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 Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 10:17 am
It was only days later that Nebula was let out of the hospital, visibely not explaining the secrets of her the secret to her "miraculous" recovery to anymore, looking entirely too michevious in the process. Shiku, of course, didn't care for no reason. The one important thing was that Nebula was home... and that she was allright. He found himself on the same window shelf as the night where he discovered the strange powder, again unable to sleep, and... not feeling too well. For some reason, it felt hot in the room, which shouldn't be because of this miraculous "ac" thing Zero kept babbeling about. The whole machine thing usually went 3 feet over his head, and he couldn't have cared less if it had been a 4 headed dragon, as long as it kept the house cool. It started with a pain in his arms, almost unnoticable until it intencified, which caused the boy to yelp. He rolled off the ledge to fall on his bed, but before the pain got too bad, he was lured into sleep, in which the little boy changed... 
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Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 5:49 pm
You know... There was a time where like, in a movie or something, a parent find him or herself all touched or something because they suddently realise their babies arn't babies anymore, I thought it was just overraction or something.
But today, I look at my boys and realise that im feeling the same damn thing. They're all growing up so fast, and kinda out of wack... but hey, it's gaia for you. I don't think things are supposed to make too much sence in this world, so I gave up trying to find it.
It's just so odd to see them as they are now, when they used to be tiny bundles I held or rested in my lap only months ago. Ronen is starting to finally stand from himself, and Shiku stands for him a bit too much... but that's another story. I decided to send at least Ronen to Adrian for the rest of his education, this might be better AND then I won't get s**t for trying to get my kid to skip a few grades because he grew both physically and mentally. That school, I swear, is full of idiots.
For Shiku, I am not too sure yet. He insists to go wherever Ronen will go, but im not too sure if Adrian will be able to teach two. Maybe if I offer to help around with what he won't be able to do otherwise, he might. I almost always have free time during the days anyway, expecially now that the boys can mostly take care of themselves.
Sei... hell, I think the kid is smarter than I am. No problem here. Shina must be so proud of him... I just wish Hoshi was here to see it. Sei actually asked me the other day, sometime after he woke up. I wish I didn't have to... but he deserved to know. He took it farely well, I guess.
I still think it was cute when both him and Ronen teamed up to teach Shiku the basics of writing. I wish I had a camera. Maybe, if Hoshi comes back one day, Sei will have a true brother or sister ? I hope so... if only for Shina's sake.
Wow. Rantings of a old woman - over. Hah.
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Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 7:41 pm
It felt a little odd to Annora, coming all this way without Etain by her side. But the little sylph was on her flying lessons, and her mom had decided it had been far too long since they visited the small hut Jaden lived in. So after going shopping for a bit in Barton and picking up a pretty new necklace for Annora (she'd also wanted the earrings, but her mother had also said that piercing her earfins was absolutely not happening!), they'd made their way here.
Trio walked much slower than Annora - she wasn't quite at the lumbering stage yet, but she did occasionally reflect that many things had been MUCH simpler when she'd been slender, instead of looking like someone had glued a soccer ball to her stomach. Reaching the hut, she watched Annora immediately start toward the door and glanced around the outside. Perhaps she should suggest to Jaden that he put in a bench or something?
Shiku was terribely bored... and so was his mother, actually, even with their motorcycle ride they had both decided to go through. She wore no helmet, but he did - and while the genie boy perticulary didn't like it, he knew he had to, for Zero would never let him ride without a helmet. Even not in a million years.
The most embarassing, to the woman's opinion at least, was that she couldn't change. Granted, the black dress she was wearing did actually look good on her somewhat, even in inwardly she felt like screaming bloody murder.
That, and at least 3 people had deemed her a crossdresser due to the faint curves the woman pocessed. It wouldn't have sucked as much if she hadn't had to explain Shiku what a crossdresser was afterward.
If she ever saw some of those assholes again, she would defintively punch them in the face.
