|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 12:59 am
|[ Journal Entry ]|
12.09.04 ; Journal entry written by Wren. Just got home and all with Mael and he is UTTERLY ADORABLE. Halo was totally right with me being smitten with the child and, well, I can't wait for him to grow up.
... I'm probably going to spoil him rotten, though I'll do my best not to. After all, a spoiled child isn't really a good thing. Then again, considering those he'll grow up around in this house, he'll probably be just fine.
I honestly can't wait to take him back to the library and let him play with the other children. I mean, yes, I was surprised to suddenly have a child -- but now that I have him? I'm attached.
... really am a sucker for cute things and just the way he smiles. SO adorable. I'm glad lover-mine seems to approve of Mael, as he is staying with us now. He's going to be adopted into our odd little family.
Funny thing is that, well. We like snakes around here. Anyway, it's going to be a long night watching after Mael to make sure he doesn't cry or need anything during the night. The crib is all set up and ready for him, with a chair beside it for me. He's mine to take care of, after all, and Halo needs her sleep -- least the mother figure become pissy.
Really. He's so cute. I'm proud to be able to take care of him. ( Yes, watch me jump tangents so easily. )
Wren
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2004 9:03 pm
|[ Journal Entry ]|
17.09.04 ; Journal entry written by Wren. I suppose the initial mood has finally worn off. The one that left me in a 'ohmygod, he is so precious' fit for a few days. Everyone at the house seemed to pick up on it, particularly Halo. Then again, all things considered, it was given that she'd pick up on it.
And then proceed to comment about me and cute things. Anyway.
It took me some doing, but I managed to track down Carmine within the other wing of the house and introduce him to Mael. The man is a doctor, so I supposed it would be for my and Mael's best interest for them to meet. ( Tom wasn't around at the time, thankfully, as I'm unsure as to the commentary he would have made. ) Carmine seemed to like Mael well enough, and Mael? Well, Mael instantly decided that Carmine's fingers were meant to be in his mouth. Then again, he's been doing that to me as well, and anyone else who happens to waggle a finger in front of his face and not watch themselves.
According to the doctor, Mael is fine. Though, well, he isn't exactly sure of Mael's physiology. Not that I'm going to let him near Mael to find out what that physiology is. ( Actually, Carmine was about as interested in that as he's interested in ... whatever it is that disinterests him the most. ) He did say the baby was content and happy before he left. The man's an empath, so I'm inclined to believe him.
It's comforting to know that Mael's happy. He's all smiles and giggles most of the time, except when he's fussy about things. I suppose I'm more worried about the excerpt having an impact on his life, existence, than I admit to. Considering it talks of someone drowning and being hurt, betrayed, by someone ... I don't know what to expect. There's also talk of revenge, which makes me uneasy. It's given that all of us are spiteful, one way or another, but I'd rather not think of Mael being bent on it because of some excerpt as he gets older.
Never mind, I do not know if the excerpt is some sort of basis for how he is, how he will act. I mean, right now he's a child. Granted, sometimes his expressions are that of someone who's ... contemplating something. You know, plotting. Devious, even. With how he inspects everything, I have to wonder ...
Erm. Yes. I'll do much better if I don't contemplate this, really. For now anyway. Mael's still a baby, my kid, and I can't plan ahead for things I don't know about for sure. I'm no seer, unless you count those tarot cards, and that's never anything specific. ( That's an idea. Maybe I'll go do a spread on Mael and see what comes of it. Hm. )
I think I'll take him out again tomorrow. Not sure where, however. I've all ready taken him out to explore the Market. Which was insane, as I found out how much of a woman magnet a child can be ( thanks, ladies and gents, but I'm not interested; have someone, yeah ). Of course, Mael wasn't helping, being cute and adorable and being thoroughly attached to me ( he has this habit of wrapping his tail around my arm when I carry him about places ). After a certain point Mael just became real quiet, as did Suffocation. It was like they had gotten their fill of the place and were no longer interested.
He's like that a lot. If something doesn't interest him, he'll just tune it out and find something else to play with. Luckily, the plushies that Halo got for Mael seem to hold his attention. Particularly when he's put in the crib to sleep.
Speaking of sleep, I think it's time I put Mael to bed. Him and Suffocation are dozing off in their play area and I'd rather he not sleep on the floor. Suppose that's it for now.
Wren
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2004 7:11 am
|[ Night Terrors ]|
19.09.04 ; Not all dreams are sweet. Despite the fact that it was obviously still the middle of the night, Wren had found himself awakened and pulled from his bed at the sound of Mael's cry. The baby was wailing loudly, and if he listened hard enough, he thought he could hear the sound of hissing -- as if Suffocation was expressing her distress along with her Forgotten.
Rubbing a hand across his face, Wren tried to wake himself up more before he reached the baby's room ( just opposite of his and Halo's, as he loathed to be much farther than that when Mael was still so young ). It was the first night the baby had actually woken him up with a cry of such sharpness. Usually it wasn't nearly as loud ( as then it was often him being hungry or simply wanting someone in the room ), but now it was a full cry. Opening up the door to Mael's room, he was thankful the rest of the house hadn't been woken up by the noise.
( Well, Halo had been woken up, but he urged her back to sleep. His responsibility, he told her, sending her back to sleep with a soft kiss and a murmured word. He was more worried about the houses's other occupants waking up, because with them came commentary, and he'd rather the peanut gallery keep it's trap shut when he couldn't come back at them. A half-awake Wren was a Wren that wasn't likely to be able to dish out what he got verbally -- which just wasn't fun. )
Upon opening the door, he was greeted by the cry becoming even louder and quickly shut the door to stifle it's echoing into the other areas of the house. He moved swiftly over to the crib, a hand going in slowly, just in case something could happen. After all, it was two serpents in there, wasn't it? If the wail was anything to go by, then there was something wrong, and it was never a good idea to reach out and try and touch a snake that was backed into a corner. Unless you wanted to get bitten, and Wren didn't really feel like having to explain a bite to the doctor.
"Mael ..." he said quietly, reaching a hand forward to touch the charm on the child's forehead. He couldn't see Suffocation in the crib, but he figured she was somewhere underneath the blankets, either around Mael's arm or curled next to him. The hissing was continuous now, so whatever was bothering Mael was probably bothering her.
Wren frowned.
If anything, the crying seemed to become more piercing and Mael moved from Wren's hand, turning from it and his touch. The baby's arms were flailing, getting caught up in the blankets and his legs were kicking. He wasn't awake, or his eyes weren't open, or something. Trying to push through the fog of still-not-awake, Wren shook his head. Mael had to be having a nightmare and the best thing was probably to wake him.
"Mael." This time his voice was firmer, stronger, and Wren put both of his hands into the crib, hands going to Mael's shoulders before sliding under him to pick him up appropriately, blankets, Suffocation, and all. As he brought the baby up, he was greeted by a pair of wide red eyes, staring at him without recognition of any sort and obviously tinted with fear. There was shuffling and movement on Mael's chest underneath the blankets and that had to be Suffocation.
Cradling the baby in his arms, despite the squirming and the wails, Wren brought him to his chest and started a slow rocking motion. He was murmuring to Mael softly, speaking in comforting tones while he continued to wail and sniffle. Eventually, a red head and a flickering tongue nudged it's way out of the blankets and Wren stilled for a moment. It was only a moment and he started the motions again.
"Shh, Mael, shh. It's all right, child." Wren continued to murmur to the baby, hesitantly shifting his arms so that he cradled Mael in one hand and could use the other to smooth down a cheek and then across the top of Suffocation's head. "It's okay, I'm here, you can stop crying ..." He continued on, trying to ease the wailing and the hissing. Mael's red eyes were still wide opened and frightened, looking around wildly. Suffocation seemed to be doing the same as well, hissing abruptly when Wren's thumb brushed over her head and distracted her from doing so. It was all most as if she was extremely irritated and angry, not scared as Mael was.
Quickly pulling his hand back and simply petting and soothing Mael, Wren continued to speak to him in hushed tones. After a moment, he started to hum, seeing if that would calm him down. It wasn't like he was that bad of a singer anyway.
Eventually, after what seemed like forever but was only a minute or so, Mael started to calm down and pay attention to Wren's fingers brushing across his cheek and the arm that was rocking him back and forth. Suffocation raised her head to look at Wren as well, eyes focused on him all most warily before the snake lowered her body back down and curled against Mael. It wasn't nearly as defensive as she had been before, and for that Wren was thankful. Apparently her search of the room showed nothing to be worried of and that helped to ease Mael in his arms.
