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 Posted: Sat May 27, 2006 3:05 pm
The setting sun found Shiromaru in the living room of the new house, settled in a rocking chair he'd pulled out of storage. The wand was settled in a sort of sling over one shoulder, close where the demon could keep an eye on it -- Ianna had said it would start Doing Things, after all -- and the rabbit infant was in his arms, sleeping peacefully, its ears hanging out over the blanket.
Now, all Shiro could do was wait for Trio to get home with the girls.
"Shiro," Trio called out, as the door opened. "You home? We brought dinner!"
Instead of calling back, for fear of waking the baby, Shiromaru stood carefully and made his way over to the front door. "Right here," he offered quietly, once he was close to the others.
"Papa!" Etain zoomed up to see him, then stopped in mid-air, wings buzzing. "...Papa has a baby."
"Has a...hmm?" Trio blinked, looking up from where she'd been supervising Annora toeing off her shoes. "...Shiro? Is that...?"
"Karma called me," Shiro confirmed with a megawatt grin. "Told me to come pick him up. I haven't even named him yet, I have some ideas, but I wanted to see what you thought. And he's not the only one -- this wand will be summoning an infant at some point, a goddess, apparently. I got... pulled to the shop today where they were." The baby in his arms blinked awake at the talking, and blinked big blue eyes up at Trio.
Annora padded forward, eyeing the baby and wand with faint wariness. Was she going to have to share her parents with even MORE kids now? One hand slipped into Etain's, squeezing lightly.
Makana, on the other hand, moved forward toward the rabbit and sniffed delicately at him, a paw coming up to adjust her new glasses. "He smells nice," she admitted, peering up at Shiro with a shy smile.
Trio chuckled. "You look happy," she noted, leaning in around the various children to kiss him on the cheek.
Shiro carefully extricated a hand, stroking Makana's hair. "And you look nice," he informed her, grinning. "Those glasses are a good fit." Trio's kiss and comment were met with a kiss in kind. "Of course I'm happy. I'm over the moon, to be honest. You know I've always wanted a big family."
But just how big? Finally planting her feet on the ground, Etain squeezed Annora's hand in return, cuddling close to her sister. Things were getting crowded.
"Can I hold him?" Makana asked immediately, beaming now. Compliments were nice, but the bunny looked nicer...
Trio chuckled, shaking her head. "I'm glad Az offered to move in with us and help watch over things. Too many more, and things will get crazy. Er, not that they aren't already. Well, girls? Say hello to your new brother," Trio added, nudging Annora.
Annora withdrew slightly, tugging Etain with her. "Hi," she murmured, obedient and soft.
Etain willingly moved with Annora, though her 'Hello' was a bit louder than Annora's -- but not by much.
"Things are already crazy," Shiro agreed. "Makana, if you want to get settled on the sofa, I'll let you hold him over there, okay? He's had a long day, so he might sleep a lot for a while."
Makana nodded, her smile staying bright as she moved to curl up on the couch and arrange herself in what she thought would be a comfortable position for the baby. Already, though she didn't realize it, a faint purr was coming from her.
"Can I go play?" Annora asked abruptly, just as Makana opened her mouth to tell Shiro she was ready.
Trio blinked at the near-demand from her siren. "...Annora?" she asked, and Annora looked over at Trio, her eyes big and wary. "Are you okay?"
"I just wanna go play," Annora informed them firmly.
Shiromaru paused when Annora made her request, taken aback at the tone in her voice. Blinking, he looked up at Trio, brows furrowed. This one was Trio's call, he decided, then moved quietly over to the sofa so he could arrange the baby carefully in Makana's arms.
"...I wanna play too," Etain decided after a moment, still holding on to Annora's hand. She wasn't letting go of her big sister for anything!
Trio frowned at the two, looking up to Shiro before sighing. Clearly, he hadn't been any more oblivious than she was... which meant she wasn't just imagining it. "You can play in Etain's room," she informed them both, before looking up at Shiro and raising an eyebrow, her head tilting slightly toward the other side of the room.
Makana frowned faintly at the two, but the expression was gone in moments, as the soft weight of Nico settled into her arms. "Thank you..."
Etain tugged at Annora's hand before letting go and flying off to her room. At least it was mostly set up now!
Shiro nodded softly back at Trio, then arranged the rabbit infant's ears before kissing Makana's forehead. "Just be gentle with him," he murmured. "He likes having the bridge of his nose rubbed." That said, he made his way over to Trio, a worried look stealing over him.
Makana nodded, curling up tightly around the baby and purring softly. He was so tiny, and soft...
Trio waited until Shiro was with her, her eyes on Makana. When she spoke, her voice was pitched very low. "You're worried too?"
"Yes," the demon agreed, very quietly. "I am. She's been acting off for a while, and now this... It's just not like her."
"It's been ever since that day she came into Az and I sobbing, and wouldn't tell us why," Trio said, frowning and sitting down. "And she's still not talking."
Shiro followed after, sitting in the chair next to Trio's. "Should we push, or wait a bit longer to see if she tells us?"
"She still seems very close to Etain. I've... I've been kinda hoping that maybe she's talking to Etain if she's not talking to us," Trio admitted.
"I'll talk to Etain, see if Annora's said anything to her," Shiro decided with a soft sigh. "I miss the old Annora, you know?"
Trio nodded, chewing on her lower lip. "I'd suggest you talk to her, but she hasn't seemed particularly like curling up with you lately any more than she has with me... has she?"
"No," Shiro confirmed, frustratedly. "No, she hasn't. I'll talk to Etain, and if she hasn't said anything to Etain, then... we'll figure something out from there, I think. Okay?"
Trio nodded, reaching out to take Shiro's hand. "It'll work out. She's got two loving parents, plus Etain who practically worships her. She'll be okay, you know."
Shiro laced his fingers through Trio's, smiling a little over at her. "I know... I just worry. Annora's pretty special to me, that's all. But I know she'll be okay."
Trio lifted the hand to her lips, kissing his knuckles before looking over at where Makana was still curled up contentedly. "So... what's the bunny's name?"
"Actually, I had an idea for a name, but I didn't want to settle on one unless we agreed on it," Shiro confessed, his thumb running over the side of Trio's hand. "I was thinking about Nicodemus."
"Why Nicodemus?" Trio asked curiously, squeezing lightly.
Shiro shook his head. "I'm not sure. It's just a name I've always loved. I know it means 'victory of the people,' and it's Greek, but beyond that... I don't know, it just seems to fit."
Trio nodded, saying the name again softly. "Nick, hmm? Or Nicky?"
"Nico," Shiro decided quietly. "I think 'Nico'..."
"Like Necco wafers?" Trio teased softly, grinning at Shiro.
That earned a blank look from Shiromaru. "Necco wafers? What are those?"
"I'll get you some when I go to the store next," Trio promised, snickering softly. "So... tell me about this wand?"
