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 Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 2:20 pm
{I stumble through the darkness} Serra's Arrival i.
It was, by all appearances, going to be a very bad day for Addie. The brunette was late for work and the normally cheerful woman's mood was plummating with each moment. Her car wouldn't start, the dog had chewed on her brief case, her blow dryer had shorted out and, to top it all off, it had started to rain when she was half way to the building where she taught history.
And she had no umbrella.
Cursing and bringing her brief case al a dog slobber over her head, Addie broke into a small jog. The leather was offering very little protection from the elements and running in heels wasn't necessarily a good idea but Addie wanted to get out of the rain as soon as possible.
Now, she didn't really mind rain, usually, but that was because she didn't get caught in it half way to already being late for an important lecture. There were substitutes, yes, but Addie hadn't missed a day of work in her entire life. The historian loved her work and it had, since she had graduated high school, been her life.
That, however, was beside the point. Right now, the woman had to work hard to get into class on time and even then she was soaked to the bone. Of course, things couldn't really get worse, right?
That was when a car sped by and sprayed her with puddle water filled with dirt and other nasties from the side of the road. Stopping her jog, Addie stood still and closed her eyes.
Sitting down on the edge of the sidewalk, she put her brief case in her lap, held her head, and started to cry.
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Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 2:22 pm
{Still calling your name} Serra's Arrival ii. Rain, rain, go away. Rain itself was getting so tired of hearing that little chant. It was disheartening! What had she ever done to deserve being told to go away? After all, she was what made things grow, right? Well. It would serve them right if she DID go away, wouldn't it? Sure, they SAID come back another day, but when she did come back?
The song started over again. She was beginning to think that it was just a song to put her off, make her feel better so she'd come back, and put her off again. Mean little children! Mean mean mean.
The rain had started as a trickle but as her ears filled with the chants of children, her anger and hurt grew. She cried, as much as rain could cry, and the storm picked up to bring the rain down harder and thicker than before.
It spread, covering the entire city, then out of it, and finally it caught up with a little brunette that was walking down the street looking fairly lonely. Lonely like she was!
Was she what made her so upset? The spirit paused and watched the woman who had started to run the moment she had come near. Why did everyone run away from her? Life as rain was fairly lonely. Wind only whistled by, teasing her, and of course the sun always came out again to dry her up. And then, when she actually got to have her fun, people ran away from her! Sure, there were the ocassional pair that danced in the rain or splashed in her puddles...
And now she was rambling. She sighed, another torrent of rain pelting at the woman running from her though it was unintentional. The woman cursed and continued to run until a car splashed her further and she sat down to cry.
Crying was a feeling Rain had far too often. If there was only a way she could let the woman know she wasn't alone? Concentrating she tried to send a message. Unfortunately, nothing happened.
Well, she'd just have to see about doing something else...Concentrating again, the spirit wished fervently to be able to communicate with the soaked brunette with the briefcase. This time, something did happen. What was that?
The spirit felt tingly all over! Then, there was a flash of light and everything the spirit knew faded away.
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Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 2:26 pm
{And down down down came the rain} Serra's Arrival iii. Her cell phone was ringing and Addie was reluctant to pick it up. She knew who it was and she knew that when Dr. Masters was mad, he was mad. Being late caused him to be mad.
She let the phone ring a few more times until it died and cradled her head in her hands again. Sitting there feeling sorry for herself may not have been the most productive thing in the world but really, Addie had the right to be upset. After all, she was missing a very important day of work and even if she somehow managed to make it there, she'd be late. And written up. And yelled at.
The historian was about to heave herself up to start back home with a blinding flash of light hit her and caused her to stumble backwards. What the crap was that? It faded as soon as it started and, fearing that someone had somehow gotten into some kind of accident, Addie ran towards the source of the light.
When she got there, nothing was around for miles. Everyone seemed to already be at work or smart and at home. Sighing, and vaguely confused, Addie turned to start back home again.
The sound of a baby's coo stopped her in her tracks. A baby? Had she just heard a BABY in the middle of the street? Slowly she turned around and looked down at the ground, spying a beautiful little girl, naked as sin, with white and blue hair and the most gorgeous and creepy eyes she'd ever seen in her entire life.
Laying in the middle of the street.
Aderyn slowly dropped to her knees, looking both ways to make sure they were in no initial danger, and picked the child up slowly - who, oddly enough, seemed to be floating in the air as it was.
She had to be imagining things.
