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 Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 11:18 pm
"Pierced?" the word sounded pretty too. But she didn't get it. Was it something you had to undergo to get holes in your ears? Unable to connect between making holes and the pain that making holes should cause, she frowned, concentrating.
But they were pretty, and she wanted to wear things like this when she grew up too! Watching the way the end curved, she put it down and walked back over to her drink.
Look, some of it had melted! Which meant it would be easier to drink, right? Amused, and slightly befuddled, she held the drink in one hand and attacked it with the spoon with the other.
Thorn watched, distracted. Haki showed determination in a simple drink that Thorn wished he could have her apply to other things. Like learning, so that she would be smarter.
"I'm very sorry, Natalie." he said. He wasn't apologizing for himself, but the fact that her illusions had been shattered. There was something chaotic about the thought that he didn't like.
"Really." he added, because most of the time he ame across false.
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Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 11:24 pm
"Mmhmm, pierced. It hurts a little, but then you get to wear pretty earrings." She smiled, watching the girl. She was very, very cute, and fun to watch.
Returning to sketching, turning a page to draft a new idea out, she pursed her lips. She interpretted the apology as for what had happened between them. "... It's fine." But her tone suggested that it wasn't. Not really. It may have helped her learn, but she still hated thinking about that night, her stupidity. What she may have lost.
Needing to get up, she stood, setting the book down with nearly nothing drawn.
"Haki, once you finish your float, do you want to go look at fabrics? You can tell me what you want them to feel like. And I have costumes, if you want to play dress-up!" They'd be big, but Haki probably wouldn't mind. She'd loved wearing her mother's clothing when she was little. It had seemed so... so... grown up? Fanciful?
And perhaps she could get her mind off of the other night, this way. She'd been doing well so far during this little meeting, but her mind was getting drawn back to the memory of broken glass.
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Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 11:42 pm
It hurt? Outraged (and wondering what kind of pain it was. Was it like the hurt of not being able to watch her favorite TV show? Or the hurt of falling out of the bed?) that someone might dare want to cause her pain on purpose, she frowned. Maybe pretty earrings wouldn't be worth it after all...
But the next words had her do a 180 as she looked up. "Dress up?" she never got to do that, because Marc didn't have a lot of clothing belonging to women. Well, he did have a wardrobe full of it in their new house, but he insisted that they were too expensive for a little girl to play with.
But she had played dress up with her dolls. Maybe it involved a big doll? And the thought of materials... feeling, well, she was like a kitten on cat n**. "Love Natalie." she crooned, beaming.
Yes she did! What other kind of woman would suggest playing giant dolls? And it sounded so FUN, with someone else's stuff.
Thorn in the meanwhile, paused. What? Deciding that there had been a misunderstanding somewhere, he left it at that-- for now. No use pursuing it in front of Haki.
He wouldn't want stories to get back to Marc.
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Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 11:48 pm
Natalie laughed, leading Haki back towards her work room. Oh, little kids! She might become diabetic, what with all the sugary sweetness.
"See, that entire wall over there has fabric on it. Go ahead and see if you find something you like! And if you like how something feels, tell me. Even if it's not pink - because I can get it in pink, just for you. And once you pick a few fabrics, we can play dress up."
A smile. She hoped the little girl would have fun. And after a cursory inspection of the room, she nodded. The floor was clear - no pins.
Of course, the dress she'd worn at the almost-dinner was hanging up in there, too. Ready to be shipped out when she managed to sell it.
She realized, a bit belatedly, that if Haki ran off, she'd be left (sort of) alone with Thorn. But he didn't seem like he cared to talk about it - it would be left at that apology. Well... she needed to apologize, too. Again. While she wasn't in tears and so upset.
Glancing over at Thorn, she beckoned him over. Just a word or two, that was all.
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Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 11:54 pm
THE ENTIRE WALL?! Haki stared, entranced. Forgetting about her darkly beautiful drink and the darkly beautiful icecream on her drink, she focused on the wall instead. Moving over, she raised her hands in the air so that she could scrunch up her long sleeves around her elbows. With a look of determination and love, she nodded her head, only registering the words.
