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 Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2007 9:50 pm
Eliot's face went a little strange, he started blinking about twice as fast as normal and, although being quite awkward about it, let Devon move him around as he needed. "Uh.. I guess?" he began, sounding bewildered, "I mean, I don't remember too much of what he said not to do or whatever afterwards, if you get my drift.. But I'm sorta attached to it now, and-"
"He works out a lot, if that's what you mean. Always has. Compensation, you know?" Ashley interrupted, being oh so helpful. "It's gonna hurt, like, alot, right?" She asked, still grinning at Eliot. She heard 'mama' come out of an unfamiliar voice and quickly reverted back to Iggy. "No, kid, 'Asper.' Take it up with your dad if you want a... Hey, if you fall and break something, don't take Harper with you." She said, frowning as Iggy started off the bench.
"No fall!" Harper exclaimed, more at his mother than Iggy. He had some sort of confidence in Iggy's ability not to slam into the concrete and edge off safely. "Yes! Toys! We play!" He exclaimed, moving off the bench himself despite his mother who made no effort to help him what so ever.
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Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2007 10:02 pm
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Spotting Ignacio's antics, Devon dropped Eliot's arm abruptly and made a dive for him. He missed, however, and watched in wide-eyed surprise as his son stood on his own two feet, little hands gripping the edge of the bench for balance. Ignacio beamed up at him. "Well... Okay, then." Reaching up to run a hand through his hair, he schooled his face back to something resembling blankness. "Good job there, Iggy."
Ignacio laughed and reached up to tug on Harper's shoe in an attempt to get him down on the ground faster. Then he began edging his way towards the shop door, holding to the bench for support. Devon watched him go for a moment and finally shook his head. Glancing at Ashley and Eliot, he said, "Yeah, you have to let the scabs heal and workin' out'll do a number on them. The ink can't set properly... And anything on bone hurts more."
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Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2007 10:20 pm
Ashley swatted at Iggy, though it was more a symbolic gesture and was way too far away to actually hit the child. "Don't do that!" She snapped, only to roll her eyes when Harper was successfully pulled to the ground with a little plunk.
Harper was unphased and kept going till he was in pace with the other child. He looked the other kid over and puffed out his chest slightly, "I help you. I walk good." He bragged, holding out his hand in an attempt to offer help.
Eliot shook his head, "Yeah, well, I don't mind the pain.." He coulden't even keep a straight face for that one, and Ashley decided any comment to be made on that would be too easy. "An' Ashley will be a good little woman and babysit, won't you?" He grinned.
It took all her strength not to flip him off, but her hissing could be taken for a yes as far as Eliot was concerned. Of course, it's unlikely anyone in their right mind would allow her to watch after their child, but that was hardly the point.
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Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 2:33 pm
"Oh, she doesn't have to." Devon shrugged and moved to open the front door as he did his best to hide his surprise at Ignacio's new skills. "Tess loves Iggy. She'll watch Harper, too. We've got one of those play pen things set up inside."
Ignacio wobbled when he stopped at the end of the bench and eyed the two feet to the door with apprehension. Then he looked at Harper's outstretched hands. He looked at the door again. Slowly, he pried one hand from the bench and held it out to the other boy. "'Kay," he agreed. "Go boom," he added and it appeared to be a warning of forthcoming hijinks.
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Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 7:14 pm
Harper clutched the other kids hand, suddenly becoming aware of how awkward it was for him to walk alone, none the less in support of another. "No boom," he gulped, but shook any fear off a moment later. He took a step and a half and urged the other boy to come along. Seriously, wouldn't it be easier for their respective lackeys to just take them in? Even Harper was wishing for the easy route this time. He wanted a fast track to the toys.
"Well, that just makes my day. I'll be at some bar I trust is just around the corner." Ashley said, sounding happy. She waved at Harper with two of her fingers and turned to leave but Eliot caught her. The man looked something like fear for a moment.