She turned the corner and noticed a familiar sight. Trio ? She kind of looked a bit tired and... pregnant, maybe ? Uh.
Eyebrows raising, the blue haired woman slowed down and gave the blonde a smile. "You look like you could sit for a few minutes." She said, putting an armored foot on the ground to keep balance. "Need a ride or anything ?"
"Sitting sounds good," Trio grinned at Zero, then blinked. This was the first time she'd seen her friend in a dress, and inwardly, she couldn't help wondering what the occasion was. "It's the getting up that does me in," she added with a laugh. "We're here for a visit. Hi, Shiku!"
People? Annora looked around, a smile breaking out on her face as she abandoned her walk to the front door halfway there in order to come backand say hi to Zero and Shiku.
"Yeah, I bet." Zero slid to the side to reach the ground, tripped on her dress, and the only thing that prevented a catastrophe was Shiku taking a quick hold, allowing the reploid the second she needed to regain balance before both mother and child could be sent tumbeling to the ground. "Thanks, hon."
"You best sign of thank you you could give me would be the ok to get a thing off my head." The genie replied, which made Zero stiffle a laugh.
"We're not moving anymore, you can take it off."
"YAY !" Shiku took the helmet off it what seemed to be a record time, and flashed Trio his best smile. "Hi, miss Trio !" He chirped, floating over Zero's shoulder in hope to see the mermaid child he remembered.
"Hi~," Annora said, coming to stand just before Zero. "I like your dress." She looked up then, waving at Shiku with a bright smile. She remembered him, too. "What's that?" she asked him, pointing to the helmet he'd had on until just a bit ago.
Trio chuckled at the offhand compliment, then nodded to Zero. "What's the occasion?"
Far be it from anyone to say that the satyr was inattentive of his guests... even if they didn't realise his presence there. On either side of the walkway that led to the porch, a wooden bench appeared. They were rustic in appearance, both looking as though they'd been there all along, in the weather and sun. One seemed to have its seat set a bit higher than the other, however... a much easier time of sitting and rising for those who were having difficulty, perhaps?
"Why thank you~" She gave a polite smile to Annora, even if she was inwardly seething a bit.
"It's an helmet." Shiku said, hovering down to the blue skinned girl's level. "You wear one on a bicycle or mom's thing here so that if something bad happen, it'llt protect your head." He nodded sagely. "...I still don't like it." He flipped the hood of his shirt on as it looked like the sun was starting to come out.
"My boss decided it would be a bit fun to have a week long meeting with some important clients and visibely it was imperative for me to attend." She mumbeled. "I showed up there in near pants and he almost turned purple and threw a fit. Needless to say I've been wearing dresses for about 5 days now and I am not exactly pleased. At least I managed to sneak out while he went to the restaurant with them, bless the little things."
Of course, Zero's theory of "neat pants" probably involved army cargoes.
"Can I try it?" Annora asked, holding out her hands to take the helmet. "What's it like?" She considered, then added, "Maybe Etain should get one for her flying lessons?"
Trio choked a bit at the thought of the sylph in a motorcycle helmet while flying. "Etain's just fine, sweetie. Her daddy has ways of protecting her," she said, then turned back to Zero. "At least the week's about up?" she tried, stretching her back a little before her eyes caught sight of the benches near the door. Those weren't there before...
Not waiting until his mother could put in any words about the idea, he gentely handed the helmet to the mermaid. "The transparent part goes in front." He mentionned, remembering his own mistakes. "You might wanna watch out not to pull your fins while putting it on... and it's not very confortable, I warn you."
Zero rose an eyebrow, visibely a bit amazed with how careful he was with Annora, but the benches suddently caught her attention.
"...Please tell me I am not slowly being driven crazy and that those benches weren't there a minute ago." She said, forgetting about the whole dress irritation for the time being.
