|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 12:23 am
[Boyan]
New journal!
It's been a year since we last made an entry? That's so not true. Maybe it is. I don't know. We've been very busy! A lot of things have happened! Arc has been very busy listening to music. She likes the keyboard best. No, she doesn't like pianos. Synthesizers are better, she says. I don't see why. Pianos are so much nicer and delicate.
That might be why she doesn't like them unless they're used for a bassline like in The Offspring's "Hit That". Melo likes it. I think it's noise. Noise, noise, noise. Real music is pleasant. Not jarring.
This is a short update, sorry. Melo has a pie in the oven and I have to be ready with the fire extinguisher. sweatdrop
[Edit - Arc] Bobobo doesn't know wut he's talking about! The Offspring r AWESOME! His music is BORING.
[Edit - Boyan] Please don't call me "Bobobo".
[Edit - Arc] Maaaaaaaaan. No fun. YOU LOSE AT THE INTERNETS.
[Edit - Boyan] ...
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 4:35 am
[Arc]HEY! Who missed me? Anyone? Ah, whateva! It's been, like, a year, right? I wuz stuck doing housework the WHOLE TIME! Unfair! So anywayz, I got a new journal, right? Time to write in it and show you guyz wutz ^! Okay!  This is Bobobo! Or "BOYAAAAAAAAAAN" if he's feeling grumpy, which is like, alwayz! He's all like "Why you gotta name me after sum guy who fightz with his NOSE HAIR?" And I'm just like, "You should'a thought of that before you got named 'Bobobo', kay?" Then he getz all grouchy and then I've gotta eat Mello's cooking. Yeah, so!  This is Mello! Mello's a lot cooler, except her cooking tastes like feet. It's like, "HI! I'M A PLATE OF GYM SOCK!" Hahaha. But really, she'z cool. Even if her namez the same as that guy from Death Note who always gives the crazy face and is like "CHOKLET CHOMP CHOMP!" And then therez me! Arc Stanza! Coolest name ever, right? Right! I've got the coolest iPod ever, right? Maybe I'll let you guyz see it someday. Maybe. So whoz got some music for me? I KNOW YOU DO! Ha! Lates!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 30, 2006 1:19 am
[Boyan]
Melody and I find ourselves in the possession of another Core. Inspection reveals the the type is called the "Chinese Writing Stone". Indeed, I suppose the markings of the stone could be interpreted as such, though they would mean nothing.
The Chaos tells me that what will be revealed in time will be vastly different from Arc, though it does not elaborate how. Should I be relieved? Should I be disappointed? Does it truly matter? Like all children, she will be of a unique appearance and chracter. As long as I can nurture her, all will be well.
Melody is quite excited and already making plans. Upon the prophecy I received, she has begun arranging a playlist of sorts for the Core. Whether or not it will be able to hear remains to be seen.
Arc, however...
With Melody's attention directed elsewhere, and my own in contemplation with the Chaoses...
I suppose it is only understandable that she be jealous.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu May 18, 2006 3:40 pm
[RESERVED FOR BOYAN'S BIRFDAY]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 4:31 am
[Zhen]
Dear Diary,
Grandfather Boyan gave you to me, along with two others like you. But, you see, I've chosen to write in you first. Since there are three diaries in total, I'll have plenty of room to write. I won't hold back!
The house and my room are adequate. A bit on the small side. But that's all right, because they're very beautifully decorated. And Grandfather and Auntie Melody have given me so many beautiful trinkets! How can I possibly disapprove?
Thank you, Grandfather~ Thank you, Auntie~
Now, were it not for the matter of the constant noise of my jealous "sister," life would be quite pleasant. I suppose we can't all be civil. Oh well~ It's not my problem.
I wonder if Grandfather will get me a headset for my music player? I want an elegant headset that won't muss my hair. I'm sure he'll give me one if I ask nicely enough and say "pleeeeeeeeease?" heart
Love, Zhen
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 4:34 am
[Arc]
OK THIS SUX. So get this, k? I'm all mindin my own bizness with Bobobo and Mello, and then Farthead haz to go n make a scene. Like "Y does Arc get all the nice thingz?" And u know wut? Bobobo n Mello go n get her nice thingz to shut her up.
HELLO NO FAIR. When I do it I'm spoiled, but when she does it she's kewt? WUTEVA.
Farthead is goin down.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2006 1:41 am
Quest time!