( Not that Wren noticed that small fact, but it wasn't something he would've noticed anyway in state of not-awake he was in. )
Mael's hand wrapped around one of Wren's fingers, clinging to it tightly, an all most pitiful cry coming from his throat. He squirmed in Wren's arms, shifting and turning so that he was pressed as close as he could get to his father. The tail of the little boy slid and tightened around Wren's arm.
"... all right," Wren said softly, "suppose I'll stay with you." Besides, if Mael had just woken from a nightmare, the baby probably wouldn't want to be alone. Wren remembered nightmares from his youth and the intense urge he had all ways had to crawl into his parents bed and sleep with them to chase away the scary things that had haunted long past the end of his dreams.
Still rocking Mael in his arms, murmuring to him, Wren moved over to a chair that had been placed in the room ( the fact that it was a recliner was a comfort to Wren, but no one had to know that ). Shifting once more, Wren made sure that Mael was situated in his lap and against him. Those red eyes were still peering around, but more and more often they were focusing on Wren and nothing else. On the one thing that was obviously not apart of whatever nightmare or dream that had happened.
Fingers curled into a small baby fists were curled against the warm skin of Wren's chest along with a cheek. It seemed to soothe Mael to be able to do so and Wren merely put a hand to the baby's back and rubbed faintly to help further it along. He wished he knew what it was that had caused Mael to react so loudly, to be so scared, but the babe could not talk and Wren was no telepath. ( Never mind invading someone's mind was rude and wrong and he wouldn't do it anyway. )
Wren focused on a calm feeling, trying to project it ( a trick Carmine had taught him to do, after saying something about him being a mild empath ) and have it help in soothing Mael. It was only done for only a second until Mael seemed to relax his stiff posture. The fact that Mael's tail was no longer tightly curled around Wren's arm was a blessing. Moving his arm to the side of the chair, Wren had to shift and reach for the handle that would recline the chair. Fumbling around for a moment finally proved fruitful when he was able to get his hand on it and pull it. Using his body weight, he pushed on the chair and it stretched out and reclined.
"There we go, Mael." Wren's voice was still soft, still holding the calm and soothing quality from when he had been first trying to ease the babe. It was just an idea, but Wren was going to try something he had done to soothe some in the past. Carefully, so as to not bother Mael so much, or upset Suffocation, Wren moved him up further along his chest so that one of those ears were pressed right above his heart and could hear and feel the steady rhythm. Suffocation had to move as well, part of her resting on Mael and part on Wren now as the baby was on his stomach.
Placing one hand on Mael's head, thumb rubbing his head slowly, and the other against his bottom to support him, Wren sighed quietly. "... don't suppose you'll tell me what it was?" The dream, the nightmare, whatever it had been. Mael didn't even look up at him, seemingly focused on the beat of Wren's heart beneath his ear. His hands were still curled and pressed against his father's chest and his eyes were wide awake, but every so often they seemed to droop.
"Didn't think so." Wren chuckled, smiling a bit when he got a glance from Suffocation for disturbing her with his laugh. He moved his hand down to adjust the blankets across Mael, making sure he was appropriately covered and would remain warm, even with Wren's arms around him.
Tilting his head back, eyes glancing towards the bay window, Wren studied the stars for a moment, grateful for the light they were shedding into the room. Mael was shifting on his chest, apparently trying to find a more comfortable spot to rest, but not wanting to move away from the steady heartbeat underneath his ear. His hands were no longer curled into fists, but now open and palms laid against the skin. Red eyes were focused on Wren, studying him intently for a moment or so, before they closed in what looked like an attempt to sleep.
Lucky brat, Wren thought affectionately. He smoothed a hand across Mael's forehead, smiling faintly. Soon, though, slumber would tug at him and he would fall asleep as he was with Mael and Suffocation on his chest all ready snoozing. There wasn't anything that could be done about that.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2004 5:16 am
|[ Journal Entry ]|
25.09.04 ; Journal entry written by Wren. It's been a few days since I woke up to Mael having some sort of nightmare, I guess. I mean, I'm not exactly certain if babies can have nightmares. Granted, I think I've read about dreams in one of these baby books that I've acquired, but there's no real answer. You can't exactly ask a baby if they were having a nightmare or not, but when they latch onto you and refuse to let go and cry when left alone? Well, you have to figure it was a nightmare. I mean, Mael was literally scared when I woke him and Suffocation was really agitated at the time. ( Which reminds me, I never want to see her agitated again. I may like snakes, but the idea of being bitten by one is highly unappealing. )
At least he hasn't had one since then. Though for a couple nights Mael did pitch a fit just to get me into the room and hold him. Little brat picked up on that rather quickly. Then again, babies do that sort of thing, don't they? They learn what will get them what they want the quickest, right?
... just what I need. Not only to be wrapped around Halo's little finger, but my kid's finger as well. I probably all ready am. Bugger. I'll make it though. Just have to make sure, as Mael gets older, he realizes he can't have everything he wants, because he can't be using me as 'security blanket' all the time. If he has a nightmare and needs me around, sure, but as he gets older, he's going to have to learn how to face these sort of things on his own.
Granted, I have this feeling he's going to be independent and a trouble to keep an eye on as he gets older. I can't leave him alone with my stuff for very long or he'll start getting into it, as I've noticed. Earlier he got into my courier bag and pulled out my tarot cards. Had them strewn everywhere in fact. They were scattered all about him and Suffocation. Apparently he got it into his ickle mind to throw them everywhere. Suffocation ended up hidden under a few of them and I just barely managed to miss stepping on her.
( I'd hate to find out what would have happened if I had stepped on her. )
After picking up all the cards, I noticed that Mael still had one of them in his hand. Actually, I should say he had it in his mouth. The little brat ( and that is said with affection, mind you ) didn't find it all that tasty but he wouldn't relent his hold on the card. It took some persuading for me to get him to let it go, he was rather attached. So now I have a somewhat soggy King of Swords card.
I was looking into getting a new set of tarot cards, I just wasn't expecting to have to get a new set so soon. I've had these cards for ages and they're tuned to a point that I am comfortable with using them. ( Creator, I sound like I'm some sort of bloke who reads palms and does tarot card readings for a living -- I'm not. I just happen to play around with the cards as a way to pass time. If I learn something, so be it. ) I think I may just let Mael have the King of Swords card if it doesn't finish drying out any time soon. Though, I'll set it somewhere and he can keep it as a memento.
( Just think about it. I'll give it to him when he's older and say 'This was the very first tarot card you ever attached yourself too, Mael. Mind the drool stains, you did so love to chew on it.' Ah, blackmail for when they're older and misbehaving and have significant others. What parent wouldn't keep such stories prepared? )
As it is, Mael is apparently getting use to life here at the house. He seems to adore Halo, particularly the plushies she gave him, and will latch onto her if given the proper chance ( except that he seems to like attaching himself to me more, and sometimes it can be a pain to get him to let go, particularly when that tail of his is wrapped around your arm ). He also has taken to Carmine, who I saw with Mael one morning. I think he stopped in to peek at the baby or something. Probably trying to give the tyke ideas. Really, Carmine, he's too young to start plotting. ( The same goes to you too, Tom. Don't think I didn't notice you were playing a little with Mael that one afternoon. )
Then there are the other Forgotten children. I honestly don't know what Mael thinks of any of them. He's just a baby after all, but when he was Iqbal that one time, he seemed rather intent on playing with the other baby's ears. It's given he hasn't been around them all that much, but when he is around them he all ways seems curious and has to investigate them.
... I may have to set up some sort of play date between him and the other babies. It'd be good for them to be all together, I think. ( Never mind it doesn't hurt to keep in touch with the other parents. There is a mystery, right? We're all apart of it ... ) After all, they were all born ( came into existence? ) around the same time, weren't they? Plus, he hasn't really seen all that much of Eydis or Ciara's child ( ... is it Petra? I'm not sure ).
As for today, though, I think I'll take him out to one of the local parks. Hopefully he'll like the ducks or something. If not? Well, there's all ways the swings.
Wren
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2004 9:56 am
Tiagra, after meeting Mael just couldn't resist giving some gifts. She'd been working on them for a while now, and stuffed them in a paper bag like the rest. She took off her Bani clips and sent them bouncing down to the library. The dropped the paper bag off on the cabinet in the front and hopped back to Tiagra. A note was stapled to the back. Note Hello Wren, I've conjured up some gifts for your little Mael. I hope he enjoys them now and as he grows up. I'm sure everything's going fine yes? That little lovely will be keeping out of mischief, but then again that's whay they are supposed to do at this age. Ah well, best wishes, and take care. -Tiagra Inside the bag, it opens to reveal a hard journal, keepsake box and a key to lock each.  ((Customization is available. 3nodding Enjoy!))