Annora nodded seriously, lifting the helmet over her head. She winced a little as it caught on a fin, and frowned, closing her eyes and flattening all three. She'd only recently learned that trick, and it made swimming SO much better! She'd done it before, but always instinctively while swimming. But now, she could even wear hats, though too long in one made her headfins itch. "Like this?" she asked, as the helmet came down a second time, guided by Shiku's directions.
Trio wasn't watching the kids. Instead, she was eyeing the benches. "...If you're going crazy, I'm the same. I was just thinking that Jaden really needed to put in some benches, since we all seem to gather out front..." She made her way over, reaching with one hand to tap the wood curiously.
The wood was definitely real.. as were the benches. And rather solid, as well. They seemed to be rather simply carved, a few scrolling 'whirls' here and there to decorate them. Other than the fact that they hadn't been there thirty seconds ago, they seemed to be perfectly ordinary benches, waiting for someone to make use of them.
He peered a bit at the whole setup, head tilting a bit. "Just turn it a bit to the left, the transparent area should be right in front of you eyes." He said sagely, fluttering in front of the girl, and visibely amazed by the fin flattening trick.
"I think we where just given a prod." Zero grinned. "Well, let's not let those benches go unused, that would be kind of rude, wouldn't it ?"
Annora nodded, turning it before looking up at him. "How does it look?" she asked, with a bright smile, bouncing just a little and preening that he seemed impressed by something. One hand came up to tap on the plastic, and she laughed at the sound.
Trio nodded, moving to sit down on the higher one. "Sounds good to me. Feels good, too... Remind me to thank Jaden or Naukhel next time I see them."
"Pretty good !" Shiku grinned, floating in circles around the mermaid to look her over from all angles. "Much better than I look wearing it, too." He smilled.
The second name was lost on the woman, but she decided not to ask, sitting beside her friend, and still pondering weither or not to ask the obivious. It felt kind of odd having so many friends that had kids, while she probably would ne ver have any herself.
But no matter.
"Is it what I think it is, however ?" She asked with a playful grin.
Preening turned to pure beaming as Annora lifted the helmet back off of her head and handed it to him once more. "Thank you~," she said, her headfins once more lifting and spreading a little as she ran a hand over her hair. "What were you doing today?" she asked, then added a moment later, "We went shopping."
"Is... what what you think it is?" Trio blinked, turning to Zero curiously.
"We where going shopping too." Shiku said, putting the helmet on the seat of the motorbike. "But your and my mom seem busy now, so I guess ill have to go later with uncle Wren." He said with a nod.
Hm. Not really knowing how exactly to put it as to not offend her friend should she be wrong, she simpely pointed downward to her belly. "Well, that."
"What were you going shopping for?" Annora asked, bouncing a little before reaching out to take his hand and tug him slightly. Her other hand lifted to the necklace that had settled beneath her shirt and tugged it out so that the bright indigo of the glass pendant could glitter in the sunlight.
Trio laughed. "Oh THAT. Well, if you think it's the result of a honeymoon and an angel's rather bizarre idea of a wedding present, you'd be absolutely right. I'm not quite sure what it is yet, though. Shiro and I haven't asked about whether it's going to be a boy or girl."
"Some clothes, and a big surprise, mom said. She wouldn't tell me what." Shiku allowed himself to be tugged along with no resistance, which was very easy in his floating state. He moved a bit to the front to peer at the necklace. "That's very pretty ! Is that what you went shopping for ?"
"I think I lost you somewhere in the first sentence, but okay !" Zero laughed a bit. "Im happy for you, still." She knew the blonde in front of her probably had wanted a kid of her own genetics for a long time, but was not aware that she normally couldn't. "Im sure it's going to be the cutest kid, no matter the gender." She said with a smile.
Annora nodded, lacing her fingers with his the way she did with Etain's. "Yep. There were earrings, too, but mama said I couldn't poke holes in my fins." She looked at Shiku, then smiled. "Maybe you'll go shopping after we play some?"
"Thank you," Trio smiled warmly, patting the bulge gently. "It's definitely been an experience. Though... I will admit that I miss my waist."
