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 Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2005 8:11 pm
IC RP: Recieving a Letter, Making a Choice: Part 1 of 11 AriyaLauna was doing her usual routine thing today, as she expected to do tomorrow and the next and the weeks and months following after. She had no idea that the mail today and the decision she''d make after much arguing with herself would indeed change that way of life. Although she argued with herself and paced and paced in her small apartment, AriyaLauna was truly a shy young woman, and small town grown at that. College had done wonders to improve her knowledge of the world and help her come out of that shell, but it didn''t change her basic personality and upbringing. She wore modest clothing, and only kept her head up and her feet from shuffling along the floor because she''d learned that it was impossible to get by in the world without a show of some sort of confidence. That didn''t mean that she couldn''t stand up for herself when she wanted to, it simply meant that she perferred not to be noticed so she wouldn''t have to stand up in the first place. And here some private government agency was contacting her. That must be what she got for being a teacher and community volunteer. Still. It had to be a joke, didn''t it? Mousey people didn''t randomly get called for things like this. That''s what she kept telling herself, but here she was. Actually, AriyaLauna waited three days and read that letter at least a dozen different times, did Internet research, and mumbled about scams and consequences and possibilities before she finally picked up the phone and dialed that number from a payphone. Her intellect had told her it had been a stupid scam, her heart wouldn''t let her ignore the opportunity. Her heart was got her involved in most everything else, why not take on something else? She listened nervously to the prompt, and hung up on it. It was a process she repeated again, before taking up her nerve and finally speaking, quietly at first, and strength gaining in her voice as she repeated herself, knowing that she was likely speaking too softly to be understood to begin with. "...Uhm.. this is AriyaL-.... This is AriyaLauna Diedre, calling about the letter you sent me. Uhm, I got it a few days ago. Uh--I''m not sure I could take care of a child, it''s just me. But, uh... I wouldn''t mind. I''d like that. Really. So, uh, yes. Yes, I''ll do it and do my best. Uhm... Thanks? Bye..." AriyaLauna didn''t even consider leaving her contact information, and sat back with a sigh and anxiety flitting in her. She did remember when trying to sleep at night. Well... Oh, well. They found her address, they''d know her phone number. Maybe. She''d call again if she didn''t recieve a message. S.H.R. Agency Charles sat in his office, the receiver of his phone clamped to his ear.
"What? Yes, yes, of course. One moment." His eyes shifted from the computer screen to one of the many yellow post-it notes surrounding him. He grabbed a blank one and jotted down a phone number.
"Yes, thank you...good-bye."
He sighed, and hung up the phone. No sooner had he placed the receiver down than it started to ring again. It had been going off the hook since the incident a few days ago...everybody involved with the Agency wanted to know what had happened. Charles put his elbow on the desk and leaned into his palm, taking a deep breath.
The past week or so had been quite hectic, what with the new arrivals and getting all of their guardians situated, not to mention the fiasco with one of the boys. Their luck, the last girl that was being detained had the power of mimicry, so they had to change her room to the other side of the building. As with all of the children at the Agency, no one knew the extent of their power or how dangerous they could be. Charles' motto - "Better safe than sorry."
For this reason, Megan, or so she was called, was moved so that she could not mimic the other boy's power of creating monsters and put the Agency in an even worse state.
The tone beeped on the answering machine, signaling that a message was being made, and then a woman's voice came on. Charles listened to the message.
"...Uhm.. this is AriyaL-.... This is AriyaLauna Diedre, calling about the letter you sent me. Uhm, I got it a few days ago. Uh--I''m not sure I could take care of a child, it''s just me. But, uh... I wouldn''t mind. I''d like that. Really. So, uh, yes. Yes, I''ll do it and do my best. Uhm... Thanks? Bye..."
The ending beep sounded on the machine, and then the phone rang again. Charles was ready to pull it out of the frickin' wall. Besides the annoying, shrill ring, he had to deal with saws and drills and staple guns going all day from the reconstruction outside his office. He laid his head on the desk for a moment, took a deep breath, then pressed the speaker button on the phone, the one that went to his secretary.