Excitedly, Shiro pulled the wand from the sling he had it in. "Ianna said children come from wands like these. I met one, actually. Apparently, they emerge first as ghosts, then completely solidify, or something like that."
Trio blinked, holding out a hand to see if Shiro would let her hold the wand. "Not the strangest story I've heard," she admitted. "But getting up there, definitely."
Shiro willingly passed the wand over to Trio. "I know, it's pretty strange, but considering some of the things I've heard and seen..."
"Yeah, I know..." Trio admitted easily. "Like stones that summon strange animalistic humanoids and save them from a plague?"
The demon couldn't help but grin. "Speaking of strange animalistic humanoids, Hun Min said that his offer still stood to watch the kids whenever we needed a break."
"No," Trio corrected. "That's a BLESSED animalistic humanoid."
Shiro's grin grew impish. "Considering he talks to his deities and can summon monsters and miracles, I'd say he's pretty blessed, yes."
Trio chuckled, rising and handing back the wand. "C'mon... you'd better see if Makana's ever gonna give him up, and I wanna check on the girls."
Shiro carefully tucked the wand away, making sure the tea ball couldn't swing free, then leaned over and stole a kiss from Trio before rising. "Makana, sweetie, mind if I take Nico back?"
Makana hesitated, eyeing Shiro almost sadly before looking down at the sleeping rabbit. "His name is Nico?"
"Nicodemus Kalyan Maxwell-Chang," Shiro confirmed. "But Nico for short. Don't worry, you'll get to hold him all the time!"
Makana perked up a little at that, leaning in to lick Nico's cheek gently. "Promise?"
Nico opened his eyes, blinked sleepily up at Makana, then reached up to pat at her cheek. She was soft, and that was nice to touch.
Shiromaru grinned down at the pair. "I promise. It'll be really good if he has a big sister to look up to, too -- think you'll be willing to help us take care of him?"
Makana nodded vigorously, beaming down at Nico. "He patted me," she told Shiro softly, as though the demon had somehow missed it.
"I saw," Shiro agreed, and reached out to lift Nico carefully out of Makana's arms. "He likes you."
Makana clung to him for a moment, then sighed, letting him go. "I like him, too," she said quietly, reaching to pet one long ear.
Nico waved one arm at Makana cheerfully, then snuggled into his father's arms. "That's good to hear," Shiro murmured, his grin softening to a smile.
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Posted: Sun May 28, 2006 8:28 pm
reserved - Changeling Shop RP
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Posted: Sun May 28, 2006 8:31 pm
She'd slipped just inside the forest, tucking herself away from sight for a while. It didn't help her mood much, for even as she curled up on a log, she caught sight of the faint glittering of nearly-covered crystal shards in the earth and cringed, arms curling around herself.
"You know," came a warm, mellifluent voice from behind the siren, "usually people come into the forest to relax. You, however, look singularly depressed." The voice belonged to a pale-skinned young man, his green-scaled, iridescent tail curling behind him as he approached.
Annora jerked up, staring with wide eyes back at the man. "...Who're you?" she demanded, wariness in her eyes but no outright fear.
The dragonlike man sketched a bow once he was in front of Annora, then straightened with an honest smile. "My name is Iroke. And you, if I am not mistaken, are Annora. That would make you Shiromaru and Trio's daughter, yes?"
"You know Daddy and Mommy?" Annora asked, relaxing. If he did, that meant he must be good.
"Yes, I do. Shiromaru's my bonded -- that means that he's how I got to this world. I'm from the same world as Hun Min," Iroke explained, naming the tiger Juusanshi that often watched over the girls. "That's how I knew enough to guess your name."
"I like Hun Min," Annora offered, her voice soft and shy. "But you don't look like him."
Iroke sat gracefully on the ground across from Annora. "That's because I'm a dragon and he's a tiger."
"Like I'm a siren and Etain's a sylph?" she asked, her eyes unable to keep from watching that beautiful tail move.
"Yes, exactly." Iroke tilted his head slightly to the side then, watching the young girl. "So do you want to tell me what's wrong? They say it's easier to carry a burden if you share the load."
Annora hesitated, uncomfortable at the thought. "You... gonna tell Mommy and Daddy?"
Iroke shook his head and offered up his pinky to Annora. "I won't if you don't want me to. Pinky promise." That's what kids did, right? It'd been a while since he was around children on a regular basis. Maybe he should have paid more attention to how Hun Min handled them.
Annora frowned, moving forward to examine his pinky curiously. "Pinky promise?" she asked, then held her hand up like his, her pinky naturally curling a little.
Grinning, Iroke hooked his pinky around hers and shook them lightly. "Yep. Pinky promise. That means I can't break the promise now, no matter what."
Annora giggled softly at that, shaking the pinkies as well. "Pinky promise," she repeated thoughtfully, smiling at Iroke.
Iroke smiled back, then waggled the tip of his tail at Annora. "Now, young miss, do you feel comfortable telling me what's got you all depressed?"
At that, the smile faded, and Annora looked at him solemnly once more. "...I broke something."
The dragon blinked. "What is it you broke? And how'd it happen?"
Annora flinched at that, then got up, going to dig up the few bits of chime she could find. She flinched as she nicked a finger on one jagged end, but brought them to him nonetheless. "This. I was... was singing."
Iroke looked down at the bits of chime, holding his hands out so Annora could drop them into it. "Annora, tell me something. Have you ever heard of an art form called 'opera'?"
Annora frowned, shaking her head. "Is it like coloring? Mama said when I colored it's art."
"Nope. Opera is like a play, but you sing everything instead of speaking the lines," Iroke explained. "And in opera, the sopranos who can break glass with their voice are regarded as the paragons of their art -- that is, they're the best of the best, and highly respected. You see, the ability to create such a pure, high note as the one that's required to break glass is very rare. It's not something you should be ashamed of or depressed about. It's something you should be proud of."
Annora listened, utterly confused by the words. Proud? Of breaking a glass? But... "...What about breaking something that makes music?" she asked, pointing to the pieces of chime. "That wasn't a glass... It was one of mama's windchimes. It was my favorite."
Iroke shook his head slightly. "You didn't mean to break this specific one, now did you? You didn't even know it could happen. Trio will understand. I'm sorry it was your favorite that broke, though." He paused, there, looking down at the pieces of the chime. "If you're worried, why don't you ask about getting some singing lessons? Those will help you learn how to control and strengthen your singing voice. You have a gift in your voice, Annora."
And maybe he could find out from Trio what this particular windchime looked like before it broke, so he could replace it for the young siren. She'd been so obviously distressed!
"My voice hurts things," Annora countered, hesitating at the word lessons. "Singing lessons?" she asked, moving a little closer.
Carefully, Iroke settled the pieces down on the ground, away from Annora so she wouldn't accidentally p***k herself like she'd already done. "Lessons will help that. And then you could sing all the time, and never have to worry. You'd probably have a lot of fun with them, too, and learn all sorts of new songs. In fact, I bet you that if you wanted to, you could become really famous as a singer."
