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Little Talk
Players: Trinityblue, Ice Queen
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They ate at a humongous table covered with so much food that even Chris was done by his third serving and there way yet more to eat. Ash ate like Chris, but a bit more messily, swallowing most of it full. Then he leaned back, the table now empty, and looked at Rory thoughtfully.

"I want to talk to you," he said bluntly. "Seren, you go play with the shrimp for a bit, would you?"

It was still a bit weird to be called "Shrimp" so easily, Chris thought.

"Well, if I'm gonna do that, I might as well give him a tour of the ship," Seren said, getting to her feet. She walked over to Chris, starting to lead him off. There were questions she wanted to ask him as well. "Just don't scare her!"

Rory opened her mouth to protest that Ash couldn't scare her, she was used to Chris. But then she thought different: Ash was much bigger, blunter and older. He could probably do that. So, she sat back and waited.

He grinned at Rory. "You're not scared of me, are you?" he asked, not bothering to wait for her reply. "I want you to tell me a few things, and answer it honestly. You like the shrimp?"

See? To come out and just ask something like that was just blunt. Extreemly blunt. She flushed lightly and shifted in her seat. "Um... yes?" she replied, looking up again. She wasn't about to deny that... but at least he didn't make her admit it in front of Chris! Even if Chris already.... kinda.. knew this.

"Good," he said. "A lot of the time the females can't really stand the males to begin with. We're such ugly ********, after all." He tapped out a cigar, lighting it up with a gigantic steel lighter, and leaning back in his chair. "Does he treat you good?"

"Sometimes he can be a bit mean, but yes. He's at least willing to share food with me. For Chris, that's a big deal. And he buys me presents!" Being treated nice, and getting gifts were thing she considered good, after all. "Why?"

"Has he sung for you?" Ash asked, not bothering to answer that question.

"Um, yes? When we were kids, that is. Not lately," she answered. "And we're in a band together with some of our friends."

He started to laugh. "That won't work, honey," he told her in blatant amusement. "You won't be able to play."

"And why not? I worked hard too!" she asked, well, more of demanded, and sat up straighter in her seat. "So, I'm good at it! And you can't say a girl shouldn't be in a rock band, there are plenty of girls in rock bands."

"That's not what I'm saying," he said, taking a long drag off of his cigar and blowing a smoke ring. "What I'm saying is that you won't be able to stand still long enough to play. He should at least have his voices by now," he said, looking a bit thoughtful. "Honestly, who knows, really? I'll have to ask him to sing for me."

"..... I don't normally stand still.... I usually move, you know? With the beat and stuff? And he does had two voices, as you've heard when he speaks. He's always had that," she answered, still not getting it. Ash was being confusing....

He had to think this one through for a moment, and it showed by the scowl on his face. Then he apparently came up with an explanation because the scowl disappeared. "You know how peoples' voices change with maturity?" he asked her. "It's like that, you could say. He's got an adult voice, or close enough to one."

"Oh yeah, that," Rory said, completely understanding now. Chris' voices did change when he got older, that much was true. She looked completely comfortable with it, since that was normal. At least, it was explained like it was normal, to her.

"His voices did go through that change. They're deeper now," she told him.

"Okay, so we get the first half of this conversation," Ash said with satisfaction. "Now, do you know anything about pheromones? Those scents people give off to make others... interested in them?" he asked, choosing a surprisingly delicate turn of phrase for him.

"Right..." she answered slowly. This was something to do with the sex ed class after all, right? And there was the Discovery Channel, and as far as she knew, perfums clamed to use that trick too. Anyway, back to the topic at hand: she had no clue where this was leading. "Yeah, I know about them."

"Well, you see," he said, taking another long drag off of his cigar. The tip burned red for a moment, then faded again into black. "How we attract our mates is a bit more blatant then smell. It's our voices," he said. "You like the shrimp, so you'll probably be attracted to his voice now. And want to dance for him."

Well, she liked to dance ever since she was little. That was something she had been good at when she knew she was bad at singing (which she still wouldn't let Chris hear). "So... his singing is like... some mating call? And why will I want to dance? Isn't that something people will do anyway, to a good song?"

Thus meaning she was still confused. It was more the fact she had never heard of such. Then a new thought hit. "Or... will it be the fact I can't help it?"

"Pretty much," he said simply. "Primitive, ain't it? But we're a very, very old race, sugar. It's better than knocking the female over the head and dragging her off by the hair, at least."

"Yeah... If you did that, then we'd probably kick you for it. These legs are strong, and placed right, they'd hurt even the likes of you," she answered confidently, crossing her arms and sitting up straighter.

He laughed at her. "You're cute, kid," he told her. "Now go find your boyfriend, I've got to practice soon."

She stuck her tongue out at him for that comment and she stayed right where she was. "I have no clue where he'd be, and there's still food here. He'll be back."

"That predictable, huh?" he asked, amused. "So what do you want to talk about, then? Since you refuse to go?"

Rory thought about that for a long moment before grinning at him. "Your band! Maybe I can get some ideas for ours!" Now she was more enthusiastic about the conversation. It didn't have her love life (or lack there of) as the main topic.

"It's just a band," he said. "The only reason I even joined it was because I needed a way to go from planet to planet, looking for Seren."

"Really? So.. if that was you're only reason, why do you stay?" she asked, tilting her head to the side. "Do you like it?"

"It's not bad," he said. "Lets us meet a lot of different people, for one, and gives her what she wants. She's still got wanderlust."

"This wanderlust... how long is that supposed to last? And when's it supposed to start?" she asked, not curious in this. They were adult starmakers, and they did have traits that would develop. Look at Chris! And her running! Those were things.

"Depends on the girl," he said simply. "Sometimes it's just because she's searching for her mate, sometimes they just like to planet hop a lot, it all comes down to what they're into."

"Ahhh, okay," she replied. This was going to have to be something she'd need to ask Seren about. And a few other things, like this dancing thing, the whole 'hunt' .... maybe she should actually be playing hard to get?

That was food for thought!

The Morning After
Players: Trinityblue, Ice Queen
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The morning started with what should have been expected. An argument between Antony and Christian. "So?" Chris demanded. "I had someone I wanted to talk to."

"On a planet you've never been to before?" Antony asked. "I hardly doubt that. Now why don't you tell the truth, since you're obviously no good at lying."

"I'm not lying!"

"He's not lying," Rory said, leaning on the door frame of the room where the boys were arguing. Her arms were crossed as she looked at Antony. "I went with him, so I know."

Okay, so they did kinda leave him, didn't they? Whoops...

"And where did you go?" Antony asked, finishing off his toast. He had gotten there early to actually get some food before Chris ate it all. "Because I have a good idea, and I'm slightly irritated by being left out of it."

"Too bad," Chris said. "You didn't deserve to go."

She rolled her eyes. "They wanted to talk to us, actually. But you'll have a chance to meet them too. They're sending back stage passes for us all," she told him, heading for the table to get something to eat as well. Her mom and granny had been busy in the kitchen, cooking breakfast for them all.