"Maybe." Or hopefully not. Shiku didn't expecially like shopping at all, which is why he had to be coaxed with motorcycle rides and secret surprises to begin with. "That sound painful... The whole hole-in-the-fin idea." He noted, not even wanting to imagine how that could possibely feel.
Zero chuckeled a bit. "I bet. But it's all worth it, no ?" She laid one hand across the bench, laying to the side as to face Trio, with no amount of dress managing to make the reploid look ladylike. "Children are gifts, I find - I feel myself lucky to have been gifted with so many when I thought I would never have any." She sighed a bit, glancing at the two as they walked along. "I've even had an old lady moment a few days ago. You know, when you realise your babies arn't really babies anymore ?"
Annora nodded, not quite sure why Shiku didn't seem to sound eager to go shopping, but letting it pass. "Yeah, but humans do it to their ears, so I figure it can't be THAT bad, right?" she asked reasonably.
Trio laughed. "Oooooh, yeah, I know that feeling. What happened?" she couldn't resist asking.
"Maybe." He pondered for a moment. "I never really tried it." Nor did he expecially want to, also. "Im sure they would look good on you too, the earrings I mean." He nodded. "Mom has a few earrings that don't need any holes."
"They all decided to grow up on me at once, it seems. Some more radically than others." The reploid said. "Ronen's almost as tall as I am now. When I remember having him in my lap, it kind of makes me feel old... And I am only what.... 6 years old ? 7 ? I think I lost count." She laughed.
Annora continued to walk, keeping a hold on his hand. "Those would be good," she said, nodding. "Maybe mama will let me get some of them." She grinned widely. "Do you want earrings?"
Trio laughed. "Wait until you get ready to have The Talk with one of them and find out they've already picked a partner..."
"Not really..." He shugged a bit, following the mermaid's pace, making sure not to wind up being the one pulling her. "Arn't earrings just for girls ?" A genuine question, after all. None of his brothers wore any... and Zero just barely did.
"...Not looking forward to that." She laughed. "But I guess I can't avoid it, no ?"
Annora considered. "Daddy wears them. Lots of them, all up his ears," she added, shrugging. "Mama sometimes wears them, but she said she likes danglies and that they catch on things too much."
Trio laughed. "Yeah. It kinda... took us by surprise. And definitely made me feel old."
"I've never seen a boy wear earring. Beside mom's friend, but he kind of wear skirts too, so I thought that was an exception." He pondered. "Maybe, then. Just no dangelies or pink things."
"Yeah, I bet." She ran an black and blue hand though her dreads idely. "...How does it feel ? You know, to be pregnant and all. I've always wondered about it."
Annora eyed him critically for a moment, then nodded. "Silver for you, right? Something small. Maybe small hoops, like Daddy wears." She paused, then added, "I saw something on a tv show once that I liked. It was like a necklace, but the girl wore it up here," she explained, pointing to her forehead, "and it was really pretty."
Trio smiled, leaning back a little. "It's... strange. Sometimes it hurts, and I get tired more easily, but... it also feels really good."
"I like silver." He nodded. "Hoops... I don't think I would hate that, as long as they're small and don't get stuck in my hairs all the time... Mom has a jewel on her forehead sometime, but usually it's just that upside down triangle mark thing. I don't know how she makes it a jewel." He paused. "...Or pop out wings at random. Mom confuses me sometimes."
"So it's one of the things you need to live to really know about, I guess ?" The smile faded for half a second at that statement, but was back soon enough. "Have you thought about names allready ?"
Annora nodded, laughing. "Daddy can hide his wings, and sometimes he surprises people when they come out. Mama has little jewels that she sticks on her forehead with a special glue. She said I can have those when I'm older."
Trio hesitated, then looked over at Zero. "I don't really know. I wasn't supposed to ever be able to have kids. If you believe in miracles..."
