[NRP] Cody & Thalion's Log

[Thalion]

Cody looked to the pile of papers with mixed emotions. The visit to the school had been something that had both frightened and excited the bull boy. He had been late for the first few classes but Winter explained it was because she was so busy settling herself in that she had compleely forgotten to take the child to class. He was shy around the other children, mainly because it seemed many already had friendships established. Winter didn't have much to say on the matter... she had grown up moving around from home to home, school to school. Eventually she gave up trying to make any sort of friendships with the mentality that she'd just loose them again and she knew such words shouldn't be told to a child who was afraid of becoming lonely.

She's not move... Cody didn't deserve the life she'd had. She had her job in the cafe. It wasn't much but it was enough to put food on the table and buy the occassional luxury. "It'll be alright." She assured the child as they turned onto a new street. "It's just hard starting out. Like jumping into a swimming pool. Takes a little bit to get used to the water and it takes a lot of guts to jump in."

Cody nodded, flipping through the papers, "Homework." He repeated what the teacher had said.

"Yes, it's a pain." Winter chuckled with the thought that she was past needing to do homework.

"It hurts?" Cody looked shocked, holding the papers away from him.

"No it's an expression, means they're annoying as hell."

"Hell." Cody smirked, Winter snorted, realizing that she wasn't exactally being the best role-model for he boy.

"Yes... hell... I'll give you it if you say that in front of anyone but me, alright? Deal?"

"Yup." Cody grinned, flipping to the next page. "She said...gotta color 'em up purdy."

"We're going to buy you some crayons and a few toys. You get to pick them out but nothing really big, alright?"

"Big?"

"Yeah, I'm not made of money. You'll learn all about that later on. Just show me what you want and I'll tell you yes or now, alright?"

"Gotcha." Cody smiled, stacking the papers neatly and tucking them away in the cream-colored folder at his side. "Is coloring fun?"

"Ooh I like it." Winter glared as a smaller car pulled into the space she had been eyeing, muttering a bit of a colorful language under her breath as she continued circling the lot. Nothing wrong with walking she supposed...

"You color?" Cody leaned himself up in the booster seat to get a better look out the window.

"Yes, in my free time."  

[Thalion]

The house is coming along nicely. It's always hard to move from one place to another. After a while in the back of your mind you just kind of expect to pick up and go after a nomadic life like mine. It's nice in its own right. Not many people have gone far from their hometown and seen the world. They really have no idea of just how big it is, how many places and different kinds of people there are, different landscapes, that sort of thing. The hardest part is the social aspect. You don't know anyone and no one wants to get to know you because you're a new face and that's a change- change is not easily accepted so it's often times either ignored or shunned. Either way it's murder trying to get a job because you can't for the life of you get anyone to vouch for you when it comes time to fill out that lovely section of the application that says 'references'. I was lucky to walk in when I did in the cafe. They were shorthanded for the day and the boss was desperate. After seeing me work, he hired me right on the spot. It's not the best line of work but it beats other jobs that I could have.

Anyway, for Cody this is the best thing for him. We're close to the facility...thing that he'll be needing to stick close to, he'll have the chance to make friends with the others here, and from what I hear, he'll be getting his own dragon. Man and I thought that I was lucky just getting a cat of my own at his age. Anyway, he's doing well in his studies. It takes me a while to get him to actually sit down and do his homework but once he starts something he's quite dedicated in getting it finished and with as much effort as possible. Right now he's working on the last of those worksheets for the letters. We'll work on the numbers together. He's a sharp kid dispite his age, it took him a few times to get the abc's right and he's still drawing letters backwards or upside-down but he knows what he's doing, knows when something's not right.

He's a bit brash when it comes to others. Why the other day the kid just hauled out and tackled an older kid to the ground when his dragon came at me. I'm sure he thougt it was a game- didn't hurt the kid. Heck, he even got a feather out of it though I kind of wish that he hadn't He'll get into his brain that knocking people over means a present. Ah well, he'll learn somehow. Best get over there and help him with the homework. He likes me to choose the colors for things- mainly because he hates having to choose between two colors and ends up snapping the crayons and throwing them accross the room...  