"I think I'm full," Chris said, looking a bit shocked at that fact. "Wow..." He shook his head and looked around. "Where's Mr. Shade?"

"He's sleeping in," Antony said. "He was out drinking all night." There was resignation in his voice. "I believe he plans on partying every night we're here."

Rory thought this over a minute. "Well, isn't he from off world too? He probably hasn't been able to do this in a while," she suggested. "Mom hasn't been out of the house since we got here..."

Which worried her, frankly. She didn't have a problem with her mom going out and meeting guys! She should enjoy herself, especially after what Rory had learned.

"But today's the competition day, isn't it?" Antony asked. "I was looking forward to seeing the fighting."

Then he looked at Chris, in a calculatingly manner. "So when shall we leave?" he asked. "I've got the money."

Chris glared at him, but he was broke and they all knew it.

Rory gave a little sigh as she finished off her food. So much for being alone again with Chris. But then, maybe she should play harder to get with him? It sounded like starmaker girls did that, after all. Even if she wasn't a full starmaker....

"Now would work, if we're all done with breakfast," she said, getting up. "I want to see what goes on as well. .... Think mom will join?" Since their two-some was already wrecked, why not just add more to it?

"Why don't you go ask her?" Chris asked, not looking at her. He was busy giving Antony a look that could kill as Antony sipped his orange juice. "We'll wait."

"Of course we will," Antony said mildly.

"Alright, thanks. But don't break anything while I'm gone," she said as she stepped out of the room and into the kitchen.

Ze'zee was having her own worries. She had done something and not told Rory about it either. She had wanted it to be a surprise, but now that Rory was a teenager and everything... she wasn't sure how she'd react.

Her mom was happy, however, then hinted about how she could go out to the festivities and find her self a good man and then make even more grandkids - a conversation by which Ze was highly embarrassed of. She wasn't sure she was ready for that--

"Mom?" Rory asked in the door way. "Chris, Antony and I were going to head out and see things. You wanna come? We could use a guide!"

"I'm not going to let you run off on a date two days in a row," Antony said shamelessly. "Besides, there's something I need to talk to you and Rory about, I'm afraid. I need to tell my father, as well, but I'm sure he'd rather find out when he's sober."

"What would you have to tell us?" Chris said.

"You'd be surprised."

"Um, well, actually, there's something else I need to do," ze admitted.

"Oh...? Like what?" Rory asked, blinking curiously at her mother as she entered the room more.

"Wellllll...... how would you like a little sibling? I rather signed up to adopt about cabbage child, and--"

"You did? So, I'm going to be a big sister sometime?" Well, this was a surprise! She hadn't actually expected it... but the idea of bing a big sister would be.... "Awesome! Being a big sister would be fun! Er, would I have to share my room..?"

"No, no, I was thinking of moving the things from the music room to the office and-- you like the idea?"

"Well duh!" the teenager said, then hugged her mom. "Alright, you're off the hook if you don't want to go, but, ya know, I'm fine with it, okay?" she added, then started back for the boys, not wanting them to be alone for to long.

"Nope, can't think of anything," Chris said stubbornly. "As soon as you graduate we won't have to deal with you--"

Now that's where you're wrong," Antony said. They were still glowering at each other as Rory entered the room again.

"Wow, the room's still in one piece," Rory muttered as she saw them, even if she did have a smile on her face. She was going to be a big sister! So, it was sudden, but, well... she was happy. Her mom needed such things, she thought. To bad she didn't want to go with them... even if she should. Maybe towards the end of their stay.... "Alright, let's get going."

"So is your mother coming?" Antony asked curiously, glancing over at her in spite of Chris's anger. "Well, then why don't we head out? We can pick up something to drink while we're there."

"This is definitely not a date," Chris muttered as he headed for the door.

"Sorry, you'll have to do that later," Antony said with a slight smirk. Pissing off the big guy was entertaining, when one was careful not to go too far.

"No, though I kinda wish she would. But, um... I'm going to be a big sister!" she added. "And she's preparing some things for that, I think." Either way, it was good enough to get her off the hook. For now.

Both boys stared at her blankly. "She's pregnant?" Chris finally asked. "I didn't know she had a boyfriend--"

"That will be interesting," Antony said, thinking along the same lines as Chris.

"No, you idiots, a cabbage. She's going to adopt another kid like me," Rory told them a little irritated at them both. "I haven't seen my mom go on a date since.. ever! I almost think she's afraid too, which is why she's not going to the fest."

"Oh," they said a bit stupidly. "Well now that that's resolved, why don't we go on?" Antony said briskly. "I was thinking we could see the fights first, then move on to the gaming area. Then we'll go to the cooking area to see what kind of food--"

"Cooking area first!" Chris said. "Then games, then fighting, then back to the cooking area."

"You said you were full, Chris," Rory added, moving on like the rest of them. Idiots. "So, we'll go see the fighting, then food, then games, and back. I do want to see what kinda games they have here."

Fresh Stream Water
Players: Trinityblue, Ice Queen
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On the trip back to the Food section, Ze'zee had decided she had enough of being eyed by certain contestants. She wasn't looking for a mate! She had a teenager daughter and another child on the way. And a very good, very busy job back on Gaia. She didn't have time for such.

Or, at least, that's what she told herself. She had gotten a flyer and drew them out a map or where things normally were in the fair, and then let them be teenagers without parental supervision again. Besides, she had written out the dates that she would be on Zard and her parents' addresses when she was filling out the paper work for the cabbage child. If it was there, she didn't want to miss it.

It was there, sitting on the dining room table as her mother fussed and Shade drank another cup of coffee wearing only a pair of jeans. He would answer a question once in a while, glancing over at the cabbage curiously, as if trying to sense what was inside.

He glanced up as Ze walked in, grinning slightly. "Something came for you."

"It's here? Already?" Ze asked, then gave a whoop of joy, running into the kitchen. There, sitting on the table was her cabbage. It was so pretty! ... Well, knowing there was a baby in the inside made the bit of vegetable beautiful. No one ate cabbage in her house on Gaia.

She walked to the table, taking a seat near it, and stroking the petals. "I knew it was going to come soon," she said with a happy little sigh.

"I've got distilled water, fresh stream water, avion, three types of flavored water--" In'meh started out, listing all her supplies. "Three water bottle sprayers, a towel, for in case it gets too wet, classical music on the ipod, or do you want to do children's stories? And you know you should start talking to it now!"

Ze started to laugh, grinning at her mom. "Yes, I know. Don't worry, Ma. Classical music will do, for the night time, so the little one wont get lonely." It was going in her room. "And a water spritzer will be fine too."

At least her mom got to see the first stage of the grandchild this time. Last time, it was more sprung on them. At least they can see it now! She then looked over at Shade. "You're just destined to meet the cabbage's of my babies first, aren't you? You met Rory like this."

He grinned. "This one won't be nearly as much of a handful, though," he said a bit cryptically. "At least, I don't think she will." He looked at the cabbage thoughtfully, then at the air above it. "Sometimes it's kind of hard to tell with these things."

