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 Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2005 11:50 am
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Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2005 11:55 am
Two night ago now, Alura gave birth. Probably about the scariest night of my life, I must say. I can't even remember half of it anymore. It was long...and tiring. The sun was coming up by the time we were...er...wrapping things up.
See, Alura went into labor very, very quickly. There was almost no forwarning. And then she was still refusing a doctor, and was all breathless and panicky, so it was about all we could do just to keep her san. Verin wasn't much help either, at that.
And I'm completely usless when it comes to anything...like...that. Erk, for the upteenth time, I thank the gods I'm not a woman. Talk about painful. Poor Alura.
Anyway, what was I saying? Right, so, Alura went into labor extremely quickly. It didn't help that we were all already asleep when she woke up and told Verin, who then woke up half the household trying to get up the stairs to me.
Funny sight.
So it began. After the initial shock had worn off, it wasn't too bad. Kinda dull, actually; for me, anyway. In fact, there was this one point where verin and I were debating starting a card game, but Alura's glares sort of...scared that idea away.
Cody was finally born shortly before dawn. It was something of a shock the first time I held him... He was much smaller than any of us had expected. But healthy enough, we thought, so we didn't worry for long. Already he looks a lot like his parents... More like Verin, with his black hair and, er, fur. But his hair faintly has blue highlights, and he has blue dapples and hooves... Clearly Alura's son, too.
Speaking of whom, the centaurs left earlier today. They had taken a day for Alura to rest up and, today, declined offers to stay longer and headed off to wherever it is they're from. It's easier for them this way, I suppose... Maybe they'll come to visit eventually.
So they're gone, and Cody's here. He's already opened his eyes--just a couple of hours back, in fact--and can't seem to get enough of everything. And he won't go to sleep. But that's understandable. He hasn't been doing much else, you know?
He's a sweet kid... You can tell already. Very, very cheerful, hasn't cried yet. He's a bit clingy, I think, but I've been carrying him around everywhere with me anyway, so that's not a problem. Pretty quiet... Ah, I dunno, he's only been here two days now.
Actually, I should probably go feed him. He's been a pain with bottles. Can't stand that formula crud. But Alura said he won't need them for long, so...here's hoping.
---Isto
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Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2005 11:56 am
So, yeah, if it wasn't implied, Cody's walking now. Very well, might I add, though he does stumble occasionally and tires out easily. For which I am thankful. I'm not sure I'd have a moment of rest if he didn't. Guess that's, er...something to look forward to for when he's older.
He's also talking... Just a bit, mind. There are a few distinguishable words here and there, the clearest of which would be 'Da', which also happened to be his first. I'm flattered. I think Slush is upset that he still hasn't said 'Mom' or anything like it, but, well...can't help that, I s'pose. It's not like I haven't tried to get him to say it.
Talking and walking and very, very clingy. He hasn't lightened up on that, and I think it's only getting worse. We'll find a way around it, I s'pose... He's not quiet as bad when that Otsi thing is with him.
Oh, er, I took Cody to visit Moo a couple of days back, and she gave him this...blob. It's just a green blob of, what, jello or something? And has a leaf floating in it. And it has eyes and what -might- be feet, it's kind of hard to tell.
But it's about, oh...probably a bit over a third of his size already, and he absolutely adores it. No earthly why. It just kinda sits there and...um..jiggles. Cody likes poking it. Funny sight, I can tell you.
Ahh, I dunno, things are going pretty good for the time. 'Cept I haven't been getting much sleep. And I've had to change my work pattern because Cody cries while I'm gone. But that's not -too- bad. I usually catch a quick nap in the Past before I come foreward, and, with how the timing works, it makes no difference and I still get there and back in under five minutes.
I've been thinking about sleeping nights in the village and coming back at the end of those...but then my life would sort of turn double. I'd be living twice the time of everyone else. It'd just be awkward, you know? And it's hard enough going part of the day. I hope this doesn't go on for much longer.
I think I'm getting sick.
---Isto
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Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2005 11:57 am
 Isto, Cody, and Sarabi.
Ha, not. The metal Sm lay stretched out on the couch, one eye half opened and following a tiny centaur around the living room. Cody still absolutely refused to let his 'father' out of his sight. When Isto had tried to leave him home, the infant had burst into tears before the door was even closed, and proceeded to get louder and louder until a yell from X had sent Isto back to get the baby. Pissy vampires were not something he wanted to deal with today.
And it wasn't that Cody was bad. Isto loved having the kid around. He was just...overly possessive and didn't seem to sleep for more than five minutes at a time, meaning neither did Isto. The little centaur seemed to have a sixth sense for knowing when Isto wasn't paying attention. In any case, whenever that one eye watching him drooped closed, Cody would shakily make his way back to his father's side, tug on his metal arm, and with many half shouted "Da"s wake the Sm up once more.
How cute.
Sarabi had needed somewhere to go, to escape, and think about things. Sure, Doomis house was great, but it was so crouded, she could hardely move without stepping on someone. And she still hadnet told Tawn yet...she was still to nervous. She moved around the kitchen of the HQ trying to find something to do. There, of corse, was no one around, and thankfully, it was Saturday, so Tawn was most likely at home. She boredly opened a cabinet, and spotted a jar of cookies on the top shelf. "hm, wonder if they have any ham to go with these..." she mumbled and reached for the cookies, standing on her tip toes so that her fingers barely toched the ceramic jar. She had just got it into her grasp when she stepped back, and sliped on a wet spot on the floor, falling on her but, and causing the cookie jar to break into a million peaces, the reamains scattered about along with floor with the crumpled cookies. "Damit!" She cursed, and rubed the sore spot on her hind end.
The crash of the cookie jar and Cody's following shriek or terror were enough to (temporarily) wake Isto. Even then, he yawned as he sat up, then glanced down in a bemused sort of way at the terrified baby centaur clinging to one of his legs. Chuckling softly, he bent and pried the infant off, then scooped Cody up and stood, heading for the kitchen. "Calm down, shorty. Sounds like someone just dropped a dish..."
Nonetheless, both were still a bit wary as they peeked into the kitchen. However, once Isto recognized the fallen fifther, he quickly stepped in to help her up, carefully avoiding whatever pieces of the jar he could. "You alright, Sarabi?"
Sarabi was quite surprised to hear a familur voice in the door. She forced and smile and took Isto's hand thankfully. She got up and steadied herself, feeling a weird sense of dizzyness, and leaning against the counter for support. "Yea, yea, im fine Isto." Which was somewhat of a lie. It was then when Sarabi noticed a small boy clinging to Istos legs. Her mood suddenly changed, her face lighting up, and a smile spreading across her face. "Is this little Cody?" She leaned down, her hands on her knees, so she was somewhat eye level with the boy.
Isto could tell the smile was forced, but didn't seem terribly upset by it. If something was wrong, it was Sarabi's business, and she would tell him if she wanted him to know. Besides, he had backup. Grinning, he glanced down towards Cody, who he had set down to help Sarabi up. Normally he wouldn't risk it with the pieces of cookie jar everywhere, but Cody's hooves would keep him safe, and the kid wouldn't go far anyway. "Aye, that's him. Cody, this is Sarabi. A very good friend of mine," he added.
The tiny centaur had ducked behind Isto's legs when Sarabi bent towards him, only peeking back out once Isto spoke. Cody blinked up at him, but seemed to grasp the general meaning of his words after a moment, and smiled shyly around at Sarabi, opening and closing a hand in his own form of a wave while the other clung tightly to Isto's pants leg.
"My arnt you hansome." She cooed, trying to comfort the little one. She smiled and waved back at him, then stood up, looking around at the mess, and scowled. "Ill get a broom." She made her way to the broom closet, and took one out, and started sweeping up the mess. When she had put everything in the trash, she stood up, and wavered a little, feeling a wave of fatiuge. She then motioned for Isto and Cody to meet her on the couch, which she happily floped onto.
Isto made a move to take the broom from Sarabi, but she was already half finishde by the time he reached her, seeing as he couldn't exactly walk right with Cody clinging to him. Giving up, he followed the gestured and started for the couch once more, managing to pry his leg free so he could close the distance a bit more quickly.
Cody, a bit bolder now that he knew this woman to be friendly, stumbled calmly after his father, and soon left Isto's side completely to resume playing in the middle of the living room with a few toy cars.
With a sigh that quickly grew to a yawn, Isto dropped onto the couch beside Sarabi, propping his head up on one hand and glancing towards her with a tired smile. "S'good to see you again. How've you been lately? And Tawn?"