Arc has not been getting along with her new "sister," especially since her adoptive parents tend to dote on Zhen. Her tactics for gaining attention have been questionable, and finally one of her plots completely backfires, leaving Arc isolated and alone, this time for real.
Somehow Arc must come to terms with herself, and the effect her actions have on others. At the same time, she needs to recognize her own self-worth, as well as the love around her, and work towards making a step forward- though where that step will take her, only she can say.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2006 2:05 am
[Quest]
Hi, my name's Arc, and I'm a screwup. A bad kid. I'd usually say somethin' like "Hi, I'm Arc and I'm an alcoholic," but I don' wanna make a joke. Jokes are what got me into this.
It's all that stupid Fartface's fault! Not mine! She was supposed to get scared, yeah, but she wasn' supposed to fall! She shouldn't have worn that stupid shirt that rips when I grab it!
It's all her fault.
I haven't heard nothing since Grampa and Mello took her to the hospital. I didn't even get texted or nothing. Stupid Fartface.
Not fair. Not fair. Not fair.
I've never seen Mello so mad. I've never seen her mad at all. But she was mad today. It was rainin', and Zhen was tellin' me about the curtains she was gonna put in her room. They were gonna be lacy and fancy and something stupid. But she was rubbing it in my face! So I pushed her.
She wasn't supposed to fall.
The windowsill was slick or somethin' or she slid on some bug guts. And she fell right out. Didn't even scream or nothin'. Just... fell. I heard somethn' crack, and then Mello and Grampa screamed. They didn' even see or hear a thing. They're just mindin' their own business, and as soon as she hit, BAM. They were screamin'.
Porcelain feel pain like it was their own. That's it. Grampa told me once. Told me not to hurt no one.
She wasn't supposed to get hurt! It's her fault! I tried to grab her shirt, but it ripped!
And that's gonna be my fault too, rippin' her shirt. Everything's my fault.
And Mello just GLARED at me from the ground. I was lookin' down on them. It felt like I ate a slurpee too fast. And she looked up and was cryin'... and she just glared. She was pissed.
It wasn't my fault. She shouldn't'a glared at me like that. It was an accident.
She didn't say nothin', but I knew what she was sayin'. "How could you, Arc?"
Well it wasn't my fault, okay?!
They went without me to the hospital. They didn't say nothin', but I knew. They were too mad. I didn't hear nothin' from 'em, either. Just picked her up and went.
Stupid Fartface. Stupid Mello. Stupid Grampa. They can't leave me alone! That's child endangerment! I'm gonna call social services or somethin', and THEN they'll be sorry. I'll get to go to a home where people actually LIKE me, and then they'll be all like "Ohhhh where's Arc? Oh wait, we were bad parents for leavin' her alone by herself and now she's gone." And then they'll cry and be sorry they paid more attention to Fartface than they did to me.
...
Who am I kiddin', anyway? They'll be glad I'm gone. They've got Fartface. They don't need me. They don't need me to wake 'em up on special occasions or... or bother 'em in the kitchen or... while they're gardening...
And... and they wouldn't have me around makin' trouble, either. They'd just... be happy.
Well... Fartface had better learn to tell Mello her cooking sucks without hurting her feelings. And... And she'd better learn to do it fast because Friday is chili night! And...
...And I was kinda lookin' forward to it. Because Fartface was going to eat it to get on Mello's good side, and then she'd be fartin' like crazy all night. And I coulda had my first laugh at her expense.
And maybe if she took it good... I woulda told her... that she has to take a Beano chaser or else she'd be hurtin' all night.
Well... she's hurtin' now.
...
I wonder if she's okay. They've been gone a long time. Maybe she's dead and they're freezin' her until there's a cure for bein' pushed out a window. Or maybe she's a zombie an' Grampa and Mello are lookin' for shotguns.
That would be kinda cool, if she were a zombie. She might be a little nicer.
Or she'd just haunt me from beyond th' grave or somethin'.
They've been gone for like twelve hours. I should'a been in bed by eleven. I'll be in trouble when Grampa and Mello get back.
More trouble, I guess.
Maybe... maybe they're just worried. Grampa and Mello get that way sometimes. Maybe they're out lookin' for another home for me or...
No! They wouldn' do that! They're not like that! And... And besides! They can't get rid of me! I'm family!
It's not...
...
Even if it is my fault.
I shouldn't'a pushed her. I should'a just called her a fartface and left. Or...