"Send a messenger, same place." Was all he said. She would know what he meant. Hopefully Ariya would come and pick up her child soon, it would be one less thing that he would have to deal with.Contents of the letter
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Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2005 11:39 am
Pick Up Post Part 2 of 11:
((OOC: Small text is identical to the front page post of the main RP thread))
AriyaLauna read her letter a good three times, before putting it down. What. On. Earth? They were just going to have her run around looking for some random child that she had no idea about, having to first go several hours out of her way to pick up the said random child and she had no real communication with these people?
What was wrong with this picture?
AriyaLauna huffed in frustration and threw the paper down. "Let me tell you something," she turned to rave at her wall, "You think that---Awwh, come here, baby." she knelt down to pick up her tan and brown cat who, as he rightly should, was staring at her like she was a lunatic, "You know something? I think I''m going to go just so that I have more information to call the police about these freaks. It HAS to be some outfit trying to harm people somehow. This just doesn''t happen, Patch, but...." she sighed and shook her head. She would go anyway. Just... just because... She put Patch down roughly. Because she was a stupid, naive woman who was going to get herself in trouble. Yes, yes. That was why she would go. Angry with her own inability to turn away from this, she turned to plan her trip over.
Well, they''d have to wait.
AriyaLauna picked up the phone that day, leaving a simple message that she''d be able to come late Saturday morning.
She arrived late Friday night, coming when she figured she could really see what this was about. If they didn''t expect her, then she''d catch the place off guard, and if she caught it off guard, at least she''d know for real.
At least it looked decent.
AriyaLauna arrived shyly at the front of the building, all looking like maybe she was about to run around in the other direction instead of proceeding. What had possessed to her to say yes again?
You have stumbled upon the NSA Headquarters of the city of Metropolis. The building looks as ordinary as it could be. There's nothing about it that would make you look at it again. And yet this is a place of great importance for this is also the location of the S.H.R.A. The Super Hero Relocation Agency, an agency which deploys young children with proper caretakers. You frown as you look at the letter in your hand and then back at the building. Skimming the letter quickly you decide it's the right place and walk towards the building.
As you push open the door, you end up in white room. White floortiles and white walls. It is strongly illuminated by the light falling in through the windows. There's a single desk standing in the middle in front of what appears to be another doorway. The woman behind the desk looks up. She does not smile as she examines you closer and asks: "Please state your name and business." Seemingly satisfied with your answer she nods and gives you a small smile. "You were expected." She rummages a bit in the desk and gives you a visitor pass. "Just continue through this door. There's someone waiting for you in the other room."
Passing through the door, you end up in long, winding hallway at the end of which is a stairway. Following it downstairs, you end up in a dimly lit, huge hall. As you stare in awe, you notice dozens of doors leading out of this hallway. There are guards standing next to almost every door. They look up with a look of excitement on their face as you come in, but it quickly fades as they spot the visitor badge on your jacket and they slump back into their original positions. Nobody comes forward to help you and you take a hesitant step forwards.
Then a door in the backwall swings open and another figure steps out. This one seems a lot more awake than the guards around you and is apparently a lot more important to you seeing how they have suddenly jumped back into position at the sound of the opening door. The figure approaches you. A man dressed in a tidy black suit. He gives you a brisk handshake. "Welcome to the NSA HQ! I am Charles. Follow me this way please." And he promptly turns and goes down into a doorway on your right. As you hasten to keep up with his quick pace he explains a few things to you.
"The NSA headquarters has a very high level of security and is therefore relatively safe. As you might have noticed by now, the corridors are all built as a maze. This is why it is of great importance that you do not wander of by your own. Nor that you let your charge wander around here on their own. Even though we have excellent security, there is no telling how well we would hold up in case of a Villain attack, which is why you will be staying here quite shortly. There are secret grounds which are absolutely safe and where you can visit later together with your charge."
He makes another turn and another and another until you are completely disoriented. When you finally stop at yet another doorway he motions you in. "Make yourself comfortable. Someone will pick you up soon." He turns to leave but stops. "Oh yeah, you might want to read this." He takes out a rather thick file from his pocket and shoves it into your hands before he quickly exits. Looking down at the file you wonder how it's possible that the file actually fit in his pocket.