"Oh, I can't wait!" In'meh said. "You realize you're going to have to stay here until she's out, don't you?"

"Yes, Ma," Ze replied, then looked at her cabbage again, still touching and petting it. "So, it's going to be a girl? Dare I ask how you can tell?" She asked, but didn't really want an answer. It would make things so much easier, like picking out a name for her.

"Sometimes this'll happen fast. Sometimes not," she then told her mom. "But it's worth the wait!"

"Well if it doesn't happen while you're here and before Rory has to go to school, then I'm coming with you!" In'meh said. "Don't you dare try to stop me. I didn't get to see Rory until she was a teen! Do you know how much that breaks a grandmother's heart?"

"Oh, just... guessing," Shade said idly.

"Yeess, I know, and I still feel bad about that," Ze replied, only glancing at Shade for his reply. Yep, not answering. "But at least I called! And you got to meet her that way! Not like I kept it a secret or anything."

It would be... interesting to have her mother at home! With either her or Rory, she wouldn't have to leave the new one at the daycare... but the daycare was good too, because that's where Rory first started to make friends. Well, she'd see how things went.

Very idly Shade turned to fiddle with the ipod, changing it over from the children stories to classical music. He was a strange one, In'meh thought with a slight shake of her head. He kept eyeing the cabbage curiously before he did things like that.

"Oh, I can't wait until Rory sees the cabbage!" In'meh said happily. "Does she want to be a big sister?"

The cabbage liked the change from story to music. Ze could tell this by how the petals relaxed in her hands. They also moved slightly to the tune. Shades knowledge in the cabbages probably had something more to do with him being a teacher. "Yes, I think so. She wanted to know more about it-- Her. But then, there isn't much to know, until she hatches," she answered.

"It's a good thing the house has two bedrooms. The second needs to be cleaned out though, and arranged," she continued.

"Ah, but that's why you've got a future son-in-law that can lift a mac truck," Shade said cheerfully. "Won't be much work at all. You could put up bookshelves and a desk, since they grow so fast."

"Future son-in-law?" In'meh asked. "Has she and Chris started dating already?"

"Maybe?" Ze replied with a grin. "Rory's been smitten by him since they were kids. It's only more so now. And Chris is protective of her. Yeah, I'll ask him to help, and offer him dinner for the work," she replied.

"Right now," she said, turning to Shade again. "Your son seems to be in the way of their own little date, running about the fair."

"Can't have much of a romantic date at a fair, anyway," Shade said, not bothered by that accusation at all. "Besides, Antony needs to get out of the funk he's been in lately. How better to do it than to torment his favorite big guy?"

"He must live on the edge," Ze replied dryly. After all, tormenting a big guy like Chris was a danger! But then, Chris was a nice guy who wouldn't do such.

V-Day
Players: Trinityblue, Ice Queen
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Aurora waited by the front door for her date to arrive. She was -supposed- to be playing hard to get. Starmaker females ran off, according to what she learned. But this was Chris. Chris was a bit-- okay, more than a bit -- of an idiot when it came to this sort of thing. He would probably think that she hated him, if she started such a chase. Besides, maybe if he knew, and knew more of the 'game', then he'd be willing.

Now obviously wasn't the time. Which was why she was making him take her out today. And why she was dressed up as cute as she was, and had her bikini on. They were going to the beach, even if it was February.

Gambino beach, that was. It was supposed to be warmer there. Which was the only reason that Chris had picked it. Or, at least he thought he had picked it. Somehow it was a bit foggy in his mind why they HAD to do this on this particular day.

But his mom had packed them a huge lunch, which he carried in a bag over his shoulder, and made him bring her another present. This time it was a gigantic stuffed ladybug with hearts on its antenna.

It was hard to saw what she saw coming first: the bug or Chris. Either way, she was grinning when he got to the door step. "Hey Chris," she said, and then politely waited for him to hand it over. "Ready to go?"

"Ah, yeah, sure," he said. "Course why we're going to a beach in February--"

"Because the day is too beautiful, and it's actually warm out," she replied and held out her arms for the stuffed lady bug. "Besides, you get to eat a lot of food, so why are you complaining?"

He handed over the ladybug, then pulled out a stuffed fox from his pocket. "This is for the baby," he said, handing it to her.

"What, don't want to give it to her yourself?" she asked teasingly, taking both stuffed animals. She hugged the ladybug. Then she started to head in, to put them down so they wouldn't get sand in them.

"Sure she won't poof on me again?" he asked, a bit worriedly. "I think I scare her." Which was an understatement. He hesitated. "I've been trying to get my parents to get another kid..."

"Has it worked?" she asked, seeing the logic in that. "Hey, if they get one, then the two can be friends." She set the stuffed animals on the counter, deciding not to really delay this. Besides, in Rayne went poof, then Chris would be upset. She was a skittish baby.

"My neighbour’s got a kid," he said. "She's a dwarf. I bet she wouldn't mind meeting Rayne," he told her as they left the house. "Cute little kid, obsessed with trains. She said she was sorry I was so huge."

She started to snicker. "She's sorry you're so huge? But I like your hugeness. How else can I get piggyback rides?" she asked with a grin, eyeing his shoulders. She sooo could. but no, there was a bag of food in the way.

"She's only about a foot tall," he said, bringing a hand up to show her. "Tiny, tiny little thing. She's cute though. Named Jordan. I'll have to introduce you to her sometime." He kept walking, heading for the gate that led to Gambino. "So you don't mind the picnic being vegetarian, do you?"

"Naaa, I've gotten used to it. Besides, your mom made it, right? So it's going to be good, no matter what," she replied, placing her hands in her pockets. "I'll bring Rayne with me, when I meet this neighbour of yours," she then added.

"Sounds like a plan," he said. They stepped through to Gambino and he headed for the beach. "So this is that... Valentine ’s Day thing, right? Never really got into it."

"Yes Chris, this is a Valentine’s Day thing," She replied amusedly. "I wanted to spend today with you. That's why we're going to the beach today. And it is a nice day."

He was silent for a long moment. Then he said, "You know, just because we're pseudo starmakers, it doesn't mean we have to... you know. Date."

"Yeah, I know," she replied evenly. So... he thought it was just because of what they were? That was probably part of the problem. "But you know, I also didn't know what we were for the longest. And this isn't because we're pseudo-starmaker. Unless you're saying you don't want too..." she added softly, glancing over at him.

He gulped. "Oye, look," he said instead of answering. "That looks like a good spot for a picnic, don't you think?" He was pointing at an empty strip of beach with rocks behind it. It was rather private looking, and not many would see them there.

Not that that mattered, of course

"Hmm? Okay, we'll go there," she replied. He avoided the question, but that didn't mean it was over. She was going to have to pull off all the stops, now wasn't she? Well, it was good she prepared for that!

She went for the little, almost hidden, spot and picked out a place to sit. "So what did your mom make? Sushi?"

"Yeah, a complete five stack bento!" he said, pulling the blanket out of the bag first and laying it down. Then he pulled out the huge tower of boxes that made up their meal, followed by two bottles of juice and cups. "I wound up helping her a bit, so if some of the pieces are too big for you, I'll eat them."