"Were great, really great." She said, staring blankley at little Cody and his trains, one hand laying limply on her belly. "We might be looking into getting a house soon." She said, biting her lower lip. For a moment there was an awkward silence. As she watched Codys playing, and her mind ventured off to the day when she would have her own baby. She wondered what it was like...she had gotten a good amount a babysitting experience, but she had no idea what it would be like to actully take care of her own child. Cody was an adorible little kid, so shy clingy. What would her kids be like? What if they hated her, or what if she was careless one day and the baby got hurt? What if it grew up to be a horrible juvinnile delinquent and lived on the streets! She knew her thoughts were getting out of hand, so she looked over at Isto. There bond had become much stronger lately, then when they used to play when they were kids. Isto was just like her brother. For a moment, she wondered how he would react if she told him. She might feel strange telling him before she told Tawn..but it might help, to get it out. Plus, Isto knew alot about babies, having his own, and also expecting one on the way. She sucked in a large amount of air, and let it out in a deep sigh. She decided to put it as bluntly as possible...."Isto im pregnant."
"Good to hear," he replied with that same tired smile, letting his eyes follow hers back to Cody. The silence stretched on, but Isto didn't interrupt; it was obvious something was on Sarabi's mind, and if she wanted to tell him, she would. And, in fact, when she did, Isto showed absolutely no surprise at the confession, merely chuckling softly and rubbing the back of his neck at the memory it brought up. "You know, the last time I heard a woman say that, I about had a heart attack."
He paused, reflecting on that night and the events it had led up to...then turned his head towards Sarabi with a reassuring grin. "But you're nto Mauli, so I don't have to be afraid. Well, congrats! How're you holding up? Excited? And what's Tawn think about it?"
Sarabi let out a happily little sigh, very glad that Isto didnt start dancing around the room singing, 'MY BABYS HAVEING A BAAAABY!!" Like Doomi had. Sarabi would have been quite disturbed if he did.
".......That what im not sure about Isto. Im nervous I guess, excited of corse, but still way too afraid. I actully...haven't even told Tawn yet. Im not sure how he would react. Well, I know he would be happy but...we were just married. We havent even had any alone time, for just us. And I need a job...badly." She sighed.
Isto may have thought of Sarabi as a sister, but certainly not a baby. Dancing around a room and singing was more of Slush's thing, anyway. Nonetheless, the SM remained unusually calm, whether for Sarabi's benefit or simply because he was exhausted, it was hard to tell. "Well, that's perfectly understandable. And..I'll admit, s'odd that I know before Tawn, but I'm honored you trust me enough to tell me." And he meant it. Was sort of like when Tawn asked him to be best man, and it confused him for a while, but he couldn't have been happier...Ahh, it was definitely good to be in touch with Tawn and Sarabi again.
"Hmm...Well, it depends how you look at it, really. I mean, yeah, you two've just gotten married...but you've been living together for a while, aye? So things can't be too different...And aye, you're pregnant, but it's not asif you're even showing yet, so you've got a bit before there's a baby in your lives... It is a big change." He chuckled softly and slumped back in his seat, moving both hands behind his head. "But I can't imagine a better couple, and you and Tawn're both so good with kids already. I'm sure things'll work out. As to the job.. Well, I could prob'ly help with that. I have contacts." He grinned. "Anything particular you're hoping for?"
Istos answer calmed her quite abit. They did make alot of sense. And her and Tawn are so in love...a child could only make it better right? I mean, little mini Tawns and Sarabis scammpering about the house? That couldnt be so bad. And she still had a awile to go, sure. At that thought she poked at her belly a little bit, no real fat had come on, that she had noticed. And Tawn knew alot about kids, and so did Sarabi, and she was sure they could get into one of those baby help classes.
She heaved a big sigh. "Thanks Isto, that helps." She smiled, and gave him a hug. "We'll have to get out kids together sometime, like a playdate." She laughed at the thought.
"Oh..job,eh? Well..something...not involving dirt?" She really handt though much about what she had wanted to do...
Chuckling softly, Isto returned the hug and nodded his agreement to the idea. "Anytime, anytime. And sounds like a plan. Just keep in touch. I demand almost-uncle rights." He grinned, then blinked and sighed, slumping down in his seat and covering his face with one hand. "Damn, I feel old. But we're really not. I mean, you and Tawn and Mauli are older than me, if only by a little bit. Maybe it's just 'cause I'm tired."
Letting his hand fall, he glanced over to Cody, who was still calmly playing with the toy cars and, to all appearances, ignoring the adults. After a moment, Isto's grin returned and he glanced back to Sarabi, laughing and quirking a brow. "Without dirt, eh? Well, that narrows it down. I'll ask around for you, see what I can find. But if you have any more specifics, feel free to tell me."
Sarabi laughed. "Of corse, you are now, Uncle Isto." She smiled, her spirts lifting. "Yea, we are old arnt we? Poor Doomi, she stands next to me and whines because im like three inches taller than her." She laughed.
"You do look tired Isto." She said, seeing the dark circles under his eyes. "You should get some sleep." She looked at Isto, the down to Cody, who was still merrily playing with his trains. "I got an idea, how about you go upstairs and take a nap, and me and Cody will have tons of fun without you." She grinned.
"Lovely," Isto replied with a grin, winking over at Sarabi. "Now I can spoil your shorty and not feel bad about it. Ahh, but we've been fifthers for ages..." He shrugged. "I'm used to being half a foot taller than Moo. I just feel...old. I'm married, I've got a great job, I've got kids.. it's just weird. Now all I need's a house in the country and I'm ancient."
He grinned, then yawned, smile fading somewhat as he glanced back towards Cody. "I'd appreciate it, but Cody'd cry or try to come after me, and I'd rather not risk him on those stairs... He's, er...really, really possessive. He even cries if Slush tries to watch him when I'm not there. I've had to manipulate the Past door a bit so I could get the same work done in under five minutes our time, just so Cody doesn't drive everyone mad while I'm away. S'half the reason I'm so tired nowadays... My days're double the length of everyone elses."
Sarabi frowned. If Isto continued like this, the outlook would not be too good. "Well, atleast put your feet up." She said and hoped off the couch, to sit next to Cody on the floor. Poor Isto, he really did look tired.
Sarabi turned to Cody and the trains. "Hello Cody." She said gently. "Do you like trains? Ive never been on one before, but I saw one once. They look really fun." She smiled.
Any protest was forgotten as Sarabi left the couch, and Isto simply smiled his thanks before stretching out on the couch once more, making himself comfortable with a yawn. Even if he couldn't sleep, this was better than nothing. And maybe if Cody got distracted, he could drift off for a bit...
Cody jumped slightly as Sarabi joined him, eyes flicking towards Isto just to reassure himself before turning back to the woman. He smiled hesitantly in reply to her greeting and offered another awkward wave, but soon turned his eyes back to the toys. The boy was silent for a moment, idly rolling a car back and forth with one of his forehooves, but soon reached down and picked up a bright purple one. Looking hopeful, he glanced up to Sarabi and held the car up for her inspection. "Daaa blurfubt!"
"Oh wow! That ones cool. It sorta looks like my car, cept mines more pink, like me." She smiled, and gently picked up a light blue colored car and started wheeling it around with one finger, making a engine noise. With her finger she slowly steered the car around her foot, and then sortly crashed it into Codys hoof. "Uh oh." She said and steered in the other direction, glancing over at Isto to make sure he was doing ok.
Cody hadn't seen her car, nor did he really plan to, so he just took her word for it that they were alike. Not the he knew the difference between pink and purple either. But he could certainly pretend! And Cody did just that, nodding sagely as if he knew exactly what she meant, while at the same time setting the car back down. The boy blinked, then giggled when the little blue car 'crashed' against his foot, and was soon mimicing the movement with his own purple car, rolling it around on the floor and trying to crash it into Sarabi's.
Isto, meanwhile, had already given up trying to stay awake. He was out like a light, curled up comfortably on the sofa with one arm hanging over the side. Thank god for Sarabi...
Sarabi giggled when the little car crashed into the tip of her sandals. She could see that Isto was conked out on the couch, and hopefully, she could distract Cody long enough for Isto to get some real sleep. She dragged over her back pack, which was always full of toys and games for when she visted Doomi, or when she was babysitting other kids. "Hey Cody, would you like to read a story with me?" From her bag she pulled out The Three Little Pigs. She then stood up, and sat in a big comfy looking arm chair. She then motioned for Cody to climb up into her lap. For a moment she wonerded if Cody would be to nervous..."Dont worry Cody, I dont bite." She smiled.
The little centaur was far too interested in his toy car to really pay attention when Sarabi dragged the bag over, and only returned his attention to Sarabi with the sound of his own name, in the same movement sticking the toy car half into his mouth and chewing calmly on it. The boy's eyes brightened at the sight of the book and he climbed to his hooved feet, taking a small step towards sarabi before pausing. Letting the car fall back to the floor, Cody cocked his head curiously towards his father, quietly asking, "Da?"
"Daaa?" he repeated, somewhat louder, when there was no reply. And when Isto again didn't answer, Cody, competely forgetting Sarabi, it seemed, ran the short distance to the couch and skidded to a halt. The boy stomped a forehoof impatiently, shrieking, "DAA!"
And Isto jumped awake, propping himself up on one arm and blinking wearily down at the centaur. "What? Ahh..." The little centaur pointed back towards Sarabi, and Isto followed the gesture, looking confused for a moment before noticing the book. Sighing, he reclosed his eyes and waved Cody away with his free hand, flopping back down on the couch with a yawn. "Of course she can read you the book, Cody. Go behave."