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2004 5:16 pm
|[ Bath Time Fun ]|
18.10.04 ; Rubber duckies make good projectiles. "No, Mael, the ducky is not meant to be thrown at da -- !" With a resounding squeak and the splat of wet plastic and water hitting skin, Wren picked the green devil horned rubber ducky off of the floor, all the while muttering under his breath about babies and their tendency to whack him in the head with rubber duckies lately.
The baby Wren actually meant was currently in the bathtub splashing water with his hands wildly since his last bath toy had been tossed in the direction of his father. The water level was barely above the baby's waist and Wren was keeping a very close eye on him. It was his first child after all and he was worried about all sorts of things parents worried about excessively the first time around, but would eventually learn it wasn't all that necessary to fret over.
Suffocation was curled up on top of a pile of towels on the wider part of the tub's edge. Every so often she would lift her head up to hiss something out at Mael, usually when he splashed water in her direction and she was admonishing him for doing so. She'd like to stay dry, thankyouverymuch. Mael, in return, would just smile that wide smile of his, red eyes glinting with mischief, and splash her again.
And his father in the process, who was his prime target after all. Dad thought he could give his son a bath and not get wet himself. Well, he had to learn and Mael was the perfect one to teach him. Never mind he also had his tail which made for some good splashes when his father wasn't expecting them.
Somehow, when Suffocation hissed, Wren figured she was sniggering at him. Probably encouraging Mael to get him wet. After all, if Mael was focused on getting him soaking wet, then he wasn't focused on her. Trouble, so much trouble, he thought, when they are older.
Leaning over the edge of the bath tub, he dumped Mael's supply of toys back in it. The green horned rubber ducky among them and it was immediately put into his son's mouth to be gnawed on. The baby was possibly teething, but Wren had figured that out the moment Mael started to gnaw on that one vinyl top he wore.
He made it a point to not wear or have anything on him that he didn't want damaged in some sort of way. Luckily, Mael couldn't quite reach up to get his glasses yet or there might have been problems.
"Come on," Wren said, leaning over the edge of the bath and lathering up the soft soap he was using to bathe Mael with, "stop trying to get me soaked, and let me wash you, all right?" If he had known any better, the smile that Mael gave him was anything but one that promised he would cooperate with him. Wren was stubborn, however, and he would give his son a bath, even if he ended up soaked in the process -- in which case, he all ready was.
Shaking his head, letting out an laugh, he started washing his brat ( an idle affectionate thought ). Mael was content to just let his father go about it briefly, enjoying being the center of attention once again. It suited him just fine and he was far too occupied with biting down on his ducky and sometimes splashing the water lightly with his hands with small giggles of enjoyment to think about getting his father soaked.
This bath was much different from the first one Wren had given him. When Mael had bawled and freaked out ( as Wren had put it when Halo came in asking what the commotion was and who had attempted to open the gates of Hell this time around ) and thrashed wildly in his father's arms, just to not be put into the water. Suffocation seemed to be in a similar state, sharing the distress of her Forgotten but trying to calm him at the same time. He hadn't been able to tell if his son was scared or if he was agitated -- it seemed to be a little bit of everything -- and it took several tries before he finally got Mael to realize there was nothing bad about the water.
Suffocation, of course, seemed to remain the lone skeptic about the entire thing. Never mind that it had taken Wren having to get into the bath with Mael for him to calm down and let himself be washed. The Forgotten's daemon situated in the same spot she was now: on a pile of towels over looking the entire endeavor, as if she was keeping an eye on Mael and somehow telling him it was all right. Nothing was wrong.
"If I didn't know any better, lover, I'd say you're lost in thought while giving your son a bath." The sound of Halo's voice cut through Wren's thoughts and he had to pause in his cleaning to turn his head and look in the direction of the doorway. Halo was there, of course, leaning against the doorframe and smirking at him. "And from the slightly dazed look in your eyes, I'm right."
"You wou --" There was another soft thud as Wren picked the wrong time to turn his attention from Mael. The baby had once again hit his father in the head with his rubber ducky. "You!" he exclaimed turning his head back to look at his son who was giggling, madly. His lover was doing the same as well and he tried to give her a glare out of the corner of his eye. "Don't you start, either!" Even Suffocation seemed to be hissing her laughter at him. Wren let out an overly dramatic sigh and wagged a finger at Mael before leaning over to pick up the rubber ducky.
It was deposited right back into the bath but for once Mael didn't immediately reach for it, his attention had wavered to Halo who had stepped into his view.
"His aim's getting better," Halo remarked, still smirking and ruffling her lover's hair a bit. She pulled her hand back and frowned as it was now wet, much like Wren's hair was. "... you should get a towel and dry yourself off, as much as I like the utterly soaked look on you." She chuckled at the scowl her lover gave her, before it faded and he focused his attention back on Mael.
The baby's red eyes seemed intently focused on Halo, studying her briefly before finally a hand was waved with a giggle in acknowledgement of his mother. That same hand went right down with an abrupt splash, but Halo wisely took a step back and Wren took the brunt of getting wet from it.
"... there's no point, I'll just get wet again anyway. I'll just wait until I'm through giving him a bath," Wren murmured, sighing and wiping a hand across his face. His thoughts were once again focused on getting Mael cleaned and out of the bath -- if only so he didn't end up as wrinkled as a prune. He spared a look to Halo, smiling in her direction. "So was there anything you wanted besides to be amused at all that is yours truly being defeated by his son in a bath and armed with a rubber ducky?"
"No, not really, just that Tom and Carmine are both around and if you really want to attempt to coerce them into helping out around here for Halloween, you had better hurry up and finish giving Mael a bath before they're occupied. I'm also planning on heading out later, so don't forget that either." Halo shook her head and tugged on a wet lock of red hair. "You might as well just take a bath with him. It'll save you the trouble." She turned her attention back to Mael, right as the baby seemed to get it in his head to attempt to splash again. It didn't seem to reach her this time.
"Mm, all right. Go and see if you can hold them in one spot for a bit so I can finish up here," Wren said, wiping some of the water off of his glasses. He got a hold of Halo's shirt after, tugging on the edge of it to get her to lean down for a moment to press a light kiss to her cheek. "Get out of here, dear heart, before the little bugger gets it in his head to start throwing toys at you too." He pushed her away gently, turning his attention back to Mael.
"He's smarter than that." Halo grinned before nodding her head and leaving in the bathroom. "I'll see you in a bit."
Turning his head back around and narrowing his eyes just slightly, Wren gave his son a half-hearted glare. "Now listen up, kiddo, we've got to get you clean, out of this bath, into some clean clothes, and make sure Suffocation's content as well." The man leaned forward to pick up where he left off cleaning, not missing the look in those red eyes -- even if it seemed to be an innocent one.
Nothing about getting Mael clean was going to be easy.
It became an obvious fact when Wren appeared in the living room twenty minutes later into total disarray ( very much the soaked father figure ) with Mael ( the epitome of a clean baby with fresh clothing ) and Suffocation both happy in his arms.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2004 9:54 pm
|[ Otium's Arrival ]|
18.10.04 ; Roleplay ; Halo brings Otium home ... Halo pushed open the front door with her back. She had a monochrome boy on one him and a monochrome bear on her shoulder. Otium had been nice enough to hold onto his excerpt, clutching it tightly in one hand, and had somehow managed to get some money from Halo's pocket.. a gold coin gripped in his other hand. He waved it every now and then and gummed it under the massive brim of his top hat. "Err.. I'm home!" The woman called out through the house and rescued the top hat from falling off of her new child's head with her free hand.
"Kitchen!" Was the reply. Wren was busy cooking up something for dinner -- being productive since he had no idea what to write next. It was a dry spell and, well, when he couldn't write he found other ways to occupy his time, particularly when Halo wasn't around to keep him company. He was chopping up some vegetables for some stir fry.
Mael was sitting on the counter, his back against the wall and nowhere near the edge, and intently paying attention to what his father was doing. The Forgotten's daemon was busy poking around the top of the counter, investigating the surroundings at her leisure since her other half wasn't able to explore. His father wouldn't let him.
"Kay.." She replied. Immaculate lifted her head at Wren's voice and sniffed the air. She made a tiny yip noise at Otium (since Halo had decided to call him that). The little boy blinked at his daemon and the bear scrambled down Halo's arm and then leg, nails catching in the fabric of her clothing. She tried to get him, and then had to rescue the hat again. Immaculate decided to take off in the direction of the kitchen, nails making a skittering noise on the wood floor. She slid a bit entering the room and the monochrome daemon slid into a furry lump against Wren's leg.