"I told you last time, you aren't leaving me with him, even if I'm not watching him," Eliot explained, stammering for an excuse.
"You big baby!" she yelled, visions of freedom crashing on her face.
"Shut up!" he snapped as the lot went into the shop.
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Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 7:52 pm
Rolling his eyes as the two squabbling stars pushed through the door he held, Devon moved to prop it open with his foot. "C'mon, guys," he said to the toddlers. "Get a move on before that woman trashes the shop."
Ignacio abruptly teetered in response as he tried to walk faster. His balanced lost, he began tilting forward and, his hand in Harper's, showed every intention of taking the other boy down with him. In a flash, though, Devon had managed to stretch out and press a hand against his child's chest. "s**t, Nacho," he muttered. "One day at a time, huh?" He laughed a bit, nonetheless, and awkwardly manuevered himself to keep the door open while he picked up both boys, one under each arm. "C'mon. Let's make sure it's still cool in there."
A flick of his foot kicked the door wider and he shuffled through with both kids. Within moments, he had deposited them in a square pen filled with blankets and various odd toys.
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Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 8:09 pm
Hasper's eyes went wide, his free hand flailing in gigantic circles like a lame propeller on an airplane as they started tilting forward. Surprisingly, he was succesfully propeled by some random dude. He gave a giggle and waved at his mother when they passed her.
Once in the pen, his mouth fell open again. "Lots of toys! Which is best?" He asked curiously, keeping his hands to himself for the time being to allow the other to pick out a toy. Smart kid, but only sometimes.
Ashley, back arched and fingers curled like some statue of some diva that long since lost her fame (irony at it's best), was still glaring at Eliot who was taking periodic deep breaths.
"Just let the bloody thing fade away, yo moron." Ashley muttered, primping her hair for something to do.
"Oh shut up. You remember that big deal all those girls made over Sunny's? They made a flippin' website dedicated to that stupid rose!" Eliot exclaimed, before giving a smile at Devon. "You gonna do it yourself?"
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Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 9:27 pm
Devon shrugged amiably. "Can do. It shouldn't be a big deal. Like you said, it's just re-inking. The design's still sharp enough that it won't be bad." Taking the man's question as an indication that he was, in fact, the chosen artist, he motioned Eliot to follow him to the first station - a rolling stool, a comfy-looking chair, and a few rolling stacks of drawers. "There ya go."
Ignacio surveyed his little kingdom for a moment. He wanted to pick just the right toy to show his new friend. Finally, he crawled over to a small pile and dug through it, toys flying everywhere. On all fours, he moved more surely, unnervingly like a wild dog. He made a low noise of discovery after a moment and turned with a large yellow truck in his hands. "Truck," he carefully announced.
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Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 9:37 pm
Eliot watched Devon for a couple seconds, and with only passing another sheepish glance to Ashley he walked over. He sat down with a little thunk and smiled at Devon again; he smiled a lot when he was considering trying to get out of something. "Yeah. Like I said," he repeated, rubbing the back of his neck with one hand and looking understandably nervous.
Harper shielded his eyes when the toys were flying, trying to inspect them all but finding they passed to quickly to be able to. When the truck was produced he grinned and nodded, "I have one!" he said, "Mine's red. S'at home." Quickly, he surveyed for another toy vehicle that they might commence the bashing of the two together.
Finally, deciding not to waste any more time on the grown child, Ashley walked toward the playing kids and stood in front of the pen. "Looks like you two are getting along. Has your daddy given you your first tattoo yet?" She asked sarcastically of young Iggy while crossing her arms again.
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Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 9:46 pm
Ignacio paused in setting down the yellow truck and blinked up at the diva with wide golden eyes. Then, understanding perfectly, he held out his tanned-brown arms to show nothing but the remains of baby pudge. He looked at Harper. He shook his head sadly. "Mama, no," he mumbled.