Shrugging it off, you let yourself fall into a couch. Looking around, you watch the small room. There's isn't much in it. Just this couch, accompanied by two sidetables. Seeing how there isn't much else to do, you decide to open the file and read what's in it.
AriyaLauna had remained silent through her walk with Charles, allowing him to explain, and accepting the file with some gratefulness. Good. Something to read.
Something tangible.
She took a breath when he left the room, bowed her head in a quick prayer, took a large breath to calm herself, and proceded to open and read the contents of the file. Well, ok, so if this was a joke, was an awfully elaborate one. For some reason, AriyaLauna still wouldn't accept the full truth of the idea that this was REAL. As a matter of fact, she wasn't sure if she was shivering from the cool of the air conditioned room or the anxiety that she felt. It was entirely possible that she had just managed to get herself in a whole bunch of trouble. And no one knew where she was. All she'd said was that she was going to see about a job to those she even mentioned this to.
Something to read or not, the nervous young woman was far from being able to concentrate on what was in front of her at the moment, and ended up putting it down after a quick scan. She thought over the place, wondering how such a large building could fit into nothing, and her mind wandered to the size of the file versus the pocket. She wasn't Ariya. She was Alice. Apparently rabbit holes and looking glasses weren't the only way to get into Wonderland.
She smirked. Adults were generally bad guys in child's worlds. Well, oops. No wonder she felt the prisoner at the moment.
Joking with oneself was always a way to force calm. Relax in retreat. When someone entered again, it would be to find her daydreaming, and still nervous enough to jump five inches when she realized someone was there.
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Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2005 11:18 am
Pick up Post Part 3 of 11: S.H.R. Agency
Charles walked down the hallway at a somewhat slow pace; his leg still hadn't quite healed and cause him to limp when he walked. He didn't really want to complain about it to anybody, especially to a new potential guardian. First impressions were a lot, and to hear that he had been hurt here at the Agency....well, that wouldn't exactly boost moral or anything.
He had already dropped off the file to the woman for her to look over. She had arrived right when Charles was taking a call. Of course, it wasn't his fault that she hadn't come when she said she would. In fact, she had come a day earlier. In the morning, no less. Did she really expect to catch the Agency "off guard?"
In any case, she was now waiting for him to bring her to her charge, hopefully having read through the file by then.
Charles arrived at the room she was in.
AriyaLauna looked up as the man entered with a nervous smile. Well, she'd managed not to jump that was good. "Good evening. I'm sorry I didn't come when I said I would, I just ended up in town... a lot... earlier..." She offered her apology immediately, noting some of the drawn looks on his face. He looked stressed. Or tired. Or annoyed. Or something. She bit her lip. Well, if this was legit, she had just made a terrible first impression.
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Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2005 11:21 am
Pick up Post part 4 of 11: S.H.R. Agency
Charles gave a small smile and nodded towards the woman.
"The earlier the better. We would like to get the children in a secure environment as soon as possible. Hopefully you have read through the file that I have given you? Your charge is Megan, follow me down the hall please."
He stood by the door, holding it open for her. A few construction workers stood outside in the hallway, piecing a section of the wall back together.
"And please make no note of the state of the building. It isn't usually like this." He gave a weak chuckle, thinking of the young boy that had left a few days ago.
AriyaLauna stood up, giving him a curious look. Secure? This place seemed more secure than just about anywhere else. Or maybe it just looked like it. Confusion, of course, was a fair game of security, "Megan." she repeated, "Where are her parents? Or are the children orphans? You don't kidnap them, do you?" Like some sort of government conspiracy? And why not, why wouldn't something like that happen. Was she to be a parent, or a jail keeper? "Why me?" Not that he would give any indication if that was indeed the case, but at least she'd had SOMETHING to digest. S.H.R. Agency
"Most of the children here have been abandoned by their parents or taken away from them by the authorities, such as the police. Their parents get too afraid and don't accept them for who they are, which is where we come in. What we look for in a guardian is someone who can love them, and make them feel welcome in a society where Supers are frowned upon. And you, Ariya, have that quality. Now please follow me."