"... what the?" Wren had turned towards the entrance kitchen only to see a white blur come running in and then slide into his leg. "Er, hello there." Setting down the knife he had been using to cut up vegetables and leaned down to look at the little bear. "A new pet, dear heart?" It wasn't like they didn't have the space, but it was a surprise. He studied the little bear. She seemed ... well ... entirely monochrome. Not a trace of color in her.
Mael had scooted a little closer to the edge, trying to peer down at what had caught his father's attention. Suffocation was there, scenting the air herself, and hissing at Mael -- telling him to not move anymore. It wasn't a good idea. Instead, Mael looked towards the doorway. He had heard his mother.
"Incoming.. if she didn't get there already.." She sighed and finally got to the kitchen door. Otium looked at the people in the room under the overly large hat of his. He waved his arms a bit, gold coin and excerpt still gripped tightly. "And she has apparently.." Halo sighed a bit and gave her husband a smile, "Surprise?" The gold contrasted strongly with Otium's lack of color.
Wren did a double take. Monochrome bear and monochrome child with a coin and a piece of paper in hand. "Er, surprise is right." He came to his feet, smoothing out his shirt. He turned to scoop up Mael from the counter as he was continuing to move closer to the edge. Suffocation managed to slither her way up Wren's arm as well. "So, where did he come from?" Finally, he moved over to Halo, careful of the little bear, and looked at the cute-ness that was the baby in his wife's arms.
Otium just looked at Wren in silence, with no emotion on his face. He blinked and then looked at Mael, the opposite of him on the color spectrum. He waved his coin a little and then bit it again with his lack of teeth. "That.. library." Halo scratched her head a bit. Immaculate found her way back up the woman's leg and arm to her shoulder again. It was a good thing bears could climb. "I heard weird music and ended up there.. found a black book.. then that Pippin character. And then Otium here." Otium looked at her with his dark eyes and chewed the coin again.
"You --" Lips moved for a second, but Wren made no sound. "You found the Library," he finally managed to get out, "... weird music though?" It had been a light that lead him and the others down there, but then again it was probably different with everyone. He nodded to himself in agreement. "So you met Pippin then, and ... Otium came to be." Chuckling faintly, Wren moved a hand to waggle his fingers at Otium in greeting. "Well, Mael, I think you've a brother now."
Shifting his arms, Wren moved so Mael could get a better look at Otium. It was what he was trying to do anyway. He blinked red eyes at the other Forgotten, trying to make sense of this newcomer before he finally just smiled and waved a hand at him. Suffocation just hissed quietly, scenting the air.
Otium's dark grey eyes looked at Mael as he nibbled his coin. He smiled a tiny calm smile and that was it. "He's.. very calm and quiet. Hasn't made much of a noise at all." To that, Immaculate yipped a bit. "But she has.." Halo laughed a bit. "Here's his excerpt.." She pried the piece of paper form the baby's fingers and handed it to her lover.
Mael looked content with that small response, happily giggling and still waving his hand at little at Otium. "Mm, he seems the sort. A bit monochrome, isn't he? Both of them really." Trying to accommodate the squirming child in his arm, Wren took the excerpt offered. He had to read it a couple times before he finally took it in what was written on the paper. "... interesting."
"Mm indeed. Takes a while to sink in... The music sounded like an old black and white movie.. he fits with it.." Otium pulled at the brim of his hat with his now free hand. He just adjusted it so he could see better and then played his with black tie. Halo looked down at him and gave him a smile, adjusting his hat so it would stay on his head better. "You don't notice being black and white do you Otium..?" Otium looked up at her through the very top of his eyes and smiled a little again before yawwwwwning and snuggling sort of close against Halo, now recognized as MOMMY.
Mommy -- now that was cute. "Yeah. Sort of forgettable, but then it fits with the excerpt. The music thing is intriguing as well." Wren tilted his head to one side, looking at Otium in his mother's arms. He was rather adorable. "It's probably natural to him, just like how Mael is being normal to him." Said baby glanced up at his dad at the mention of his name. Mael stopped waving his hand and tugged on the shirt his father was wearing faintly.
"I think Otium is tired already.. I guess we need to set up a new crib." Otium blinked up to his name again. Immaculate was watching Suffocation. She climbed down Halo's arm and crawled over Otium a bit. He stretched out to hug his daemon faintly like a teddy bear.
"Same room, until they're older then, hm?" Wren covered Mael's hand on his shirt with his own, toying with it a bit. "We can put him to bed and then I can finish making dinner -- though Mael's not quite as ready for sleep yet."
In fact, Mael just grinned again, giggling softly. He turned his attention back to Otium slowly.
Otium looked back at Mael, tugging his own tie and waving his coin. "I don't know how he got my money..." Halo looked down at her new son. "These two will be trouble.. won't they?"
"... I think that daily with Mael and add in another child?" Wren laughed, giving Halo a wide amused smile. "Most likely." Mael seemed to focus on that little coin in Otium's hand. It was shiny, interesting, and seemed rather attached to Otium. Hm.
Otium looked back at Mael and narrowed his eyes a bit when he saw the serpentine forgotten focused on his coin. He gripped it tighter. "Lovely.. just what we need."
Mael seemed utterly unbothered and shifted his attention away from the coin. He just smiled at Otium and waved his hand a little.
"We'll make it, I'm sure. It's not like we don't have minions to help us." Wren smirked faintly and shook his head.
"..If you imply Tom and Carmine as babysitters, you are crazy.." She chuckled and shifted to accommodate Otium again. The little boy was still looking at Mael and relaxed when the other just smiled and waved his hand. He gave his tiny smile and yawned again, snuggling into Halo and the fuzzy lump that was Immaculate.
"I thought we all ready came to the conclusion that I wasn't sane." Wren let go of Mael's hand, moving to brush his thumb across the emblem on the baby's forehead. It distracted him briefly from paying attention to Otium and Immaculate. It didn't distract Suffocation, her attention was still on the others. Her tongue would flicker out every now and then.
"Besides," Wren shifted and smiled still, "I doubt we could rope them into doing something like that. The only reason they're helping with Halloween is because they're plotting something." He shook his head, tilting his head to the side.
On cue Nicolena came prancing through the kitchen. She looked up at everyone with an air of superiority and then turned and pranced out. The Siamese was such a queen. "I know they are.." She chuckled. "And now I have another to dress on Halloween.." She smiled down at Otium again. He blinked up at his mom tiredly and ran his tiny fingers through Immaculate's fur. The bear licked Halo's nose a little.
Wren just arched an eyebrow at Nicolena's entrance. Well, if she was in this area of the home, then obviously Tom and Carmine weren't paying enough attention to her or were busy. "We do, we do. It's going to be fun as is," he chuckled, grinning widely at the cuteness that was Halo getting her nosed licked and Otium.
Mael let out something that sounded like a small huff, before snuggling himself against his father and sliding his tail around the man's arm. His fingers slid across Suffocation's scales, petting her. As interesting as the new baby was, it couldn't hold his attention forever.
Halo wriggled her nose and chuckled. "Ok.. do we have an extra crib around..?"
"No, don't think so." Wren frowned slightly, looking first at Otium and then at Mael. "We can put him in Mael's crib for a bit and go pick up one, maybe." Hopefully Mael wouldn't mind, but it wasn't like they were putting them in the same crib.
"I'll have to borrow a few pieces of clothing too until I can go shopping for some.." Halo looked at Mael, "You don't mind.. do you Mael?"
Mael turned his head towards Halo, blinking his eyes at her. He didn't understand what was being asked but he looked towards Otium and smiled, waving his hand at both him and Halo.
"... I'd take that as a yes, before he changes his mind, love." Wren bounced the giggling baby in his arms slightly.
Otium's gnawing on the gold had slowed and he was now just snuggled against Halo and Immaculate's white fur. He slept silently and was very very still. His hat had tilted forward over his eyes. Halo looked down at her new baby boy and smiled. "Well then that's decided.. I think I'll take him up.."
"All right, I'll put up the things for dinner. We can pick something up while we're out. We might have to attempt some roping, so someone stays to look after Otium -- unless one of us does." Wren changed his grip on Mael so that he was holding him with one arm and lightly touched Otium on the cheek before running his fingers along Immaculate's fur. "Go ahead and take him up, I'll be down here with the other heathen of ours." Wren smirked.
"Yes dear.." She chuckled and leaned down a bit to kiss her husband lightly. Sleeping Otium was momentarily shifted close to Mael. Immaculate licked his nose, the daemon still awake. When Halo leaned back she turned and headed for the upstairs. "Be right down."