"Wouldn't it kind of hurt when she take them off ? Or does she make the glue go away first or something ?" This wasn't the kind of conversation Shiku was used to be having, but he didn't really mind.
"Really ? Why not... if you want to talk about it, of course." She laid her head on her arm lazily. "I doubt ill ever be able to get any, and ill't take more than a miracle, I think. Or whoever gives them out would need to be seriously working overtime."
"I think the glue's supposed to come off after a while, because she doesn't complain or anything, and she won't use any other glue." Annora shrugged, looking at him as they reached the edge of where Trio would let her go. She started to let his hand go then.
Trio smiled softly. "When I was very little, some scientists did something to me, and it screwed up my insides. I've been told by every doctor since that I can't concieve. But I did. And... you never really know the way a miracle will work. It's what makes them miracles."
"That would make sence. I stuck a piece of construction paper on my arm when I was younger with white glue. Taking it off did hurt." Of course, he did not mention that he had cried a good bit over the pain.
Crying was for girls. And maybe Ronen sometimes when he had a damn good reason.
"Ouch, that suck." She couldn't help but cringe a bit. "Im sorry. But I don't think my scientifist gave me any way to carry a kid. But all his notes where lost.... so I don't think ill ever know."
Annora nodded. "Like bandaids hurt when you take them off?" Those still made her cry occasionally, especially when she couldn't convince whoever was helping her that fast was NOT better, thank you very much! She sat down on the grass, waving him down, too. "Why'd you put the paper on your arm?"
Trio reached out, patting Zero's arm. "It's not such a big deal anymore for me. I've had a lot of good things to make up for it. I'm sorry to hear about the notes, though..."
"Yeah, kind of like that." Oh, he hated bandaids, too ! Those always hurt. Faster hurting less be damned.
"It was an accident, I was making a card with construction paper for Nebula when she was sick, but one piece glued itself on my arm. I think I might have rolled on it and not seen it..."
"I've had alot of good things too." She smilled a bit. "I don't really care about the notes, mostly, even if there is alot of myself I might never know. I just really wish he was still there, some days."
Annora nodded, remembering the glitter that she'd gotten stuck to her cheek the last time she tried to make a picture for Etain. "I do that, too." Speaking of things they both did... that led to a question. "Shiku? Do you swim, too?"
Trio nodded, grinning back at Zero encouragingly. "With enough kids, you barely have any time to think, though, right?"
"I do sometimes. Mostly at night when the water is colder." And that there was no risk to burn to a crisp, of course. He still have a sunburn on his back. Owww. "I havn't done it alot but I like it, it's fun."
"Yeah, you got that right." She laughed. "It was much worse when I was alone. I guess time healed the wound a bit, too... I did my grieving and it's behind me. I still get a longing, sometimes... He would have loved to meet his grandchildren. He never had any children, himself... It was why Wren and I where... born." She prefered that term. Created tended to creep people out.
Annora's eyes lit up at that. Time of day didn't matter to her. Swimming was one of her great loves, right up there with singing. "You have to come to my house soon. You can sleep over and we can go swimming!" she decided, bouncing in place a little.
Trio nodded, smiling at her. "That makes sense to me. And now you have your own kids to love and raise, teaching them what he taught you?"
"Sure !" He grinned. "That sounds fun."
"Yeah, so in a sence, he lives on through them... Doesn't he ?"
And then... Zero caught a glance of her watch. Oh. Oh s**t. OH s**t.
"AAAAaaa ?!" Zero comically failed, spinging up. "Augh, sorry, Trio ! Im running late... Gotta go ! Shiku !"
"...Think I can go sleep over to Annora's someday ?" He said, with an ever so knowing grin as he drifted torward him.
"Sure thing, sure thing, just hurry, please !" Poor Zero, and Shiku gave a victorious wink to Annora before putting his helmet on.
Annora giggled, having come with Shiku. She waved avidly at Shiku from where she'd settled by her mother. "See you soon~" she called out loudly, while Trio waved goodbye without bothering to yell as well.
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