With that, he started down the hallway, pulling out a few things from his pocket.
"This is a credit card with your name on it. Use it to buy things to make your life with Megan easier. It has no limit." He handed the plastic card to Ariya, then pulled out a small keyring. "And this is the key to your new apartment. Your things are being moved there as we speak."
AriyaLauna felt a little ashamed as this man simply explained without even batting an eye. She looked down and followed easily, trying to be sure not to scuff her feet as she did so. She was going to let it slide then, until he was handing things to her and she looked up again, pure shock on her face, "Oh, but---" The objection was stopped, as did she in the middle of the hallway when he handed her the keys and explained what they were for. The look on her face clearly asked if he had lost his mind, "Sir...." she struggled a moment with words, before shaking her head, "No. I can't---I mean. Where?" She really wasn't sure that she was willing to get up and just leave her home. Besides, she had a fear of big cities if they were trying to take her here.
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Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2005 11:22 am
Pick up Post: Part 5 of 11: S.H.R. Agency
Charles hadn't noticed the expression on Ariya's face until they had reached Megan's room. He paused outside and continued to explain.
"We won't put you anywhere where you feel uncomfortable. We want both the child to feel loved, and the guardian to feel welcome. The relocation is for the child's safety. The apartments have been specially built just for the Agency. They contain training areas, among other things." He stopped and grinned at her. "We can assure you that you will feel at home."
There was a pause, and Charles continued again. "Now then, anymore questions, or are you ready to meet Megan now?"
AriyaLauna glanced at the door, biting her lip. He hadn't answered her question at all, and she gave him a slightly annoyed look. Curiousity was one to win her over though. She could deny after she met the kid, couldn't she? If it was an absolute brat, then she could good-consciously say no. If this Megan was just a dear little girl.... "Fine. You're playing word games with me," she put on her teacher-mask, looking at him disapprovingly and wary for it, "But I'll see Megan. I'm not signing anything, then? I have the opportunity to back out? Surely you wouldn't force anything on anyone who found she couldn't handle a job?" Yes, AriyaLauna wanted to trust and believe this man, but she was afraid to do so. What if she ended up having to sign herself away to something? Could she really handle it anyhow? S.H.R. Agency
Charles was getting slightly frustrated. The guardians were, generally speaking, very easy to win over. He had never had a case where the guardian was suspicious that the Agency was a fraud or scam.
He nodded. "As of right now, you have no obligations. You may meet Megan, talk to her for a few minutes, get to her know her a little bit. If you decide that the job is not for you, feel free to leave. There are always other people who are willing to take the responsibility."
He placed his hand on the doorknob. "Any last questions?"
"If I'm so good for this job," AriyaLauna rose to the unspoken and likely imagined challenge, "Then I should be questioning it. If you are picking guardians who aren't careful enough to be sure that they're getting into something that isn't wrong, then you're doing a pretty sorry job of it." As she spoke, her words lowered to a hiss after glancing at the door and realizing she didn't know how soundproof it would be. She didn't want to upset a child. She looked down, rubbing a hand through her hair. Well, then, if they were doing a bad job, she knew she was a good person. At least one child would be safe. But then she'd be living with who knew how many possible deliquents of society, "No, I don't have any other questions. We'll see." She had every intention of researching this, which probably meant she'd just have to go with it. She'd find someway to find out what was going on. S.H.R. Agency
"Yes, yes. You have the right to ask as many questions as you need to. Oh and..." Charles reached into his pocket and pulled out a paper card. "Here's the number for the Agency. If need anything, anything at all, just call this number." He handed the card to Ariya. "And without further adue...." Charles opened the door and motioned for Ariya to go inside. "I'll be waiting right here."
Ariya took the card, then her eyes widened when he opened the door, "You're not going to introduce us?" she blurted. In a moment, Ariya had gone from frustrated-teacher mode to the shy young woman. She looked timidly in the room, "Is she expecting me?" He hadn't even knocked. S.H.R. Agency
"I can certainly introduce you two, if you would like me to." He took a step inside. "And yes, I told her you were coming soon earlier this morning."
