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 Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 1:59 pm
Alex grinned as the tail slapped him. Her answer was just what he'd hoped to hear. He let the subject pass, if only because he was getting a real kick out of the kid in his lap. He watched her wandering eyes, and secretly wondered what a little, simple mind like hers could be thinking. He wondered if she was thinking anything at all.
He cringed dramatically when the girl poked him, acting as though each poke would be his last. It was only for show of course, and he poked Shauna back softly as revenge.
"Take that. And that!"
Alex had never been the most.. child-loving kind of guy, but Shauna was irresistable.
His ears perked at Eight's conversation, brightening considerably at the mention that she had to hide the costume. "Oh, that means it's gonna be real good."
..The pants comment didn't hit him for a whole minute, and he retained a confused glance while playing with Shauna until it hit him.
Oh. Oh dear. He supposed that just meant it would be really, really good.
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Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 10:38 pm
Elle chuckled and tried to keep her head still, feeling exactly what she expected too from Eight. Good, at least she knew it was just Alex that was blank. Casting the lad a sidelong glance, she raised a sly brow.
"I hope your costume is up to par. Perhaps you should meet Levi, a student of mine. I'm sure he'd have some suggestions!" Stiffening as she realized she'd tugged against Eight's careful work, Elle settled back with one last grin.
"Maybe I should call Asra! It's been a long time. That would be a night to remember, I'm sure!" Reaching to the side to tweak Shauna's toe, Elle suddenly realized she felt ridiculously at home.
Snuggling back a bit, giving Eight the last of her hair to work with, Elle relaxed in contentment. Sweet conversation, the laughter of little ones...what more could life offer?
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Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 12:27 pm
Shauna squealed loudly at the poking, batting at Alex's hand with a grin. She poked him back every time, turning her head away as if that would prevent the evil boy from poking her. No fair! He was bigger! Her little red tail wagged around happily, trying to mimic Alex's words. "Ehbah! Ehbah!" Even Eight had to admit it did sort of sound like 'And that! And that!' if you listened hard though. She lifted Tabby up in front of her like a shield, still squealing with laughter.
And then Elle betrayed her as well. Shauna gasped and stared at Elle with wide, yellow eyes, her mouth hanging open and absentmindedly making it look as if Tabby was alive and poking at Alex. A double attack?! She was outnumbered! Shauna could only hope Mommy would save her.
And save her Eight would! The half demon tickled Elle's sides after the toe tweaking, keeping up with the tickle torture until Elle mentioned Levi and his suggestions. She smirked softly, leaning in to whisper to Elle what her costume was, her other hand reaching up simultaneously to scritch behind Alex's ear; this should keep him distracted. Damn fox ears. Elle could know, but Alex couldn't...not yet. "That enough?" The halfling asked, smiling innocently now. "...Levi? It's almost as cute as what I wish I could call Alex!" Eight chirped, finishing the second braid after tying another ribbon around it. "There! Hang on, I'll get you a mirror." And away she went, climbing over the back of the couch to steal a mirror from...perhaps Valencia, her room was the closest.
She returned after much complaining from Val, but the little elf finally caved and let her mother leave with the mirror. Eight stole a quick kiss on Alex's neck as she hopped over the back of the couch again, flopping down between Elle and Alex. "Here you are, m'lady~!" Eight smiled, handing Elle the mirror.
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Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 3:34 pm
This was such girl time. Alex was only too glad that he had Shauna to keep him company; otherwise, he would probably try to sneak out before they started painting each other's nails. He had just reached out to tug on the little braid in Shauna's hair, but never got that far. He watched that dangerous hand reach up, and scritch behind his ear, and almost dropped Shauna as his right leg jumped, startled. His hands flew up to brush Eight away, trying to get her mischievous fingers as far away from his ears as possible. He did NOT want a reaction like that when he was playing with a baby!
"Eiiight," He whined softly, giving her a warning look. Get back to your girly stuff and stop torturing him for no reason, that look said.
Maybe he should sneak out of there pretty soon. For all he knew, any minute one of them might suggest that they do his hair too..
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Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 10:45 am
Pushing to her feet, Elle accepted the mirror...sauntering over to the window for a bit more light. For a moment, as she glanced at her reflection, she was silently startled. She'd rarely glanced at a mirror since her time with Aki, usually too busy with other things! As always, though, the reflection she saw was just a little different than what she expected.