"H..hey there, little girl. Where's your mommy?" God, wasn't that cliche? Asking a baby where their mother was when babies couldn't talk. Cliche and stupid. "You seemed to have come out of thin air."
Close! Oh, she's SMART! Can you hear me? Helloooo!
Addie didn't respond, obviously being unable to hear the little girl's thoughts. After all, she was only human. Carefully she cradled the girl against her shoulder and stood up again. Well, if someone was going to be so irresponsible as to leave a baby in the middle of the street, they shouldn't have the blessing of the baby.
Addie grabbed her brief case and tucked it under her arm, carefully supporting the new little girl with her other arm. Then her cell phone rang again. Knowing she couldn't avoid her boss forever, Addie dropped her brief case and clicked her cell phone on, careful not to drop the child.
"Hello. Yes, I know I'm late. There's a good reason for it. I can't tell you right now, but I'll tell you tomorrow. No, I won't be in today." a pause, "Yes, I know I won't get paid. I'll be in early tomorrow. Good day, Dr. Masters."
With a click of her phone she grabbed her things again and headed home with the new baby in tow.
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Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 3:59 pm
{I've nearly found a place to call my own} A Room For Serra i. Despite being thoroughly soaked by the time she returned home, Addie seemed to at least be in a better mood. The little girl in her arms had nestled against her, asleep, and her presence to the historian was quite comforting.
Now, to figure out what to call her and where she was going to KEEP her. The young woman set her briefcase down and then strolled to the couch where the sleeping spirit was placed in a fortress of pillows. There was nothing for a baby in her house and Addie really needed to get out of her wet clothes and take a shower to warm herself up lest she get a cold.
Kissing the child's forehead she went up the stairs to her bathroom and started up a shower, shedding her clothes before stepping beneath the flood of water.
Hm. Rain? No. That's too hippy...Uh...Alexandria? Pretty, but she doesn't look like an Alex...Rene? Ugh. No...
Picking a name for an infant picked up from the street was a difficult thing. Names were very important - Addie believed that with all her heart. If she had been called Bertha, she wouldn't be the person she was today.
Finishing her shower, she slipped out and into a pair of jeans and a bright, poofy long sleeved shirt that simply didn't seem like it belonged to a historian. Of course, Addie didn't necessarily look like a historian either...
Her mouse brown hair was brushed out, blow dried, and she went downstairs. Serra was still sleeping, curled beneath the fortress of pillows that she had set up before she had gone upstairs.
She looked so much like a little princess like that. A proper little lady, peaceful and sweet. Sighing, Addie went to the computer in her office and booted it up, typing quickly in the address bar:
"www.behindthename.com"
Selecting 'meanings' and then typing in 'lady' she clicked the enter button and waited for the list to pop up.
"Martha? No...That's more old-ladyish. Uh...Madonna?" Addie snorted. That wouldn't work at all.
Oh. Oh, that name was nice! Addie clicked on the name 'Sarah' and smiled as she read the description. Very nice. However, deciding to be contrary to the way it was spelled...
"Serra. Her name is Serra. Now to figure out where to get baby things and decorate her room."
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Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 4:28 pm
{I'm reaching my journey's end} A Room For Serra ii {Caden PD} Rain and Fog tend to come in pairs, though they mostly never meet. The rain nourishes, as does the fog. However, conditions are rarely right. In the case the following two baby spirits, there was one time when everything fell in place, and they met face to face. That split second of chance was all they needed, for spirits are known to have long memories.
The sun peeked out from miscellaneous clouds, spelling out an end to the recent rainy season off the meadows of Northern England, though drizzles had not yet become uncommon. Evaporating water coated the ground with creeping mist, reaching ever upwards towards the skies. Two pairs of watery eyes gazed across one chasm; one caught a glimpse of the leaving rain, and the other the sight of rising fog.
One second passed. What was left of the rain's moisture gathered itself up and pushed once, twice, towards its old companion..."You're such a good baby, huh?" Addie spoke to the little girl in the little pram that she had purchased as they made their way through the parking lot of the mall. It was the only piece of baby furniture she had and she had gotten it at a garage sale. Definitely would be getting a new one but for now, Serra didn't seem to mind too much.
In fact, the rain child was as placid as ever, floating just above the blankets in the pram and chewing on her fist. The shroud of mist that hung around her made the furniture just a little wet, however, and Addie soon realized that she would have to water proof everything unless she wanted to keep buying new things.
Addie had opted to walk to the store this day simply because it wouldn't make sense to take the car. The furniture wouldn't fit in it and Serra seemed to prefer being outdoors anyway.