Or I should'a taken Grampa's advice and talked things out first. I thought it was baloney but...
Maybe... it would'a worked. I thought Grampa and Mello knew how I felt but... But Grampa has this hangup about learnin' lessons and...
What if this was all a test?
I flunked it.
They wouldn' purposely hurt me jus' to make me talk, though, right? But...
...
They did kinda treat me a lot better when I first got here. And... they still do treat me good, but they don' put up with more or nothin'.
And...
Mello seemed kinda...
Was she sad that I wouldn' help Zhen? There! I said it! I called her by her name and not Fartface! Are you happy Grampa? Are you happy, Mello?!
Zhen! Zhen, Zhen, Zhen, Zhen, Zhen, Zhen, Zhen!
Zhen Zhen Bo Ben, Banana Fanna Fo Fen, Me My Mo Men, ZHEN.
So come back already. I'll say I'm sorry. I... I guess I am sorry I pushed you out the window, but... but it was an accident! I just wanted to scare you... I didn't wanna hurt you...
I don't wanna be a screwup. I don't wanna be a bad kid. I just wanna be Arc. I wanna be the one who makes Grampa laugh, and I wanna be the one to find Mello's stuffed kitty because I was the one who hid it. I wanna play with 'em again. I wanna make a joke funny enough to make Grampa fall out of his chair again.
I wanna be their light again. They called me that once. Their light. "What, like christmas lights?" And they were like yeah, just like christmas lights. Because christmas lights are colorful and blinky. And they make people happy by lookin' at 'em.
I wanna be christmas lights again. Maybe if Fartface is okay... maybe they'll let me be their light again.
And... and maybe I can just...
I won't promise to like 'er. Because she's still a fartface. But... maybe if I was a better kid...
I'd make 'em laugh instead of cry.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2006 3:58 am
[Melody]
I... I can't believe this. She-- everyone-- It's just so-- aieee...
My face is still wet, but that can't be helped. My leg and arm hurts. Little Zhen's arm and leg hurts. Doctor said they were broken but will be just fine. She's so sad and... what do I do? What do I do? What do I do when someone hurts someone else on purpose and I don't know what to do.
I want to let her feel that everything will be all right. I feel horrible. But daddy says there are reasons for all things and...
I just wanted them to learn to help each other. I didn't want this.
Is it okay to leave her? Is it okay? We're not in the hospital anymore. We're at a late night diner that serves ice cream. I like ice cream, but it's so cold... It feels about right.
Daddy feels what is right... right?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2006 4:09 am
[Boyan]
Little Writing Stone asked for the hot fudge brownie sundae. The fudge eats through the chocolate ice cream, and it all melts into a soupy mess. We're all melting. We're all melting. We all feel cold, but there is heat where the arm and leg break. It is an uncomfortable heat. All of us feel it.
Little Porcelain asked for mint. She doesn't taste it. She only feels the cold.
Little Lodestone has no ice cream, but is cold nonetheless. The warmth she will feel shouldn't come from the breaks; it should come from the heart. So we wait. We melt.
It hurts, but we feel better. Calmer. Little Writing Stone is pleased with the cherry on her sundae and asks for another. She shows off her cast of the same color. She will not allow any to write on it as tradition often dictates. She does not want the clean surface to be marred. I feel that it will be only a matter of time before she asks for witnesses to her bravery to leave their mark on the armor. For now, little Writing Stone prefers the clean of a blank sheet.
There is much Little Lodestone learns tonight, but much she still has to understand. She knows her help with Little Writing Stone is needed, but does not know why.
She no longer points south rather than north. It is only a matter of time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2006 4:14 am
[Zhen]
She pushed me.
SHE pushed ME.
She had no right.
I wanted to get back at her, but Grandfather Boyan and Auntie Melody say that it's unladylike. I didn't care. But then Grandfather Boyan told me that if I dislike someone, I just need to be better than them.
Well, that's easy. But I should be MORE better.
Watch out, dear sister, because I'm going to be so nice and sweet it's going to make your teeth hurt. And then we'll see who the better one is.
Oh, and by the way?
I have a sundae. You don't.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2006 4:36 am
It was light when they finally returned home. Zhen was fast asleep, sleeping comfortably in Boyan's arms with her head on his shoulder. Melody trailed some distance behind, eyes drooping and a styrofoam container in her hands. The smell of pancakes and sausage wafted through the damp morning air as they trekked back the house; all ready for bed... except one.