"Eight, you did a great job. Thank you!!" Smiling over one shoulder, braids swaying, she offered a wink to Shauna. "See, Redtail? Now I have braids just like you!"
Smiling with the babe for a moment, Elle decided to excuse herself and give the couple a little time to work out their ear scritching differences. "Do you think...I could use your phone? If you would dial Asra for me, I would appreciate it! I won't take long!"
She had quite a long walk ahead of her...by the time she got home again, it would be too late to call!! As she glanced around for the phone, Elle realized it was more than wanting to give the couple some time alone, and more than simply wanting to talk to the lad. Perhaps he wasn't doing anything for the holiday...she didn't particularly want to be alone! Aki was taking the little ones out 'trick or treating'....maybe she could find something to do as well.
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Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 11:09 am
Eight pouted, not at being swatted away because that was entirely understandable, but that she'd been called Eight. "Lexyyyyyyy you agreed you'd call me Penny." She whined pitifully, resting her head on Elle's shoulder instead of Alex's. That's your punishment for using the wrong name, Alex! The halfling nearly fell over when Elle suddenly stood up, watching her stare in the mirror with a smile. She glanced over at Alex, her pout returning, and leaned her head on his shoulder now. "I should take these caps off my teeth and bite you for forgetting to call me Penny." But Shauna was on his lap...so...that was out of the question. The halfling rubbed at one of her fangs to feel the cap that kept it from being too sharp if she ever bit someone, an idea her mother had come up with when she was a baby...Eight had grown so used to them she just got bigger sizes every few years now.
Shauna squealed loudly with laughter when she suddenly bounced on Daddy's leg, clapping her hands and cheering. "'Gen! 'Gen!" Aww, do it again Daddy, she obviously thought it was fun. Shauna must have grown used to the name Redtail as well, for when she heard it she turned her head back to Elle and grinned. Braids! Yay! Shauna turned back to Alex...only to find that Mommy had stolen her current source of entertainment; bad Mommy! No fair! He was hers first! She frowned and stared up at the couple with wide, yellow eyes, putting her hands on Alex's stomach and batting at it gently to get his attention back on her. "Nuuuuu!"
Eight laughed softly at the call, kissing Alex's cheek and standing up to get the phone for Elle. "I believe I have competition now, my love!" Eight called, walking backwards on her way to a phone. This was so she could put the back of her hand against her forehead and sniffle dramatically, turning around and almost walking straight into a wall. Yeah...there was a wall there... "Where do you think he is right now? Benedict center or Nio's house? ...Let's try the center first..." Eight still had that card Asra had hidden on Shauna when he first gave her to the half demon, using that to call dial the correct number and hold the receiver up to her ear.
Someone was sure to be there, right? If not Asra, then Alania or someone else...
Meanwhile, Shauna had snuggled against her new Daddy now that his attention was off her attention-stealing Mommy.
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Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 9:57 pm
Alex gave Eight a mixed gaze, before returning to bouncing Shauna. Personally, he couldn't see what the big deal was, anyhow. "I just call you what I hear.. and a lot of people call you Eight. 'Sides, I always figured you didn't want me to call you that in front of other people."
Truthfully, the last thing he wanted was drama over a name. He just wanted to call her.. his. heart
He grinned down at Shauna as she batted his stomach for attention, and bounced her only too happily. "You like that, do you? Maybe I should take you out flying some time, see if you like that ride too." He leaned in and rubbed his nose against hers, blowing in her face playfully. It was sickeningly cute just how attached he was getting to the girl so suddenly. He didn't know if it was because she was Eight's, or because she seemed almost like the kid sister he never had.
The phone rang, and a moment later a deep, unfamiliar voice answered. It was bright and bubbly, but a male voice at the Benedict Center was unheard of until now. A moment afterward, however, a much more familiar voice could be heard, as Alania wrested the phone from the cheeky teenager and answered in her typical monotone professional voice.
"Benedict Center, caretakers for a new generation. How can I help you."
Friendly as ever.
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Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 1:24 pm
Eight smiled over at Alex, pausing to cover the mouthpiece of the phone with her hand so no one would hear her if she didn't finish speaking before the phone at the Center was answered. "I would have said call me Penny when we're alone, but I said not to call me Eight anymore, sweetheart~!" She chirped, shrugging. She wasn't really bothered by it, she just loved to be difficult! Alex should have figured that out by now.