"Hey, we're almost there! Ready to find stuff for your room, Serra?"
Serra simply gurgled, sounding more as if she were underwater than anything else.Though Caden had followed Ethan to many places (the park, restaurants, football games, coffee houses, class, the police station), he has never been to the mall. Ethan just didn't take him there, that's all. No explanation was necessary. Lucky for the fog-boy, today was his lucky day. They were going to the mall.
As usual, Caden was stuffed into Ethan's canvas bag, then slung across the shoulder. Now ready for the trip, the two headed off on the silver Vespa. The ride wasn't uncomfortable, and nor was the little space that Ethan's bag provided. Caden simply destructuralized his bottom half, and poked his head out, feeling the passing breeze.
They arrived at the mall early. 11AM on this fine Friday, because Ethan wanted to avoid all the kids who would be hanging around after school. A few people were around, but not too many for Caden to come out of the bag to follow Ethan around. After not looking at the directory (because Ethan knew his way around the mall like the back of his hand), the two headed off to Astek, the designer sunglasses shop (spring was coming, and the sun would be coming around soon); one walking, one hovering 2 inches above the polished floor.At that particular moment, Addie was pushing the pram past that shop toward the stores of baby clothes and furniture. However, when Serra let out a sharp little cry, Addie skidded to a stop.
"What's wrong, baby? Are you okay?"
Something is..f..familiar.. Not that Addie could hear the little girl's thoughts but her cyan eyes were looking around wildly. Serra was incredibly sensitive to those things around her and something - no, someone nearby felt as though she knew them.
There! THAT one! One of her little hands flailed out in the direction of Caden and she let out a gurgling babble that clearly stated to Addie what she wanted. Oh, dear.
"That's just another baby, Serra."
She protested louder which was very out of her character. The normally quiet baby wanted what was there and she wanted it -now-. Addie sighed and shifted the pram in the two's direction, "Uh...Excuse me...I..."
Please don't think I'm a freak for coming up to you for no reason simply because my daughter - oh hell, daughter? - kept pointing to your son.As the two were walking over (yes, Ethan was watching them -- he couldn't just IGNORE the crying baby, could he?), Caden felt just a little bit odd. Something snapped in his head, but not in a horrible/insane way. He just felt drawn. Drawn towards the sound of rain bubbling down the storm drains. Or perhaps it was just a little baby's cry of determination. In any case, Caden partially dematerialized on command. As in, he suddenly but unintentionally started melting away into fog, floating towards the lady with a... pram.
Now this was unusual, but like most things, it didn't surprise Caden. Though most things did NOT surprise him, this went one step further. It was expected, familiar, even sought after some time ago. And so it WASN'T with reluctance that Caden floated on by towards the Raining One, as she and her guardian came towards him and Ethan.
The guardian began to speak. Her voice was tense, forced, but well thought out nonetheless. She faltered a bit at the beginning, but that's because she was wisely choosing her words. Taking his time -- for he nearly had all the time in the world -- Caden rose towards the pudgy hands sticking out of the pram.Serra stopped her demanding whining the moment Caden came near, her cyan eyes looking up at him, wet from her previous tears. Oh...He was very VERY familiar but the baby couldn't put her finger on it. Familiar, but only a passing, fleeting feeling.
What was he? Who was he? Serra reached out her small hand further and tried to grab at him the moment he came into view.
In a world where nothing was quite familiar anymore the smallest thing she recognized was a comfort to her. Here was a giant neon flag waving in front of her.
Did he recognize her too?Peeping up over the edge of the less-than-pricey pram, Caden caught a glimpse of something blue and pale. It reached out to him, and reflexes told him to duck. Caden tried, and felt the pillar of fog that was holding him come tumbling down. When he hit the ground the spirit-baby was nothing more than a condensed layer of mist.
This didn't go over too well with either of the guardians; obviously they didn't think he would do something THIS rash. However, under special circumstances, Caden would have to break the rules a little. Because there was something familiarly vague about Blue-and-Pale, Caden would HAVE TO break the rules a little.The sudden disappearance of the boy peering into the pram made Serra whimper a little bit. Where did the familiar thing go? She could still feel his presence, but it was...different? It wasn't the same, but it was there.
It confused the rain spirit and she made a gurgling babble noise once more, as if calling out to the boy. Serra wanted to see him again!
Addie, on the other hand, was gaping at the boy who had just turned into fog. Was this normal? "Uh..." she said calmly, "Will he be all right?"