"All right," Wren murmured in reply, returning the light kiss. Mael tried to latch onto Otium but Halo moved away before he could do anything but brush his hand against him. Watching Halo move up the stairs, Wren set Mael down in his high chair to put things up and get ready to go out shopping.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 5:07 pm
|[ The Coin Collection ]|
19.10.04 ; Roleplay ; Setting up for Halloween, Wren and Mael give Otium a coin ... Halo came back from the library with a dozing Otium in her arms. Immaculate was curled up and snoozing as well, snuggled between Otium's body and his mother's. "We're home!" She announced to the house as she pushed the door open with her back. Otium stirred and yawned. He'd just been napping, hat sunk down over his eyes, not really asleep. He still clutched his coin and brought it back up to nibble a moment before his eyelids dropped again.
Mael was sitting on the floor of the living room, playing with a small pouch while Suffocation slithered around him. She kept poking around this and that. Wren was standing up on a chair, putting up a few more Halloween decorations -- as per what Tom and Carmine had requested be put up, though they were decorating themselves as well, just not at the moment. "Welcome back!" he called out, hopping down off the chair, a bit of fake spider web stuff in his hair.
Halo came in the room with Otium, who blinked more awake when they came into the presence of people. "Hello love.. decorating?" She chuckled and picked the web from her lover's hair before leaning to kiss him lightly. Otium reached a sleepy hand up to tug on Wren's shirt a bit and let go.
"... mmm, yes. It's fun, when I don't have to stand on a chair to get it done." Wren pouted slightly before returning the light kiss. He pulled back to look down at Otium, brushing a thumb across the baby's cheek. "Hello, Otium." He grinned slightly, remembering something. "Ah, I think Mael and me have something you might like." A small glance to Halo.
Mael was still sitting on the floor but had turned his attention to his parents and brother, his tail moving slightly. The pouch in his hands was bounced around a little.
Halo moved and sat Otium down on the floor, he bobbled sleepily before he woke up enough to sit straight. He pushed his hat up form his eyes and looked at his brother, waving his gold coin around. Immaculate was sniffing at Suffocation.
"We went shopping while you were out," Wren explained, watching the kids. "And found something Otium will probably love." Moving to Mael and Otium, he hunched down for a moment and nudged his son. "Go ahead and hand it over, kiddo." The man poked the pouch that was played with and gestured over to Otium. Mael, for a moment, seemed reluctant to part with the pouch but Suffocation hissed at him and then raised her head to peer at Immaculate. Mael scooted forward, holding it towards Otium.
Otium looked at the pouch and after a moment took it and waved it in his hand. He didn't really know better to open it. Halo chuckled and crouched down to show Otium that it opened and shook the contents into her son's hand.
Mael had just been bouncing it and swinging it himself since they had bought it. Somehow, though, he understood it was suppose to be a gift -- not his -- when they bought it. He watched his mother open up the pouch and drop the gleaming golden coin into Otium's hand. It was an old coin, the surface old and faded, along with the words that were on it, but it still held it's shine.
Wren just stood up, sticking his hands into his pockets for a moment, watching.
Otium looked at his hand. Ooo shiny. Coin! He stared at it a second, his smile widening. He seemed to be file it's existence away and then he closed his fingers around it and giggled and waved it. "I think that's a thank you.." And his first loud happy noise too. He'd only just given tiny smiles.
"Heh. You're very welcome, Otium." Wren grinned widely, watching both of his sons and the fact that Otium had actually made something other than a small smile. Mael smiled, giggling himself and waving his hand. Apparently he was happy too, possibly Otium's giggles were contagious.
Immaculate looked at them and sat back on her back paws, waving her front ones in the air. Otium grinned and waved his new coin at her and she waved her paws back.. and then he giggled again.
Mael continued to giggle, his tail swishing on the floor a little bit and Suffocation even seeming to hiss her happiness. She slithered over to her Forgotten, making it up Mael's lap, which she immediately fell out of, because he moved towards his brother.
Otium's giggling stopped but he was still smiling. he looked at his brother coming over and held out his hand and offered him his shiny gold coin. Not the new one. The other he'd had when he came in.
Mael paused, falling into a sitting position next to Otium and peered at the coin that was being held out. He looked at it -- shiny! -- before reaching out for it and putting his fingers on it. What? Was it some sort of trade off?
Otium let go of the coin so Mael could take t and immediately reached into his hat to pull out another one to gnaw on. He wouldn't gnaw the gift coin.. that was rude.
Mael took the coin, immediately studying in it in his hand before turning it over and then waving it around in his hand. He giggled, smiling widely, and crawling over so that he could sit next to Otium. Suffocation ended up out of Mael's lap and on the floor.
Immaculate was back to sniffing Suffocation and swishing her tail placidly. Otium rocked a little where he sat and gummed his coin in one hand and waved the other coin in the other. "I have no idea how he keeps taking my money.." Halo chuckled and shook her head. "We were at the library and he gave Eydis one too."
Suffocation merely lifted her head up, tongue flickering out, testing and investigating Immaculate somewhat. Mael seemed content to just sit next to Otium, before mimicking his action and trying to bite on the coin. He giggled every so often.
"Eydis?" Wren blinked. "Ah, you met Naita then?" He smiled and nodded his head slightly. "Maybe he just has a talent for that sort of thing -- getting gold."
"Yes... Eydis didn't seem very keen on new people but then he shared his love for shiny things and she brightened up a lot." Halo chuckled and watched the boys.
Otium looked down at Mael's tail and leaned back to see it. He stuck his gift coin up into his hat and then tried to grab the tail.
Immaculate lowered her head to peer at the snake and flicked her round ears a bit.
"Mm, probably just shy, I guess. If babies can be." Wren chuckled at the mention of shiny things. "Well, I think that's a general preference among babies -- since Mael seems to like anything shiny."
Mael was still giggling, rocking a little bit as he toyed with his new gold coin. The moment Otium's hand touch his tail, he immediately tried to squirm and look at him, moving it away just a little. He wasn't quite sure about someone touching his tail. Suffocation just hissed quietly at Immaculate, possibly a greeting, before flicking her tongue out at the other daemon. Her attention diverted to Mael before going back to Immaculate ... things looked all right.
Otium blinked at Mael. he just thought it was interesting.. the tail. He put his hand behind himself to check for a similar appendage and found it missing. Otium gave Mael a tiny silent smile and patted the tail nicely. He didn't want to hurt it.
Immaculate looked over at the same time as Suffocation and then looked back at the snake and swished her tail more. She licked the top of the other daemon's head.
Mael relaxed a bit, the frown that had appeared on his face for an instance disappearing into a slight smile. It seemed to be all right to pat his tail and he even swished it a little in response. Suffocation lifted herself up a little higher at the lick to her head. That was sort of interesting. Particularly when some of the other daemons didn't seem fond of her.
Immaculate seemed to be a very positive sort of daemon. She made up for the silent and reserved nature of Otium with her own vocal and active attitude. Plus if Frozen was anything to go by.. he hated everyone.
Otium patted the tail and smiled his tiny smile. His hat slipped down over his eyes again and he lifted his fist to push it back up again before he stuffed the end of his tie into his mouth to chew on.
Suffocation was more reserved than her counterpart, most likely the voice of reason in Mael's head -- or additional devious support. She let out another quiet hiss at Immaculate, sort of weaving around one of her paws for a moment.
Mael smiled a little more before reaching out and patting Otium before going back and mouthing his coin. He giggled happily.
"... well, at least we don't have to worry about them fighting." Wren murmured, cutting his eyes at his wife and sliding an arm around her waste.
"Yet.. they are only babies.." Halo chuckled and looped her arm around Wren's waist as well. "Boys get into vicious fights from what I hear."
Otium sucked on the end of his tie and then spit it out with drool hanging off of it. Immaculate looked down at her paw and then sat back on her back legs and raised her front in the air.
"Mm, I'm well aware of what boy do when they get older. I can hope they'll not fight though." He smiled, head tilting a bit to rest against Halo's shoulder for a moment.
Suffocation let out a hiss at being lifted up, but didn't seem to mind. She liked the higher perspective, looking about. Mael continued to teethe lightly on the coin, his tail twitching every so often.
Immaculate waved her paw with Suffocation on it and wagged her long tail again.
Otium looked at Mael and then at his mother. She didn't seem to understand a pointed look though. He waved his coin a little. He was hungry. Otium looked over at Immaculate and the bear looked back at him. Otium's face scrunched up in displeasure and the bear started to yip at Wren and Halo.
Suffocation just hissed, probably getting a little dizzy from all the movement. It was a fun ride though.