Devon sat back a bit on his stool and eyed Eliot. "Dude," he said lowly. "Don't get it done because she's makin' you or something. Are you ready or would you rather, I dunno, just make an appointment for another time?"
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Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 10:17 pm
Eliot snorted, not the first time he heard that. "Nope, my idea. She doesn't like it, so if anything, I'm doing it to spite her." He grinned again. "I was just drunk last time, so it's sorta new but not? I'm sure it'll be alright." He gave a confident nod that was entirely full of it but seemed insistent enough to get it done.
"I'm sure once it's no longer illegal or considered child abuse he will get right to it." Ashley said, giving Iggy a nod. "Harper darling, you aren't allowed."
Hypocrite, Harper thought! Of course he wouldn't put it so eloquently.
Harper then rolled his eyes in a great telling for the future before shaking his head at Iggy, "Why?" He asked, looking a little frustrated. "We draw on you!" He suggested merrily. Ashley promptly produced a pen from her purse and held it out for either of the children to take. (seriously, mother of the year award.)
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Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 10:35 pm
Ignacio hesitated for a moment, eyeing her narrowly. Then he pushed himself to his feet and toddled unsteadily to the edge of the pen. Reaching out, he took the pen from her and spent a moment examining it. When he looked up again, he smiled. "T'anks." Then, summarily, she was dismissed as he made his way back to Harper and offered him the pen.
Devon studied Eliot for a moment longer and then shrugged. "Alright. Shirt off or sleeve all the way up," he ordered. "I'll get the inks ready."
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Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 10:49 pm
"Hmph," Ashley crossed her arms again. She stood up straight, turned some to check on Eliot, but finding she had nothing better to do she continued observing the kids. Eliot wasn't screaming yet, nothing to laugh at.
Nodding at his mother as if in approval, Harper took the pen from Iggy and removed the cap. "Where? I draw good doggy! Mommy, ca' I have a dogg-"
"No," Ashley interrupted offhandedly.
"Mommy's stupid." Harper fussed briefly, then made a motion to hurry Iggy up on deciding.
Although not usually opposed to removing his shirt, Eliot instead opted for scrunching up his sleeve. Which he did. He used the other hand to rub his head this time, muttering something about how he should have gotten drunk first. "So, why'd you get the kid?" He asked. Seemed like the thing to do, sort of like talking to a barkeeper or something.
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Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 7:23 pm
"Didn't mean to." Devon swabbed down the skin with alcohol, then turned the other man automatically into a position that would be more comfortable for the both of them. "To get this job, I had to take a note to this lab and take care of whatever they handed me. It was a cabbage which was weird enough, right?" He held the man in place and kicked on his needle, the low hum of it soft in the air.
Ignacio dutifully held out his arm to his new friend. Trusting or sucker, you decide.
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Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 8:42 pm
Looking past his mother at Devon to catch briefly what he was doing, Harper nodded to himself, scooted around in position a little and stuck his tongue out as he concentrated. All too carefully he put the pen on the other boy's skin and proceeded to draw scribbles with the dark blue ink, creating a VERY vague form of a 'dog.' (AKA a lot of swirly things and a big circle.)
"How cute." Ashley said, smiling though her voiced dripped with sarcasm. It was cute, but she wasn't likely to so openly embrace the cuteness. "Gonna let him draw on you next, Harper?"
Harper vigorously nodded but seemed annoyed for the disruption.
"Strange. Someone set you up, huh? You got no idea why someone would want you to have a kid?" Eliot asked, though he didn't sound like he was overly concerned. He was concentrating on not fidgeting or giving any light jerks that would betray how nervous he was (even if his position wouldn't allow anything truly disruptive), sort of like when you are forced to hold a strangers hand and try to make yourself think of anything else but the unfamiliar contact. Never works. "As for us? Ashley just decided to be all sadistic and run out and bring home the cabbage. Noooo idea why. Maybe she's going through 'the change.'"
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