"Then if there are pieces that are small, they're mine," she replied wickedly, taking a seat on the blanket and helped set things up. "And you'll just get the big ones. So, I take it you want to eat first?"

"Yeah, I want to eat first," he said as he sat down. "Then we'll um... not swim, cuz it's still cold, but... we could go into town or something, I guess," he said as he started unshackling the boxes. There was plenty of food, even with him eating. His mom was quite used to his appetite.

"Ya know, I'm surprised how full you could get on Zard. They do make a lot, don't they?" she replied conversationally. "It's probably because of the warriors there. And I think some of them were eyeing mom."

"She didn't seem very happy about that," he said thoughtfully. "Why not? Is she gay or something?" Which was going to get him hit, no doubt. But it had been something he'd been wondering about for a while. Like Shade. He kind of wondered if Shade was gay, too.

"No, I doubt that. We talk about guys enough, and who's cute and the like, so I doubt that. Why, I don't know... Maybe she feels she shouldn't, with us kids around," she replied, starting in on the food.

"Why not?" he asked as he started to eat. "I mean, you're already a teenager and Rayne could use a dad. Not that she needs one, or anything, but..." He shrugged. "I guess it's just weird to me, since I've got two parents, huh."

He frowned slightly, then ate some more.

"Yeah. Maybe I should see about hooking her up with someone. Too bad we didn't spend longer on Zard..." she replied with a little frown as well. Not having a dad wasn't a bad thing to her... but she did want her mom with someone else. Patch kids tended to grow fast, and Zards were slow.

He had finished off a second box by this point. "Ash sent me an e-mail," he said suddenly. "He gave me his and Seren's AIMs, if you want them. I bet it was a pain in the a** typing all that for him, so he's probably got a mic hooked up."

"Probably, and yes! Of course I want! I like talking to Seren," she replied. Seren had an awesome fashion sense, after all. She started to finish off her own box, still on the first one. What was with the sudden changes in topics? Ah well. "Hey, think Mr Shade'll take us back to Zard sometime? Or to another concert?"

"Probably," he admitted. "He was the first one back stage, remember?" He grabbed one of the bottles of juice and uncapped it, taking a drink. "Hey, um..." He hesitated. "That thing, you know, about Antony living longer than we thought? What do you think of it?"

"I... I think it's nice that someone we know, will live long too. If we live long as well," she replied. Then changed the subject, not really wanting to talk about it. "Ya know, it's too bad it's too cold to swim. I even came prepared.."

"Yeah?" he asked. "Why? It's February. Nobody swims in February. It's barely warm enough for me to want to be outside."

"Because, we went shopping on Zard and I wanted to wear this here," she said, then did the most daring of things. She lifted her shirt, flashing him the red, heart designed bikini that she had bought. Seren said it was a must and she had to agree. Red with dark red hearts.

He choked, coughing loudly and looking away. "Ah, it's ah, well--" Dammmmmnnnn. What was he supposed to say to THAT? "Nice."

"Thanks, it's just a shame I can't. Maybe I could sun a bit? It might be too cold for that, too," she replied with the wickedest little pout. That... was awesome! She swore she could see him blushing, even!

"Yeah, definitely too cold," he said. "In fact I'm freezing. You should put on a jacket."

"Naa, I don't have a jacket," she replied, as if what she did wasn't a big deal at all. Now imagine the reaction if she dressed how Wisp had been! "But.. if you're freezing..." She crawled over to him and cuddled up right against him. Her arms wrapped around him as well. "I'll keep you warm."

He groaned, his head dropping along with his shoulders. "You're evil," he muttered. Utterly and completely evil."

"Who me? Never," she teased, content right were she was, even laying her head on his shoulder. "So... dessert?"

"You gotta get off of me if I'm gonna get it," he told her, but he wasn't strong enough to push her away, himself. It was just so, so, sooo tempting. He was only a teenager, after all. And he'd been in love--

Wait. He had never admitted to that, and he didn't plan on admitting it now.

"Mm, no I don't. Not completely, anyway," she replied, innocent of his own thoughts. She was just enjoying this, and the fact he didn't push her away was encouraging. Chris was odd. Some times he showed it, sometimes he didn't. It was confusing on a girl!

But she reached over for the bag, reaching in and pulling out the promised dessert for them to share.

"Rory..." he said finally. "I think ah... we should stop." It was killing him to say it, and it showed in his voice. "I mean... you know... till we're a little older."

"S-stop?" she asked with a sudden, hurt tone to her voice. Stop? Like.. he didn't like her or-or-- She swallowed and set down the dessert before she dropped it. "Stop what?"

"Maybe that was the wrong word," he admitted. "I think slow down might work better. Like Ash said, we've got a long a** time in front of us, right? It's not something we should just jump into blindly. And--hell, we're not even two years old yet."

Slow down. Okay, that was a better word, her heart started to slow down now. She was silent for a while, putting the dessert on plates for them. Chris got the most, of course. He was a growing boy. "Okay... I.. I guess I'm to forward, huh?" she asked finally, in a soft tone still. "But, I lo-like you. Really, really, -like- you."

He was silent for a long time. "Yeah," he finally said, reaching up and gently brushing her cheek. "Me too. But we've got time, you know? Lots and lots of time."

She forced a little smile on her face. Well, at least he admitted it finally. That should have made her feel better... but something still hurt. "Yeah... I know now," she answered.

Library Trolls
Players: Trinityblue, Ice Queen
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There were so many books in this place! Rayne looked around in silent awe at everything. Her big sister had brought her to a new place and then sat her down with a group of other kids.

"Don't worry, Rayne," Rory said, crouched down to baby level. "You play with the other kids, and listen to the story teller, and I'll be right back." She promised, petting the baby on the head, then heading off to find her research books.

Rayne looked around her, now abandoned with the others. There was going to be a story?

"Well, boys and girls," the golden haired man in a white suit said as he stepped in front of them. "How would you all like to hear a story?"

"Wait, wait, I got da lichen for da story time," a deep, rumbly voice said as the world seemed to shake beneath them. Winstead glanced up, surprisingly not bothered at the sight of a troll carrying a dwarf baby towards the circle. He stopped a good ten feet away and sat down, gently placing the little girl on the floor and prodding her forward. "Go hear da story, lichen."

Rayne was immediately taken to the nice looking guy who came to tell them a story. He wasn't scary looking at all! She crawled a little closer, until a biiiig -thing- came. She was glad he didn't go nearer to her!

He said something she didn't really understand, then set down another baby. The fox-girl blinked. She was... small! But so not threatening looking at all. Wow she was brave!

Jordi looked at Mortar, then patted him on the knee before heading for the circle as she was told. There weren't any trains there, but she was with Mortar, and if she asked too many questions she might break him. Or that's what her daddy had said, so usually she just did as Mortar told her to. She didn't want to break him! He was her Mortar!