She was definitely not the 'panic first ask questions later' type of person. Especially when it was in Gaia.
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Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 4:32 pm
{I think I've found a place to call my own} A Room For Serra iii.
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Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 12:14 pm
{Writing My Life Story} Addie's Online Journal Log i.
01/11/06
I never thought that I'd be a mother. Scratch that, I never thought I'd be an unwed mother. However, I guess someone has a better idea of what life should be for me. I found a baby in the streets today. Well, a baby type, anyway.
But my logs are getting away from me which is not something that usually happens. Let me start from the beginning:
The morning sun was enough to get me up when my alarm clock didn't go off on time this morning and it put me ten minutes behind schedual. It didn't help that after my normal shower the blow drier shorted out on me and I was forced to get dressed with wet hair. Anyone who knows me knows I hate doing that as it gets my clothing wet.
Today I had a very important lecture and, trying to find my briefcase, I discovered that Kirby had decided my briefcase was the most convenient chew toy in the house despite being a spoiled little brat. So, I wiped it off the best I could and went off after a breakfast of an oatmeal and raisin bar.
Only to discover my car wouldn't start. So, thinking it's a decent looking day out, I start walking to work. Half way there, it started to rain. It was light, at first, but it got pretty hairy out there for a bit. Then a car splashed me and, well, I lost all will to continue my trek to the job.
I sat down and, well, cried. Feeling miserable for myself, really. I hate it, but I did it, and being this is a true account of the day I can't leave out any detail despite how embarrassing it is.
As I was moping on the sidewalk, a flash of light disrupted my line of thought and I thought someone had an accident. I got up and ran to see if I could help but found a baby instead.
Now, this is the odd part, journal. The baby has blue tipped hair, these incredibly bright cyan eyes, and seemed to be floating. FLOATING! Not only that, she had these little marks beneath her eyes that matched them and she had a small shroud of mist hanging around her.
Well, you know me, journal - I can't leave a baby in the STREET and I certainly don't think any fit parent would. So I took her home and gave her a name. Serra.
It suits her fairly well, I think. She's like a little lady, so quiet and calm and peaceful. When she DOES make noise it sounds as though she's underwater, though. Odd, but charming.
I took her out to shop for furniture and she met this odd little boy, Caden, who could turn himself into fog. His father assured me it was normal for him, though, so I suppose I can't really go off on how weird it was despite my want to study him. My daughter isn't exactly normal herself.
See, journal? I'm already thinking of her as daughter. I'm truely losing my mind but if that's the way it has to go, well, I'm glad of it. I have a daughter who floats and sounds as though she's under water and gets everything wet.
They're going to lock me in the looney bin one of these days.
-Aderyn
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Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 12:16 pm
{My Baby And Me} A Moment Alone It was quiet, like usual, in the Barclay household. Kirby was asleep at Addie's feet, Ohno was sleeping on her perch, and Serra was sucking her thumb quietly in her mother's arms. A roaring fire was in the fireplace not too far from her and the quiet storm that had started up earlier that evening was pitter-patting at her windows and walls.
The evening was absolutely perfect as far as the historian was concerned. The only way it could get any better was if she had a good book to read and she could easily just sneak one into bed with her before she turned in for the night. It was one of those rare occasions when she didn't find that she needed anything else.
With that thought, Addie didn't have time to think about getting another book and crawling into bed. It was too comfortable and a few moments later she was sleeping peacefully in the comfortable reclining chair.
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Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 12:19 pm
{Hold out your hands} New Friends i. {Taji PD} The day itself wasn't the type of day that Addie was too fond of, ever. The fact that it was drizzling outside, however, had tickled Serra pink and the little girl had been fussy despite her normally quiet disposition.
A few weeks had past since the girl had come into the woman's custody and the Historian had put in for maternity leave since she had no idea what else to do. The fact that she'd been away from her beloved teaching and books for so long had her going slightly crazy, however, and it was due to that fact that Serra had been bundled up and taken to the library.
Perfect compromise. Serra wanted to be out of the house, Addie wanted to get some new books from the public library.
"Gagagagagaga." Serra sang from her position in Addie's arms. Her shroud was, currently, being worn as a cape-type thing to keep Addie from being wet - she had learned that Addie didn't like that - and the fat drops of rain were plopping on her face. She was one happy camper until the rain stopped touching her and she found herself inside again.
A whimper.
"Shhhh, it's fine baby. We'll go out again after I get some books." Addie could handle being in the rain for a while if Serra would give her this. The child seemed to understand and gave a little whimper once before shushing so her mother could talk to the librarian.