Satisfied, Cody trotted calmly back over to Sarabi's chair and stood at the foot of it peering up at her, holding up his arms in a gesture for her to pick him up and smiling just as cheerfully as ever.
Sarabi cringed at the loud shreik, and almost droped the book. Her hands were waving at Cody in silent sign language, trying not to get loud herself but Isto was awake now anyway. "Sorry." She mouthed to him, and let him slip back into a hopefully deep sleep. She sighed and shook her head, then grinned down at Cody, picking him up, and ploping him on her lap. Maybe she could try to explain. "Daddy," She gestured to Isto, "Is sleeping, so we have to be very quite, so we dont wake him up, okie dokie Cody?" She said, putting a finger to her lips, and blowing, "shhh."
Then she opended up the book, and began to read, making all the pig noises, and huffing quietly, but loud enough for her and Cody to hear.
Cody stepped carefully around on the chair seat, adjusting himself so that his hooves wouldn't hurt her legs before settling comfortably down on her lap. He blinked curiously up at sarabi, then to Isto, then back to Sarabi with a giggle and nod of 'understanding'. "Daa, shhh," he repeated quietly, putting a finger to his lips as she had done.
And then she opened the book and began to read, and Cody completely forgot about checking every three minutes to be sure Daddy hadn't forgotten him. The tiny centaur listened intently to the story, eyes wide as they wandered the illustrations. The pictures made the meaning clear enough...sort of. And what they didn't, Sarabi's narration did. Cody giggled with each new noise and attempted to repeat them himself, and frequently interrupted the story to point out particularly pretty pictures in the book. Clearly book reading was a rare treat.
Sarabi was enjoying the book just as much as Cody was, though she almost knew it by heart. She was glad it was giving Isto some time to get some sleep in, and Cody had taken a great intrest in the book. When the book was over, Sarabi looked over at Isto, who look very much still asleep. "Did you like the book Cody?" She wispered, tickling his tummy. "If you want, you can pick out another one." She said, indicating to her pink bag, and picking up Cody and setting him on the floor. "But we still have to be quiet. Shh." She said, putting her finger to her mouth once again.
Thankfully, Cody was too busy flipping through the book a second time to notice Sarabi's glance towards his father. If he had, he probably would have darted over and woken Isto to show him the amazing book he'd just read. Instead, the baby giggled and shied away from the tickling, releasing the first book and turning eagerly towards the bag on the floor. Once Sarabi set him down, he repeated the 'shhh' gesture, then trotted the short distance to the bag, digging around in it and finally pulling back another book. With both hands he dragged it back over to Sarabi, then glanced hopefully up at her, releasing the book and holding up his hands for her to pick him up. "Aaaht!"
"Ooh, nice choice." She said, first taking the book and placeing it on her lap, then leaning over once again to pick Cody back up. This was a slightly longer book, but that was because it had quite elaborate pictures, that took up most of the pages. She opened it up, beginning once again, to venture into fairytale land. At the end, she closed the book with a satified sigh, and turned back to Cody. "What do you wanna do now Cody?" She wondered if he was getting tired of books. There were more games in her pack if he wanted to explore it, but if he wanted to continue there were a couple more books in her bag.
Of course it was. He wouldn't have picked it otherwise. Cody squirmed with excitement as he settled back down on Sarabi's lap. And this book was even better than the last! Cody would've sworn he was pulled into the story, so brilliant were the pictures... And it didn't help that the book was nearly taller than he was. It was with considerable regret that he allowed Sarabi to close the book at the end. Such a good story...
With her question, he snapped back to reality, blinking curiously up at Sarabi before glancing around the room. He had seen some pretty interesting things in her bag, but... With a hopeful trail of babytalk, he pointed out of the nearest window to the lake he could see beyond. Cody had nevereverever seen that much water! Baths were one thing, but this was sooo much bigger... He wanted to go there.
"To the lake, eh?" She said, considering the idea. If they were to go outside, then there would be less chance of waking up Isto. But...it was a lake. Full of water. And Cody surely couldnt swim, he was only a baby. But Sarabi soon caved. She would be there anyway, incase anything went wrong, and she would be sure to keep a watchful eye, to make sure it didnt. "Ok then, off to the lake." She said, and picked up Cody, and putting him on her shoulders so that his back legs where positioned around her neck, his front ones alittle below her ears, and his arms and head peeking over the top of her head. She held on to his back hooves lightly, incase he feel, and steped out the door to the lake, sucking in a large breath of cool fresh air. Sarabi walked along to grass, her toes getting wet from the dew. When they reached the sandy edge of the water, she picked up Cody and set him down. "Have you ever seen a lake Cody? Isnt it preety?" She said dreamily staring out into the green black waters.
"Yaaaaah!" Cody cheered, throwing his arms up in excitement and yelping loudly when he was unexpected picked up and deposited on Sarabi's shoulders. The baby centaur whined and clung to Sarabi's head, shifting nervously on her shoulders and staring around the room. Reallyreallyreallyreallyhiiiiiiiigh. Cody had never been so high up! But...it was pretty neat. Growing a bit more confident, Cody quieted and relaxed, but kept his hands tightly clenched in Sarabi's hair...just in case.
And there were outside! And it was pretty! And there was sky and grass and water and wow, Cody loved it. When Sarabi set him down, he glanced almost sadly up at her. He liked being tall. But the water soon distracted him and he pranced over to the edge, giggling and stomping his forehooves in the shallows. "Waabluf daab gleeee!"
Sarabi laughed, and ploped herself down in the sand. The warm sun felt good against her skin. She sighed, and streched out her legs. Her hands soon found themselves coverd in the grainy white pelets of sand, her fingers shaping little hills. "Hey Cody, wanna make a sand castle?" She said, looking over at Cody. "Watch." She said, going over to the edge of the water, cuping her hands, and taking some water in them, then rushing back to the dry sand and droping the water. She then sat down next to it, and started to form a sandy wall. Then in the middle, she put a lump, which slightly rezembled a castle. Barely. Then she put a rock on the top of the castle, and looked back at Cody. "Ta-daaa." She grined.
Cody was having far to much fun with the water to pay attention to Sarabi for the time. The centaur watched, wide-eyed, as each new wave neared the shore, and jumped over each to land with a splash in the shallows, shrieking with laughter and prancing back to the waters edge to wait for the next small wave. However, Sarabi's small sand castle soon caught his attention, and the little centaur calmly wandered over, sitting awkwardly on the sand and pulling together a sand-lump of his own. Mimicing hers, he picked up a small rock and placed it atop the pile, frowning his displeasure when the gesture caused half of the mound to crumble away. "Taad..?"
Sarabi giggled and reached forward. "Nice try, but, you have to pack down the sand, like this." She said, carefully patting the sand, and shaping it up a little. "Then the rock will stay...I think." She said, and gently replaced the rock. It stayed. "Ta-daa." She said. "Now you make a wall." She said, point to hers. "Or a moat, or whatever." She said and started to pack some more sand into a wall, but half of it soon colapsed. "Hmf. Its much easier at the beach. Have you ever been to the beach? Its like the lake, cept muuuuuuuch bigger. Ill have Isto take you there sometime. I bet you''d love it." She then got up, and brushed off the sand that was sticking to her thighs and shorts, and waltzed over to the water, taking off her sandals and sticking her feet in. "Brrr." She said.
He watched carefully for her instructions, throwing his arms up with another cheer when the mound stayed up. Cody hadn't the faintest idea what a moat was, so he started on a wall, which really resumed nothing more than a long-ish mound...but it was a good start. The boy half-listened while Sarabi chattered, mumbling calmly to himself in baby-talk all the while in what was probably some sort of extended reply. However, at a certain word, he paused and blinked curiously up at Sarabi.
"Issst...Ossi! Da?" Cody blinked once more and glances cautiously around, smile fading somewhat. "Daa...?" ....Where had his dad gone!?!? Eyes tearing up, Cody climbed to his feet and bolted a few paces one way, then paused uncertainly and did the same in the opposite direction, trampling his 'wall' in the process but not caring in the least. Dad...wasn't...here...? The boy's lip trembled, fat tears leaking free.... He let out a wail, bringing his still-sandy hands up to cover his eyes. "DAAAAAAAAAAA!?!"
Sarabi froze, and no, it was not because of the cold water. It had sliped out before she knew it, and she hadnt even noticed until the poor Cody started to wail. Sarabi rushed over and quickly scooped up Cody in her arms, gently bobbing up and down and cooing "Shh, its alright Cody, its ok. Daddys inside sleeping. Remeber shh?" She said not sure if this would make any difference. She started to walk towards her bag, which she had grabed on the way out. She almost triped over her sand castle, but soon recoverd. She crouched near to the ground, Cody still in her arms, and pulled our a towel, and wiped off Codys sand hands and feet, and wiped his wet cheeks, then turned the towel over, and wraped Cody up in it, and set him on the ground, rubbing his back soothingly. "You gonna be alright Cody?" She said, looking concerned.