[Thalion]

Cody's become more and more restless. My boss lets me bring him to work if he stays in the back room and behaves himself but it's getting more and more difficult for him to keep out of trouble. I had to work nine hours today, one of the girls called in sick and I'm need of some more hours (No matter how much I can't stand this bs they call a job) so I took over the shift. My boss allowed me to take an hour for a lunch, long enough to walk down to a burger stand and get something for Cody. Of course I felt odd bringing him there. I guess I was tired from work or something because I only realized how... uh... strange it was to bring a cow baby to a burger stand. Thankfully he's quite taken with chicken nuggets. He ate it all, dang that kid never fills up. Anyway, I got him some happy meal thing and he got a small tiger plush that he's toting around.

I felt bad having to leave him in the staff room while I worked, my boss has a TV in there and a few videos, only two were kid's movies. I know Cody was restless by the time my shift was over but he had behaved with very little complaining. Afterwards I took him to the park to run around and burn some of that energy. Lord I can only imagine how he's gonna be when he's a teen, I was told he might be a handful around puberty.

He ran himself pretty hard at the park, swang around, played on a wooden fort. He did pick a fight with a few of the other gaian children there, pushing one of a swing when the kid wouldn't let him have a turn. I know he's not a bad kid but he's got a temper and energy to burn, not a good mix.

He's asleep now, I got tomarrow off... maybe I'll see if I can arrange a play...date thing.  

[Thalion]

God help us all, Cody's discovered his horns....again.

The other day we were brushing out his hair, I was trying to show him how to do it right. He watches TV and movies while I'm at the cafe' and cartoons always brush their hair in like ten seconds by moving it either witch way. Long story short, he tried doing just that and ended up tangling his hair up so bad it took nearly fourty minutes to comb out straight. Of course this involved a lot of kicking and screaming. I was the same way when I was little, when the brush came out I made a run for it. Mom made the mistake of letting me go without brushing it for a week. Eventually she taught me to use the brush myself and though I had to get help from her often, I didn't fight nearly as much and I didn't look like a bush baby. I got Cody a soft-comb brush. It takes forever to use but he's got fine hair so it's less painful for him.

So anyway, while he's brushing he noticed that he has to go over sharp little nubs on his head. He got a small scratch on the bottom of his hand and started crying. Asking all kinds of questions about why they were sharp, what they were, that kind of thing. I didn't even think about it but he found out just what they were for while watching Bambi in the back of the Cafe'. I really should have picked something else but it didn't even cross my mind.

First thing I heard was a thumping. At firest really I didn't think about it Brooms fall down or get knocked over, dishes being done, doors being closed. A resteraunt's always a but loud. But then I heard Cody start screaming. I ran to the back to check up on him and aside from a few shallow holes in the wooden walls, Cody had a bruise right inbetween his eyes.

Well for one he's learned a lesson though I feel horrible for leaving him back there. I'm just hoping he doesn't learn how to use them on other kids or try to butt heads with the other boys.

He's a snuggle bug though. Once I started holding him and trying to calm him down he wouldn't let go. He likes to sleep in my room when it rains, and he's gentle with the cats, not to mention a little gentlemen in public...that is after he's plowed the person to the ground. We'll have to work on that. I think he's just got to make a friend that can keep up with him.  

[Thalion]

And the little bug's skipping classes...

I can't understand this. He's such a good kid. Always does what I tell him to do, always keeping his room picked up (mostly), always doing his homework, and he's decent to the other kids in his own way that involves plowing them to the ground first... but cutting class? I didn't start that till high school and it doesn't count if it's avoiding pep rallies, assemblies, and PE.

I ask him about it and he just shrugs. Maybe the other kids are mean to him? Or maybe his way of showing that he's friendly makes him out to be the mean kid of the class. I'll have to speak to the teacher about it, I don't want him to become a little delinquent.  

[Thalion]

"Yup." Winter said with a smile, marking a line just above Cody's head- ignoring the horns - on the growth chart she had started on the doorway to the bull boy's room, "You're definately taller. See? Take a look." She stepped back, popping the cap right back on the red marker.

Cody stepped away from the door, replacing his hat as he glanced over the marks. The lower one was a bit faded by then, and dated a few months back. The newer mark stood a few inches above the last one, freshly laid with that day's date. "Tootin' tarnation I'm gonna be big ain't I?" He flashed a grin up to Winter, his long tail whipping behind him.