"Lessons would keep me from hurting things?" Annora blinked, staring at Iroke with obvious shock. "Really?"
"Really really," Iroke confirmed with a smile.
"And I could sing again? And learn new songs?" she repeated, leaning forward eagerly. Could this possibly be real?
"You'd have to train hard," Iroke warned, "and put your heart into all your lessons -- but I can tell you really love to sing. And yes, you could sing again, and learn all the new songs you like."
Annora nodded sharply, pouncing forward abruptly to hug Iroke tightly. "I'm gonna be an 'apra' singer, like you said," she informed him decisively, completely mispronouncing the word.
Startled by the hug, Iroke froze for all of a moment, then hugged the little girl back gently. "Opera," he corrected with a laugh. "And you'll be great."
"Will you come listen to me?" Annora asked, eyes alight. "When my voice doesn't hurt things anymore?"
"Of course I will. I'll come as often as I can," Iroke promised.
"Pinky promise?" Annora asked impishly, pulling back to hold her hand up, pinky out.
Iroke laughed aloud, hooking his pinky with hers again. "Pinky promise."
Annora beamed at him, getting up. "I'm gonna go ask mama about the lessons now," she informed him, dusting off her knees. "And about the o-per-ra," she added, carefully sounding out the word. "Do you like op-per-ra?"
"Yes, I do." The dragon grinned up at Annora, though he stayed sitting. "There are a lot of very interesting stories that are told through the opera. Maybe your mom and dad will take you sometime! Now, can you get back home okay, or do you want me to come with you?"
"I can go back okay." She hesitated, looking at the chime. "You... won't tell them, right?"
"I made you a promise that I wouldn't tell them," Iroke reminded her gently. "I think you should tell them, it might make you feel better to get it out in the open, but I'll keep your secret."
Annora nodded, smiling shyly at him. "Thank you," she called, turning to run for home. The idea of lessons was too exciting to pass up.
* * *
"Mama, Daddy, Etain!" Annora yelled as she barrelled in the front door of the new house, calling as loud as she could manage for the first time in weeks. Her shoes were torn off her feet, and then she was running through the house, narrowly avoiding boxes of still-to-be-unpacked items. "Mama!"
Startled, afraid Annora'd been injured, Shiro hurried out of the master bedroom, reaching down to try and lift Annora up. Etain was right behind him, zipping over to look over her sister anxiously. "Annora? Honey, what is it?" the demon asked, worriedly.
Annora was beaming at them, bouncing as she was lifted. "I wanna take lessons," she told them excitedly, wrapping her arms around Shiro's neck as she caught sight of Trio ducking in from the kitchen. "Can I please? I wanna learn apra!"
This was the happiest Shiro had seen the little siren in ages. "'Apra'?" he echoed, then blinked as comprehension dawned. "Oh! Opera? What sort of lessons, singing lessons?" He smiled down at her, then looked over at Trio as Etain tried to hug Annora from behind. "What do you think, love?" As far as he was concerned, anything that gave them back their happy little girl was well worth it.
Trio just stared at the joyful little girl for several seconds, while Makana peeked out of her room. "I... uh... sure," she said, when her brain finally caught up. Her eyes were a touch too shiny as she smiled at the others, one hand slipping in to settle on Annora's shoulder, squeezing lightly. "Of course, sweetie. Singing lessons would really be good for you."
Annora beamed at them, snuggling Shiro again before twisting around to give Etain a brief hug before launching herself out of Shiro's arms into Trio's, with no real regard for her safety. As she did, her fingers left a smear of blood on Shiro's shirt. "Can I really, mama? Can I go now?"
"We'll have to get them sche-... Annora, you're bleeding!" Reaching out, Shiro tried to find the hand that was bleeding. "How'd it happen?"
"I cut myself. Can I go tomorrow?" Annora demanded, bouncing in Trio's arms and completely uncaring about her wound. "Please?"
Trio chuckled softly, hugging Annora tightly. "Sounds like you're excited."
Shiro rolled his eyes, amused, then sent Etain off to get the small first aid kit from the master bathroom. He'd made a point of drilling the girls on the locations of all the kits. "I have an idea of someone who might be able to give you lessons, too, so I'll talk to him tonight and see if he's willing."
"Oh?" Trio asked, head tilting as she peered at Shiro. At her leg, Makana reached up to touch Annora's foot, jerking her paw back when Annora doubled up in pure giggles. "Who's that?" she asked, over Annora's chant of 'tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow!'
"Antigoni, one of the yuniko," Shiro explained, ruffling Makana's hair gently. "He's a singer. Classically trained, but he prefers rock. Still, I think he'd be willing to help out."
Just then, Etain came back with the first aid kit, plopping it down into her father's hands. "Thank you," Shiro said with a grin for the sylph, then nodded to Annora's hand. "Let's get that bandaged up, then I'll go find Anni and talk to him."
"Okay," Trio nodded, amused at her daughter.
Makana nuzzled into the touch, then stepped back. "She's gonna be okay?" she asked softly.
"Yeah," Shiro murmured to Makana as he started cleaning the little cut on Annora's finger. "Yeah, she's gonna be just fine."
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Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 8:19 pm
Blue-green, naturally, was the color Etain was oh-so-carefully using as she worked on her nameplate, the tip of her tongue sticking out from between her lips. Little curls and stars dotted her name, and though it was rather wobbly in some places, her name was legible. "Aaaaaaal... most... done," she mumbled to herself, brushing a lock of hair out of her face and streaking her cheek with paint at the same time.
Annora was mostly oblivious to her sister, sprawled out on the plastic that layered the floor of Etain's room as she used both hands to swirl and mix the paints on her board until it almost looked like water, messy and crazy in places, but blue and white intermixed nicely nonetheless. She had no room for her name, but thought that perhaps she could add it on after, once the paint was dry.
Etain blinked over at Annora's messy plaque, then leaned over curiously. "...Looks like water," she commented. "It's pretty."
Annora beamed at her. "I have to let it dry, and then I'm gonna put my name on it," she told Etain. "...And a butterfly," came the abrupt addition.
A butterfly? Etain brightened at the thought, then deflated when she looked at her plaque. There wasn't any way to easily add on to it, she thought, and certainly no way to add wa-...
...She didn't need to add water.
Grabbing blue paint, Etain carefully daubed on a few shaky musical notes. There, that would work!
Annora blinked as she saw Etain's fast moodswings, and leaned over. It didn't take HER long to recognize those symbols. "That's music!" she beamed at her sister.
"I don't know what notes they are," Etain confessed. But it was music, at least!
Annora hesitated, then carefully pointed to the top note. "That's an Etain note," she said. "And that one right beside it is an Annora note."
Etain beamed up at Annora, giggling brightly. An Etain note and an Annora note! Perfect! "Okay," she agreed, cheerfully.
Annora grinned, throwing messy hands around Etain and hugging her tight. "I'll make an Annora butterfly to go with the Etain butterfly," she decided, scrambling away a moment later.