Shauna clapped her hands in approval at the bouncing, laughing brightly and staring up at Alex. Flying? What was that? She tilted her head a bit in curiosity, which soon changed back to the usual happy face at the nose rubbing, turning her head left and right as the boy blew on her. She cheered again when Eight gestured for Elle to follow her back to the couch and flopped down next to them again, waving to the two women before she turned back to Alex, catching a glimpse of orange near him. "Buh..?" She pointed at the orange thing and looked up at Alex. What was that?
The male voice on the phone caught Eight off guard, suddenly finding herself wondering if there was another employee working with Alania before the woman stole the phone and spoke. "...Dearest Lani, you have got to be one of the most boring people I know~!" Eight teased, smirking up at Alex before she spoke again. "You should sound a little more excited when you answer the phone, especially considering where you work. Anyways, to the reason I called! And before you say it, yes I do have a reason for once. Is Asra there? Have someone here who wants to talk to him while I continue to seduce your son." At this she stuck her tongue out playfully at Alex, kissing his cheek and resting her head on Elle's shoulder.
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Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 5:05 pm
Well, Alex had not figured that out by now, and would not do so until long after they were married and having children of their own, at which point he would likely know every little quirk about her, including just how difficult she liked to be.
He followed Shauna's point, and looked back at his lazy tail, before flickering it at her. "You wondering about this, little foxy? You've got one too you know, though I guess mine's a little bigger." He flicked it at her, and the large tail fell on her head, covering her completely in it's depths.
The voice on the other line was suddenly far more interesting than it was a moment ago. In fact, it was loud, and sharp.
"I did NOT need to hear about that, you scandalous wench." Alania growled out, though it was said in a voice Eight by now well knew wasn't entirely serious. "And I don't need advice on how to answer a phone from anyone, especially not you. Now, if you're done insulting me.." With that she handed the phone over to the young man hovering around her curiously, and he shimmied backwards just a bit as the phone was jutted at him. ".. For me?" He murmured, and his face brightened happily. "For me!" He took the phone in his hands and cradled it lovingly.
"Heellooooo~?"
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Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 7:57 pm
Mouthing a silent 'thank you' to Eight, Elle accepted the phone and took a step away...not because she had anything to hide, but to give the others more space. Leaning against the wall, Elle cradled the phone against her ear carefully with one hand. She wasn't used to telephone conversations.
"Hey there, this is Elle! How are you?!" The smile was clear in her voice, tone warm as she murmured into the handset. Absently tucking a few strand of hair back into one of her braids, she shifted her weight onto one foot and smiled a bit brighter.
"I hope I'm not disturbing you! I'm over at Eights...Penny's?...hmm. I'm over here with Shauna at the moment, and was just thinking of you! I was wondering if you had any plans for...Halloween!" She was proud of herself for remembering to use the mainstream title.
Sparing a flash of her smile for Shauna, she watched the babe disappear under a floof of tail and tried not to laugh into the phone.
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Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 9:53 pm
The voice on the other line nearly screeched at the sound of her voice. For a moment it cracked, and could have been mistaken for the boyish voice Asrafel once had. "Elle!" Though, that didn't last for long. He cleared his voice and tried very hard to act as if he hadn't just squealed a girl's name, after the look his aunt had just given him. "Ah.. uhm.. Elle! Oh, I was hoping I'd see you soon! You're at Shauna's, huh?"
He chanced a glance at Alania after repeating the last phrase, "Halloween?" questioningly. The woman merely shrugged and picked up the magazine she had been reading, flipping through it's pages once more and looking as though she'd completely tuned him out. He rolled his eyes and his lips parted to answer that he supposed he had no plans, when something clenched at his heart. He could hear every beat echoing through his ears, and feel the pressure of his blood being forced through tightening veins, too strained to be comfortable.
He heard a voice over the sound of his heartbeat, and wondered who it was.
"I'm coming over. Wait for me."
He blinked, but he couldn't tear himself away to look around for the owner of that deep, unfamiliar voice. Or was it so unfamiliar? Maybe he just wasn't used to it yet..
"Don't leave."
His hand pulled the receiver away from him before he knew what he was doing, and he hung up the phone.
"You're going out? 'Stae isn't going to appreciate you just waltzing off when you're supposed to be work- Hey, Asra. I'm talking to you!"