Without a thought she dropped down next to the fox girl who was bigger than her, and looked at the very pretty blonde man in front of them. "You tall," she told him. "I sowwy."

"Thank you," Winstead said with a little smile. "So what type of story do you want to hear, everyone?"

Rayne looked at Jordie for a moment, before looking back at the pretty man. They were supposed to choose the story? .. She wanted something she hadn't heard before. That's be nice! But if it wasn't, then it would be fine.

She looked at the tiny girl next to her. "Ello," she offered, then gave a little smile.

Jordan finally looked at her, then at the tails. Her hand went out to touch without a thought. "Pretty," she said.

"Now, now," Winstead said. "We should keep our hands to ourselves. And who wants to hear the story of The Little Train that Could?"

Jordi's attention went back to the blonde man like a paperclip to a magnet.

Rayne's attention went to the man as well. She wouldn't have minded the tail-touch. SHe liked touch, even if the hands were sticky. With the fur, she wouldn't have been able to tell till later, anyway.

But stories were always good! She settled in, looking up at the man.

Winstead opened the book, showing them all the picture of the trains on the front page as he launched into the story. Jordan was enthralled. She loved the pictures and thought the story was the most perfect thing ever, although she had always known that little was better.

She didn't even remember the fox girl was there until the story was over and Winstead stood. "Now," he said. "Time for everyone to make something to take home to their parents!"

Rayne listened to the story, not nearly as enthralled with it as the smaller girl, but then, she didn't have the love of trains, either. But she still liked it!

At the announcement that they were going to make things to bring to their parents, her ears perked up. Were they going to play with play dough? She liked play dough!

"We're going to make windchimes today," he said as he led them to the table. There were all sorts of wondrous things for them to work with laid out. Several straws in different colors, string, construction paper cut into shapes. And silver bells.

Jordan looked at the things on the table, her eyes lighting up as she dropped down in one of the chairs and looked at the fox girl. "We make stuff!" she told her happily.

Red-brown eyes lit up with interest at this. There were so many interesting things here! She wanted to make these windchimes! "We make stuff!" she replied to the little girl, sitting down on a chair as well, then she reached for one of the bells.

"Now to make windchimes," Winstead said as he stood at the end of the table. "You take the taped string and thread it through the straws, then through the hoop on the bells," he explained, going from table to table to show the kids. He wound up at the girls last, since he figured they'd take the longest.

Jordi was focusing hard on threading the string through the straw, her little tongue poking out of the side of her mouth.

Rayne wasn't having any luck either. She kept trying to put the string through the straw, but it kept clumping up! At this point, the string was more frayed. On seeing him approach, she offered up both items with a little pout. "It no going in," she told him.

"Why don't we start with another thread," he said patiently, crouching down between the two of them to help them out. "So what's your names?" he asked.

"I Jordi," Jordan said, still fighting with her thread with a determined look. She seemed quite intent on doing it by herself.

"I Rayne," the fox-girl replied, reaching for a new string to work with. As she did, someone caught her attention. She glanced at the big troll man that the little girl came with, then to the girl her self.

"What that?" she asked, pointing at Mortar. She looked both at Jordie, then at Winstead.

"Is my Mortar!" Jordan said cheerfully. "He my nanny."

A troll for a nanny? Winstead tried not to laugh as he glanced back at the patiently waiting rock man. Go figure. "Have you known him long, Jordi?"

"Always!" Jordi said. "He big and good for running into!"

"Good... for running into?" Rayne asked, tilting her head and lowering her hand. Well he was big! But he was also scary. "You not scared...?" she asked, tilting her head the other way now. Her tails waved as she considered this. "You brave!"

"He not scary," Jordi said dismissively. "He Mortar!" And that summed it up for her. As far as she knew Mortar could do no wrong. He was the ultimate playground, too! "He take me places and tell me stories!"

"I like stories," Rayne replied immediately. She looked back at the Mortar, considering him again. He wasn't scary? He just looked it? Well, okay. This girl spent more time with him and she was fine... So, it was fine.

She went back to trying to thread her straw again.

"Do you need help, Jordi?" Winstead asked her, glancing over only for a second. Everyone else was doing fine.

"No," Jordan said. It would take forever, but she'd do it herself, and it was obvious to everyone around her. "I gots!"

Rayne gave a little bit of a huff, at herself, as she tried again with the string. One more time! She'd get it too! Then she made a happy sound as it finally got in.

"I did it!" she announced proudly to Winstead, flashing him a little foxy smile, then went back to the string. It needed to go all the way in now! She started to stuff it.

"Good job!" he said with a smile. Jordi finally accomplished it as well, so he congratulated her and stood to see if anyone else needed some help.

"I gonna make train chime!" Jordi declared happily.

"Bells," Rayne said. "Mine gonna have bells." She reached for some of the said bells, pleased with herself. They were pretty sounding! And not to loud either. Her mommy would like, because they were moos'ical! Or.. whatever that word was.

"Me too!" Jordi decided happily.

The Surprise
Players: Trinityblue, Ice Queen
----------------------------------------------------------
He hadn't heard anything from Rory in weeks. He hadn't seen her glancing his way in the middle of class, either, nor had she grabbed him to force him to walk her home, or eat lunch with him, or--

Dammit, he was lonely! And how was he supposed to tell her he was going to be a big brother unless she asked? Which was why he was here, standing in front of her front door, the cabbage in a small harness hanging from his shoulders and between his arms. He would damn well tell her whether she wanted to know or not.

It was suffering for Rory to be doing that as well. She had been so used to just hanging out with Chris, checking him out and everything else. Lunches were probably the worst. To occupy herself, she went all out on the big sister thing. Once spring was in full swing, she was planning on teaching Rayne how to swim.

At the moment, they were in the kitchen, playing with play dough when the door bell rang. On opening it, Rory's eyes brightened at seeing Chris. "Hey--" Then she saw the cabbage. "No way! Seriously?" she asked, looking up at him and setting out of the way so he could come in. "They finally got one?"

"Yeah," he said. "And I woulda told you earlier but you haven't talked to me in weeks," he added irritably. "So in a way, it's your own fault that half the school found out before you did."

In other words he was really pissed at her. Though he should have done something sooner, but he wasn't thinking that way!

She stuck her tongue out at him. "You wanted to slow down, so I did," she told him, then held out her hands for the cabbage. "Gemme. Do you have any names picked out for it?"

In other words, he could be irritated about it all he wanted, he started it.
"Carmel," he said, sitting down and undoing the harness so he could hand the cabbage over. "Is Rayne here?" he asked a little more quietly. "I figured she should meet the cabbage, too."

"We were playing with play dough in the kitchen," Rory said, taking the cabbage into her arms and cradling it. "Come on, she needs to get used to you," she told him, heading in. "Rayne! Chris is over!"

Rayne, sitting in her booster seat at the table, looked up. The glasses threatened to fall off her face when she did. One the table was red play dough done up in childish shapes and balls.

He followed Rory in, smiling slightly at the sight of the fox girl. "Hi, sugar," he said softly. "Remember me?"