Happily, Etain returned the hug, all uncaring of the paint going all over her clothing. "A blue butterfly," she caroled when Annora scrambled away. "Annora-colors!"
"Okay," Annora nodded, grabbing for a dark indigo this time. "How's this?" she asked, even though it was more purple than blue. She liked the color.
"S'pretty," Etain chirped, leaning over so she could watch Annora make the butterfly. "I like it!"
Annora grinned at Etain, then sat back, rubbing her nose with one hand. As it came away, a white streak lingered. "I'm gonna be an opera singer," she said suddenly, voice very serious and careful.
Etain blinked, horribly confused. "What's an ah-per-ah singer?"
"It's... it's a singer who can break things with her voice," Annora said, trying to remember what all Iroke had said. "But that's okay because people like her breaking things."
"Wow..." Etain looked up at Annora, wide-eyed. "That's cool! Is that what the lessons're for?"
Annora nodded. "And so that I don't break anything else unless I wanna," she added without thinking.
'Anything else'? Etain peered at the siren, curiously. "What'd you break?"
Annora froze, wary eyes looking toward Etain. "Um..."
Etain just watched Annora, head tilted as she waited.
Annora slowly looked away, uncomfortable. "...Broke a chime."
"S'at how you hurt your hand?" Etain asked, now quite concerned.
"Cut it when I showed Iroke," Annora admitted, daring a glance up to Etain. "He's the one who told me about opera singers."
"Iroke's one of Papa's Joo... Jiyuu... One of his friends," Etain offered. "He likes music. An'... an' acting."
"He said he'd come to listen to me," Annora said softly, starting to smile again. "When I sing."
Etain beamed happily. "Yeah? I'll come listen too," she promised. "Whenever you sing!"
Annora reached out, hugging Etain again. "You always get to hear," she promised. "I'll never leave you out."
The sylph nestled with Annora, perfectly content. As far as she was concerned, this 'combining households' thing was pretty spiffy. "Okay! An' I'll make all your costumes! A-per-a uses pretty dresses, right?"
"The prettiest," Annora said, without the slightest clue what opera costumes were like. "And they tell stories!"
Etain giggled. "What sorta stories?"
"...Stories with horses," Annora decided. "And fish, and handsome boys."
"I wanna be in an opera," Etain declared. "I could be a faerie!" Indeed, as she was growing older, it was becoming steadily apparent that she would never be very tall.
"The prettiest faerie," Annora nodded excitedly. "And I could sing to you~"
Etain sat up a bit straighter, eyes wide as an idea popped into her mind. "We should make one up!"
"Make up an opera?" Annora asked curiously.
Etain nodded quickly. "One with faeries and fish an' boys and horses!"
"And me!" Annora said urgently.
"Of course, you're the star," Etain decided. "That's how it's gotta be."
Annora beamed. "Okay, where do we start?" she asked, abandoning the nameplates for the door. This was much more fun.
Etain hopped up as well, rubbing her hands clean on her skirt. "Gotta plan. That's what they say you're supposed to do. Brain... storming, I think it's called."
"How do you make a storm in your brain. Is that something Daddy can do?" Annora asked, immediately thinking of the water demon.
"It means... um. That you're thinking up ideas. Not a real storm," Etain explained as she hauled out a notebook and a pencil.
"But...," Annora said softly, frowning.
"What's wrong?" Etain asked, curiously.
"Real storms are fun," Annora said determinedly. "Do you think Daddy could make real storms for us? We could put it in our opera."
Oooh, that was a great idea. "Maybe," Etain chirped, beaming up at Annora. "I know Papa can make it rain!"
"So we'll have a storm... and get all wet!" Annora beamed.
"An' there's a mermaid," Etain decided. "And... Um..."
"And a fairy," Annora insisted, grabbing Etain's hand. "And a song."
It didn't take long before the two of them were busy making up their story, painting completely abandoned as they wrote. After all, this was much more fun.
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Posted: Wed May 31, 2006 7:07 pm
Things were nearing completion on the house -- all the outside painting and nearly all the inside painting was done, the roof was finished, and there were fewer and fewer things to finish every day. On that list was the personalization of Nicodemus' room, something recently tacked on when the infant had joined their family, but Shiro knew it wouldn't take much to finish that.
Today, however, they had another project.
Lugging home bags of quickcrete, pretty rocks and colored spheres of glass, and several molds, the demon made his way out to the backyard and plopped everything down next to the small pond before turning around and going right back inside. "Trio? Love? Where are you at?"
"In the library," Trio called. "Almost done with this box." The library was the one room Aziraphale had absolutely insisted on. It linked to his room, and he'd taken pains to ensure it was on the large size, citing what good it would do each of the children, but with an oddly greedy look in the angel's eyes as he spoke.
"Here, let me help you with that." Shiro entered the library and reached down to help put the books away. "I brought home a project," he offered with a warm smile. "It'll take everyone to do it. I have all the supplies outside."
"Hmm?" Trio blinked, peering curiously at Shiro. "What've you got up your sleeve?"
Shiro just grinned, shaking his head. "You'll see, once we get this box done. Where are Az and Kiku? We'll need them too."
Trio paused at that, turning to peer at Shiro. She was used to him thinking about the ieldi, but... "Az too?" she asked softly.
"Aziraphale's part of our family too," Shiro pointed out, looking up at Trio in turn. "And this is a family thing."
"I... didn't expect you to think of him like that," Trio admitted quietly, smiling.
Leaning over, Shiro kissed Trio lightly. "Of course I do. How could I not? As far as I'm concerned, he's been part of this family from the beginning."
Trio kissed Shiro back, then tucked the last of the books into the shelf. "Okay, love. What are we doing?"
"Making handprint stones and putting them in the garden," Shiro explained cheerfully. "I got enough for everyone."
Trio blinked at him before her eyes lit up. "Can you round up the girls and Nico while I go get Kikuei?" she asked softly.
"Of course!" The demon turned and headed out of the room, scooping up Nicodemus before peeking into the girls' rooms. "Etain? Annora? Makana? Come on, sweethearts, we have a project for you outside."
Makana was the first to arrive, cupping Mouse in her hands as she looked around. "What project?" she demanded, bouncing a little before setting the kinoko down on a nearby earth-filled urn.
Shiro grinned, tweaking Makana's ear gently as Nico waved his hands down at the kitten-girl. "I'll tell you once we're all out there," he promised.
Etain was the next to arrive, wings buzzing as she flitted over curiously. "Papa? What're we doing?"
"You'll see once we get outside," Shiro explained.
Annora was soon after, carrying a notebook and pen. "What's going on?" she asked, looking at the others for a moment before moving to stand under Etain. "It's not time for the show yet."
Shiromaru resettled Nico in his arms. "Show?" he echoed, curiously. "And we all need to go outside. We have a project to do." Leading the way, he headed outside, stopping next to the quickcrete bags.