Mael actually shared his brother's sentiments, sort of crawling in Wren's direction. Since he didn't have anything to toss at his father -- the coin was too precious to toss around -- he'd just have to do something else. He made a displeased cry, echoing Immaculate.
Wren just blinked, looking up at Halo. "Er, I think we're either missing something or we're being informed of something." He loosened his arm around from her waist, ducking down to touch Mael's cheek.
Otium's face scrunched up again like he was going to cry.. but he didn't. He really only did that when you tried to take his hat or tie off.. or take his coin away. Immaculate walked forward on her back legs a few steps and yipped again at Halo. "Apparently." She walked over to Otium and crouched to pick him up, "What'sa matter hun?" The little boy just gave her a pathetically cute sad look. Immaculate got over to Halo's pant leg and started tugging it with her teeth. "Changing? Food? Isn't that why babies cry?" She glanced at her husband.
"... that's what all those books I read said." And what his mother had told him when they had talked about kids a while back. Wren scooped Mael up, moving to gather Suffocation up as well, and looked at his son who looked like he was getting teary eyed. "But I changed Mael right before you got home ... so, food maybe? Unless Otium needs to be changed ..." Mael frowned and tugged on his father's shirt.
"No I don't think he does. Are you hungry Ottie?" Otium's face got less scrunched but the nickname made him look puzzled. She picked the little boy up and scooped up the bear as well.
"I guess it's food."
"Then food it is. It's dinner time anyway," Wren replied, making a silly face at Mael for a moment. The baby just stared at him before giggling a little bit and showing his father his new coin. "I got that high chair set up for Otium in the dining room -- so let's go make dinner, yeah?"
"Sounds good.." She adjusted Otium's hat and he made another face and fixed it himself as they headed into the kitchen.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2004 8:29 pm
|[ Babysitting ]|
24.10.04 ; Sometimes babies prefer your other half over you. "You're looking rather domestic." The voice came from the door of the room and Carmine turned his head to see Tom standing there, leaning against the frame and smirking that familiar and infamous smirk of his. The doctor just chuckled and rolled his eyes, using his free hand to beckon the other man over to him.
"You've no room to talk, all things considered." Carmine lowered his eyes back to the serpentine baby that was sitting in his lap, one of his arms wrapped around the baby and supporting his back so he could sit up. Not that it seemed the baby was having trouble sitting up on his own, quite the contrary. Carmine was use to seeing the baby wrap his tail around Wren's arm whenever he held him, but Mael had yet to do the same with him.
Mael just stared up at Carmine looking like he was trying to figure out the man. As if there was something familiar about him. Suffocation was curled up the baby's lap, her tail covering her eyes. From the subtle calm feeling that was being given off by the snake, Carmine figured that she was sleeping. With Mael he wasn't sure what he was sensing. The baby's feelings were too odd, too varied, something he was unfamiliar to and couldn't quite place.
Tom's feelings, however, were far more familiar. Stronger when the man stood behind him in the chair and placed his hands on Carmine's shoulders, fingers rubbing into the muscles and lightly massaging. Sometimes it could be hard to tell where his own feelings ended and Tom's started, as if they had entwined together somewhere along the way.
"Enjoying babysitting?" Tom's voice cut through Carmine's thoughts and he tilted his head back up while distracting Mael with his fingers to look up at the man, giving him a smirk.
"Oh, it's fine. Mael seems content to just sit in my lap and stare at me as if I hold the answers to the universe itself." Lifting his head up, Carmine grabbed at Tom's tie that was dangling down over his shoulder and tugged on it so the man had to lower his head down to his level. "Of course, you know, Wren was going to get you involved in babysitting too. You just happened to be out of the house on business." The doctor pointedly stared at Tom for several seconds, both of them seemingly having a staring contest. Their heads were leaning closer together when suddenly a baby's cry broke them apart abruptly.
"Somebody doesn't like not having attention," Tom chuckled, straightening up and moving around so that he was in front of the chair and no longer behind it. He smoothed his tie out while Carmine merely gave him another look before trying to soothe the crying baby. One would've thought with Carmine's inherent gifts ( though he didn't think of them as such ) he would've been able to soothe the child, however, Mael just continued to sniffle and cry. His tail lashing about.
Suffocation had woken up and was now quietly hissing at her Forgotten. She was trying to get him to calm down just as Carmine was, but apparently failing just as the doctor was. Whatever it was that had Mael in an uproar, he didn't seem to want to stop.
"Mael ..." Carmine's voice was quiet, trying to be soothing. He smoothed his hand down the baby's back, but it achieved nothing. Tom watched both the doctor and the daemon try and sooth the child to no effect. It might have been amusing at some point, except for the fact that Mael could be noisy when he wanted too and that was mildly irritating. After all, he had once been a teacher, he had his fair share of kids all ready.
Not saying anything, Tom just reached forward and plucked Mael up from Carmine's lap. It took him a couple tries to get the baby held correctly in his arms, but he managed. He gave Carmine a smirk, the man blinking up at him and giving him an odd look.
"Now be quiet, Mael. Crying will get you attention, but the moment you stop it'll go away." Tom was speaking in a soft whisper, all most murmuring the words to the baby. Mael seemed to respond well to the voice and actually did stifle his crying somewhat. Taking the chance, Tom lightly pressed his thumb against the emblem on Mael's forehead, stroking down it and grinning at the baby. "You have to learn to do things that will all ways keep the attention on you."
Mael's crying stopped completely, red eyes staring up at Tom widely. After a moment or two the baby just smiled widely and giggled, waving his hand and latching onto Tom's shirt with a hand. Before the man even realize it, Mael's tail had wrapped around the arm he was holding him with. There was no getting him to loosen it.
"... well." Carmine said with a smirk, standing up and lifting Suffocation from his lap to drape over Tom's shoulders. He looked down at Mael and offered him a hand. The baby briefly latched onto his finger, shaking it a bit before letting it go and fixating on Tom again. "Since you seem to have Mael's attention, I'm going to go get dinner. Wren said something about being 'chosen' or some other nonsense. Had to go out immediately, which is why I ended up with Mael. He should be back home before Halo, but if he's not, we can just hand Mael over to his mother." The doctor turned to leave the room, but not before leaning in to drag his lips across Tom's cheek.
"Most would not leave me in charge of a baby," Tom said, smirking faintly, trying to get Mael's tail off of his arm without the baby realizing it. It would take a lot apparently since Mael had his rapt serpentine attention focused on him. Never mind the snake around his neck, named Suffocation no less.
"Ah, but I'm not most." Carmine called, right as he left the room. He leaned back to peer in and give Tom that smile of his and a small wave. "And I trust you." With that, he disappeared off to cook and left Tom to deal with Mael.
Tom stared down at the baby in his arms, raising one eyebrow slightly. It would be best to make the best out of what could be an irritating situation.
"So, somebody has to teach you about knives, don't they?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2004 8:30 pm
|[ Journal Entry ]|
25.10.04 ; Journal entry written by Wren. I'm not quite sure what to make of what I found when I got home from going out yesterday. I mean, it's a little odd to come into the room and see Gaitano sitting there with Mael in his lap and talking to him pleasantly.
... before he had barely even acknowledged him and now he's talking to him like he's imparting the knowledge of the universe. Oh. Wait. Excuse me. Not the knowledge of the universe, just the knowledge of which blades are best and how each should be used. His response when I asked him just why he was talking to my son about daggers and the like?
'You're never too young to learn.'
One of these days, I swear. I'm going to do something. Until then, I'm just going to brood about it and make sure he doesn't get long periods of time alone with Mael. I do not need him teaching my son anything nefarious. The only kink in this plan is that it seems Mael likes Gaitano, more so than Carmine. Which seems odd. I all ways thought Carmine would've been better with kids, but ... well, Mael was literally attached to Gaitano. It was interesting.
I asked Carmine about it and he just held up his hands, said something in Italian, and went back off to cooking something to eat for Gaitano and himself. ( As I found out it was just for the two of them after getting whacked upside the head with a ladle. Thanks. I need an additional lump on the side of my head, jerk. )
Then I found out part of the reason Gaitano couldn't get Mael off was because the boy had his tail wrapped around his arm securely. When I noticed it only took a few seconds for me to get him to let go of the man and let his dad have him. Of course then it was a trial to ditch Gaitano. I had another child waiting for me back in the front of the house and I didn't need either him or Carmine tagging along.
Which meant I had to result to saying a few things I'd rather not repeat here and distracting Gaitano with that and sending him off to Carmine. I'm sure Carmine didn't mind. So that brings me to what made me have to leave Mael with Carmine ( and Gaitano ) in the first place.