Rayne just looked at him a moment more, then pointed a red-ish hand at him. "Ch'is!" she announced, her tails waved behind her. Then her eyes turned to the object in her big sister's arms. Her point turned to it. "Cabbage. It yours?" she asked him, looking back up.

Apparently she didn't look that afraid of him now. He hadn't snuck up on her, anyway.

"This is Chris' little brother or sister," Rory said, going for the table. "See? Still in the cabbage like you were."

Chris grinned, relaxing now that she wasn't poofing on him. "That's right," he said. "And when she comes out I want you and her to be friends, okay?" he said. "So what are you guys doing in here?"

"Play dough!" Rayne said happily, then her attention turned to the cabbage that was sat up on the table. She sat up more, reaching out an patting it. "Hello, Cabbage. I Rayne," she told it.

"So, do you know if it's a girl of a boy? To name it Carmel?" Rory asked him.

"Not a clue!" he said cheerfully. "But it smells like chocolate so we're figuring it'll be a girl."

"And why does chocolate equal girl?" Rory asked him with a hint of mock-irritation. "Boys like chocolate as well."

At hearing the cabbage smelled like chocolate, Rayne leaned even closer to the cabbage and started to sniff it. Her ears perked up when she realized that it did smell like chocolate!

"Hey, don't go blowing my dreams of a cute little sister just yet," he complained, heading to where Rayne was sniffing the cabbage. "See?" he asked her. "Doesn't it smell good?"

"Uh huh," Rayne replied, looking up at Chris with her red eyes visible over her glasses. "Can't eat it though."

"That's right, we can't eat the cabbage. Besides, chocolate and cabbage would taste bad together anyhow," Rory replied with a little smirk. "How long have you had her, anyway?"

"A few weeks," he said. "We're renovating Dad's office into a room for her now. The place is a mess." He grinned, watching Rayne with the cabbage. "She's going to be my little sister like you're Rory's," he told her. "That'll make me happy."

"Happy?" Rayne tilted her head, one ear flopped to the side. "You were sad?" she asked him quiet seriously.

Rory waited for the answer, since she knew that he had been wanting a little sister ever since before their trip to Zard. What she hadn't known was that her mom had the same thought, but it was a pleasant surprise.

"A little lonely," he said. "And because everyone in my family gave me all their love I felt greedy," he went on. "There's an awful lot of love for just one guy, no matter how big I am. I wanted to share it."

See? This was one of the reasons why Rory liked Chris so much. Love was definitely the word for it, but she was avoiding using that, even for herself, for now.

"Oooohhhhh," Rayne said as if that was the most logical thing in the world. "Good big brother!" she praised him with a little fox-smile.

"I'll try to be," he said modestly. "Can I play with you guys?" he asked them. "I figure I might as well learn how to now, you know, as practice."

Rory couldn't help but snicker about that questions. "I don't see why not. What about you, Rayne?" she asked the little girl.

Rayne reached for a clump of play dough, offering it up to him. "You can! And we show chocolate-cabbage," she replied.

"Then I'll get us some snacks too," Rory replied going to do just that. It was nice to have Chris around again.

Boys are Idiots
Players: Trinityblue, Rosemilk
----------------------------------------------------------
Being a big sister was awesome. So far, Rayne hadn't reached that age where little siblings dig into your clothes to wear them, or borrow things without asking or any of those other things that would happen in the future. They did have the problem of books vanishing, and paint-crayon scribbles on the wall, but, well... Rayne was a baby.

So, being a big sister was awesome. Especially when you got to show off sibling with your best friend. "Hey Wisp. It's about time I caught up with you. I brought ya stuff from Zard!" she told the more colorful girl.

"You are the best," Wisp proclaimed, who always looked cheered up being over at the Zee house -- even more so now that there was a tiny fox baby hanging around, who she immediately fell to her knees and let out a squee! at when she came into the living-room and saw her. It was an eee sound, but not so appalling as to break the eardrums -- Rory knew Wisp could do that, too. "You have to tell me all about it, okay? Wow, it's like, everybody is getting a little brother or sister lately, I'm like 'Lame how come I can't have one.'"

Rory cringed just slightly, because a new person, suddenly coming into the room, going 'eee' was a little startling. Well, not to her, but to Rayne, whole little nose was in a book, it was. Rayne looked up startled at this and promptly poofed.

Rory sighed. "Well, you are the little sister," she said, heading for the now fox-cub sitting in a pile of clothes with a book in front of her. "And she does that. Rayne's skittish," she told the other teen, as in a way of explaining it all.

The fox cub gave a little huff sound.

Wisp stared. "She turned into a fox," she told nobody in particular. "Now I'm dead of cute."

Rory choked then started to laugh. "Yes, yes, she does and it is," she commented, coming to sit down on the floor as well. "So, what's up? What you do while we were gone?" she asked, reaching out to pet Rayne. "Oh, and she likes cuddles, by the way. You can hug her all you want." Which was like giving permission to her best friend to do so if she wanted.

Rayne continued to look up at the colorfull teen and tilted her head after a moment. One ear flopped to the side when she did.

Wisp did not have to be asked twice; she reached out for Rayne and immediately cuddled her into her arms, making hee hee hee! noises as she did so -- but quietly, just in case Rayne decided to be skittish again. "Just school," she said dolefully, "and like, tutoring and stuff; I can't believe Mom still makes us have like, tutoring even though we're teenagers now, you know? Zard sounded like it was way more exciting than my life."

After a moment she said, "Also bizarre dreams and I had to dodge a cop car a couple times when I was out spraying. What about you?"

Rory decided not to comment how spraying could get you caught by the cops. "Well, Zard was awesome. I got to meet my grandparents -finally-, in person. Antony went, too! Actually, his dad's the one who got us there and back. We went to this big awesome concert! And got to meet the band, back stage and all that. After we were kidnapped by the lead singer's girlfriend. They're starmakers. Lead singer looks like Chris, only bigger!" All this was coming out quickly, making it difficult to note when, or if, Rory was taking a breath. "I got you signed things, by the way. Shirts, hats, cd's- Oh, and Chris is an idiot."

That last comment stopped the on flow of words as Rory looked suddenly put-out.

It was no use commenting on the rest of it; only the last comment mattered. Wisp sympathetically slipped one hand into Rory's, resting Rayne in the crook of her arm otherwise. "It's okay," she said. "Come on, get it out. Guys can be SUCH idiots sometimes, you know? It's like 'oh my god what makes you so stupid is it a gene or something,' and you're like 'sigh.' Come on, you can tell me."

"Yeah, really? Well, since we found out how long we lived, Chris' decided we should slow down so... I ain't been going to hang out with him," Rory said with a little pout. Then waved it off quickly. "Though he did come over to show me his little sister! So, that was good that -he- finally did something. But anyway! Um, that's why Chris is an idiot." Didn't mean she liked him less, but this was want he wanted!

Rayne just cuddled into the hold, watching. She didn't really know what was going on, but ah well. She got cuddles!