"Just for you."
Deciding that she was now in love with the woman who had given her an entire wall of material to play with, she tugged some of it down, running her hands over others. Some were too scratchy, and others too smooth. But she found ones she liked, colors too! Who knew there were so many colors that could be transferred into something as tangible as clothing?
Wow. Woooow.
Pulling them down, rolling in others and generally making a fool of herself (if this went out to the toddler community... god, she would just DIE) she almost purred with delight.
Well well well. She would have to speak to Marc about getting something like this at their home too. It certainly felt better than playing with a doll house.
Thorn in the meanwhile, saw the dress on the wall, and wondered if this was what their misunderstanding had been about. So he walked forewords, a little bit wary and nodded his head.
'Natalie." he said, the word still a carress.
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Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 11:58 pm
Natalie smiled, watching Haki. The girl would have to come over often, if only so she could keep Natalie in good spirits. Perhaps she'd make a good friend for her child?
But then Thorn was by her, and she glanced back, visibly a little unnerved. "... I wanted to apologize again. For my behavior. I shouldn't have doubted you like that." It was simple, the way she said it. But now that she said it, after thinking on the words, after living with the emotional consequences for those few days before she brightened up... it helped take a small weight off of her heart.
"I didn't mean for the night to go that way. I just..." She shrugged.
From her words, it was fairly obvious she hadn't talked to Hadrian since the day he'd told her what had happened with Marc. She didn't know any of the most recent developments. She still believed the best of Thorn - the best possible, given what she knew.
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Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2006 12:04 am
Thorn smiled. Placing a hand on her shoulder, he nodded. "I know." he said, trying to gentle his words. "I want to apologize too." he was nice, and diplomatic and all those good, sugary words that rarely entered his dictionary. "Natalie, there is nothing you need to apologize for."
He said.
Haki in the meanwhile, ignored anything that was coming from their direction. Instead she focused on pushing the piles around. One for the ones she liked... and the other for the ones she didn't!
She would forgive Natalie for the ones she didn't. Because this was fun! Then, sitting in the pile and rolling around once more (a kittne on catnip, truly) she peeked up from under a sheet of lace, and watched.
With bright, cheerful green eyes.
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Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2006 12:08 am
Her first reaction was to jerk slightly under his touch. But she calmed down. Let him keep his hand on her shoulder. Took what little she was given.
"... Then I suppose that whole thing's at an end, now. Yes?" The words were quiet. She wanted a final, definitive end to all of this. Once she heard that - knew he didn't care for her that way, knew things were supposed to return to normal - she could move on fully.
Natalie caught Haki's look and smiled over at her. She'd have to reorganize the entire wall, yes, but Haki had made picking out the fabrics rather easy. Hmmm... she didn't want to annoy the girl with tons of measurements, so...
She'd sneakily take measurements while she was helping the girl dress up. That would work.
"Figure out what you like?" she asked, voice louder so that the girl could hear it.
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Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2006 12:14 am
Was it? It would be better if it was. Hadrian was getting more and more interesting, what with their relationship turning more... physical. (Literally) so he hesitated over his answer. "It would be best, I suppose." he added, and nodding his head, withdrawing his hand when he caught Haki's eyes.
It was too late, but she didn't mind. She didn't really care what happened outside her own little space. "Natalie~" she crooned the word, having practiced it in her head. And she could more or less manage it without mangling the words too much.
See?
Nodding, she patted the pile she was lying on, maybe a little bit too defensively. She understood of course, that Natalie might have to take it away to make her pretty clothing.
But she didn't want to get up and do all that right now either.
She liked her pile. It had been such hard work picking all of it out! And it was comfy too.
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Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2006 12:18 am
He supposed. He supposed, huh? She tried to push the little 'what if's that created out of her mind, forcing herself to focus on that first part. 'It would be best.' Because it would be best.
"Focus on Hadrian, I suppose," she murmured, giving him a small smile. Oh, if only she knew...
Natalie went over to Haki, kneeling by her little pile. Hmm... it'd be an interesting meld of textures on a few of the outfits she had in mind. Hmmm....
