gripped onto Tovar's cart instead, trying to use it to get higher and get a look at the list.



"He likes his lent, Ava." Dionaea stared at him reproachfully, before his eyes flickered up to Tovar. "You should see the big ball he's made out of our family's lent! It's blue an' silver an'..." He trailed off, attention jerking to Etain. "Does he... fingerpaint?"



Meanwhile, Avarice had removed his hand from the man's pockets and seemed to be scouring his fingers for something, if only to play off on his lame lie. If this didn't prove fruitful, he'd use his power to sap the energy from the man for a moment and run. He was quite sure he could take down the kid if he had to.



Etain smiled broadly, turning his attention brightly to the other boy. "Nu-uh. C'n I, Tovar?" As if to bring the request home, the little boy stooped and retrieved the bright plastic box of paints and markers, shaking it slightly for emphasis and looking up mournfully at his guardian.



Tovar looked slowly between all three boys. Self-consciously, he reached into his back pocket and moved the damp sti--uh, wand-- from one pocket to the other. There was probably a dark splotch where the condensation had seemed into the denim, he thought darkly. He tried to ignore it, shifting slightly to put his back to the rack of crafting supplies. "We can talk about this later, Etain. -Where did you two boys come from, anyway? Is your...mom around or anything like that?" It seemed strange that they might be running around all by themselves. How old could they possibly be? Probably not that much older than Etain.



"I have a cousin who'd love-" Dion paused slightly, eyes widening at Tovar. "Are we in trouble?"



"We dun have a mother." Avarice supplied, eyes slowly following the transfer of the wand. Something he wouldn't ever truly be interested in. "What is that?"



"We have a babysitter. A grandma, I think." Dion commented quietly. "But we hid from her and got away." A small smile flickered across his face.



"There you are..." Farther down the aisle, a rather pale woman swayed. Black hair matted over her eyes for the moment, but she made no move to brush them away. She simply slid forth towards the group, gripping a long piece of black material firmly. In the crook of her arm lay a corpereal form, purple in coloring and a bit jagged considering its wispy exterior. The woman didn't seem to notice she was carrying a squid of sorts.



"Kyo." Avarice turned towards her, suddenly scowling.



"Hm..." The curtain of hair moved to face Tovar as she approached. "They haven't been causing you any trouble yet, have they, sir?"



"Avarice was doing it again."



"Shuddap!"



Tovar shook his head quickly, offering the spindly woman a faint smile he no doubt meant to be warm. "No, no trouble at all. They just...surprised me a bit." He chuckled, a rough nervous sound that died quickly. Unconsciously, his fingers found the top of Etain's hair, twisting faintly into the boy's pale hair. Not enough to hurt or pull. More of a head rub than anything - like someone might give a favorite dog or cat. Etain settled comfortably into the head rub, features content. Tovar found it was usually a good idea to distract Etain when he met new people - he could never be sure when the boy would freak out or not...



Even so, Tovar's attention was quickly drawn to the...entity...at the crook of the woman's arm. He didn't realize he was staring until he jerked his gaze up to the woman's face, offering a brief apologetic smile. "Ah, er. Sorry. Didn't mean to stare..."



A pale hand lifted, exposing the shackled wrist of her free hand as she parted the veil of hair over her face and tucked one half behind her ear. A navy-colored eye settled on Tovar before moving along to Etain, then her own. The hand then was held out, palm facing outwards, towards the boys that seemed to be under her care. Dionaea moved immediatly to this gesture, hopping off the cart. A smile was given to Etain before the boy trotted towards her. Only Avarice stayed behind; rebellious.



"They have that effect. Especially this little one here." She moved her hand fondly over the boy's toxic green hair, which was spattered with purple splotches. Still, she kept her eye on Tovar, Avarice, and Etain.



"No, it is alright... This is his effect on others." A lazy, dismissive gesture with her free hand was given.



Meanwhile, the little head turned towards Tovar's general direction, what seemed like tentacles reaching. "We're sorry to have been in your way... Avarice."