When they finally reached the house, Boyan and Melody traded burdens. Melody gently took Zhen in her arms in order to carry her to bed, and Boyan took the breakfast.
The house was silent.
The utensil drawers seemed to be a thousand times noisier during this time of the day. The screeching of the drawers as they were opened and shut. The clatter of silverware being arranged. A fork being dropped.
It didn't matter. Zhen wasn't waking anytime soon, and Melody hardly noticed. And Arc...
Well. She'd be awake soon enough.
Boyan always knocked before entering a room, but this time, he made an exception. The door was thankfully silent as he slipped into Arc's room, breakfast and utensils in tow. A pause, and then he gently sat on the edge of her bed.
Arc was curled in the corner of her bed, against the wall. She'd been sitting up when she fell asleep, and Boyan noted with some sympathy that she'd be waking up sore, even though she'd only recently fallen asleep.
Her cheeks were still wet when Boyan reached out to touch them. One finger gently trailed down her face, and then another... and soon, he was brushing the tears from her face as gently as he could manage.
The first thing Arc was aware of were warm hands on her face. Gentle hands. And the gentle gesture of...
Her eyes slowly opened.
"Nnn?"
"Sssh," Boyan answered, tucking a lock of her hair behind her ear. "I bring you breakfast." The words were forced and heavily accented, but still gentle. Soothing. Melodic. "You eat."
"Is Zhen dead?" Arc mumbled, turning her face away.
"Silly."
"She's okay?"
"Two breaks. Arm, leg. She is sore but sleeps."
"Is she angry?"
"All things healing in time."
"Are... Are..." Arc's voice wavered. "Are you angry?"
Boyan laughed quietly. "Angry grandfathers no bring breakfast. I bringing Little Lodestone favorite." He opened the styrofoam. "Sleeping piggies."
Arc sniffled wetly, allowing a small laugh. "Pigs in blankets."
"Sleeping piggies." He set the container aside and pulled Arc into his lap, wrapping his arms tightly around her. "Not being as sore as Little Lodestone, no?"
"Uh huh," Arc sniffled miserably.
A gentle smile, and then Boyan kissed the top of Arc's head. "All things healing in time."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 27, 2006 2:24 pm
Nearly a month had passed since the accident. Zhen's two casts, once untouched fields of pink, had since been drawn on. A rainbow of sharpie markers were to thank for the field of colorful flowers now adorning Zhen's casts; all drawn by Zhen herself. No one else was to draw on her casts, she decreed, for they might "mess up" in ways that Zhen could not.
Boyan and Melody respected the decision, and it took many a discouraging glare to keep Arc from sneaking a mark or twenty onto the casts while Zhen slept.
Perhaps it was guilt that prompted the private shopping trip that followed. Melody and Boyan both knew that they had inadvertantly played favorites when Zhen entered the house, even if that wasn't anything even close to their intent. And perhaps that was why Melody took Arc out shopping shortly after the accident-- to buy "whatever clothes Arc wanted." Arc had been quickly outgrowing her clothing anyway, but perhaps Boyan and Melody wouldn't have been so generous were they not feeling a bit guilty for what had happened.
And perhaps it was pity that kept Boyan and Melody from scolding Zhen for whining and complaining during that month, even if her near-tantrums were on the verge of going too far.
But there was no explanation for what happened at the end of the month.
Zhen had been sitting in the middle of the living room floor, broken leg extended and out of the way, and a Barbie doll in each hand. She was comparing them; judging their worth. The prettier one would be the one she played with tonight, and the other would be cast aside.
The dark-haired doll in the princess gown was always the one that Zhen picked in the end. And tonight was no different. She set "Beach Barbie" aside indifferently and began to methodically brush the other doll's hair.
Arc was sprawled on the loveseat, her attention focused on her Gameboy SP. The music was off; she had her own music pumping through her mp3 player. Her feet twitched in rhythm with her music, and her face was expressionless; save for an occasional grimace or grin at the game.
Melody was quietly sewing in the rocking chair, a quilt in her lap. She'd only just begun to learn how to sew, and the mask of absolute concentration on her face was a clear indicator that the task she was focusing on was just a little outside her realm of expertise. That didn't deter her from trying, though, and she continued to stitch, hunching over the quilt as if to protect it.
And Boyan...