"Do you still wanna play dress up? I can go get the costumes," she said, smiling at the girl. "You don't have to get up, at all."
Maybe she'd be too soft on her own girl. Probably. Spoiling her rotten... heh.
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Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2006 12:24 am
Thorn smiled, watching Natalie approach Haki. Haki listened, serious as she nodded her head. "Okay." she brightened as well. Wow. This woman was so nice to her! Maybe more people in the world was like this one? Then she'd have an easy time trying to rule the world.
Thron as well, watched. He was amused at her behavior, the way she seemed so careful and thoughtful around a child's needs. Curious as well, about the type of kid that she might end up looking after, his eyes fastened on Haki again, who smiled.
"Haki happy." she proclaimed. She was really happy that she had come all the way here.
Thorn smiled, indulgent. "Repeat that alot in front of Marc, okay?" he asked.
Haki, used to this, nodded back.
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Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2006 12:30 am
Natalie laughed a little at Thorn and Haki's exchange as she headed over to the closet where she kept her costumes. There were a few old halloween costumes that there was no way she'd put on Haki - the nurse and flapper costumes among them.
No, she pulled out a few more suitable costumes - a princess outfit, a white gown she'd designed a year or two back, and... well, why not? The gown she'd worn the other night.
This would help get rid of those memories. Cover them with something else.
She brought the three outfits over to Haki, laying them out on the ground. "What first?" She eye where the dresses were loose, stick pins in them once Haki wasn't wearing them so that she wouldn't have to get actual measurements. She knew kids didn't like holding still while people wrapped measuring tapes around them.
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Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2006 2:59 am
Haki paused, and pointed to the one Natalie had worn before. "This one please." she said, smiling as she nodded her head. She looked at Thorn for permission too- he was after all, going to pay for it. And it had been his idea to come here.
Thorn hesitated, and then smiled. "That one looks good." he said, agreeing. "It's my favorite one, I think." His words were kind of meant for Haki, kind of meant for Natalie as he eased back, giving them space.
Haki grinned, glad to have his approval. It was all nice and happy then- she would have chosen this one anyways even if he had disapproved-- but it made her feel better.
Staring at the three dresses, Haki nodded, watching Natalie. Why didn't people wear normal clothes like this all the time? "I want to be a princess." she said, the words coherent, clear.
That, and thank you very much, Marc is not here right now, my name is Haki were the four sentences she said the most frequently. So she nodded her head, grinning.
Thorn smiled, laughing. "When we get home, why don't you ask your father to throw a little party?" he suggested, smirking.
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Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2006 3:03 am
Natalie smiled, glanced back at Thorn. "Actually, there's one in the works right now. I'm helping to plan a masquerade ball for the guardians and their friends and family."
She winked at Haki. "And there'll be an exclusive area just for you and the other children, Haki. Want to be in charge of that area? I need somebody to do that!"
As she fiddled with the dress, getting it ready to put on Haki, she looked back at Thorn again. "Actually, my friend suggested getting Marc's help organizing it. She's going to ask him for me."
Planning so far was going well, that was for sure. It would be in just a week or two, if she had any say in the matter.
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Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2006 3:08 am
Thorn smiled easily. "Oh?" he said, nodding his head. Well, if this friend was going to ask Marc, then he wouldn't need to pressure the man. The thought of convincing him to do something oriented to this compound... well.
It was like pulling teeth from an alligator.
Haki watched the conversation, and when her name came up, brightened. She paused though. "In charge?" she said, tasting the words in her mouth and looking for some kind of trap, a barb. She hesitated, and then shrugged as she nodded her head.
"Haki be queen?" she asked, earnest this time. She wanted to be in charge to rule, not to be in charge to plan.
"Like Daddy!" she brightened, nodding. Daddy was in charge but he always had everyone else do the work. Still, her thoughts were incoherent to those around her, and she didn't seem to notice.
Well, that would be a good idea. And she could get people her size used to listening to what she said! Wow. This was a good idea. And then, when she was bigger..
Swept away by the idea, she stopped paying attention to the conversation. It was boring, compared to the fantasies playing out in her mind.
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