But the boy wouldn't move, glancing between them suspiciously. "Who carries a wet stick around with them everywhere?"



Tovar glanced uneasily between the three -- four, that thing in her arm was definitely a someone and not a something --. Etain didn't seem to note anything quite so suspicious as Tovar's gut instinct did, though. Rather, the fair haired, bright eyed unicorn offered all of them a bright smile as he chewed lightly on the corner of his thumb.



"Hey, missus - what's on yer arm? Is it gooey?"



So much for tact. Tovar winced slightly, clearing his throat. In an attempt to overlap Etain's questioning, he looked quickly to the second boy - Avarice, was it? "It's not a stick," he corrected absently. "It's a wand. Supposedly there's someone inside it." Or something like that.



Kyo blinked slightly down at Etain, lips pursing at the question. However, her normally dead eyes seemed to spark with laughter her tired body couldn't muster at the moment. Cute. He was cute. "It's a little boy, just like you."



"Someone inside it?" Good thing he hadn't managed to touch it for long, then. Avarice could suck the life out of the wand if he so desired, though he probably wouldn't. He glanced to Kyo again and her wand. "Like Xerksis?"



"...Did you... receive that wand from a woman named Ianna, then?" Kyo had never heard of spirits coming from wands before. The thought of coming across another wand-owner was enough to make her suck up her silent embarrassment and linger a little longer. She wanted her charge to come into as much contact with others in the same situation as she could manage. This man seemed a little shaken and awkward -this was what she interpreted his aura color- but not hostile.



Etain eyed the gooey thing in the lady's arm suspiciously. It didn't look like any boy he'd seen before. His little face scrunched up into a slightly sour expression, lower lip pouting out slightly in serious consideration. Well, if she said so...- she was a grownup, and grownups usually told the truth, right? Except for Michael anyway. He said mean things and lied sometimes; like when he tried to get Etain to stuff his head in the cookie jar because there was a prize at the moment if he could...



Tovar hadn't been happy about the big hole his horn had left in the bottom.



The man's fingers closed on the wand in his back pocket, a startled expression streaking across his features. "Yes - that's right. Ianna from the wand shop. He's..." Tovar hesitated, eyeing the 'little boy' in the woman's arms thoughtfully. "It'll turn into that?" It seemed somewhat insensitive to think of his own wand as an 'it' or a 'that,' but Tovar just couldn't wrap his brain around someone living inside the stick. Not yet, anyway; not enough to give the person a diffinitive sex, even if Ianna had said the soul inside was male.



"...I don't know. I'm supposing yours is... a different race than mine." She had ignored Etain for the moment. The little unicorn didn't really believe her, but she wasn't troubled. He was young- he'd learn not everything was as it seemed and that things took time to change into what was considered 'normal'. The two kids with her didn't really believe Xerk could be anything more than a monster, either.



"May I see yours?" She asked, gently rocking the ghostly child when it tried to wriggle towards the new minds not too far away.



"He's a Kelpie," Tovar supplied absently, not entirely confident with what he was saying. Ianna had told him that too, but... Shrugging, Tovar carefully pulled the wand out from his back pocket. What could it hurt, right? By the looks of it, the woman knew what she was talking about, even had the same kind of...child? Besides, if she tried anything, Tovar was fairly confident he could take her.



The wand really didn't look like much. Just a long, slightly knotty stick with bits of river grass hanging off it. The only physically interestesting trait of the sti--wand--was that it wouldn't stay dry. Tovar had tried to, but fifteen paper towels later he'd decided it just wasn't worth it and it wasn't fair to the environment to keep trying.



"A..."



"What's a kelpie?" Asked Dion curiously, though quieted as he was patted again. Generally, Kyo didn't like giving out Xerk's race, but this man seemed to be in the same boat of 'evil' races. She craned her head a bit, searching for something with her eyes. "Male, but you knew that. Soon, you will probably achieve a similar stage to this... But I really have not seen any other wisps aside from mine. They've all been children, which... mine will be soon."