This was NOT a fun outing!
"THIS one," Taji said suddenly, chubby fingers closing around the thin spine of a children's book as she yanked it unceremoniously from the only shelf she could reach: the bottom one.
"Okay," said Cianan, who looked up from his own book andreached out to take it, but Rhine (the immortal enemy of every library ever) promptly snatched it from both his siblings and dangled it up in the air in front of him by a corner.
"Why?" Rhine made a face at the bright red dog plastered over the front cover of the Clifford book. "Look, every Clifford book ever is all 'THIS IS CLIFFORD. CLIFFORD IS A BIG RED DOG WHO STARTED OFF SMALL BUT GREW LIKE AN ELEPHANT ON CRACK. EVERYBODY LOVES CLIFFORD BECAUSE HE IS GOOD FOR DOING MENIAL CHORES AND FOR GIVING PONY RIDES, AND NO ONE EVER HAS TO CLEAN UP AFTER HIM.' You are not getting Clifford." With that, he promptly shoved the book on a higher shelf somewhere where it did not belong.
Taji, who had started listening intently but had gotten bored halfway through (and only understood half of it anyway), looked properly relieved at the end of Rhine's tirade. "Yeah!" She obligingly agreed with him, and then hopefully, "Magic School Bus?"
"No. No Magic School Bus. Here, you can read The Crucible. Everybody who doesn't die is evil. It's a good book."
"Except for the wife," Cianan pointed out cheerfully, tucking his own small pile of books underneath one arm and taking Taji's hand in his other. "Come on, I'll go find you Magic School Bus. At least it will not give you nightmares -- and it's educational."
"Beep beep!" The star spirit sang happily as she wobblingly followed after her brother to the reception desk, where they waited patiently behind a young woman holding an unhappy sounding baby.
"Educational -- but delusional!" Rhine howled after them, jabbing a finger accusingly at Cianan's retreating back, "You are deluding her into thinking busses can actually go inside volcanoes and human bodies and twenty thousand leagues under the sea!"
The noise was terribly distracting to both Addie and Serra - and Addie, who normally wouldn't have minded and would have loved to get in a debate, was a firm believer that common courtesy in a library should always be followed no matter what.
The mouse-brown head turned around staring at the trio, "Do, please, be quiet. It is a library after all." The sad thing was Aderyn likely didn't appear to be very intimidating despite her quiet, stern voice. The woman was only five foot two and the child looked more like a toddler in her arms.
Serra, on the other hand, was highly amused by the voices and that chattering and the little girl making beeping noises. Usually, too much noise bothered her. However, the child was facing a day out in the rain and nothing could bring her down from THAT.
"Ahhoooobah?" was voiced quite loudly.
"Shh, Serra." Addie blushed furiously. Hadn't she just told the others to quiet down? Now her own daughter was acting up.
"My apologies," Cianan grinned lopsidedly at the woman, having the decency to look somewhat shamed, "My brother -- um. We don't get out much."
"Sor-reeee," Taji echoed anxiously too, dropping her voice to a mere whisper, and checked to make sure that she had no cookies that could be taken away. When Serra introduced herself, Taji stood up on tiptoe and leaned forward (pulling on her brother's arm for support) and raised a finger to her lips. "Sshhhh!!!"
As an afterthought, Taji rocked on her feet and then announced in a loud whisper to the other girl, "I am Taji! I like Magic School Bus." She beamed proudly at what was her most complex sentence structure yet.
"And I am Cianan," her brother likewise echoed in an attempt to humor his little sister, "I like Shakespeare."
"Well, it's all right," Addie answered, taking the apology without any further protest, a smile being cracked at the little girl shushing Serra.
Serra's eyes widened as the girl came up and shushed her. Why was she being shushed? She hadn't been loud! At least, she didn't think she had been loud...
Taji. The name rolled around in the babe's head and she giggled - that was a funny name. What this 'Magic School Bus' thing was, however, she had no clue. "Taaaa."
That was about all she could get out, unfortunately. Addie smiled at the effort and stroked the white hair, "I'm Aderyn and this is Serra. I like fantasy, history, sci-fi...Well, pretty much everything..and Shakespeare. He was a genius. Serra? Well, Serra likes rain, but that's not a book."
A kid liking Shakespeare was a rarity, though. It made Addie want to drag him away and discuss books all day. She, however, didn't think that would be quite appropriate considering she was, most definitely, quite a bit older than he.