"Heaven forbid." The woman sighed playfully. Of course it was likely he'd be a brute...not so much in height but in actual bulk. The kid seemed to have an endless supply of energy, always running around, working out -his way of course- and tackling kids twice his age because it was fun... to include teachers unfortunately.

The bull boy was back to looking at the mark, flexing his arms as he puffed himeslf up, trying to get higher than the mark- didn't work so well without toes to stand on.

"Oh Cody I have to tell you something." Winter just remembered, it was best to get it out of the way. Not that Cody would be upset, but it was likely he'd be confused at first.

"Huh?" The boy looked over, his rounded ears perking up as he dropped his ears, "I didn't do it."

"No no, not that." Winter chuckled, bending down to pick up her little... son. "You're getting heavy..." She grunted, making her way out to the living room to have a seat. The cat, who was bound and determined to claim her half of the couch with her shedded fluff, looked up lazily as the two plunked down, causing a bit of a jolt to the couch.

"I been eatin' good." Cody boasted, scooting the lip of his hat further up.

"Well that's good." She chuckled, "Alright anyway... you're gonna have a big brother and a little brother."

"Wha?" Cody shook his head, looking slightly confused, "You gettin' another kid from da corp then?"

"No." Winter shook her head, "One of them's name is Pelinore. His guardian died and he's gonna come here to stay with me... and he's got a little brother named Edan. A Cortlin apparently. They just need somewhere to stay and we've got more than enough room."

"The flamin' hell's a cortl-"

"Watch your mouth." Winter tapped his nose, her way of scolding him for language, "I don't know. But they're nice boys and they'll be here so I don't have to bring you to the cafe when I go to work. Edan's about your age so you two can play... and Pelinore has horns."

"Horns like mine?!" Cody grinned, sitting upright, completely ignorin the scolding, "We can butt heads n' stuff like on the movies right?"

"Not really like yours, more curved and no. Just behave. He can probibly show you how to take care of your horns though..."

That seemed to be agreeable enough for the young bull. He nodded his head firmly and re-placed his hat to where it had been, "Godd then. I wanna have someone 'round the house that can play when yer gone. I don't like the cafe' ne how." He hopped himself off his guardian's lap to the ground, flicking his tail around, "Can I go over n' see Keanu? I wanna brawl."

"Only if you're good... I don't want you hurting him or you coming back with a bloody nose. Nice brawl, alright?"

"Nice brawl then." Cody flashed a grin and a thumbs up. "Can do."  

[Thalion]

Winter nodded, turning the page of the story book over. "Alright, now read this page."

"An...th...the cow jumped over the moon." Cody paused to look at the picture. A black and white cow indeed jumping over the moon with a cat down below playing a fiddle, some silverware running away with a plate. "I don't get it." He frowned and shook his head.

"It's a nursery rhyme. This book's full of them." Winter brought the book back over into her lap, "When I was little my grandma always read these to me. They're just fairy tales or rymes for children... I don't know I still like them."

"Can I jump over the moon?" Cody brightened, grabbing onto his horns, "I bet it's special powers ofthe cows right?"

Winter chuckled, "Just about as much as the forks are gonna start running off and our cat's gonna learn to play the fiddle."

"Can he?" Cody blinked, looking over to the overweight tabby.

"No I don't think so. He'd need thumbs to do that. Cats don't have them." Winter chuckled, turning towards the door at a faint knock. "Ah they're here."

"Who?" Cody looked up from the book quickly, both ears rotated forward in interest.

"Well I told you you'd be getting a new brother." Winter stood up from the couch, closing the book over the bookmark carefully and setting it down on the side table. "Come on, don't be rude. I'm gonna open the door and we're going to greet them nicely."

"Nicely." Cody nodded as he hopped down to his hooves with a heavy 'thunk' sound. Winter waited for the boy to join her side before reaching for the handle and opening it up. Only one boy stood there for the moment. He was just a few inches taller than Cody, much thinner, with soft blue eyes and long braided silver hair running down his back. He was dressed nicely in a pair of slacks and a long-sleeve polo shirt... very proper.

"Ahh, you must be Edan." Winter smiled softly.