"But we're not ready yet," Annora started to say, then paused, peering curiously at the bags. "What's that?"
"I'll explain it when your mother gets out with Aziraphale and Kikuei," Shiro promised, and settled Nicodemus down on the grass next to him. "It'll be fun, don't worry!"
Etain blinked at her father, then touched ground so she could take Annora's hand. If Papa said it would be fun, then surely it would be!
Annora wasn't quite so ready to change mind tracks just yet. "Daddy? Can you make it rain?" she asked instead, grinning to Etain.
Makana glanced over and perked up as she saw Nico set down. Scooping Mouse up and tucking him into her pocket, she moved to sit down next to Nico, petting him.
"We're here," Trio called, stepping outside. Kikuei was right beside her, holding her hand with a hesitant look on her face, while Aziraphale trailed behind them.
Nico brightened when he recognized Makana's smell, his hands patting along the part of her arm that he could reach.
Shiro peered at Etain and Annora in confusion, one eyebrow raised. "Yes, I can," he confirmed. That was an odd question. He decided to ask later, however, instead opening up the molds so the others could see them. "Everyone gets to make a stone and put their handprints and name on it, and decorate it with smaller stones. When they're all dry, they'll be put in the garden."
That made Annora abandon the show for the moment, her eyes lighting up. "And people will see our hands?"
"Yes," Shiro confirmed, waving Annora over. "Why don't you do the first one? Here, I'll show you how." He picked up a bucket, dropoping in a bit of the quickcrete powder and adding water, mixing it.
Annora hunched over the bucket, peering inside curiously. As she watched, Aziraphale set one hand on Trio's shoulder, leaning in to murmur something in her ear. She smiled brightly at it, nodding to Az while Kikuei moved forward, releasing her hand to stop next to Annora.
Makana seemed less interested, her attention firmly on Nico.
Nico's attention was on Makana in return, trying to grab onto and grip Makana's hand.
Once the quickcrete was mixed, Shiromaru poured a bit into the mold, then nodded to Annora. "Now, press your hands into the mold," he directed, "and leave them there for a few seconds before pulling them back out." Etain was at Annora's shoulder by that point, on the other side from Kikuei, watching intently.
"Both hands?" Annora asked, pressing them both in before he could answer. "Tell me when. Can I decorate it with shiny stones? What is this stuff anyway?" she asked in quick succession.
"'This stuff' is called quickcrete," Shiro explained. "Go ahead and pull your hands out now. And I got the stones so that you could decorate it and add your name. Etain, Kiku, why don't you two try it?" Carefully, he filled two more molds, offering them to the sylph and the ieldi. Etain glanced up at Annora, then knelt and pressed her hands into the quickcrete, nose crinkling comically at the feel of it.
Kikuei was a bit more hesitant, glancing over at Nico and Makana. "Are you sure you want me to do this, too?" he asked Shiro softly.
Shiromaru smiled gently up at Kikuei. "I told you," he murmured. "You're part of our family."
Kikuei nodded, kneeling down and pressing his hands into his own mold. "...Trio said she wanted me here." Hesitant eyes lifted to Shiro's. He didn't offer anything more, but he suspected Shiro understood nonetheless.
He did, and the water demon beamed up at Kikuei. "I'm glad. Makana?" he called, raising his voice slightly. "Why don't you come over and make one? Nico will still be there when you're done."
"Is Nico making one, too?" Makana asked, not letting go of the little rabbit.
"He'll need you to help him," Shiro noted, making his way over so he could lift up Nicodemus. "Why don't you show him how to put his hands in?"
Makana lit up, nodding and moving to her own mold. "Nico?" she asked, swishing her tail in front of him to catch his attention.
Nico's gaze fixed on Makana, tilting his head up so he could sniff the air a bit better, then reached up towards Makana.
"Nico, do this," she said, planting both paws firmly in the quickcrete.
Grinning to himself, Shiro carefully put a mold close to Nico, then helped him press his little paws into the quickcrete. "There we are," he said quietly. "Now your handprints will all be in the garden." Looking up, he waved Trio and Az over. "Your turns!"
"Our tu... wait, what?" Trio blinked, eyeing the quickcrete a little more warily now that she realized her OWN hands were going in it as well.
Aziraphale took one look at her and laughed, catching her arm and drawing her to them. "Come now. It won't be so bad."
"Oh, yes, your turn," Shiro caroled, grinning with delight at her expression. "Come on, you."
Etain was already decorating hers, with her name at the top and lots of pretty bits and baubles pressed into the quickcrete around her handprints.
Annora had hesitated, but seeing Etain start decorating hers, Annora went to work as well, gathering what she could find that she liked from the bits Shiro had brought. A moment later, she grinned and carefully drew a clumsy fish and butterfly on either side.
Etain beamed up at Annora, then patted the last colored glass sphere into her stone before connecting the musical notes. There was already a bird feather pressed straight into the left side.
"What's the feather for?" Annora asked, while her mother tugged lightly at Az's grip. Trio was laughing, as was the angel.
"Birds fly, too," Etain pointed out cheerfully. "An' Kikuei's kind of a bird. Kind of."
Shiro took a moment to make his own stone, pressing his hands into it before following Annora's and Etain's examples, sketching in a single wing to one side of his name. "There we are, there's mine... Trio, Az, come on, you two! Trio, I'll tickle you if you don't!"
"But that's so simple," Trio argued, looking over his shoulder. "Look at how impressive the girls' are. You're not done yet, mister!"
"I'll add more if you come make yours," Shiro caroled, grinning.
Trio blushed, peering at the quickcrete. "Okay... what do I do?" she asked quietly.
Shiromaru daubed in a few other images, then added a few flower petals. "Pour the quickcrete into a mold," he directed with a smile, "then press your hands into it and leave them in it for a few moments so it'll set nicely. Then add your name."
"Why one wing?" she asked, as she did as he directed. As Annora finished, she made her way toward her mom, peering over into the mold.
"You need shinies, mama."
"You're right, sweetheart -- your mama needs lots of shinies. Why not this one?" Shiro offered a polished piece of rose quartz. He didn't answer Trio's question, not certain of the answer himself.
Trio blinked, hesitating over the crystal. "Is that... the way I seem to you?" she asked, faintly curious.
Uncertain of just what Trio meant, Shiro merely blinked at her, nonplussed. "What do you mean?"
"Like I need a lot of... shinies," Trio murmured, hesitating uncomfortably. "Am I shallow?" she finally finished.
Shiromaru stared at Trio, then reached out, cupping the woman's cheek. "You, love, are the furthest thing from shallow. The only reason your stone needs lots of shiny things is to try to measure up to your personality, because you're wonderful."
Trio blinked, blushing as she leaned into the touch. "Thank you," she whispered, a moment before Annora offered up HER opinion of it.
"Shinies are pretty," she explained patiently, already sticking a few glittering stones into Trio's block. "They light up when it's sunny!"