Megan was sitting on a large, leather couch on the side of the room, playing a hand-held video game. She looked up when the door opened.
"Hello Megan, this is your new guardian, Ariya." He gestured towards the woman. "Ariya, meet Megan. Megan, meet Ariya." The girl gave a weak smile, and turned off her game. Charles paused for a moment. "I'll leave you two alone now."
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Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2005 11:23 am
Pick up Post, Part 6 of 11:
AriyaLauna watched Charles leave the room, and Megan watched AriyaLauna.
"Y'dun look like nothing special," Megan muttered.
AriyaLauna made a point to smile and wave to Charles before acknowledging that, "Thank you." She turned to Megan, "Hello, Megan. I'm glad to meet you."
"He said you could better me."
"I can certainly improve your grammar," AriyaLauna looked worriedly at the child, "But what do you mean?"
"I don't want nothing to do with this. They made me go! I didn't even getta see my parents. And THEY care."
AriyaLauna blinked and walked cautiously over to Megan, "Who made you go?"
"The school people. They didn't like me. They made fun of me. I want to be BETTER."
"Awh, sweetie, it's not... It's not a disease or anything to be... Look, sweetheart. It's their loss if they make fun of you. If someone's going to bother judging someone else on something that can't be controlled, then they're pig-headed and don't deserve to know you anyway."
Megan folded her arms and huffed, "You're not going to make me better. No one'll EVER like me!"
AriyaLauna shook her head in wonder. Was the girl ten or thirteen? She wasn't used to dealing with this age, nor this attitude, "He obviously cares. He seemed to."
"Well, yeah," Megan looked at the ground and kicked her feet, "He's OLD. Like you. That's not cool."
AriyaLauna smiled and nearly giggled then, and Megan's head snapped up in a moment, "Well, I'm younger than him."
"Still old."
"Am not."
"Are SO. I bet you can't never do nothing cool."
"Uh-huh. Try me. Like what?"
Megan looked at her warily, then away, "You wouldn't understand."
Good grief! That was such a teenager line, not something for a ten-year-old, "Well, honey, you can make new friends."
"They'll make fun of me too."
"I won't."
"You're OLD."
"So one of those things that I couldn't do that's cool is make fun of you?" Megan glared again at AriyaLauna, a dangerous look in her eyes. AriyaLauna ignored it and continued, "So I guess if I'm too old, you don't like to do old-stuff like.. oh.. theme parks and wall-painting and video games and horseback riding and..."
"You ride horses?"
"Well, no, but I would like to learn how to," she smiled, "We could do that. And maybe when you make new friends we could bring them." Unlimited credit card, right? A few lessons here and there, surely...
"I never saw no horse before."
"What?" AriyaLauna stared, "You what?"
"Not like they're common."
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Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2005 11:26 am
Pick Up Posts, Part 7 of 11:
"WHAT? Why, they're... Ooh.. you're from the city..."
"You're not?" Megan scooted to the end of her seat now, "You live in the country? Really? With cows and stuff?"
AriyaLauna grinned, "Well, no, but I live near cows and stuff.... Or used to. Charles is moving us somewhere, I don't know where exactly, but I'm afraid of the city, so..."
"You're scared?" Megan's eyes widened. She was saying she was scared?
AriyaLauna nodded, "People scare me. And the noise all the time."
"I like people and noise."
It was a hunch, AriyaLauna took a breath, "Maybe you can help me."
Megan stared, "You're a grown-up."
"Grown-ups can be scared too."
"But if you're scared, and I'm scared, who's gonna help us?"
AriyaLauna went over and sat down Megan, who didn't protest at all any longer, "Well, I'm scared of cities and crowds and noise. You're afraid of being alone. It's different fears, and we can help each other. We both want to learn how to ride horses, and I bet we're going to make mistakes, but we can learn together. It's the same thing."
"But we'll have teachers."
"Will you be my teacher?"
Megan giggled, "I can't be your teacher!" She blinked at AriyaLauna, then started to howl in laughter.
"Oh, right. I'm too OLD...Maybe if I put my hair up in pigtails and played with Barbie dolls..."