Cody was not to be cheered. His dad was no where to be seen, and even Sarabi's assurance that Isto was just inside wasn't enough to help. Inside wasn't here. Cody wanted to be where dad was NOW. The baby's sobbing continued, and he hardly noticed as Sarabi cleaned him off and wrapped him in the towel. Though it was rather warm...and comfy....and the back rubs... And... No, no, dad wasn't here and that was BAD. Shrieking continued...if somewhat quieter. Comfy towel....
"Shhh." Sarabi continued, picking up Cody and placing him on her lap, still rubbing his back. "Would you like something to eat?" Sarabi was sure there was something in her bag. She reached inside, fishing around till her hand grasped a plastic bag. She pulled it out hopefully. Cherrios. She opened the bag, taking one out and testing it. It was preety fresh. She handed the bag to Cody. She might as well try to explain the concept of sleep to him. "Cody, do you sometimes get really tired, and Daddy lays you down so you can take a nap? Well, thats called sleeping, as you probably already now. Now, everyone needs to sleep, or they get very grumpy, and unhappy, and sometimes sick." She paused, looking at Cody, blinking and trying to find her next words. "Now, your daddy needs his sleep too, even though he loves you very very much, and wants to be with your every second of the day..but he needs his sleep. It makes him happier, and gives him the energy, so he can play with your lots." She smiled.
And still it didn't help. Cody merely shoved away the bag of Cheerios without interrupting his sobs, curling up on her lap and burying his face in his hands. He vaguely heard something about naps and sleeping and being sick and his dad and love and happy and energy but that wasn't the point, and Cody wasn't to be reasoned with! His dad wasn't here, and he didn't even know how long his dad hadn't been here, and his dad could be ANYWHERE, and Cody wanted him NOW. "DAAAAAAAAAA!?!?"
Sarabi sighed. She figured Cody wouldnt stop wailing unless she brought him to Isto. She checked her watch. It had been atleast a good two hours of sleep time for Isto. "Ok ok Cody. Ill bring you to your Da." She said, wiping the hair out of Codys eyes, and drying his cheeks once again. She stood up, and picked up her bag, carring Cody in one arm and heading off towards the HQ. When she got inside, she made her way over to the couch, hesitating a moment before placing her hand on Isto sholder and shaking it. "Isto...Isto...?"
Even Sarabi's promise to take him back to his dad did nothing to cheer the baby centaur. Cody's tears continued even as she carried him back inside and, if possible, doubled again at the sight of his sleeping father. The centaur squirmed frantically in Sarabi's arms, both of his own stretched towards the SM on the couch. "DAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"
Isto was already half awake by the time Sarabi actually shook his shoulder; nights of Cody's off and on calls had him constantly listening for the little centaur, no matter how deep the sleep. With a yawn, he reluctantly sat up and automatically reached out to take the shrieking Cody from Sarabi, setting the baby on his lap and petting his back lightly with his metal hand, rubbing his own eyes with the other. "Calm down, shorty. You're perfectly fine..."
Cody's tears continued for a few minutes longer while he babbled out the tale of his horrible misery of realizing his dad wasn't by the lake and how on earth could Isto have left him like that and Cody was never ever ever gonna let daddy out of his sight again ever! ...And eventually calmed and simply settled down on Isto's lap, amusing himself with playing with Isto's metal fingers.
The SM cracked a smile, watchign Cody silently until he quieted and finally glancing back up to Sarabi with a grin. "Well... It was nice while it lasted. Thanks for your help..."
"...Anytime." She said blankley, her eyes tranfixed on Cody. She was still a little shaken up about the whole incident. No wonder Isto didnt get any sleep. Cody was just so...clingy. Her thoughts traveled to the future, thinking of a fifteen year old Cody latched on to Isto's leg, wailing because he didnt want to go to school in fear of being seperated with his dad. Oh yes, hopefully this fase would soon fade. "You...you alright now Codster?" She said trying to look as cheerful as possible.
That was exactly what Isto was afraid of. But...the little centaur had made some progress, at least? In the days following his birth, if Isto so much as tried to set him down, the tears began. And now Isto had managed a full two hour nap... Yes, it was getting better. Slowly, but getting there...
Cody pulled his attention back to Sarabi with her question and smiled sweetly up at her, murmuring something along the lines of 'Daa blabfuf viggle' and patting Isto's metal hand calmly. He was feeling much better now! And he had already told dad the whole story of what he had seen and did while dad wasn't...there... Actually, the mere thought nearly set off Cody again. But the baby centaur choked back any sobs and smiled once more. Yes, he was fine now.
"Oh, good." She said, ruffling Codys hair, and sitting next to him and Isto with a little sigh. "Me and Cody read some books, didnt we Cody? He seemed to really enjoy those. Then we made some sand castles and splashed around down near the lake." She said. "It was really fun. Anytime Cody wants to come hang out im around." She grined at Cody, then turned back to Isto. "Oh, that reminds me, you asked my what I wanted in a job earilier? Well, I love kids..." She thought for a moment, trying to think. She wasnt really good at much cept kids really. "Um, well...Im not that great with numbers and math, and..I like gum? Eh..." She said, suddenly feeling stupid.
"Thanks for the offer," Isto replied with a grin, looking back up. "Sounds like you two've had a full afternoon. Childrens books..." He trailed off, glancing back down towards Cody, who seemed to be having a conversation with his metal hand. "I hadn't thought of that. Actually, I'm not sure we own any.. I'll have to get him some." They had already cleaned out the nursery at X's. The few books it had were more story than pictures, and they had just put Cody to sleep.
....Actually, that was worth noting as well.
"Hmm? Oh." Jobs, right. "Kids, gum, and no math. Gotcha." He grinned, then chuckled softly and sunk back on the couch with a yawn. "I'll ask around, Sarabi. I'm sure we can find something at least temporarily..and then look for something more ideal. But who knows? Maybe you'll get lucky."
"You could borrow some of Doomi's books. Shes got tons, and she hasnt had any little feet running around lately, so I dont think she'd miss them." She said, shruging. "Ill ask her next time I see her. And thanks for helping with the job search. Im willing to do almost anything possible now, so we can save up for a house."
Instinctivley she reached for her bag, taking out her cell phone and turning it on. Sarabi frowned at the screen. "Three missed calls..." She mumbled. "I better be getting back, Tawns probably been missing me these past couple of days.." Truth was, she was dearly missing him too. But, tonight was the night. She had to tell him and get it over with. "Thanks for everything Isto." She said, leaning down and giving Isto a hug. "And thanks for the fun time Cody. I hope to see you again soon." She grined.
"Maybe temporarily," Isto agreed slowly, then blinked and glanced up, nodding. "I'd appreciate it. But we're going to have to buy some anyway. Cody's not the only shorty around the house.." He chuckled softly at the thought, looking, if anything, a bit more tired than ever. Snapping out of it, he smiled. "No worries. I know that feeling... The GMFC cost..er...a bit more than expected, so house funds're almost gone. I'm probably gonna pick up a second job myself." They couldn't just stay at X's forever, after all.
Nodding absently, he returned the hug, then scooped Cody under one arm and climbed to his feet. (Cody squealed in surprise and burst into giggles, kicking his feet towards the ground.) "It was great seeing you, Sarabi. Keep in touch, alright? And tell Tawn I say hi. He'll have to meet the shorty sometime..." He trailed off and grinned, glancing down to Cody. "Say buh-bye to Sarabi, kiddo."
Cody pulled his attention from the floor just long enough to send Sarabi another of his open-close waves, then, suddenly shy once more, stuffed his thumb into his mouth and looked back towards the floor, giggling quietly.
"Oh no you dont!." She said, blumping against Istos arm. "You already get no sleep as it is. Dont go taking another job and getting yourself sick." She said and turned towards the door, blowing a little kiss to Cody. "Ill see you two later." And stepted out the door, grabing the keys to her car, and taking a deep breath. "Off to tell Tawny-boy.." She said under her breath, hiding back a excited smile, and jumping in her car.
Isto began to reply, but thought better of it and simply shrugged, offering a parting smile to Sarabi as she left. Once she had gone, he yawned and started for the door, Cody still tucked under his normal arm. Off for home again~...
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Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2005 11:58 am
Isto was sleeping. Or, trying to anyway. He had gone well over a week without sleep, and, finally, it was really getting to him. For the first time in his life, Isto was actually sick. Slush had noticed the gradual change and, after constant badgering, had managed to talk Isto into a few days of bedrest. Once he had been talked into it, Isto was more than happy to comply. Sadly, not all of the family was very happy about it.
"Daaa...?" For the upteenth time that day, the door cracked open, and for the upteenth time that day, Cody peeked inside in search of his resting father. "Daaaa?" When there was no response, Cody stepped inside the room and nudged the door closed behind him, just in case anyone should pass in the hall.