Shiro grinned up at Trio, then laughed delightedly as he watched Annora decorating her mother's stone. "Annora's right, you know."
Trio blinked down at her daughter, then smiled softly before looking up at Etain and Makana. "What about you two? Wanna help?" she asked, scrubbing at a bit of the rock that had solidified on her cheek after Shiro's touch.
Makana hesitated, glancing at Etain shyly. She was older...
Etain looked over at Makana, then offered a hand to the catgirl with a cheerful little grin. "C'mon," she chirruped.
Makana beamed, taking the hand and moving to the stone. "Can I put in something red?" she asked.
Trio chuckled. "Of course, sweetie..."
Etain added a green stone of her own, smiled happily up at her mother, then added a stone to Shiro's stone as well. There, everything was perfect now.
Makana followed with a red stone for each, and Annora yelped, adding a blue stone to Shiro's. "Water," she chirped, wrapping her arms around Shiro's.
Trio glanced over all three faces, then looked up at Shiro smiling. "Looks like I'm not the only one with shinies."
"Looks like," Shiro agreed, laughing softly. Moments later, he added a yellow stone and a feather to each stone in honor of Nicodemus and Kikuei, then glanced up at Az to see if there was anything the angel would like to add.
Az hesitated, then moved forward, looking at Shiromaru. "May I?" he asked softly, warmth in his eyes.
Shiro nodded to Aziraphale, nodding gently. "Of course."
Az reached out, murmuring something. As his finger left each stone in turn, a faint pulse of light settled into it before fading. When he was done, he turned happy eyes to Shiro. "They're blessed."
"Thank you," Shiromaru murmured, reaching up to touch Az's arm lightly. "That means a lot to me. And you need to make yours! Then we'll have everyone's done, and can get them in place."
Az smiled quietly. "They'll offer some mild protection here," he noted. "And to all who live in your home." Rolling up his sleeves, he presented his hands to Shiro. "Lead the way."
Quite contentedly, Shiromaru showed him how to pour the mold and add his prints and name, smiling happily all the while. Everything seemed perfect, lately... They truly were blessed.
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Posted: Thu Jun 01, 2006 11:36 am
"... and there's gonna be horses and fairies and I'm gonna sing a big song but I'm not gonna break any glasses yet..."
Trio had to admit, the chatter was nice, but so very tiresome. She glanced down at the little siren whose hand she held, and smiled quietly, squeezing the tiny hand. Somewhere in the last few days, Annora had made a complete turnaround, going from the girl that had everyone in the family worried back to her old, happy self. At the moment, they were returning from a visit to the music store, and Trio carried a bag of CDs in one hand, while Sankouri padded by her side, just below them.
Opera music. Such an odd choice for a little girl, really. Perhaps she should look into Italian language lessons as well as singing lessons...
"Mama!" Annora said abruptly, jerking her hand free and darting up the worn path they'd been about to pass. "Maybe Jaden's there today!"
Trio chuckled, turning to follow Annora. It would be good to see the satyr, if he were there.
A small figure slipped into view near the cottage... not on two legs, but four. Aeriel stared towards the approaching ones with narrowed eyes, the zurui's pose NOT one of welcome. She was hunched forward, the fur along her spine lefted as if she were making herself less of a target and more of a threat. She didn't seem to realise that they weren't approaching her yet... and that they likely hadn't even seen her. All she knew was that they were still coming closer, and the zurui bolted towards the corner of the cottage, to disappear around the side.
Well, Angie was alive. At this point, it could be debated on the 'well' part of the saying, but at least she was alive. After glancing Dulcinea over and determining the little girl's room needed to be redecorated, Angie had undertaken quite the job to fix up the place. Plants here, a small koi pond INSIDE the room, and a few other major renovations, the fox-girl was rather exhausted STILL from what she'd done. But to see the little bouncy curls swing happily every time the toddler moved around the room, was more than worth the lost energy.
Today was a break however, a chance to get away and get outdoors for a change of pace. Angie herself had been locked in the home doing the fix-ups while Dulci was being taken care of by friends, so now it was -her- time to get out with the little girl. Curious though, about why her daughter remained silent most of the time, she figured a visit to the satyr's home might be in order, so that she might ask him the specifics surrounding Dulci.
A voice were heard nearby, a silver ear pricked up at the sound. It sounded familiar, yet...unfamiliar all the same. As Dulci Lynn toddled along beside her, the fox-girl scooped her up and quickened her pace, wondering who else was coming for a visit.
Trio was oblivious to the dark zurui who'd bolted, but there was one who was not. Sankouri's gaze lifted toward Trio, then looked back in the direction of the scent he'd caught, and he tapped her leg briefly before breaking out in a run. Perhaps he could yet catch this zurui, and find out just what was going on.
Trio almost called after him, but her thought was immediately derailed when Annora caught sight of Angie and Dulci approaching. "Mama, look!" she called, running back to Trio and grabbing her hand before tugging her toward the new people, a gleam in her eye. "Hi!~" she called out, her voice loud and singsong.
Sankouri's greeting upon rounding the corner was a sudden snarl and the snapping of jaws a scant inch or two from his face. Aeriel was there, almost as if guarding something, her front paws spread wide as she planted herself directly in his way.
Whatever was behind the house... she was NOT letting him by.
Angie peered curiously at the young girl calling out to her, trying to place where she looked so familiar. And it didn't take but a moment for it to hit her. "Ahhh hello there!" Waving a hand at the pair, the red-head smiled, hiking Dulci up a bit higher on her hip. "Glad to see someone I know out and about today! How are you all this fine day?"
She was not the observant one, and so didn't even notice Trio's companion run off. So it was safe to say she hadn't seen the darker form disappear either.
Trio grinned at Angie, making her way over while Annora bounced up. "Who's that?" the little siren said, with unabashed curiosity, and pointed at Dulci. Trio snickered, reaching out to shake Angie's hand.
"She's gotten so big," she said, admiring Dulci. "We haven't seen you in forever. You oughta bring her by the house sometime."
Sankouri jerked back in surprise, eyes widening. It took a moment before he placed the Zurui - he'd never been particularly close to her mother, after all, and rather pitied her father. But this...
He edged forward, ears flat and tails low as he tried to keep from threatening her long enough to see what was beyond. Why would a zurui act this way?
Aeriel was having NONE of it. She darted to the side, snapping at him again as she growled low in her throat. "Go away..." she hissed, the zurui's eyes swirling in a mix of violet and jet black. "Leave him alone!"
The words sounded normal to Sankouri... but all anyone else would hear was a series of sharp barks coming from the side of the house.
Chuckling, Angie smiled down at Annora. "This is Dulcinea, but you can call her Dulci." Taking Trio's hand, smokey eyes rolled in amusement. "She's big, and I'm exhausted. Redoing her room with a little more 'flair' that before sure took a lot out of me. You know me. I get an idea in my head and I gotta run with it. You guys should come over to our house as well, and come see what I've done with it. I'm sure our little friend here," she reached out to ruffl Annora's hair, "would like the koi pond Dulci has in her room now."