Alania had been lecturing into her magazine, but when she peeked up to look at the boy, he'd already started walking away. He didn't bother to answer her, which was uncharacteristically rude of him, and she opened her mouth to question him, but it was too late. He had already headed out the door, and taken to the air. Somehow, he knew where he was meant to go.
".. What in the hell." Alania muttered under her breath, and snatched the phone up once more, dialing Eight's number quickly from memory.
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Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 1:35 pm
Shauna gasped when her head suddenly disappeared in a tail, clapping her hands and bouncing up and down on Alex's lap. No one could see her now! It was like that hide and seek game Eight had played with her once where the little fox hid her face behind her hands and became invisible! She giggled quietly and covered her mouth, her own tail wagging back and forth happily; this was a great game!
Shauna's gasp was imitated by her mother, only for different reasons, making a quiet 'hmph!' sound. "How dare you call me that!" She was grinning even when she said that, curling up against Alex's side and closing her eyes. "Can you believe your mother just called me a scandalous wench?" Eight feigned a sniffle, letting Elle take the phone and hugging Alex's arm against her chest. "I love you~" The halfling lifted Alex's hand and kissed his palm, looking up when she heard the name Penny. Oh, Elle must have heard that conversation.
She grinned and leaned over as if she was trying to listen in on the pair's conversation, Alex's hand was still held up against his lips. "What's he saaaaying?"
Meanwhile, Shauna was in her own little world just waiting for someone to look for her in her new hiding place.
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Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 1:55 pm
Elle moved the phone from her ear, looking at it curiously. Shrugging a bit at Eight, she tucked her hair back into place again and set the receiver gently back into the cradle.
"I'm...not sure. I think that was Asra, but.." Still puzzled, she finally shook her head with a smile. "Well. I think...he's coming over."
Elle was a bit unsettled. She wasn't sure what just happened. Had he hung up on her? Was Eight irritated that Elle just accidently invited someone over? The mixture of worry and excitement settled a bit unevenly in her stomach.
"If you'll excuse me for a moment?" Waiting for Eight to point the way to the bathroom, Elle nodded and strolled down the hall...chewing her lip as she walked. Was Asra mad? She wasn't usually so easily rattled, but there had been something in his voice...
Elle shut the door just as the phone rang again. Peering into the mirror, she took a breath and smiled...shaking her hair a bit settle the braids into place. She didn't want to take long, in case that was Asra calling back...so she only took another moment to fish a white mint leaf out of her pouch at her waist. Rolling it up, Elle stuck it under her tongue, washed her hands, and trotted out into the hall once more.
Her questioning look was enough. Had Asra called back?!
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Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 2:09 pm
Eight's brow furrowed in confusion. Elle didn't know if she'd just talked to Asra or not? How was that possible? His voice didn't sound that different over a phone...did it? She didn't mind Asra coming over since the boy was entirely welcomed, and Elle looked just as confused as she did. Was Eight missing something? "Uh yeah, sure...you okay, dear?"
The phone ringing actually made her jump off the couch in surprise, grabbing the phone and turning it on, holding it up to her ear. Caller id had said Benedict Center so... "Yeah...?" Maybe it was Asra calling back for some reason? Or maybe even Alania? Either way, it was someone she knew. The halfling looked up at Elle when she heard the girl come out of the bathroom, shrugging up at her and poking at Shauna's stomach.
Shauna squeaked and curled up on her side, holding Alex's tail against herself to keep her little body hidden. Mommy had found her!
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Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 2:18 pm
"Penelope. I'm a little confused." It seemed both Eight and Elle weren't the only ones mystified by Asrafel's behaviour, and Alania's anxiety over his actions was clear in the simple fact that she'd used Eight's real name in conversation. "What just happened? Is something wrong over there? Asrafel doesn't usually walk out during work hours, let alone ignore people when they're talking to them. Did Elle say something to worry him? Is everyone okay?"
Her voice had taken just a touch of frantic worry at the end, as possible theories popped into her head. Unfortunately, before Eight could even answer any of the questions being rapid fired at her, a sudden noise spurned yet another one.
Knock, knock knock.
".. That's not him, is it?" She asked, her voice hushed as if he could somehow hear her. But it was him, knocking at that door just a handful of minutes after he'd left. He had made spectactular time, and obviously flown.
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