"You can be like my sister! I always wanted an older sister, 'cause then I could do cooler things like... like... make-up and stuff! But. No. Barbies!"
AriyaLauna chuckled, "Ok, no Barbies. Deal. And maybe we can do makeup sometimes. For play."
"Awh, can't---"
"No."
Megan screwed up her face in disgust, and AriyaLauna grinned, "I hate makeup."
"You're weird."
"You're weirder."
"Nah-uh!"
"Oh, yes you are...."
Somehow, throughout the conversations, AriyaLauna managed to always turn in onto Megan like that, and by the end they were both giggling like little girls over silly things. Bonding had certainly happened, though no chain of authority was really established just yet. Her very own little girl. Well.... She'd always wanted one of those. Maybe this one was a little older than she would like, but it was a start. Maybe a change was needed. She'd try it. She'd have to know, maternal instincts were wanting to take charge.
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Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2005 11:28 am
Pick up post, part 8 of 11: S.H.R. Agency
Charles bowed his head and took a deep breath. It was going to be a long month for Ariya, or more, if they continued on like this.
"Would you prefer to drive yourself? The directions are quite complicated, so we assign drivers to our new guardians. If you choose to be driven by the valet, then your car will be dropped off at your house by tonight."
He smiled at Megan, who was pouting on the couch. "It's time to go home now Megan, to your new home. Trust me, it will be even better."
AriyaLauna gave Charles a look of disbelief. She debated inwardly with herself for a moment, glancing back to where Megan was and pursing her lips, and then looking back to Charles. Her objection won over her desire not to argue with him in front of the child. She spoke in a low voice though, "Complicated or not, I AM going to be able to learn how to get around, aren't I? Where are we going anyway? Not to some seccluded or so-called protected," and those words were spoke sarcastically, "area? I will not be caged in, and it would be wrong to do so to Megan as well." She looked ready to continue her objection, but in light of the fact that she didn't know whether or not her assumption was right, she decided to hold off on the tangent. Megan was hollering the same time AriyaLauna was speaking, "I WAS happy AT HOME. My family loves me. I--I want my mom and dad and---." the last words choked off and apparently the only reason she stayed silent now was her resolve not to cry in front of them. S.H.R. Agency
"Okay, okay, just please calm yourself down ma'am." He pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket. "Here are the directions to your apartment. It is located in Metropolis City, where we are right now. It is the unofficial 'home of the Supers,' if you will. Although it is a city, the area where the NSA apartments reside are not in the bustling downtown area. They are rather secluded, and look like any other building, so as not to bring attention to any villains that might want to harm Megan." He said the last part softly, so that the child would not hear.
AriyaLauna looked uncertainly at the paper, frowning a little, and then up at Charles. In her mind were the tell-tale signs from the construction in the agency's building itself. Maybe she went through emotions faster than any woman was entitled to, maybe now what was beneath all the anger and demands was showing plainly on the face, something of a deep worry and uncertainty, possibly akin to fear. She didn't answer him then though.
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Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2005 11:30 am
Pick up Post: Part 9 of 11: S.H.R. Agency
Charles then turned to Megan. "Trust me, little one. You will have much more fun where you are going now than where you were previously. People won't make fun of you anymore."
"Yes they will," she flaired angrily, "Or they'll be scared! SHE'S scared. Mom and Dad weren't. Or they'll be liars. Like my teachers. My mom and dad wouldn't never lie. You're just a bad people!" S.H.R. Agency
After handing the directions to Ariya, he turned to walk down the hallway, but not before saying, "Now, it is time for you two to have some time alone. I suggest you try to get situated as soon as possible in your new home. The door is down the hall and to the left, and your car is where you parked this morning. We will be in contact with you shortly to start Megan's training sessoins. Good luck." And with that, he turned to go to his office, walking slowly because he knew that Ariya would probably need another answer to one of her questions.