Now, the koi pond hadn't been part of the original plans Angie'd had for the room, but seeing as she herself had wanted some more fish in the house, besides the several tanks strewn around already, she figured another, really shallow one couldn't hurt. There was a rather strong mesh screen over the top, to the little one, at this age, could crawl on top of it, without fear of getting wet, or somehow risking the idea of drowning. Later, the screen could be taken off, once Dulci got older for more enjoyment.
"Koi pond?" Annora immediately latched onto that idea, her eyes gleaming. "Mama, can I? Pleeeeeease?"
Trio just lifted a hand to rub one temple, her eyes shifting toward Angie with a 'see what you've done now' expression in them. But there was a smile on her face all the same. "Just lemme know a good time. You have my number," she pointed out, as Annora grabbed Dulci's hand.
"You like water, too?" Annora demanded gleefully, utterly ignoring the parents now in favor of far more interesting people.
Sankouri froze, eyes narrowing. He? Trio had delivered Aeriel here as a small kit, giving her to... Could Jaden be back there? Once more, he edged forward, doing his best to see beyond Aeriel.
The warnings then turned into actual threat, Aeriel lunging forward and snapping her jaws down hard on one pointed ear. Almost immediately, she had pulled back and moved again, this time aiming for his front feet. "LEAVE!"
She had been charged with protecting him... and protect him, she would. From ANYONE who came too close.
Two other zurui heard the ruckus -- Izumi and her son Solstice. The pair trotted over to the source of the barking, coming up to flank Sankouri on either side. This one was part of the new pack, after all, and packs had to be defended. "What's going on here? Is someone hurt?" Izumi kept her voice low, trying for 'soothing'.
Not that she figured Aeriel could be soothed, but hey. It was worth a shot.
Away from the zurui, two figures appeared, one with a pair of wings that vanished as the two newcomers touched ground. Shiromaru shifted Nico in his arms, where he had been settled in a sling, then let Etain hop up onto his shoulders as they approached the others. "Now there's someone I haven't seen in a long time! Angie, how are you?" he called out, smiling warmly. And was that Dulci? He hadn't seen her in an incredibly long time.
Silver ears seemingly tipped in inky black twisted in the direction of the barks, as Angie tilted her head slightly. Something... someone else was here? Wow her attention really was shot. But her attention was drug away momentarily once again, as she smiled at Trio. "Of course. I need to clean up some last minute finishing touches on the room, then I'll be inviting plenty of people over for a "room-warming" party, so to speak. At least, I'm planning on it anyway." Laughing, the fox-girl glanced down at Annora and Dulci's reaction to the girl.
Dulci glanced, wide-eyed, at Annora, not sure what to think of her, before shyly smiling and burying her face in Angie's neck. But, even as she pulled her face away, it was obvious she wasn't pulling her hand away. Strange, Angie mused at this, but intriguing all the same. "See Dulci, here's a new friend for you. She likes the water a lot. Soon you can show her your fishies, doesn't that sound like fun?" Reddish curls bobbed as the head nodded, two blue eyes peered from around her 'mom's' neck at Annora once more.
And it wasn't but a moment or two more before both Angie and Dulci's attention wavered towards the newcomers. Angie shifted her weight, settling Dulci on her hip a bit more comfortably before waving at Shiro and Etain, and the new little one. "Hallo there! I know, I know, I just keep finding reasons to disappear." Reaching up to bring Dulci's chin around gently, so that she was facing everyone again, Angie plucked a stray curl out of the girl's eyes. "Indeed this is little Dulci. Only...not quite so little anymore."
Dulci blushed and quickly retreated to hiding her face in Angie's neck again. "She's quite shy I'm afraid, but should warm up to you guys soon."
Annora lit up as Shiro and the others appeared, and turned back to Dulci. "This is my daddy, and my sister," she said solemnly, tugging on Dulci's arm. "Come down and play with us! I bet we could find lots of neat bugs around. Flying bugs like Etain." She ignored the barking, too busy trying to get Dulci to come down.
Trio snickered softly. "She's... um... rather bossy," she said, as she leaned over to peck Shiro on the cheek. "Didn't know you were coming out, too, sweetie."
As the new zurui approached, Sankouri bristled slightly. This... could end very badly, if he didn't do SOMETHING. He drew a breath, then rushed Aeriel, doing his best to pin her so that the others could get past. They wouldn't hurt anyone who was dangerous, and Shiro and Trio could help whoever's in trouble.
The snarling suddenly turned into the sharp, high pitched warning cries that an animal sounds when it's in danger. The piercing yelps could be heard nearly EVERYWHERE by that point, and Aeriel tried to fight off the larger zurui. "NO!! This isn't your house, it's MY house, LEAVE US ALONE!"
"You should stop vanishing," Shiro informed Angie, then grinned at Dulci. "Hello, there. It's nice to see you again." He returned the kiss on the cheek to Trio, his grin spreading. "We were just out for a walk and Etain heard your voice," he explained, then paused when he heard the sound of a zurui shrieking. "...What in the blazes is going on?"
Etain blinked down at Dulci and Annora, then very solemnly tugged at a lock of Shiro's hair. "Papa, something's wrong. That's not one of ours. Someone's really upset."
Izumi and Solstice blinked at each other, then at the grappling pair, then ghosted past, low to the ground. They couldn't see anything in the immediate vicinity, so Izumi peeled off to the left and Solstice to the right, going around the building. What was Aeriel hiding?
Dulci wasn't sure what to make of so many people in one spot at the same time. Nor was she able to figure out Annora. Those thoughtful blue eyes trained onto Etain as Shiro and the little girl wandered up, seeming to admire the little girl's wings. It was a moment or two longer, however, before the bouncy red curls nodded and she eased up her grip on Angie's shirt, allowing herself to be put down beside Annora.
Angie gasped as she straightened up, turning in the direction of the yelping, her body poised to step in front of Annora and Dulci, and retrieve Dulci from the ground if need-be. But a crashing of twigs and bushes nearby nearly drove a heart-attack of her. Fortunately, it was only Simaria who'd apparently been trailing a good ways behind them, and only now catching up as she too heard the shrieks. Keeping a close eye on the other's and Dulci especially Angie pulled the siamese colored zurui aside, excuseing herself from the group for a moment, and conversed softly with her companion, easing the femme zurui's worry about whether or not Dulci was alright.
Annora blinked as Dulci was pulled aside, but shrugged, reaching out to catch Etain's hand instead. "Let's look for butterflies," she suggested, her eyes bright and happy as she tugged her sister along. A moment later, she grinned widely. "Hey! Let's have butterflies in the opera!"
Trio missed that, her focus on the ruckus behind the house. "Stay here," she murmured to Shiro, noting that he had Nico with him. "Keep yourself and the kids safe, okay?" she added, eyeing the back yard warily. What was there? She edged forward, moving to the corner of the house and peering around.