"Serra!" Taji chirped happily, rapidly forgetting to be quiet, "Like the Little Princess! I like Serra." Though it was ambiguous whether she meant the name, the character, or the other spirit herself, it probably didn't matter to the young toddler, who practically radiated (well, she did glow in the dark) love for everything all at once.
"I haven't ventured very far into genres outside of classic literature," Cianan admitted, "I've only been here twice before, everything else I read was through my family's library. I did like what little fantasy I could find, though -- Gulliver's Travels, and of course A Midsummer's Night Dream... One of my personal favorites."
"Has got fairies," Taji, feeling vaguely left out of the book conversation, said helpfully to Serra.
"Yes." Cianan grinned and let go of her hand long enough to ruffle her hair before returning his attention to Aderyn. "Of course, if you have any recommendations...? --For Taji too, if you're familiar with children's books. We don't have any of those at all."
Oh! The little shiny thing with pretty hair liked her? That was a first. Well, not really. The fog thing liked her too, even if he DID frighten her half to death at one point, but this one...Was much louder, and happier, than Caden had been.
"Taa!" That was officially Taji's new name. Taa. The ji couldn't be pronounced yet by the new mouth.
"Oh, the best book series ever is the Highlander series - but I could be biased simply because I'm a history nerd...It's about a woman who gets sent back in time through a circle of stones in Scotland. It's not necessarily fantasy, but if you don't mind a bit of romance and are interested in things like time travel..." she shrugged lightly and shifted Serra, who was getting heavy, before deciding to place her down on the floor. She could crawl, at least.
"But if you're looking for good fantasy, the Sabriel trilogy....Necromancers, magic, a talking cat named Mogget....Uhm..." she paused, "Maybe we should get out of line."
"Taaaa!" Taji said too and flailed her arms, mistaking it for a happy cry of some sort. "Taaaaaa! Do you like books, Serra?" Rhine was still sulking over by the children's book section, but perhaps he would not object to Clifford so much if she told him it was for her friend. "I can show you all the good ones with.. with pictures!"
She waited as patiently as she could, hopping from one bee-booted foot to another, as Aderyn talked a lot and finally placed Serra down on the ground. Taji wiggled her fingers and waved her hand, indicating to her new friend to follow her.
"Really?" Romance still had very little personal appeal to him, young as he was -- though he certainly didn't mind reading it -- though the time travelling bit sounded promising; it was ultimately the mention of necromancers immediately piqued his interest. Her last suggestion finally brought him out of his book reverie, "Oh... right."
He quickly located a nearby table, and half-hoping that Taji would go bother Rhine now, he shuffled out of his obvious place in line and gestured to it with his free hand. "Would you like to sit, then?"
The short woman looked down at Serra and then to Taji, deciding that they would be okay to play on their own before going off to continue the book discussion with Cianan. It was so RARE to have a kid be interested in books and she was the ultimate book worm.
Books? Were those what her mother always was on about? Books? "Yuuuuh?" She wasn't sure. Addie hadn't read any to her yet and so she couldn't say if she liked them or not.
But this happy, bouncing little thing with the shiny hair was kind of fun (and not so scary, despite the noise) so she simply got on her little hands and knees and started inching toward the toddler.
Nope. Couldn't walk yet.
Taji patiently led the way, hopping from one foot to the other with arms flailing as if crossing stones. Thankfully, it was not that far a distance to the children's book section -- a small 'circle' fenced in by short bookshelves and filled with beanbags and other scattered soft plushie toys. Rhine was sitting in the red beanbag chair, reading the Clifford book he had snatched from Taji earlier, and started and guiltily tried to hide it when the two girls arrived.
"This is my brother, he is a poopyhead," Taji politely introduced him to Serra with a large wave. To Rhine, she warned him with a "Gimme!" before running over and tackling him for claim of the book. Not wanting to be found with it anyway, the older boy easily surrendered it to his overeager sister and, sinking even further into the beanbag, tried very hard to become one with the library floor.
Taji victoriously skipped back over to Serra with Clifford book in tow and plunked herself down next to her (not so much sitting down gracefully as she fell calculatedly down on her butt), holding the book out for them to both look at. "This is Clifford! He is a Bigreddog."
Serra watched Taji hop around and giggled, eyes following her every movement. It was almost enough to make her dizzy and she would have if she hadn't been on her hands and knees crawling.
The child finally plunked herself down on her diapered butt and tilted her head to the side, watching the interactions between Taji and her brother. Idly, she wondered what a poopyhead was - but since she couldn't exactly ask what it was so instead, when Taji plopped down beside her, she looked over at the book with wide eyes.