The short version would be that Mael has a new brother now.
The long version is as follows: I was apparently chosen to take care of a young child, a boy, who possesses a great power within him and is possessed. Well, not so much possessed as that a deity dwells within him. I'm not quite sure what lead to me being chosen to take of the boy, but Freyr ( his name, as he told me ) seems pleased to have me as his foster father ( is that the way to refer to it? ). I'm not sure about what's going on, I understand the basics ( though I wish I could've stayed in his home village a little while longer to understand it more ), but I'm more than willing to look after him.
And Halo thinks he's cute, so that's a plus. Wife approval is a good thing, let me tell you.
Moving back on topic, I introduced Mael to Freyr and since sparks didn't immediately start to fly, I think the meeting went well. Freyr actually likes babies, apparently. When I offered to let him hold Mael after Freyr had gotten comfortable on the couch he seemed nervous of doing so, but after saying it would be all right, he agreed for a little bit.
Considering Mael proceeded to giggle and latch onto Freyr, I think all is well. Freyr actually looked like he enjoyed playing with Mael and Mael likes the attention, so it's good.
I'm reminded of Otium for a moment, because I don't know that him and Freyr are exactly sure of each other yet. Then again, I have to give them a few days. I doubt they'll be like how Mael and Otium are. Mael seems to sort of look out for Otium. Ever since Otium came home, Mael's been interested in him and playing with him. Despite the fact that Otium is a fairly quite child, the first smile he ever cracked was in Mael's direction. I think they'll grow up to be the best of friends and brothers.
It's a nice to know they'll have someone to look out for each other when neither Halo or me are around.
Right. I'm going to have to end this here. I've got to go fix something to eat and that involves having to keep all eyes on the kids and still try and make something. Besides, I think Mael's had enough fun time smashing his hands against the keyboard and Freyr looks to be done with that book I gave him.
Wren
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2004 3:09 pm
|[ A Perspective ]|
02.11.04 ; A glimpse inside Mael's mind. It seems the festivities were done and over with, the two men who had dressed a lot differently than they did normally were back to their usual wear. Of course, father did not seem to want to let him get near either of them that often, but he couldn't keep him away all the time. There was a part of the serpentine baby that sensed a kindred spirit in the taller man, though he was far too young to understand that.
( Largely it had to do with the knowledge he could learn from the man. Still, he was too young to realize it. )
Everybody in the house was back to looking the way they were suppose to be to him. Father wearing those shiny glasses of his that he wanted to get a hold of one day. They looked interesting and the more father didn't let him get a hold of them, the more he wanted them. There had to be something special about them. He did manage to get the black patch thing that father had been wearing on that night when they had all dressed up, but it wasn't quite the same.
He also snatched the cap off of the new boy's head at some point, but that wasn't really anything interesting. He had given that back when the boy looked to him for it.
He hadn't wanted it anyway.
Now, now he was sitting on the rug in the big room that smelled of old things, a small array of toys surrounding him. There was a candy somewhere among them, he knew it. When father had offered it to him and he didn't take it, he had set it on one of the toys. His eyes were actually focused on that toy now. It was a building block green and splattered with different colors. He actually liked it more to throw around than to push together with the other pieces that fit together.
Suffocation didn't really think it was necessary to throw things as often as he did. She thought it might get him hurt eventually. Then again, she wasn't able to do much more than curl around him and slither. She didn't have hands, she didn't know how much fun it was.
Father was in this room, sitting and staring at some object. He had sat on his lap there before while father did that, but he didn't see the purpose. Watching little black dots appear on the screen was hardly entertaining.
When his brother had been in the room earlier it had been entertaining. Even if he didn't really play all that much, he understood the need to play. They could mess with the toys or the older boy ( brother? was he that now? yes, had to be ... ) since he was focused on some little brown square thing, turning flimsy paper within it and looking it over. Usually the boy was more fun than that, so him and his brother had to get him to play.
But mother had taken brother away, so that ended and he was back sitting down and playing by himself. Staring at the candy still sitting on the toy. Suffocation hissed at him quietly, urging him to take it if he wanted it. She didn't want it herself.
She didn't like sweet things, he didn't know why.
He finally started to crawl forward, moving towards the toy and wrapping his fingers around the candy. He focused his eyes upwards, first looking towards father and then to his new brother. Father wasn't looking at him, but the other was. Those eyes were different, not the same. He blinked, raising the hand with the candy in it without realizing.
If he was being looked at, did that mean there was a chance for playing? The boy closed that thing he was holding and got out of the chair. He walked over to him, looking down before sitting down and holding out his hand.
"For me?" Twisting his head to the side, the baby blinked. Did he want something? When they spoke he didn't all ways understand them, this was one of those times. The hand gesture he understood, it meant you received something. He continued to stare until Suffocation mentioned the candy.
The candy in his hand that he was holding out. Which wasn't that something you did when you gave somebody something? Yes, it was, he was sure. He crawled forward a little bit more, clambering up into his older brother's lap. The hand that was held out was totally bypassed, but the moment he was in the lap he held the candy back out.
He could have it now that he made sure the other wasn't going to go anywhere.
"Thank you." A pale hand reached out and carefully took the candy. For a moment the other studied it and he felt a little indignant, it was not like he had done anything to the candy except for let it set there after father had tried to give it to him.
His older brother seemed to get the point and went ahead and put the candy in his mouth to eat it.
Now that he did that, he had to do one thing.
He had to play. There was no choice. A candy had been given to him so he had to do something in return. That something would be playing.
Suffocation agreed. It wasn't often that they did.
And big brother didn't have to look so surprised when he tugged on his shirt so they could start playing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2004 12:25 pm
Baby Growth Quest ---
Some strange things have been happening in the presence of little baby Mael. Most of these occurances have been brief enough and casual enough to have not been noticed before this point.
However, a certain case has arisen. It seems that, during the time which Mael and Suffocation were exposed to a neighbour's pet, the animal passed away. Now, you've got one angry and question-raising neighbour on your hands..
Over a period of at least a week, have the guardian or family members investigate into this, and discover more about the true meaning of the marking on Mael's forehead. Following this, Mael will grow into an infant.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2004 2:39 pm
With a quiet knock on the door of Halo and Wren's house, a messenger left a bundle on the doorstep, idling off, a strand of golden hair toyed with idly.
Inside the bundle lay two objects, gifts for the infants adopted by the couple.
Next to Mael's portion of the package lay the following note:
Quote: Dear Wren, While out shopping, I saw this and thought of Mael. I apologise if the end is a tad soggy, Eydis took a liking to it and tried to chew on the snake's tail. I do hope drool doesn't offend you. Yours, Lady Naita Elouin Siri.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Dec 04, 2004 8:09 pm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Dec 04, 2004 8:10 pm
|[ All Good Things ; Part One ]|
04.12.04 ; Getting a cup of sugar shouldn't lead to disaster. Things were silent in the house without everyone present.
Or it would have been silent except for the sound of Mael's giggles, Suffocation's hisses, and that of Wren trying to get around the kitchen and actually bake something that did not turn out flat and burned -- which reminded the man that Freyr had let that little fact out to Tiagra earlier during lunch before he had gone with the woman craft shopping.
Actually, he was happy that the young Theos was getting out now. He had been keeping to the house lately, in tune with his shy nature. That nature all most clashed with the rest of the house, considering most of the occupants were far from shy. Gaitano and Carmine most notoriously -- infamously -- never shy at all.
That made him think, which one of them had been the one to let Tiagra in? Had been in been Gaitano or Carmine? He was easily distracted by the sound of Mael playing with the gift that Naita had left for the babe on their doorstep. The serpentine baby was happily tapping it against the tray attached to his high chair, somehow managing to never hit his daemon that was curled up on top of the same surface. Either that, or he was purposely avoiding her, and Wren wouldn't put it past him.
After all, the two were linked, were they not? There was a special connection between the daemon and the young Forgotten. Sometimes, when watching the Mael, Wren noticed that both the baby and the snake would stare at one another as if they could understand one another. Reaching a silent decision and then reacting. Usually, whenever they worked together, it was never in his favor.
Not that it really phased him. It took more than his son and the daemon to get to him.
Something like the fact that there wasn't any sugar in the house and he needed to get some for the cake he was mixing up did get to him. Wren scowled, rubbing a hand across his cheek and smearing flour in it's wake.
"Da -- bu -- darnit." Having children in the house really put a curb on his usage of profanity and Wren still wasn't sure if that was a good thing. Sighing, he picked up the bowl he was mixing and covered it so that he had long enough to go and pick up some sugar. He wasn't looking forward to actually going to the store to pick up the ingredient. It would take too long and by the time he got back Tiagra could possibly be back with Freyr and he didn't want to leave them waiting.