Wisp stared, not comprehending. "What do you mean, 'slow down,'" she asked puzzledly, scratching behind one of Rayne's ears. "Like, because you live for ages he doesn't want to be with you?" (At least she'd cottoned on quick enough.)

Rayne happily leaned into the scratching. Sure she was a girl, but right now as a fox cub, she liked scratches too. All she knew was that they were talking about something that dealt with Chris. And it upset her big sister. She didn't like that.

Rory totally deflated at that. "Well, 'be with me' and 'be with me right the second--'" she stopped, looked up at Wisp with a determent set in her jaw. "See? Idiot! I mean, all I did was flash him my bikini! And he's all like 'let's stop' then backs up and said 'slow down', and the like and I'm all wondering 'what did i doooo?'" Rory said in that teenage way of complaining.

"So, if he wants me to slow down and 'stop', that's just what I'm going to do! Even if it makes him all lonely," she muttered with a huffed. "Cuz really? He's the one to do the chasing--" Then she blinked with a thought. "He told you about starmakers, right?"

"He told me a little," said Wisp doubtfully, "like mostly the stuff about what you do and the making stars and the -- wow is this part of the making stars stuff? Is that what you get instead of hormones? Is there a voice in your head all, 'Man I'd LOVE to make stars right now'? Wow, that would be psycho crazy c'est -- sorry," she said hastily, "but man it's weird that you flashed him bikini, it's not like you stuck your tongue down his throat, and he's like 'okay slow down' -- I mean I never thought Chris would be worried about anything."

"Err... not really, no," Rory replied after a moment to stunedness. "I don't think anything about stars and stuff like that. I'm not even sure it's be the same, since we're not fully starmakers... But that's not the point!" she went on. "I didn't kiss him or anything, just flashed him, and he went all like 'slow down' and 'stop' on me and it wasn't fair! So, I've been avoiding him. He wants me to slow down, I will."

At this point, Rayne had lost the whole point of the conversation and was reaching for her book again. She didn't know what the teenagers were going on about, so she might as well read.

Wisp reached out for Rayne and popped the little fox-girl between her knees with the book so that she could read there, apparently unwilling to have her crawl away so soon. Her gaze was still settled on her friend's, though, blue eyes to green eyes; she was wincing. "But he likes you," she complained. "He's ALWAYS liked you. He's always looked at you with the like, 'Wow oh man I am going to make her my girlfriend in ninety planets,' look, all, whuttup! I wish a boy looked at me like that."

Rayne cuddled up in Wisp's lap, head in paws, as she started to read from where she left off. This wasn't a kiddy book with lots of pictures. It looked like something Rory was -trying- to read for a school report. Who knew, really?

The flattery made Rory feel better, even if it didn't solve the Chris issue. But then, that issue probably wouldn't -be- fixed anytime soon. But the last statement got her attention. "What, what about that date with Iggy? Didn't that go well? I mean, you were on a -date- with him," the teenager said confusedly.

"Oh my gooooooood," Wisp sighed explosively, "it totally wasn't a date at all, he was like 'Hey Wispy I don't think about you that way but let's go see a movie sometime even if I don't think about you that way and we're only ever going to be friends forEVER,' and then he gave me The Hug, like. You know, The Hug? All 'yay we're friends, is that tiny tinkly noise your heart breaking, whoa,' hug."

She was peering over Rayne's shoulder, tucking a pale blonde lock behind one ear; she'd streaked her feathery bangs in rainbow colours. Quite surprisingly for Wisp, she muttered sotto voce; "At least Chris wants to do you."

"What??" Rory replied sharply, making Rayne jump from her reading position. The little fox glared at her before going back to the book and turned a page with a paw. "What do you--oh that idiot!" she said, angry about her best friends broken heart. "He did that and, like, didn't care what so ever?? .... Is Iggy that big a moron??"

Then she sat a moment, thinking on this. "Know what we should do? Have you be so -hot- that he looks at you and goes 'crap, i dumped her? i'm a moron! now i'll never get that chance!' in totally make over-like. Or.. something," she said, looking at Wisp again. "Because you're already beautiful, to began with. Love the hair, by the way."

"Hee," said Wisp, immediately charmed and bolstered up by her best friend paying attention. She flipped her hair again. "Thank you. I've been wanting to do yours. We should put purple bits in, so it'll be red AND black AND purple, right?"

Before Rory could say yea or nay to this hairdyeing idea, her friend carried on: "It's cool, though. Because that's the thing, Iggy's just. He doesn't look at people like that, he'd probably be like, 'Wow Wisp you are looking really pretty today' and he'd mean it but he wouldn't be all, 'Wow Wisp you are looking SO HOT.' Because. He's Nacho. I wish I wasn't crushing on him so bad."

Rory scooted over, giving the colorful on an encouraging hug now. Though she might hate hugs. "Hmmm, there has to be a way to clue him in to the hotness of girls. What -is- Iggy like? Cuz, even if he's in the band, I've never really got to know him. ... Does he even like girls? that might be a major question to his realization. But then, if we got him to notice that you're really pretty, that might be more of a step in the right direction?"

"Or maybe we should abandon looks and go straight for the stomach?" she then suggested. "The way to a guy's heart is through the stomach, right?"

She hated hugs: Wisp loved them. She raised her eyebrows right up into her multihued hairline: "What, I make him a pie or something and he thinks that's hot? Ohmigod. He'll never love me." Instead of crying, she started to giggle. "Rory! Rory, you've tasted my cooking, okay, you have tasted it and it is terrible."

Wisp was giggling more now, rocking back so that she was lying on the floor, holding herself and giggling harder. "We could do the same with Chris," she said, giggling harder, "we could solve our problems with cake."

Rory choked, then started to laugh as well. At least she was laughing now again and that was good! "Oh come on now! It was a good idea! And I'd help you bake. It would at least be fun to do! We could just do it for us," she laughed now too, grinning at her friend.

Well, maybe Iggy was hopeless and if he was, then maybe they could find someone else who would totally dig Wisp, because Wisp was totally awesome. "And hey, I'll take you up on the hair dye thing!"

"Let's do it," said her friend, still lying supine on the carpet and giggling. The little blue star by her cheek was squinched up with her laughter. "C'mon."

At least they were always able to figure out a way to chase away the blues. Even if it was just temporarily.

Pretty Fish
Players: Trinityblue, Ice Queen
----------------------------------------------------------
The Aquarium had kicked Polly out twice before Tock caught her crying, stormed in, and dumped a small pile of gold coins on the counter with a dark, promising expression. It was now accepted that Polly was free to visit the aquarium for the rest of her life, if she so wished.

Technically, although they tried not to mention this to Tock, he had built an entire wing for the more exotic fish with pure pocket change. Now everyone knew Polly, Austin, Kaeden, and the rest of the pirates by face, and if a new worker ever said anything about them waltzing in and out as they pleased, they were quickly silenced.

That was why Polly was sitting on one of the padded benches in the biggest aquarium room, her chin resting on her knees, her arms hugging her legs to her chest. She was happy there.