Kyo had a few nasty tricks up her sleeves, but she wasn't planning on snagging his wand. She wasn't that sort of person. "Mine is... an Illithid. A Mind Flayer. That's why he looks like this... Do you know what those are?"



Tovar pursed his lips into a thin line, glancing to Dion regretfully before his features bloomed into a careful smile. "It's...a magic horse." Etain glanced up, elongated ears pricking slightly. "Like'a unicorn?"



Tovar floofed the hair behind his ears and murmured something noncommital in response, raising his eyes back to the woman. Honestly, he had no clue what an Illithid was. Michael would probably know, Tovar mused; not that Michael knowing would help him at that precise moment. "No idea. I'm afraid my study of...races has been a little limited." At least he'd heard of Kelpies before, though; Tovar couldn't ever recall hearing something similar to a 'Mind Flayer.'



Redd Vengeance: Dion cocked his head slightly, considering the idea of a 'magic horse'. He was satisfied with the answer, though, as he made no more comment about it. Instead, he simply smiled towards Etain, friendly by nature even though he allowed his much more malicious brother to push him around. The other boy looked soft! Next to him, Avarice gave Tovar a barely-concealed look of disbelief.



"Well, it's something of a..."



"Slimy squid!" Dion interjected with a grin, obviously not at all grossed out by the concept. "Lookit! Tentacles!" As he pointed roughly towards the whisp, the baby ghost reached out with its smoky hand and nabbed at his finger. However, it still turned its head towards the newcomers, sending a few psionic waves the child's way first.(c)

Redd Vengeance: What was more or less shoved at the little unicorn with no teqhnique whatsoever was an image of purple smoke, and nothing more. However, it might come at the cost of a small migrain. Maybe it wouldn't quite reach the other or simply bounce off- that had happened a few times. It was simply a test, for the ghostling was eager to send pictures or images to someone ever since it had been spoken to in its wand stage. Of course it wouldn't consider if it would hurt anyone in the process.(d)



Tovar blinked, watching the slow, undulating moment of the creature neatly clasped in the woman's arms. "A squid, huh?"



"Tovar," Etain squeaked, burying his face into the young man's thigh, tugging slightly at the hem of his sweater. For a moment, the chestnut haired man brushed the call off. The little boy probably just wanted to talk about his paints set again. Etain was getting understandably bored with his guardian talking to so many strangers at so many hours of the day - it certainly seemed to happen quite a bit as of late. He was fully ready to inquire further on the spirit's state until the unicorn tugged at his sweater again.



Frowning slightly, Tovar glanced down. "What's wrong, Etain?"



"My head hurts," the little boy muttered into the fabric of his jeans. "It's all foggy and stuffy in their and it makes behind my eyes ache."



Tovar suddenly felt remarkably guilty for having ignored the boy. Carefully, he floofed Etain's hair in a clearly hopeful matter that it might make the pale skanned boy feel a little better. He did like his hair played with... It didn't seem to help though. Frowning further, Tovar glanced to the woman and her children.



"I...I apologize; he's never done this before. Maybe we've been out too long. You know how kids are."



Dissapointment was a feeling the little ghost did not know yet, but it knew its message had not conveyed itself. That was fine- there was still one more new mind left! Perhaps they'd be able to entertain him a little. Just looking around now had become boring to it.



"You got a headache?" Dionaea asked, eyes suddenly alight. "I've got something for that, I think..." And he began to dig in his pockets excitedly, quite ready to play doctor.



Kyo's expression shifted ever so slightly, keeping her gaze away from Xerksis at all costs. At least Etain didn't burst into screaming tears like the little baby had when Xerk tried prodding at their mind. She could fix the headache without exerting any force, but she refrained from reaching out to the boy. Only if he really started crying would she help, but until then she kept her ability to herself. Perhaps it'd fade away after a bit...(c)



"He's fakin' it." Scoffed Avarice unhelpfully, eying Etain while Dionaea begin to pull all sorts of things from his pockets. "Dion, band-aids aint gonna help..."