A red dog. Now she'd seen everything! Giggling softly the rain child reached out and put her hand on the pages, "Da." No, she couldn't say Dog yet.
"'n this is Emily Elizabeth," Taji continued, flipping the pages and allowing Serra to look at each one as she introduced each character, "She lives with Clifford the bigreddog, who started off as a tiny puppy," she gestured to the appropriate illustration, "And then he grew as big as a house! Rhine said it is because of... rad... radyoaktivity." She nodded solemnly.
She watched carefully as Serra leaned forward to touch the page and make a noise. It took the star spirit a moment to process it, but finally Taji grinned widely and laughed, "Your da is a bigreddog? That is so--" she had to pause to think of the proper word, and finally settled on, "--Cool! Does he give you rides?"
Without waiting for an answer, she continued faux-reading the book, completely making up the narrative and often interjecting with random facts that had absolutely no relevance to the story at hand, like -- oh, did you know the moon was made of cheese? And when she was done with that book, Taji went for another, and then another, until a small stack of completed Clifford books lay at the feet of both girls.
She would have moved on to the Magic School Bus series, except by that time it was late afternoon and only an hour until the library was to close.
"We have to leave," said Rhine, looming over his little sister. "OR ELSE WHAT," screeched Taji, her inherent unhappiness at having to do something she didn't want to do (in this case: leave her new friend) overriding her knowledge of the fact that the library was a shush-shush place. "Or else mother's going to have me arranged to be hit by a bus," continued Rhine breezily.
This made Taji stop and consider, and at last she had to decide that no, not even if the bus were the Magic School Bus would she really want her older brother run over and made forevermore flat with big tiretreads all over him. So, waving goodbye to Serra after the pair had made sure she was properly returned to her own guardian (and somehow managing to wrangle Cianan, equally reluctant to leave as Taji, away from the conversation), they left, and Taji proceeded to jump and yell at Rhine to hide whenever a bus came into view all along the way home.
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Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 12:20 pm
{Cos friends will be friends} New Friends ii. All in all, the trip to the library was successful. Addie had left with a bag full of books on her shoulder and a happy, sleepy baby on her hip. She supposed all the reading Taji had done had worn the little girl out.
By the time they arrived home, Serra was sleeping in her car seat and looking like an angel. Of course, Addie was always biased (unless the child was kicking up a fuss about something or another).
Not wanting to disturb her, Addie grabbed her bag of books and made her way up to the door to unlock it and set her books on a nearby table with a little effort - it was difficult balancing the heavy bag and the keys to open the house at the same time. Being so small definitely had it's draw backs.
The historian rested against the wall for a moment, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. At least when she came back she didn't have to struggle with a stubborn lock and fifty million keys. After a brief rest, Addie returned to the car and carefully found the little button to release the restraint on the car seat.
She tried to be quiet, she really did, but the red button had decided to live up to it's bold color and make a loud KRCLICK noise as she pressed it. Wincing, Addie looked at her daughter's face and was relieved when all she did was twitch a little in her sleep. If Serra woke up her date with Charles Dickens was going to be canceled.
The seatbelt was lifted over her head and shoulders carefully before the child was lifted and held against her shoulder. The movement almost woke the infant who shifted against her mother and made a little whimpering noise. Mentally, Addie cursed and started to hum softly as she walked, swaying back and forth. Maybe the motion and soft sound would put her back to sleep.
It worked. Serra quieted and Addie was able to get her up the stairs and into her crib with very little problem at all. "Gnight, Serra." Addie murmured, smoothing her hair and kissing her forehead before turning out the lights and making her way to her room.
She had a hot date with a book.
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Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 1:16 pm
{Writing My Life Story} Addie's Online Journal Log ii. 01/12/06
I have successfully completed my mission to go to the library and restock my book shelf - albeit temporarily. I met a boy there that is positively amazing - he's a teenager who reads. Can you believe it? And not just those stupid comics...He reads SHAKESPEARE. I mean, it's no history textbook but usually teenagers fight if they have to read. I wish he could be in my class...Well, I teach college so he couldn't be anyway but even my college students put up a fight sometimes!
Serra really enjoyed time with Taji (Cian..en...? I can't remember his name now! Well, his little sister) and Taji read (or tried to read) to her for hours until they had to leave. I think it's wonderful that she's making friends. Serra just doesn't have enough socializing and even though she's a baby I'm sure it's important.