"Polly!" Rory said, seeing the red-head and the unmistakable feathered tail. Aurora had been taking her baby sister to the aquarium. Lucky for her, that's where she found her old, childhood friend. She hadn't seen the girl since she was running away.

Rory pushed the stroller towards the girl. "Man, I haven't seen you in a long time. How are you? How are things?" she asked.

Rayne was hugging an octopus that they had gotten in the gift shop as she was pushed towards another new person. Orange-red eyes looked at this girl and her two tails were curled up around her.

Polly glanced up, then down at the baby, her mind racing as she tried to figure out--"So Chris and you had a baby?" she finally asked, since it was the most obvious (to her) situation. "She doesn't look like either of you, though. So you got a new boyfriend?"

Chloe had gotten her watching soap operas, and the effects were horrendous.

"What? No!" Rory started to laugh. "No, this is my baby sister. Her name's Rayne," said the teen, taking a seat with Polly. The stroller faced them now. "Rayne, this is Polly, another friend of mine."

"Ello," Rayne said, cuddling her toy more. Wow this girl has some bright hair! And the beads... she liked the beads.

Polly grinned at her, that old, brilliant grin that lit up the room. "Do you like fishies, Rayne?" she asked. "I think they're great. They remind me of home." She glanced at the glass walls, watching as a big blue one swam past with a slightly longing expression.

"Fishies! I likes fishies!" Rayne said, leaning in her stroller to see them more.

Rory had to make sure the thing didn't tip over. "This is her first time here," she said. Poor Polly was still home sick, huh? Now that sucked.

"Really?" Polly asked. "This is my favorite room in the entire building! My Dad paid for it, but they can't really post that on a sign or anything, cuz it was pirate treasure that did it."

She pointed at an angel fish. "That one's named after me, you know!" The irony of that statement must have gone over her head, though, because she sounded quite proud of the fact.

Rory caught it, though and grinned. "Seriously? Awesome! And your dad paid for the place? Does that mean you get in here for free? Man I wish we could," Rory said, shaking her head.

Rayne wiggled out of her stroller, then walked up to the glass. "Ooohhh, fish has your name? Cool!" the little fox girl said, beaming back at Polly. The octo was still in her hands.

"Yep, her name's Polly, too," Polly said, nodding. "They haven't named a fish after Kaeden yet, but there's an octopus named after Austin! It's cuz he keeps getting into stuff he shouldn't."

"Octopus?" Rayne questioned, looking at her toy again. Then held it up to Polly. "Octopus! Austin!" She had no clue who Austin was, but that didn't seem to bother in her in the slightest.

Rory snickered as her baby sister looked back at the fish. "Yeah, that fits him. Do Jake, Tock and Chole have fish named after them?" she asked, looked back at the water.

"They don't got an alligator," she said a bit sadly. "So there's nothin' named after Tock. But Chloe picked a puffer fish! She thought it was cute." She looked at Rayne, grinning. "Chloe's a hippo. She's very proud of it, too."

"Chloe can cook, too! I remember her making desserts back when you guys were at the house," Rory said, thinking back to when they call came over for a visit... and to see Pollys new dad.

"Maybe Kaeden should be a clown fish," Rory added, tilting her head in thought.

Polly laughed. "I would SO do that, but he swore if I ever named a fish after him without his learning he'd tell everyone where I kept my candy stash," she said, shrugging. "But I'll tell him you said so!"

She looked at the fish again. "We're going back to the island for the weekend in a few hours, so it's kind of silly to come here."

"Na, not really," Rory replied. "You get to see the fish without having to hold your breath. And it's nice here, anyway." Then she looked back down at her friend, concern in her green eyes. "You doing okay, though?"

"Rory, my Dad bought me an aquarium," Polly said, grinning at the other girl. "Well, as good as. Just because he caught me crying cuz they kicked me out. I'm good. And we go back to the island on the weekends, so I've got both worlds."

"Oye! Polly!" Austin said as he came into the room. "I had an idea."

"Oh great."

"This one's got promise!" Kaeden replied, talking with Austin, hands in his pockets though he was grinning. He liked this place and was glad they could come in whenever.

"Good," Rory replied before turning her attention to the other two. "Hey guys!" she called out to them.

Rayne looked over now, distracted from the fish.

"But you got to come with me," Austin said, only briefly waving at Rory before he grabbed his cousin's hand and dragged her out. "I gotta show you somethin'. Somethin' important."

Well, somewhat important. To be honest he had been walking and walking around the town trying to figure out what in the hell he was going to do with the deed, and then he had seen it!

"Hey Ror," Kaeden replied, turning to follow the other two. "Don't worry," he told Polly. She should probably worry, if he said something like that to her.

Rory looked at Rayne, then picked her up. "We've got a detour, squirt, let's go. We can come back," she promised, setting the baby in the stroller, then following them.

"We had a lil... diversion this morning," Austin told his cousin, still tugging her by the hand as they left the aquarium and went down the street. "It led to us being the owners of an old, creepy house, see? But it's not on the water, and who wants something not on the water?"

"Not me," Polly said, earning a knowing nod.

"So we went around the town and came to--" he pulled to a halt in front of a crowded, dingy looking orphanage. "This."

"An orphanage," Kaeden chimed in, looking at the place.

"So, you've got an old house, and something to do with an orphanage?" Rory asked, not clueing. So she was just a little lost. Rayne didn't have a clue, she just held on to her octopus, watching what the others were going to do.

He patted his pockets, searching and eventually finding the deed. "I can't do it," he said, honestly, holding it out to Polly. "An' I won't let Kaeden do it, either, cuz it goes against my every belief to give somethin' away, but--"

She was staring at the kids, knowing she had seen that same, homeless look on her own face before, remembering the tears she had cried as she was left behind. "Polly?" Austin asked.

"Hey," Kaeden told her, on the other side of her. "You're gonna like this, so, ya know, don't go sobby on us, 'kay? Just let him finish." Then he looked to Austin to finish up the tale.

"I get it already," Polly snapped. "And I ain't sobby," she added, yanking the deed away from Austin. "I'm the captain," she added arrogantly as she strode through the gate and into the building to give their booty away.

Kaeden snorted at this, shaking his head. Then he looked back at Rory who'd followed them. Then at the baby. What's with people and babies, lately? "Who's that?" he asked.

"My little sister, Rayne. Rayne, these are Kaeden and Austin," she said, pointing them out.

Rayne just started at Austin. Then pointed at him: "Octopus!"

"Oct--oct--OCTOPUS?!" Austin demanded, shocked enough to lose his usual lazy expression.

"Octopus!" Rayne repeated, holding up her toy octo.

Kaeden chocked, then started to laugh at Austin's expression. He did't have a fish to be teased with, after all!

"We were at the aquarium," Rory explained. "And Kaeden? The clown fish is you."

That made the other boy stop laughing. "Hey now!"

"It fits!" Austin said, distracted from his new nickname. Then Polly walked out of the building, her hands shoved into her pockets, a slight grin on her lips.

"Done," she said. "C'mon, guys, we've still got time to watch the fish before we leave for the island."