Boyan sat cross-legged on the floor across from Zhen, his attention not on the doll-playing in front of him, but on the ceiling. Or rather, through the ceiling. While the girls were all focused on tasks in front of them, Boyan's thoughts were arguably not on this planet. He toyed with his hair absently as he continued to stare at nothing, jaw slack.
Until he suddenly bolted upright, startling everyone in the room. Arc jumped. Zhen dropped her doll. And Melody pricked her finger, squealing with surprise and pain as she stuck her wounded finger in her mouth.
"What, what, what?!" Arc was the first one to speak, pulling her headphones down so they rested around her neck.
Zhen was next. "What's wrong, Grandpa?"
Melody simply sucked on her finger miserably.
Still standing, Boyan's gaze drifted lethargically from Arc to Zhen to Melody, as if he were coming out of a heavy sleep. The projections coming from his mind were garbled. Unintelligible. But at the same time, full of purpose.
All three girls exchanged glances as he left the house. Arc shrugged. Zhen shook her head. Melody averted her gaze.
Finally, she set her sewing aside and strode to the door, finger still in her mouth as she peeked outside. "...Ah!"
When she withdrew her finger from her mouth and trotted outside, leaving the door wide open, Arc and Zhen exchanged another wordless glance. With a faint shrug from Arc, they both climbed to their feet and walked (or hobbled, in Zhen's case) to the door.
And that was when everything fell into place.
Boyan and Melody were kneeling on either side of what seemed to be another core. Melody's face was creased with worry, but Boyan's was nearly sparkling with Love.
It seemed only Arc had anything to say on the subject, which appeared to be a closed case the moment Boyan and Melody laid eyes on the new core.
"Ha, ha. That makes you the middle child, fartface."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 2:27 pm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 25, 2006 3:11 am
The Jejune June Café was near-deserted on Christmas morning. After all, why shouldn't it be? It was the only shop open in all of downtown Gaia, and everyone was busy opening gifts at home.
Everyone, of course, except the Keth family.
June had known from experience that the coffeehouse would be deserted on Christmas morning, and that's exactly why she'd called Boyan and asked him to bring his family.
So at eight in the morning, the coffeehouse, though sparse in population, was bustling with life.
Luna, Jokeph, and little Caroline were seated at a safe distance behind the counter; no sense overstimulating the baby at this early hour. Luna enjoyed a fruit-filled pastry, occasionally dipping her finger into the icing that topped it and holding it out for Caroline to taste. Jokeph seemed oddly calm and pleasant, a shy smile never leaving his face as he watched over mother and child.
Ying had moved a few tables and chairs away from the middle of the coffeehouse, giving herself a large enough area to work with to show off her martial arts to an adoring crowd; Arc, Zhen, and Harmony, Boyan's Jumi "Granddaughters". At this point, she was so familiar with the movements that she looked as if she were dancing across the floor. This captivated Arc, as dance, rhythm, and music were her life. And the sheer grace of her movements was what caught Zhen's attention. The sight of a display so beautiful that Arc and Zhen were moved to peace was what drew Harmony, and she watched as well, enthralled by the dance.
Boyan had his arms wrapped around his grown daughter, Melody, his face buried in the top of her head and projecting warm, gooey feelings of contentment. They'd only just finished exchanging gifts; Boyan had given Melody a beautiful stone with a small hole drilled into it, through which a cord of leather was threaded. Melody, on the other hand, had given her father a rubber duck and a bar of strawberry-scented soap, which, judging by the scene that resulted, he received extremely well.
And June sat on top of the counter, watching the store with a mug of hot cocoa in her hands. Her eyes drifted from child to child, and her thoughts were on when all of them were so little. Boyan, the ditzy Porcelain with an oral fixation. Melody, the sweet and adorable baby. Ying, the firecracker of a child who set fires in the bathroom sink. Luna, projecting and making friends while still inside the womb. Jokeph, a faint angelic projection in front of an armoire. And then there was little Caroline, her granddaughter, whom June had yet to become acquainted.
It was enough to make a sentimental fool out of her.
She dabbed at one eye with the back of her hand, and hopped off the counter. "Who wants a cup of cocoa?"
And as she quickly found herself surrounded by her children, her grandchildren, and her children's grandchildren, June couldn't help but laugh. Not at any one particular amusement, but a laugh of pure joy.
For all her weaknesses, mistakes, and frustrations along her life's path, she couldn't help but feel...
...That maybe, in this place called Gaia...
She'd finally done something right.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