Silently, hooves muffled by the carpet, he stpped over to the bed and tugged weakly on the hand hanging over the side. "Daaa..?" Still no response. Cody was losing his patience.
Stepping back a pace, the baby centaur took a deep breath, stomping a forehoof on the floor (thought it wasn't very effective) and shrieking at the top of his lungs, "DAA! Daa mahne buh gowne!"
Though his 'words' made no sense, they certainly served their purpose. Isto came awake with a groan, lifting his head just enough to peer blearily down at the centaur.
Cody positively beamed.
After a moment of staring, Isto sighed and let his head fall, draggin over another pillow and pulling it down over his head. A steam of curses followed, thankfully mostly muffled, and finally Isto resurfaced, setting the pillow aside and rubbing his tempe with two normal fingers.
Cody blinked curiously up at him. "Dem?"
"Huh?" Yawning, Isto pulled himself up to sit on the edge of the bed. And then it clicked, and he frowned, reaching towards the nightstand for his glasses and shaking his head at the young centaur. "Nonono, bad word. You don't say that, alright?"
"Shh," Cody agreed, holding a finger to his lips. Nodding reassuringly, he stepped back to the bedside and held up both arms for his father to lift him. Muttering something under his breath about wishing Cody would 'shh' more often, Isto complied.
Immediately Cody settled down beside him and began playing with his metal hand, chatting amiably as if he had been reunited with a long lost friend. This was not going to work.
Without further ado, Isto climbed to his feet and scooped Cody up, heading out the door and down the hallway to the nursery. The centaur actually cheered in response. Dad was up!! That meant he was better and they could play again!!
Haha, not.
Even the short walk to the nursey was enough to completely drain Isto of what little strength he had recovered. He stumbled over to a rocking chair and gratefully sunk into it, setting Cody down on the seat beside him. After taking a moment to catch his breath, he struggled to his feet once more and quickly closed the distance between himself and the closet, digging around within it for a short while before returning with a tattered orange teddy bear.
Returning to his seat, he set the bear on his lap, glancing back to Cody. "This," he began, gesturing to the bear, "was mine when I was your age. Used to play with it all the time.. Can't for the life of me remember what." Cracking a grin, he turned his eyes to the bear. "It was a present from a good friend of mine..." he trailed off, smile faltering.
After a moment, however, he snapped back to the present and glanced back to the baby centaur, chuckling softly. "Dunno if you'll have any idea what I'm saying, but Dad's sick, Cody... I really, really need to sleep, because I won't get better if I don't, right?"
The centaur baby, smiling as brightly as ever, nodded in 'understanding', lifting a finger to his lips. "Shhh!"
"Exactly," Isto laughed weakly, the sound fading as he yawned. Clearing his throat, he continued, "So, here's what we'll do. I'm gonna give this bear to you, right? My bear, but now he's your bear. Whenever you need me but I'm not around, or resting, or...well, whatever, just come find the bear, and he'll take care of you until I can come... And then you don't have to get scared when I'm not around. Bear'll take care of you."
Cody hadn't exactly taken in half of his words, but seemed to be considering the idea. Finally, with a nod, he grabbed the bear by the arm and pulled it over, hugging it tightly and peeking around its head at his father. "Daa beh gruummbuff pab."
"Quite right," Isto murmured, grinning faintly. Lifting baby and bear, he set the pair on the floor and gestured vaguely towards the door, climbing to his feet as well. "Now, go play with your brother, and I'm gonna try and get some sleep, okay? Remember, just come find the bear."
Find the bear nothing. Cody was taking it with him. Nodding cheerfully up at Isto, Cody loops his arm's around the bears neck and dragged it towards the door, out, and off down the hall. Isto followed just behind, but ducked aside once they passed his room, slipping within and collapsing back onto the bed.
Now, hopefully, this would work...
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Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2005 11:58 am
It was pretty bad, I guess. Dunno, I've been pretty much confined to bedrest. it's bloody annoying not being able to do anything. I think that was the worst part of it... Dunno what I'll tell my boss when I get back to work. It I even head back anytime soon. Slush doesn't seem to want to let me. I had to sneak out of bed to write this, so if I suddenly cut of...that's why.
Right, so... Er.. Not much to say, all in all. Things haven't really changed... Slush has been doing great with the shorties while I've been out of it. Vi and Faust have been helping him, I think, but still.
Oh, and one good thing has come from this... Cody's finally leaving me alone. Er... that sounded bad. Let me rephrase. Um..
Well, remember how Cody wouldn't let me out of his sight, and wouldn't really sleep at night, and wouldn't tolerate, like, anyone else? When I first got sick, he would come in every five minutes and wake me up, so I finally took him back to his room and explained some stuff (not that I'm sure he understood), and gave him my old teddy bear that Mauli gave me. And, whether he understood, or not, he's gotten better.
He sleeps at night now... All night. Without waking every ten minutes in tears. And he's been doing pretty well about not bothering me while I'm resting... though I know for a fact that he sneaks in every couple of hours to check on me. Sweet kid.
Also, his blob thing grew, so that's been keeping him entertained too. And then
Um. bed now before I get in trouble.
--Isto
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Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2005 12:00 pm
I'm feeling much better now. Can't believe I was sick for so long... It's been at least a couple of weeks. I normally -don't- get sick. At all. This is the first time in my life... Probably why it lasted for so long. But, eh, better now.
Not much else to report, really. I've been stuck in bed, so...yeah. The teddy bear thing is still working for Cody. Getting better by the day, in fact. He couldn't care less that I'm not there as long as the bear is. ...That didn't exactly come out right, but you get the point.
'Course, now we have to drag an orange teddy bear everywhere with us, but it's worth it, I thnk.
What else, what else... The Veela's still gone. I'm gonna start looking for her again, now that I'm well... Gods above, I hope she hasn't had that baby yet. Or, more importantly, that she hasn't torn it apart and tossed it in a lake.
On that note, I'm going searching. Hope for good news.
--Isto
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Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 7:21 pm
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Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 7:22 pm
Escape to the Clinic. XBear He had to get out of the house and away from X. Couldn't have her tainting another young mind of the house now could he? A highly out of reach goal, but for Slush, anything was possible. With his 'little gemstone' in his arms with a baby death grip on Isto's old stuffed shark, a previous gift from Slush, the SM pushed open the door with his foot and entered the building. Bicolored eyes peered around the moment they entered, sharknose stuffed in her mouth as far as she could manage. Tourmaline was however quite unaware of her 'mother's' current mindframe and plan of action. Keep the 'sponge' untainted for as long as humanly possible. And hence they were here. Moofuls Isto entered only steps behind him, looking altogether out of place with a diaper bag slung over his shoulder. The absence of his tag-along centaur did nothing to aid his appearance either, what with the occasionally wary glances as if he expected to trip over something that really wasn't there. A small rag near the elbow of his metal arm completely the ensemble. The sudden arrival of their 'little gem' meant egg fluids had gotten absolutely everywhere, and some of those everywheres weren't easily reachable. The metal was oozing. Add this mixture to an unfamiliar building and unfamiliar people, and you didn't have the happiest of Istos. But there wasn't much that could dampen his spirits for the day. Not that it was completely impossible. "Why did we have to leave so quickly again? And why am I carrying a pink diaper bag?" XBear "Because Tourmaline is a sponge." He explained simply as he flopped down on the couch as carefully as possible before continuing, "And because you're the 'big strong man' in the relationship lovely." A cheeky grin followed the comment as he tried to pry the shark away from Tourma's grasp so that the shark would not become lodged any further into her throat. The result was a piercing shriek from the little girl. Slush ceased all attempts immediately and the little SM girl was left in his lap clutching the shark. "She hasn't let go of that thing for hours..." Slush muttered, eyeing the child suspiciously. "Dari didn't super glue her to it did he?" Oh how he'd kill him if he had... Moofuls "Tourmaline and her shark weigh more than this bag, Doom." He pointed out, but left it at that and sunk onto the couch beside his husband, dropping the dispaer bag on the floor beside it. Cringing at the shriek, he muttered something that sounded suspiciously like 'loud' and set about attempting to free his arm of the remaining egg goop. "Dari hasn't been anywhere nea her, lovely, and there was nothing on it when I gave it to her. She probably just liked it." Nonetheless, Isto sent the baby girl a wary glance. "And Cody still clings to anything he can get his hands on. Maybe she's the same way. Gods, I hope not," he added with a grimace, remembering back to the weaks without sleep. Please, please not another Cody... XBear "No they don't." He protested before returning his attention to the baby, who was glaring at him for his previous attempt to steal HER stuffed thing. Who did this person think he was anyways? Before Slush could respond to her glare, Tourmaline's attention was captured by Isto's voice. He sounded familiar! Moments later her bicolored eyes moved to the shiny-ness attached to that one. Giving the pink one a sideglance, Tourma