"Alright, thank you," AriyaLauna said quietly, motioning to Megan, who shook her head defiantly. "Not GOING what if you try to hurt me? I shoulda never talked to you. Not s'posed to." AriyaLauna walked over and snatched up Megan's hand, holding on steadfastly despite her trying to twist away. As she walked, she called to Charles, "Oh, and good luck to you too. It's really great, what you're doing, helping them to learn how to control their powers. I hope you have some fun ideas for the training sessions. Mimicry, was it?" she looked down to Megan, "Wouldn't it be neat if one of the other little kids could teach you to fly, Megan? I wonder what they can do..." "They're be others like me?" Megan stopped in her struggling and loud protests. Maybe she'd been told so earlier, but before it'd been by a bunch of scary people. This one looked scared, not scary. Even if she was a stranger. "Oh, I'm sure. It'll be like a special boarding school for really talented kids. Y'know, like those smarties that get out of class?" "Or the retards," Megan muttered.
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Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2005 11:45 am
Pick up Post: Part 10 of 11: "Or the ones in all those clubs. And on weekends and vacations we'll go horseback riding and---" "Can I go home on the weekends?" "I don't know every weekend, but I'm sure you can go visit sometimes. I'll have to ask. I want to go home too." but she didn't look behind her to see if Charles was even still in hearing range. The little girl was walking beside her, and they'd be able to get out of here. That was preferable to carrying her out asleep. "But we're going to your house?" "Nope, they kinda took me and all my stuff without me really knowing too." "Ooh..." Megan looked back, "But you're a grown-up." "He's more old... older. And he's the government." "Daddy says we gotta do what they say 'n' we should 'spect them. He gets really mad about saying bad things about the government. So HE'S them? Or is he a lot of him or..." Megan looked confused. AriyaLauna surpressed a giggle and silently thanked the absent father. "Your dad's right. Yes, he's one of them." "Oh," Megan looked down, "The government does bad things." "It does its best." AriyaLauna sighed, "Come on, sweetie, let's see if we can find this place." S.H.R. Agency
When Ariya wished Charles good luck as well, he just turned around, gave a big smile and a wink at Megan. Then he turned his back once more and started to walk down the hall to his office. Ariya could handle herself now, he had full confidence of that. All she needed to do was get to her car and drive off, and hopefully that would be the first step for her as the new guardian of Megan.
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Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2005 11:46 am
Pick up Post: Part 11 of 11:
They were outside in a very short amount of time. Luckily for Ariya, Megan was still contemplating the whole "the government made us do it" idea and the little girl put up no fuss when Ariya insisted about the seatbelt being put on, and put on correctly.
"I didn't bring nothing with me." was the sudden jump from Megan.
"I didn't either. Supposedly they're bringing our stuff."
"Oh.... MISS DIEDRE!"
Ariya slammed on the breaks. Where had that stop sign come from? "Uh... maybe you should read the directions."
"Y'really don't no where we're going," Megan took the directions, squinted at it, and turned it around, "Can't you read?"
"Not when I'm distracted. It's dark," Ariya grumbled. She hated driving in the dark and not having a clue where they were going.
The girls managed to get themselves thoroughly lost, Ariya all but crying in agitation and Megan switching from trying to take charge and staring at her new caretaker in open wonder. Grown-ups weren't emotional like that, unless they got mad. One icecream stop, two bathroom stops, about a dozen direction stops, several u-turns, and several hours later, the girls found a nice, cheap hotel to sleep in for the night. Ariya paid with her personal credit card as opposed to the one given to her.
"We'll find it sometime this century, Megan. But not before a good night's rest, because I'll never get anywhere in tihs state."
"I don't have no clothes."
"I do."
Oh, well, oops Ariya. It was another several hours before sleep came, a large slumber-party and dressing game came thanks to that comment. Next to that, it was two baths, three pillow-fights, more giggling than could be counted, a fair amount of screaming and tears, any number of talks on any number of discussions, and a Bible reading later before the girls were actually asleep.
They actually made it to their apartment in the early evening of the next day. Ariya did, in a moment of guilt, call up the agency to tell them they were ok about an hour before they arrived.
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Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2005 12:17 pm
***Page break. Breather for the Charles/AriyaLauna conflict.***
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Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2005 12:18 pm
[ Message temporarily off-line ]
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Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 5:36 am
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