Of course that could be my fault.
Anyway, Serra's growing like a weed, learning to crawl and trying to talk.
It's amazing to watch her sometimes. I still can't believe I'm a mother - but I AM so...I guess that's moot, isn't it? *Laughs* Oh, dear. She's yelling for me now and it's time for her dinner. Until next time, Addie signing off!
~Addie
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Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 1:18 pm
{Tall trees will grow} An Outing with Serra. Addie had quickly learned that the colder, wetter days were the child's favorite days to be outside and, with her maternity leave ending soon, Addie was determined to spend as much time as she possibly could with the rain spirit.
Even if it meant her bob hairdo becoming frizzed like an afro from the moisture in the air.
A new pram had been purchased to replace the second or third handed one that she had first gotten and Serra was currently strapped in and enjoying the coldness on her little face. Quiet, as usual, her water-colored eyes were looking around the streets at the bare trees that stood like lone soldiers on either side of the road. The patterns that the branches made held her attention firmly, at least, and the snow beginning to drip from them and fall into puddles at the base also amused her.
It was rain, but not.
A small little finger pointed at one tree dripping into a puddle not too far away from them and she made a little sound, as if asking Addie a question.
"Hmm, little one?" Addie asked, leaning forward to see what she wanted. Eyes drifted in the direction of the pointing finger and she smiled. Ahhh, it was confusing Serra as to why it seemed to be 'raining' in just one place.
A science geek she may not have been but she did know the basics.
"That's frozen, Serra, and when the air around something frozen is warmer than the frozen object, the frozen object begins to melt. The water is simply falling because it's heavier than air."
...That made no sense to the little spirit and she made a small, unhappy noise. She didn't want to hear Addie talk about it, she wanted to touch the water. It looked lonely.
Another noise was made, more insistent, and waved her finger. THAT way, she wanted to go TOWARD it, not further away!
"Fine, fine, we'll go over to the tree. Is that what you wanted?"
"Buh!"
"I'll take that as a yes." The pram was turned around and Addie began to push it toward the dripping tree. Serra, content with going in the right direction, settled down against her pram and sighed, stuffing her thumb in her mouth.
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Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 1:19 pm
{All because of mist } An Outing With Serra ii. Finally - though not soon enough for the rain spirit - they reached the tree and Serra was lifted out of her little pram to be brought closer to the tree. "See, lovely, it's just melting water."
Serra reached out her tiny hands and put them under the steadily dripping water. It was freezing cold but the child didn't seem to much mind, babbling in glee at the contact. A nice day was all well and good for anyone else but the spirit was happiest with water on her skin.
Not that she understood why she liked the water so much - her small, infant brain could only catch on to so much before it flitted away into abyss. Eventually, she would understand - but for now she would simply go with the flow of things.
Addie couldn't help but smile at her daughter as she played in the water, wriggling in her arms with joy each time it splashed against her. Serra was getting bigger every day and each time she discovered something new she seemed absolutely thrilled - it made Addie's heart swell.
Why she was chosen to be this child's mother she had no idea but she was not complaining. No, she was sure she wasn't ready for motherhood but she did love Serra very, very much.
A surprised sound from her daughter lurched her out of her own thoughts and she looked down, spying a single leaf laying in Serra's outstretched palm. It must have fallen off the tree and landed in her hand instead of the water.
It was one of those rare, perfect leaves with no blemishes on it and Addie, being the strange one she was, had to keep it. The small leaf was plucked from her daughter's hand, "Hey, Lil' Drop, isn't that a pretty leaf? We can press it in a book and keep it as a momento, huh?"
Serra didn't know what a momento was but she did know that her mother seemed quite pleased with the find. So, to express her agreement, she nodded her head and clapped her hands enthusiastically. Addie laughed and set Serra down in the pram again, tucking the leaf in one of the little slots meant for bottles and other nifty baby things.
"I think our outing's been quite a success, Serra. Come on, let's go home." Addie began to push the girl back in the direction of the house and Serra, who was throughly pleased with being able to play with the water, did not protest. For once.
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Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2007 1:48 pm
{Let's start a brand new story } Bedtime. In which Serra hears her first bedtime story.
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Incantation Esprit Captain
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Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2007 2:02 pm
 "..Down came the rain and washed the spider out..." A spirit of rain, Serra can sometimes just be a wet blanket! But we all know she's just too cute for her own good. Help Serra find out more about herself, and find out more about her yourself too. Read some books, watch some movies, and show her as much as you can about "rain". 
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