carefully and quickly dislodged the arm closest to Isto and reached for his metal one. It was shiny! "MEEEEEEBBB!" She screeched, claiming it too far for her to reach and simply claiming it in general. It smelled familiar too. The pink SM cringed at the shriek and mentally muttered a string of curses before scooting closer to Isto and the strange smell coming from his arm. "I bet it's your eggy arm..." Moofuls Isto shrugged. It wasn't important anymore. He was sitting bag free, and Slush still had to hold baby and plushie. He won. Wincing at the shriek, Isto took an extra moment to be sure his elbow had stopped oozing and obligingly offered his metal hand to Tourma. Anything to keep back more screams. "At least that's some plus side to it? Assuming she doesn't latch onto it like she did the shark." Sighing, he glanced down to the soggy rag in his good hand, idly flipping it around to find a dryer spot. "I don't know how I'll ever get all that egg crud out. Hope it won't smell too bad..." XBear "Unfortunately," Slush commented sadly, "It already does smell..." The Skullmonkey tried not to laugh while giving his husband an apologetic smile, but this instead caused a snort and some muffled giggling. Tourmaline didn't seem to care one bit about the smell and immediately grabbed onto a finger and began shaking it while squealling shrilly. "Eee eee EEEEE!" The last squeal was followed by a set of gurgling giggles, which were silenced once she attempted to shove Isto's finger into her mouth. If it were fun to play with then then it would obviously taste good. Just like her sharkie. Her 'mother' however had other plans and Slush quickly pried the finger away from Tourma's mouth. "No no, that's dirty... and... yolky." He tried to explain sweetly. It was a lost cause. The moment the finger started going in the opposite direction that she wanted it to go in, her bottom lip began to tremble. Then the sirens and waterworks started. How dare he take away what she wanted?! Crying seemed to be the only thing that worked around these parent people. Moofuls "Well...worse, I meant." It did smell pretty bad. Sighing, Isto merely quirked a brow at Slush's undignified snortgiggle, but managed a smile after a moment. He'd just have to find a way to clean it out. And soon. Isto couldn't have cared less that Tourma was trying to devour his fingers, and actually pulled a face when Slush said they were dirty. They most certainly were not! His fingers had stopped oozing long ago, and he had washed them since, so there. It was only his elbow now...yeah. And then the shrieking began. Groaning, Isto plucked the baby girl from Slush's grasp a set her on his own lap, wiggling his metal fingers infront of her face for a moment before just giving up and stuffing his thumb in her mouth. It was worth a try, at least. XBear "Hey!" Slush protested when their daughter was snatched from his lap and transferred to his husband's. "She'll get salmenella..." He muttered, eyeing the two absently. Ha, she had won. The sparkly thing was now hers and hers alone. Gumming on it fiercely, the baby Skullmonkey chortled somewhat through the familiar tasting metal. Now she had her sharkie and her sparkley too! Fantastic. Tourmaline gloated, tail curling to wrap around the tail of her stuffed shark. All hers. Moofuls Ahh, blessed silence. Grinning smugly at his accomplishment, he slumped down in his seat, idly toying with the end of Tourma's tail with his normal hand. "She'll be perfectly fine. She floated around in that crud for long enough, right? Trust me." Actually, Slush was probably right, but anything to keep Tourma from screeching right now. They would have to find her some shiny otherthing to keep her amused... Isto wondered if they made metal pacifiers. XBear Looking around to see just how dark it had gotten, Slush wrapped his arm around Isto's waist and gave him a light squeeze before standing up. "We should go back, it's getting dark..." Tourmaline didn't seem to notice, but yawned slightly before resuming her chewing on the metal finger. Attention most definately occupied for now. Moofuls "Aye, we should..." Timing hated them. Get one child quiet, and then return home to the others, who were undoubtably whining by now about their parents running off with the new born. Sighing, Isto climbed to his feet, pausing and glancing down to the diaper bag before just grinning and starting for home, holding Tourma and her shark in the crook of his good arm while she busied herself with his metal thumb. "You get to carry the bag this time."
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Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 7:24 pm
No, no... I'm overjoyed, really. She's a beautiful baby... Everything I could have hoped for. I still can't believe she's really our daughter. Our flesh and blood... it's too good to be true.
And then reality sets in. Now, I'm not complaining, but... Well, let me backtrack.
Tourmaline 'hatched' back on September 4th, just three days after Slush's birthday. He and I were trying to decide on a name for her at the time, actually.
It wasn't one of those slow, methodical hatchings like you'd imagine. The egg just shattered!...all over me. I had been holding it at the time.
I still haven't gotten all of that crud out of my arm. At least it's stopped stinking...for the most part.
So, we found ourselves with a bouncing, shrieking baby girl, and nothing to call her by. And then Slush takes a good look at her and bursts out with 'Tourmaline!'
I mean, really. Tourmaline.
Apparently it's some gemstone that I've never heard of and comes in shades of pink and green--Slush showed me a picture to prove it.
So, Tourmaline. And Sandia, which means 'watermelon' in some language or another. Spanish, I think.
Rocky Watermelon, hehe.
It's, ah.. Taken some getting used to, I'll admit. It's not the first thing I would have chosen, but Slush wanted something 'elegant and queenly', to use his words.
I'm not good with elegant and queenly. I let him pick.
But the more I think about it, the better it suits her. Tourma's already declared herself reigning princess over the household in a sense, something Vi's not happy about. Seems like she enjoyed being the only girl more than she let on.
Maybe they'll come to a compromise once Tourma's older? ...Guess we'll have to wait and see.
The time since Tourma's hatching has been relatively uneventful. Slush and I learning to cope with three infants at the same time...
Thankfully, Cody's not nearly so clingy anymore, as long as he's got his bear with him, and L'aven's already started walking. It's not surprising, really. He was in that egg for so long.
I am very pleased to say that Tourma's not nearly so bad as Cody used to be. She is very clingy--someone has to be holding her, or she has to be holding something (preferably both at once)--but she doesn't single out either of us, meaning, between us both, we manage to get enough sleep.
Of course, sex life is gone, but that's nothing new. ...Seeing that written makes it worse.
I think I might cry.
It'll come back. Right? Right. Once the shorties grow. ....Ah, crap. Maybe Doom and I can take a weekend vacation or something. I'd hate to leave the kids, though... It'd just feel awkward.
'Course, we'd get over that pretty quickly, I think.
Still, they are very young... But Faust could help watch them, you know? And Violet. Tourma's content as long as someone's holding her, Cody's fine (for the most part) while he has his bear, and L'aven... Actually, I'm not sure I've ever heard L'aven cry.
I dunno. I'll ask Slush about it, maybe. But I think life's a bit too hectic right now for us to sneak away, between the shorties and my job and the Veela search.
She's still missing, by the way, but I'm trying. I have a feeling I'm getting there... Maybe. Slowly? Hopefully.
And, there goes the Cody alarm. Until next time.
--Isto
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Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 7:25 pm
Reuniting Old Friends. Jen leaned over and grabbed the 'J' block from the toybox. Jim was staring up at him from behind Mop kitty with big wide eyes. "It's ok you ken, were're perfectly safe here." He put the block on the floor in front of Mop Kitty and started digging through the toybox for other blocks. There weren't many left after the whole 'treasure in the backyard' game that happened a while ago, but there were enough. The little orange infant Sm watched curiously as Jen fished an 'N' and an 'I' from the block pile. "I was gonnae spell your name for you, but I cannae find all the letters." He grinned at the infant. "I have a 'J', see that's a 'J', and an 'N' with the sailboat on the back, and this here's an 'I' that's a vowel... er... for some reason or other I cannae remember why." Jim watched and then let out a laugh and pointed at Jen's confusion. "Aye, you're a right wierdo you are." He scooped Jim up in a hug causing the infant to errupt into a fit of giggles. There should have been the not-so-familiar roar or a motorcycle to signal the new arrivals, but there wasn't. There hadn't been for a while now, in fact. A few weeks, at the very least. But motorcycles, as Slush had pointed out, were not the place for infants, let along half-horse one who couldn't sit correctly on it.
Isto really, really missed his motorcycle.
However, the wait of Slush's warning lare following him and Cody towards the garage had been enough to convince Isto against it, and he had vouched to walk this time. The sight was about the last any sane person would have expected: A metal-armed, mohawked, DNA-tailed man carrying an orange teddy bear and obediently trailed by an infant centaur. It most certainly won him a few stares along the way.
Isto didn't mind. He was used to stares by now--and, actually, had come to enjoy them. Amusing close-minded people.
And then they had reached HQ, and the stares were gone, and Cody was clinging defiantly to one leg of the orange teddy bear while insisting that his father hold it nonetheless. Muttering good-naturedly under his breath about a certain hooved shortling, Isto pushed open the door and stepped inside, holding it open until Cody entered behind him before letting it swing shut and turning for the living room.
He paused in the doorway when he noticed the pair already there, trying to place them and failing miserably. Though the man did look familiar... And then it clicked, and Isto's head snapped up, grin a mixture of surprise and confusion. "Jen?! S'that you?"