Focusing blue eyes on his son, Wren tilted his head to one side. "Well, kiddo, I think we're going to have to go to the store." Seeming to know he was being talked to, the baby stopped his actions and focused his red eyes on his father. He smiled, that wide smile of his ( that Wren still thought something was being plotted whenever he saw that smile ), and giggled. The baby reached out with a hand to pet Suffocation.
"Or maybe," Wren said, cutting his eyes to look out a window in the kitchen towards the house next door, "maybe we can see if Nora over there has some sugar we can borrow." He grinned as if it was one of the best ideas he ever had outside of writing. It saved him the trouble of having to go to the store and he could be back in a few minutes so as to not miss the chance of Tiagra returning with Freyr.
Moving forward, Wren gently lifted Mael out of the high chair and into his arms. He positioned the baby so that Mael had a view over his shoulder and then offered his other hand to Suffocation so she could slither up onto it and over to her Forgotten. It was all ways odd how the snake would slither here and there on him, but rarely on anyone else unless the person had Mael's favor.
Or Mael was interested in that person and sent Suffocation out to investigate. At least, that was Wren's thoughts on the matter. Chuckling to himself, and banishing thoughts about his son that had been appeared out of a book, he made his way out of the kitchen and through the hallway to the front of the house. Squirming one hand free of handling Mael, the other firmly secured by a tail wrapped around it and being squeezed every so often, he pulled the door open and went outside.
He immediately shivered. It was too easy to forget that it was winter now and that a jacket was really necessary. However, he shook his head and moved forward, intent on going next door and borrowing some sugar. He did make sure and keep one arm firmly wrapped around his son. After all, he did have a sweater on and Mael was dressed warmly, but he still wasn't sure about the child.
Cold was notorious for putting snakes to sleep. Would it do the same to Mael? Suffocation?
Apparently not, because by the time Wren reached Nora's home, Mael was giggling loudly and trying to catch stray snow flakes as they fell onto him and Suffocation was curled up in the space between Mael and Wren's sweater. Wren wasn't enjoying it, more fan of warmer climates and less snow. It wasn't even December and it was all ready snowing like this! He was demon, right? Right! Demons weren't use to cold climates, not at all.
Grumbling to himself, but unable to hold the irritated mood because of the bundle of giggles that was Mael, Wren rang the bell. It only took a moment before the door was opened and Nora was there.
She was a rather pretty woman, somewhere in her late twenties, early thirties ( Wren made it a point to never ask ), with black hair that was peppered with different color streaks. There were few lines on her face to show her age and she all ways seemed to be smiling. If there was one flaw to her, it was that Wren thought her nose should've been squished or closer to her face like a pig's. It wasn't that she was one, but rather she was the one that all ways had her face pressed to a window when something was going on.
All ways.
The attention had never really been focused on him and his home until Halo and him had gotten together and later married. Then it seemed that all she could ever pay attention to was events at his home ( Halloween had been a trial ). She hadn't even flinched when Tom and Carmine had moved into the house ( and they were there before Halo ), but the moment a woman was in his house, her attention was on it.
That he thought it a little bit scary was an understatement.
"'Lo, Nora," Wren spoke pleasantly, shifting Mael in his arms so that the baby was pressed to his chest. Green fingers were curling in the fabric of his shirt, tugging slightly on the material before simply resting there. The baby only briefly focused on Nora before it looked like him and Suffocation were staring past her, into the house. It was easy to pick up the sound of one of the birds Nora kept as a pet.
( It was a large parrot actually. Wren found it to be the most annoying thing ever known to him, but Nora claimed he was very smart for his age -- whatever that ancient number was -- and that he was sweet as pie. What Wren couldn't understand was why she considered the thing sweet as pie when it tried to take his ear off the few times he dropped by. Never mind that his horns were not bird perches. That really irked him. The woman was a fanatic about her birds and he couldn't get it across to her that it wasn't cute what her sweet little baby did. )
"Wren," she spoke, her voice sickeningly pleasant, "it's a pleasure to see you. As well as your young son, Mael." Though from the sudden glint in her eyes, she was far from pleased to see the baby. It made Wren twitch just slightly, bringing one arm up and wrapping it around his son firmly. Nora noticed it and she changed her position, smiling down warmly at Wren and his son. "Is there a reason for your visit or did you just drop by? Lonely at home with just the son?"
"Um," Wren trailed off, blinking. Creepy. Creepy! "Actually, Nora," he said after a moment, making sure that the ring on his finger caught her vision ( there was a brief frown on the woman's face ), "I just wanted to know if I could borrow some sugar. I'm out at the house, and I'm expecting someone to come home with Freyr and I'd really don't want to be gone when they get back." He gave her one of his most disarming and charming smiles ( the charming part picked up from Gaitano -- and he could only hope it worked ).
It did, because after a moment, she tilted her head towards the inside of her house.
"Come on inside, Wren, where it's warmer. I think I've got an extra package of sugar that you can have, but you'll have to help me find it in the cabinets." Nora only gave Wren a moment before she tugged on his sleeve and pulled him inside the warm house. The decorations were all modern, but there were various knickknacks everywhere. Most of them were birds of various kinds. Pictures, mugs, figurines; if it had a bird on it, it was probably in this house.
... and Halo tells me I'm bad about my obsessions, Wren thought to himself, following Nora along. She was chattering about something. Some social gathering in the neighborhood, but he was only half listening. He barely realized that they had stopped moving and were standing in the living room.
In the corner of the room he saw that deity-forsaken parrot and instantly wanted to duck his head down to hide his horns so he wasn't used as a perch. Mael in his arms finally came to life again, giggling loudly and waving his hand in the direction of the bird. Even Suffocation seemed more animated now that she was in the warm house and this room. They were both making noises and acting as if they were talking to the parrot.
Then, for one split second, they looked at one another. There was some glimmer of understanding that passed between them and then the giggles and hisses started up again. It was, honestly, quite cute. Even Nora cracked a smile at the baby and his snake daemon.
"Well, I think your little boy there wants to say hello to my cutie pie. Why don't you let him sit him down on the sofa while we look in the kitchen for the package of sugar?" Nora asked him, her voice still holding that sickeningly pleasant edge to it that he wasn't too fond of.
Mael, however, seemed pretty keen on the idea. His tail was all ready loosening around his father's arm and he was squirming rapidly, trying to get out of his grip. Sighing, Wren gave a small nod of his head.
"All right. It'll just take a moment, I just don't like leaving my son alone, you know?" Wren smiled slightly, but inwardly sighed. Nora just gave him a look, clearly showing she didn't understand what he meant. It wasn't like Mael was his real son, but she didn't get the point that he considered the boy that. Shuffling his feet a bit, he moved forward to set the baby down on the sofa.
Wren fussed for a moment, eyes on his son, but the red eyes of his baby were on the parrot perched in the corner and not him. He shook his head, figuring that he had lost the boy's attention for the time being but could get it back later as they were leaving. Making sure that Mael wasn't going to suddenly fall off the sofa and that Suffocation was securely with his son, he stood up and smiled slightly at Nora.
"Now, where's this sugar suppose to be at?" he asked, watching her as she started to move out of the living room and towards another area. One last gaze was given to his son and Wren couldn't sake the feeling that he didn't really want to leave the baby alone.
"In the kitchen, one of the cupboards, but I'm not sure which." Nora paused, turning to look over her shoulder when she realized Wren wasn't keeping up. He was such a silly man, but he was loyal to his family, which was an endearing quality. "Wren, silly, Mael will be all right. Rider's smart, he'll keep an eye on the baby for you."
Somehow, that didn't seem to make Wren feel any better, but he nodded his head. Picking up his feet, he followed her into the kitchen and set about to searching with her for the sugar.
Then again, it was more like him searching for the sugar and her saying she was doing the same. However, all of that was bound to come to an end. A sudden cry, then a shrieked squawk, and then the sounds of silence echoed in the house. It only took a moment, but Nora and Wren looked at each other once before both were racing back towards the living room.
Their priorities were different, but what they saw was the same.
In the living room, sitting on the sofa was Mael, Suffocation, and the parrot Rider. There were feathers everywhere, covering the baby and the snake, but it wasn't that that really caught Wren's attention. It was the fact that one of the parrots claws was digging into Suffocation's scales, but the parrot wasn't moving.
The bird was fallen to one side, stiffly, as if dead.
No one had moved yet, but just as they did, Mael let out a piercing cry. A cry that seemed to reveal a pain he should not even be capable of suffering.
Something had gone seriously wrong here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