"No?" Dion frowned, shoving a rather large frog into Avarice's hands. "Maybe you should let him get a nap, mister."



Xerksis had finally gathered up enough power to send out another message, shoving it this time in Tovar's direction. Kyo had known what was going on, but she didn't dare mention it was her child that was causing the little boy pain. 'Oh, yeah, he makes people have headaches sometimes.' Like that wouldn't be enough of a reason to stay away from him. She didn't want the child to be lonely even before he came fully into the world.



"Yes, I understand. It's quite alright- at least he isn't throwing a tantrum like a few little boys I know... It is really me who should apologize to you. Will you... head home?"(d)



"No, no," Tovar assured her, smiling faintly. "I'm sure he'll be fine, right Etain?" Truth be told, he wanted to stick around a bit. He really wouldn't mind finding out a little more about this Mind Flayer creature. Etain's headache was a little worrisome, but Tovar was willing to be it might be fixed by a trip to the park and a good lunch. He did stoop and retrieve the paint set that Etain had laid out across the aisle floor though, tucking it under one arm.



As he straightened, Tovar winced slightly and bit the inside of his cheek. That was strange... -Starting, he looked quickly in the direction of the infant-shaped cloud of fog. He could have sworn - but that was ridiculous. His head throbbed, suddenly plainful between the temples. "Actually," he said at length, clearing his throat slightly. "I'm beginning to feel a -a touch light headed myself. Perhaps it would be a good idea if we did get going."

Navy-colored eyes took in the two's visible auras as they shifted and dotted themselves with discomfort. They weren't lying- not that she thought they were. As Tovar looked towards the wand, Kyo almost started, but managed to plant herself firmly. Did he know? As if feeling the gaze, the spirit turned its head towards the man and twitched its four astral tentacles in smooth succession.

"I think it's time we made a journey home as well," Kyo announced softly, reaching out and lightly smacking Avarice's hand away from a display shelf with surprising agility. "Before these two get in any more trouble. It has been a pleasure meeting you, Tovar. Etain."

"We havta go?" Avarice whined, looking towards the man he had previously tried to pick-pocket. Dionaea beside him made no protest out loud, but worry was clearly etched onto his features. Kyo seemed to be in no mood to humor the sin's protests, nudging the boys gingerly in the direction of the store's entrance. She spared one more glance towards the other two before sliding after them, holding the ghost and it's wand closer to her, as if she could shield the others from the psionic powers with her body alone.

Reserved for Xerk/Benu rp

Today, I went shopping to prepare for the upcoming baby, Xerksis. I had not intended to see or be accompanied by anyone, but as soon as I was getting ready to leave, Talis sent Avarice along with me. I'll admit I get lost every now and again, but couldn't Dionaea go with me instead? Or with him? I have decided Talis' eldest is the one that brings out the best qualities in Avarice.

Sin is what that child is- Talis has confirmed it after much talk. It's not that I don't like Avarice, it's just... I don't know how to say this, or write it for that matter. He's predictable. As a teen he has begun to steal things more and more. Is it not understandable why I didn't want to bring him into a toy-store without supervision? When he was a child, I was able to keep an eye on him, but as a teenager he is much more feisty and quick. At least with Dion he'd respect me a little better. Or my wishes, that is. He's never had any respect for me.

Anyway, we went, and I managed to pick up a few toys for the baby.




It's time to fix a place for him to stay. As of now, I believe he will be staying in my room. The apartment here has three rooms only and all of them are occupied. I think we will be moving, for our family's sake. And not only that, I get a bit nervous staying in one place for long. A house sounds reasonable at the moment, but I'll have to start house-hunting and checking the newspapers. Maybe Redd will know where there are some- she's out and about a lot.

Speaking of Redd, she's supposed to be bringing the crib and changing table soon. I'm curious to see if she's carrying any of it herself. Well, I really need to move the bed and make a place for them now before I fall aslee...