Cody, on the other hand, was interested in this pair only in that they might pose some threat to his bear. With a quick tug, he pulled it free--and was nearly flattened by it in the process--then, shoving it off of him, looped an arm around its neck and clung it protectively to his chest. Only then did he bother to inspect this pair, peering shyly around from behind the bear's head and his father's legs. Jen had ben tickling the infant when he heard his name called out in surprise... without looking up he knew who it was and as he did look up he felt his good mood slipping away from him faster than he cared for... and he would have frozen in place if all of a sudden Jim hadn't started screaming at the top of his lungs with Isto and cody's unexpected appearance.
Pride and Past forgetten in place of Jim's needs, Jen smiled up at Isto and nodded as he gathered Jim to him. "Shhhh there you. It's just Isto... and someone he brought with him." Jen smiled at Cody. "Shhhh, he's just like me... look, in fact he's a friend of mine." Jen leaned over and scooped Mop Kitty up as he stood to face Isto... "Here..." He tucked the kitten doll up next to Jim as the infant subsided into a whimper and continued to cling to the front of Jen's shirt which was wet from tears.
With the screaming stopped, Jen turned his attention to Isto and Cody. "Eyob! How are you? Havenae seen you in a long time." With Jim's screams, all greetings were forgotten; Isto grimaced, Cody shrieked. In a heartbeat the infant centaur's cries were enough to rival, maybe even drown out the young SM. His teddy bear discarded on the floor, Cody latched onto one of Isto's legs and refused to let go even when Isto tried to pick him up--after all, ANYONE could be tugging him away from Daddy. His eyes were closed. He couldn't be sure.
And then he realized one of those hands was undoubtably metal and released his grip, shrieking until Isto picked him up and sobbing against his father's chest until the other infant quieted. Gradually falling silent to Isto's murmurred reassurances, the young centaur pulled away just enough to send a suspicious glare back over his shoulder towards Jim. Evil little thing, scaring him like that. The nerve.
Isto, on the other hand, found the situation altogether amusing, if a bit annoying. However, once both children had quieted, his grin returned and he closed the distance to his friend, absently shifting Cody in his arms--carrying a centaur was awkward. Cody didn't seem to mind, however, and had by this time turned his eyes back to his teddy bear, staring quietly back at it and wondering just how he'd get it back. "Aye, it's been a while, hasn't it? I've never seen you fifth... Congrats on that, by the way. And I've been pretty good," he added, glancing down to Cody. "Family life has it's stresses, but I'm happy. How've you been? And who's your shorty?" Jen started to kick the blocks back into the pile of toys in the corner... "I've been ok. Could be better could be worse." He tried to move Mop Kitty so that Isto could see Jim better but there was no shifting the kitten doll from the infant's grip, and there was no shifting the infant from the front of Jen's shirt. "Jen half smiled half rolled his eyes, "This is Jim, he's kind of my ward, though I guess you could call him my son. He sort of chose me." He nodded at cody. "This one of yours? He's very cute." Now that the other infant had stopped being scary, Cody was ready and willing to get back to lugging his bear around--and possibly playing with that pile of blocks Jen had just nudged away. The centaur squirmed until Isto took the hint and set him down, immediately trotting the short distance to retrieve his bear, only to return to hovering near Isto's side. Bear held tightly to his chest, he stared over at the pile of blocks, weighing the risks at approaching him. That monkey thing could always start screaming again.
"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Jim," Isto replied, nodding cheerfully to said SM. "And yeah, thanks. This is Cody." He gestured down to the little centaur, who wasn't paying attention at all, far too engrossed in the blocks. Chuckling softly, Isto returned his attention to Jen, cocking his head to the side. "He's...well, he's been ours since birth. The centaurs stayed with us for a while, Cody came, and--" he shrugged. "They left. So here we are." Jen gave a sad smile and nealt down. Still clutching Jim to his chest, or rather letting Jim cling to him, he opened the toy chest and stepped back. "Well as long as he's happy where he is that's all that matters I suppose." He laughed softly as he watched Cody standing behind Isto, and as he laughed Jim relaxed his grip a little and leaned back to look up at Jen.
"Well there you are. Welcome back." He pointed over at Isto with his free hand. "See, not so scary really." The infant leaned against Jen again but turned his head so he could look wearily over at Isto. "It seems a little strange to me sometimes that he should have a skull already, but that's the way that the newer Sm's are born." He scratched Jim's back. "He's a nice little guy even if he's a bit skittsy around new people."
Cody positively beamed in thanks as Jen opened up the chest and, after a moment's hesitation, quickly closedthe distance to it, dragging his bear along with him as a shield. However, upon reaching it he reluctantly set the bear down and carefully situated it alongside the toy chest before picking up a pair of blocks. It was time...to create! Mwehehehe...
Smiling hesitantly, Isto waved slightly when the young SM finally looked over, brightening up to reply to Jen. "Aye, I'd thought he looked a bit small to be a 'child'. I haven't met any of the newer SMs, I'm afraid. He's the first." He sent a warm smile towards Jim, then chuckled. "Sounds like Cody. He's not so bad now that he's got his bear, though." Jen sat himself and Jim down on the floor again. He smiled over at the fact that Cody seemed to enjoy the toy pile, even as depleted as it was. He pried Jim's paw from his shirt but didn't make him leave the comfort of his lap. "See look, that's Cody and now he's playing with the blocks. He's got a bear like Mop kitty." Jen made the plush in suspect dance just out of Jim's reach, but Jim didn't seem to think the lunge to the toy was safe just yet.
Jen smiled up at Isto... "There's cookies on the tray on the table there if you or Cody would like, and there's more than enough room on the floor, lest you want to sit up higher." He ruffled Jim's ear fur and picked him off his lap. Jim suddenly found himself within arms reach of both the Kitten plush and Jen, and after a short inner panic he decided that he was ok that way... for now... and he set himself to watching Cody play with the blocks from behind Mop Kitty.... Cody had lots of toys of his own at home, but he also had stupid annoying siblings who he had to share them with. Here there was no Tourma or L'aven! And even if there was a little monkey thing, Cody wouldn't mind sharing. The monkey didn't seem as mean as Tourma was. Once he had constructed a crude pyramid with a few of the blocks, Cody picked up another and glanced back over to Jim, watching him curiously for a moment before taking a step or two towards him and holding out one of the blocks.
"Thanks, maybe in a bit.. Cody has a tendancy to hoard cookies, so we should prob'ly wait until we're about to leave." Yawning absently, he dropped to sit on the floor as well, more at eye level with, well, everyone there. And then he didn't have anything to say. It had been so long... "So, what've you been up to since...er a while ago. Anything exciting happen? Aside from Jim?" Jim gripped Mop-Kitty with both front paws and wide eyes. He wasn't sure about this other kid. Dad had said that this other kid was like him, and that now he was playing with the blocks... Did Jim want to play with the blocks too? He gave Mop-Kitty a quick hug and then leaned out to take the block. Once he had it he sat there with it... not sure that he was allowed to play here.
"Nothing much really. I kind of hung around the house like a wet towel until we started this place up, my Mum and aunt and cousins... It was a great kickstart for me I guess. I cleaned and played at being handyman though I'm nowhere near as good at that kind of thing as Mum and Tam." He smiled to himself as he remembered trying to build the dock to the boat. "You can still tell which parts of the place that I built cause they're not quite all there... or are crooked as all get out." He laughed. "Lately this place is all set up and running right along so it's been nice having him around." Jen pointed at the little orange Smo sitting very still with a block in his lap. "How many kids have you got now? I hear it's a fair few...." Cody squealed his approval when Jim accepted the block, immediately turning around and prancing back to the small pyramid. Flopping awkward down beside it, he reached for another block and resumed carefully building the structure, assuming Jim would join him. "Daaab flupth grav."
"Ahh, that sounds like fun." Leaning back against the couch, Isto craned his head to look around the room, then out towards the window and the dock. "I haven't had a chance for any real projects. Busy with work and the shorties and such. Got a job in the Past as a blacksmith... S'pretty cool." Returning his gaze to Jen, he laughed, straightening up somewhat and rubbing the back of his neck with his normal hand. "Well, we hadn't meant to wind up with so many... It just sort of happened. Not that I don't enjoy having them aruond, but yeah. Er, six, to be honest." When you ignored the fact that Gwen was presently missing. "And four of then infants. S'exhausting, but well worth it. I like being a dad." Jen gave a sad smile. "Yeah... I can imagine you as a good dad... You were always nice to me and Diro and the others... " He turned his gaze and his thoughts to the two infants. "But that's a lot of kids." He laughed suddenly. "I have enough on my hands with that one, I couldnae imagine many more... even one more I couldnae do it."