The boy noded shyly, offering a hand out. "Yes I was told thi-"

It seemed to come out of no where... a blur of brown and white suddenly rushing past the woman that had answered the door right into his thin frame. Edan could swear that from that moment on everything went into slow motion. First he remembered his feet no longer touching the ground then looking up at the sky, even wondering why he was looking at the sky and why it was growing harder to take a breath enough to yelp in suprise. Then the ground, well hello ground.

"CODY!" Winter screamed, horrified.

Edan looked a bit dazed, his eyes drifting arond before they locked onto a grinning face standing over him, just blocking the sunlight out. He groaned and lifted a thin hand over his eyes to block the glare, still unable to get out more than a confused groan.

"Howdy!" Cody said brightly, whipping the air behind him with his tail, "Yer a lightweight. 'eard yer gonna be my brother n' dat means yer gonna play with me right?"

"...p... p...." Edan panted, slowly getting himself to a sit. Ooh he just -knew- he had grass stains on him now.

"Cody get off him!" Winter pulled back on the bull boy's arm then offered a hand down to Edan, "I'm so sorry about that... I should have told him- or warned you... he's kind of...eager."

"To put it lightly." Edan half-joked as he scrambled back to his feet and began to dust himself off.

"I didn't hurt him." Cody snorted, folding his arms accross his chest.

"You could have... we've talked about this before. A handshake will do." Winter sighed, patting Edan on the back as she showed him inside, "I'll get you something to drink, make yourself at home. I have a room all ready for you. It just needs your personal touch I guess."

Cody snorted, kicking a pebble sharply before storming inside after them, "I was just sayin' hi's all. Keanu lets me do it."

"Well next time ask if that's an okay way to say hi..." Winter softened her tone, "I know you're just playing but not everyone's as strong as you are." Lord if that kid got into football...

"I know I know." He huffed.

"It's alright." Edan smiled from the couch, "No harm done. I just wasn't quite prepared for something of that...nature."  

[Thalion]

Howdy Journal,
Winter's teachin me how to write. She said I should start tryin to keep track of my own journals now. I guess it's a good idea. I'm going to a halloween party. Winter is working on my costume now, it's fancy. She said that it was a funny costume instead of a scary one. That's good. I like funny more. I hope I see Keanu or Legia there. They're my friends. I have lots of friends.

~ Cody

Well it's not much, I had to spell check most of it but Cody's learning how to write. I'm pretty proud of him, he's improved a lot as far as behavior's gone this past week. I think it's because of the party, I wouldn't let him go if he was acting up. Having Edan around hasn't hurt a bit either. The boy's calm and patient, gentle enough to tolerate Cody's rowdy behavior when needed. He's gotten into the habbit of settling down with a book and reading it over with Cody instead of having him watch TV all day. He keeps the house while I'm gone and he's even learning how to cook.

Cody's helping out around the house as much as he can. He's not exactally got a gift for cleaning or organization but it's nice enough that he's showing some signs of wanting to help. I've gotten a new job. I coudln't stand the cafe' any more if I got a double raise. Honestly it wasn't worth it. I'm getting paid more than I was at the cafe and making better hours, getting weekly pay and I have benefits. Working at a pet shop's nice save for some of the nasty fish that n** now and then when I feed them. Cody sure likes my new job, I've taken him to work once so he could see what I'm doing. Course I expect we'll be using my employee discount alot when that dragon comes around...  

[Thalion]

We just got in from the halloween party. I saw Ala and Keanu there. Ala was a pirate, she wanted me to be a pirate too and wanted to be the captain of the crew. I dunno if cowboys and pirates can be the same thing. I think it was because that was her costume. I was a gentleman which I think means fancy pants. Keanu was in a man skirt. He said that it was a hero costume, some guy named Hicules or something. Dunno, still was a skirt to me.

I showed Ala my new move, "Spot Shaker" and brawled with Keanu when I saw him come. We knocked over the juice all over the floor and got it on ourselves. It made his fur pink, it made me fall down. I couldn't get up to my feet, Keanu had to help. Winter got mad but I won the costume contest at the end of the night and Winter gof money so I think it cheered her up. Edan came too! He was a sheep though, not as good as my costume. Sheep are weenies.

On the way home, Winter treated me and Edan to ice cream. I couldn't sleep so Winter's helping me write another journal. She says it's good for me to learn how to write so when I gotta go to school I won't be behind. They have a fighting class, I wanna take that.

~ Cody