Jim watched Cody build for a moment and then looked down at the block in his lap. It ha a letter on it but he didn't remember which one. One more look at Cody and Jim decided that there was nothing to fear right now. He pushed the block off his little lap and then slowly pushed it over to Cody's tower with his little nose, stopping about a half a foot away. He sat himself down and then surveyed the tower with critical eyes... where should his block go? "Kids're nice." Isto shrugged, smiling sheepishly. "Better than teenage angst, anyway. But it's good having the old lot around, too.. I get along much better with everyone now that I'm, er...comfortable with me. You and Mauli are the only ones I haven't seen recently, though not for lack of trying. I couldn't find you at Tawn and Sarabi's wedding," he added, quirking a brow. However, after a moment he laughed as well, then mock-groaned and fall back against the couch once more. "Gods, you're telling me. It's not so bad anymore, because Vi and Faust can help with the shorties too. It used to be that Cody wouldn't so much as let me out of his sight--me--and wouldn't sleep for more than five minutes at a time, either. That was torture." He grimaced, then smiled, nodding to the bear. "But I gave him that old bear, and now as long as he has it, he's fine."
Cody didn't know his letters yet, nor did he care to. To him they were just pretty designs to make the blocks more interesting--because, really, blocks weren't all that interesting without them. But they could be stacked! Cody glanced up from his 'tower' to send a pleased smile towards Jim, , then promptly knocked down the pyramid so they could rebuild it together, picking up one block to start again. "Foog plaad grem!" Jim gave a yelp as the blocks toppled over, and he tried in vain to stop them from falling as the blocks fell down around him. He sat himself up in a small pile of blocks and stared wide eyed at Cody... who would want to destroy something so well built? Then when Cody spoke Jim's eyes went even wider if that's possible... He kept his eyes on Cody, "Daaaaaaaadd....."
"Just help him build it again. He wants you to help him. Nothing can hurt you here." Jen leaned back against the chair behind him and pulled his legs up in front of him. Resting his arms over his knees he sighed. "Jim's still in that clingy phase. I swear he hasnae let me out of his sight since I found him." He half grinned... "It's kind of nice though, to have someone that needs me and me alone. I like it." He smiled over at the two infants again. "My Mum calls us JimJen. She pokes fun at my name choice by purposely confusing them all the time as well. I just cannae explain that that's 'is name. I dinnae ken why it just is." He stopped as he realized he was babbling...
Jim leaned forward and pushed the blocks out of his way. Proping himself up on his knees he pushed a block over to where he thought the bottom of the new structure ought to be. Cody blinked. What was wrong with knocking down the blocks? That was half the fun of it! You build a tower, you admire it for a minute, and then you knock it does and build another one! And he had almost been done with the first one, so it would be more fun for Jim if they just started over again. Still confused, Cody picked up a block and set it near Jim's, beginning a new. "Dub dub dub...tee." He grinned.
"No, I know what you mean." Smiling, Isto nodded his agreement, not at all bothered by the rambling. He had a tendancy to do the same when talking about Cody or Tourma...or his motorcycle, for example. "So, you and Jim... I take that to mean there's no one...er..else?" A bit nosey, yes, but c'mon! They hadn't spoken in nearly a year. Isto had to catch up, right? Right. Jen paused at Isto's question and thought for a second, and then making a decision he smiled to himself... a sort of half sad half determined smile that told more than any words could... This 'half smile' was then followed by a grin and an embarassed laugh. He reached up and ruffled his hair (a very un'Jen thing to do) and looked directly at Isto. "No. I guess that I just havnae found the man for me." He laughed. "I really should just get out there and date probably but... " He shrugged. "I guess I've never been one much for socializing, and now there's Jim..." He pointed at the Sm infant in question and shrugged again.
Jim frowned at the budding tower for a moment before glancing up at Cody and grabbing another block and placing it next to Cody's. Then he grinned. This was fun. "No, too ba tee?" He grinned at Cody again and then began inspecting blocks for a certain shape. Isto smiled faintly in understanding and, nodding, turned his gaze to watch Cody and Jim. After a moment, however, he chuckled and glanced back over, shrugging lazily. "Ah, well, no rush, is there? At least you've found happiness, even if it's not where you expected." His smile faltered somewhat, and again he shrugged, returning his eyes to the infant SM and centaur. "Hmm. I have a few friends you might like. People I met here and there... Maybe I can set you up with someone?" Quirking a brow, he grinned, gaze flicking back to his friend.
"Blurft!" Cody exclaimed, pleased that his new friend had opened up enough to talk with him. Positively beaming, the young centaur picked up another block and carefully placed it atop two of the others, being every-so-careful to arrange it exactly right. This was going to be the best tower ever! [cut short due to hiatus D: ]
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Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 7:29 pm
I was never able to find the veela. She didn't stay around the area after she left our house, I guess. There was no trail to follow...
Pretty hopeless, all in all. but even with that, things worked out much better than expected.
I found the baby two days back when I was heading to work. I think she may have originally been left on the porch, but had rolled/crawled off into the bushes... That's where I found her, anyway. Asleep, curled up in a dirt-smeared blanket (probably of her own doing, mind).
There was a note, too, which I found on the doorstep. It's why I thought to look for her at all, actually--I probably wouldn't have seen her otherwise. Actually I wouldn't call it a note. Only two words: Gwendolyn Mairi. But that was enough, neh?
And so Gwen arrived. I have to say, she was in better shape than I'd ever have hoped, what with how long that Veela had her. But apparently she had at least intended to take care of the baby; her clothes and blanket were flashy and expensive, if dirty, and she had that half-starved look of one who hadn't eaten right for a few days, but after we fed her, it became clear that she'd quickly recover, and had likely been fine until recently.
The Veela got bored, I guess.
So she's here... And healty aside from being a bit underfed and a few scratches here and there, which she probably acquired crawling around the bushes. However, that's not to say she avoided all scarring...
I don't know, it's hard to pinpoint what's wrong. It might just be how different she is from Cody, not to mention the other shorties.
She's a very quiet baby, hardly ever says a thing, but she cries often... And then won't be quieted. You try to calm her or cheer her up, and she just screams all the louder. She only ever calms if you just leave her alone.
I blame the Veela.
She just seems so...distance already, you know? She's too young to be like this. It's just eerie after dealing with the other shorties... Cody, who's been clingy and walking for ages; Tourma, who's already declared herself queen; and L'aven, who, though he never makes a sound, has been active since we received his egg. His -egg-.
Gwendolyn isn't. She sits and she watches--distrustfully, at that. And she never talks, and she cries if you try to play with her, and... Damn, I really don't know what to do.
Maybe it's just the change? She's only been here a couple of days now, and I'd say she's about Cody's age, give or take a few days. It'd be unnerving for anyone, right?
Whatever the case, I'm determined to get on her good side before she gets much older. Cody'll help. He seems to like Gwen, even if she cries almost any time they're near each other. I can probably recruit L'aven, too. He's quiet. Gwen'll like him...right?
Should probably wait a bit before trusting her and Tourma together too much, though. Something tells me they'd have a screeching contest just to spite us. Ah, well.
In other news, I finally got in touch with Jen again. It was... well, great to see him, of course, but weird at the same time. I haven't spoken to him in almost a year... Certainly not since Slush and I eloped, and that was last November. So it was just awkward.
He hasn't changed, though... Except that he's got a shorty of his own now. A young SM he adopted named Jim. Cute kid, very clingy. Like Cody was, but better and worse at different points.
Jen seems to enjoy the company, though, and I don't blame him. We're going to meet up again soon, I think. Take the shorties to the park or something. I've got his number now, so he can't avoid me. Ha >3
And that's really all there is to say. Everything else is going great. And Jack's finally shown up again, so even X is happy. Good times. Let's hope they stay this way.
You know, with the exception of not-so-cheery Gwen.
--Isto
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Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 7:34 pm
So, Gwen's been here for a week or so now and, honestly, hasn't changed a bit. Still cold, still quiet...though she has lightened up a bit on the crying. Now she just sort of glares...and then gets annoyed with you and cries.
So scratch that.
However, I've managed to make her smile.
The weather's already getting cooler, and winter means I'll be spending months indoors, so I've been spending a lot of time outside lately while I can--and the shorties have been keeping me company. Just lounging around the lake, picnics and the like:
Cody and L'aven sticking leaves on Faust's 'wings', Violet trying to keep Tourma from eating rocks, and Gwen just...sitting there glowering at everyone, usually with me trying to cheer her up. And failing miserably.
But, a couple of days back, she smiled. In one of those eerily convenient moments, a butterfly landed on the blanket beside her (she shrieks if you set her on the grass) and Gwen was absolutely...enraptured, you could say. She just sat there and stared at it and...well, smiled.
Eventually it flew away, but the smile remained. For the afternoon, at least. And we've managed to keep it around by taking her out in the garden every so often to look for more butterflies. There're always one or two around nowadays.
And then yesterday we got her this stuffedbutterfly toy and she's been in a much better mood. Smiling, if only faintly, and crying only if you try to take the butterfly away. But we're used to that, because Tourma's the same with her shark.
What's the deal with our children and plushies?
At least L'aven's sane. Though I think he may be mute... He never makes a sound, even when he cries. Silent tears. That'd be our luck, poor kid.
I love my family.
--Isto
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