Sankouri's body twisted and shifted as he tried to keep Aeriel pinned. She'd definitely inherited something from her mother, at least, he realized, and wondered if he'd leave there without picking up a scar or two.
The young zurui was all teeth and claws as she lashed out at Sankouri. She had to get him OFF her so that she could get rid of the others. "LET GO!" she yelled, snapping at his throat and chest, as well as the front paws that were closest to her teeth.
Behind the house, all seemed quiet at first glance. It wasn't much different than the front, except for the fact that a small garden was there... or it would have been a garden if it hadn't been neglected thusfar in the spring. Beyond that was a circle of trees that seemed to thrum with power. Only one of Fey blood could enter that circle and hope to stay conscious... but it wasn't a concern at the moment. There was a figure laying on the ground just outside of it, crumpled in the grass. Unkempt black hair trailed over and around the form, splaying on the ground. Two sets of horns could be seen poking through, one larger than the other... and the figure's legs seemed to be covered in fur...
...with hooves, instead of feet.
With Trio checking on the commotion, Shiro stayed where he was, petting the dozing Nico's long ears. The fighting zurui (and the thought distressed the demon mightily) didn't seem to be waking up the infant, and Shiro could only wait for Trio and hope she didn't get hurt in the process of checking things out.
When her hand was taken, Etain brightened, letting her shyness vanish in the face of Annora's enthusiasm. "Yeah! Butterflies in the opera! An' fireflies too! We could have butterflies and fireflies all over!" She flew after Annora, only occasionally touching ground long enough to take a few steps.
It was Solstice who reached the figure first, calling out a warning cry before starting to sniff anxiously at the figure on the ground. Was there a pulse? Was there breathing? Was there any life inside the body?
Angie turned back towards Shiro and the children after a moment, watching Simaria stay with them instead of going to investigate what was wrong. As she set the curly haired child down again, Simaria carefully stood in a guarding position, watching carefully over the other two girls as well.
Dulci wasted no time toddling over to the other two girls, her blue eyes speaking the volumes that her voice would not. Or was it that she could not? Angie wasn't sure yet. Watching Etain flutter around for a moment or two she raised her arms up, gently trying to catch a gentle feel of the strange wings. She knew of these butterflies the girls were talking about. Several of many sizes and colors were painted upon the murals of her walls.
Angie watched Trio go, one of ears swung forward, listening for anything that might signal her friend to be in trouble. The other ear stayed cocked towards the children, keeping them under surveillance as well.
Annora grinned as Dulci joined them again, and watched the little girl reach toward Etain's wings. They seemed so normal now, she wondered if she'd reacted that way, too. Her own fins weren't nearly as pretty, she sometimes thought, but that was okay, because she could still make people pay attention to her. "Do you talk?" she asked bluntly. "Or is your voice dangerous, too?"
Sankouri was getting rather desperate now. Aeriel had opened up quite a few gashes, and it HURT to continue pinning her, especially since he was trying to do as little damage to her as possible. Only the sound of Trio's softly gasped word kept him from just bolting now.
"...Jaden?" Trio breathed, the word not nearly loud enough to carry to the others - even those with exceptional hearing. She scrambled forward, dropping to her knees beside him and reaching out to touch his throat, checking for a pulse.
Etain held still as Dulci touched her wings, blinking over at the other little girl, then smiled invitingly. "Do you wanna look for butterflies with us?" she offered, holding her free hand out towards Dulci. "We were gonna look for all kinds. We're writing an opera." She said it as if the poor girl would have any clue whatsoever as to what in the world an opera was.
Dulci tilted her head at Annora, not understanding what the girl said at all. Silently the little girl smiled and reached up, finally catching sight of the blue girl's fins, and gently fingering them as well. Her eyes lit up in delight, feeling the difference in textures between the wings and the fins. She was lost in her own little world, oblivious to anything that was happening with the zurui.
Angie, however, was paying just enough attention to catch Annora's question. She wished she had an answer to provide the little siren, but was out of possibilities herself. Instead, she let the question slide, figuring on asking Trio about her thoughts on it later.
Dulci, with Simaria at her side, joyfully took Etain's hand, nodding to the girls and already looking around for butterflies. It didn't matter that she had no clue what the girls were talking about, she was having fun regardless.
Annora froze as Dulci explored her fins, shivering slightly with it. But she beamed as the girl smiled, reaching up to pet the curly brown hair. "C'mon. You can play with us," she said quietly, grinning at Etain.
Etain nodded at Annora, then tried to tug at Dulci's free hand. "Butterflies," she repeated, then kicked off into the air, floating about a foot above it. It wasn't much of a height difference, but maybe it would still help her see them better!
"...She's quiet," Shiro noted as he padded closer to Angie. "Has she always been like that?"
Dulci didn't seem to notice or mind as Etain floated in the air, her hand not currently occupied with Etain's reaching out to snag Annora's hand as well. She seemed rather happy with the two girls, which both pleased and relieved Angie at the same time. The little girl's silence seemed not to bother her in her quest for friendship.
Glancing over at Shiro, the red-head nodded. "Mmm yes, she's yet to utter a sound, I'm afraid. I'm not sure whether it's normal for her, or something I should be concerned about. She doesn't seem to notice, thankfully, but it does worry me a little bit." She peeked at the silky ears in Shiro's arms. "And who do we have here?" Angie smiled, brushing off the worry and concern that the subject of Dulci's silence always brought on.
Wasabineko approached the shop, peering about for recognizable faces but coming up short. Well, that was to be expected. She hadn't exactly been around much. There was a slight hiccup from the basket strapped to her back, a sure sign that Casimir had woken up at the perfect time.
She wasn't entirely confident that this was a good idea. Everyone at home knew the rules when it came to the blindfolded bundle of joy, and those who were too young to understand such mandates were watched carefully. How exactly was she going to be cool about this in new company?
"Hello there!"
'Hello?' More people? Annora's head whipped around at that and she grinned. "Hey, more people," she said, tapping Etain's arm. "Let's go see who, huh?" Tugging the other two girls along with her, she turned and headed back, curious about Wasa and the hiccuping basket.
"Hi~," she called out without reservation, bouncing a little. "I'm Annora and this is my sister Etain and this is our friend... our friend... This is our friend and she's really nice," she finished, too busy being friendly to worry about a little thing like forgetting a name.
Little people? Not a problem. Big people? Squeak! Etain ducked behind Annora, now that she didn't have Papa to act as a barrier between herself and the new big person. Shyly, she looked up at Wasa, peeking over Annora's shoulder.
Shiro waved to Wasa as the woman joined them, smiling warmly; Angie's question, however, was met with an infatuated grin. Yes, the demon was one proud papa. "This is Nicodemus," he offered, as the bunny blinked open his eyes and yawned mightily in Angie's direction.
Dulci blinked as she was tugged in the direction of the new voices. Her eyes went wide, but she went along with the girls anyway. Looking up at this new woman, she tilted her head, not quite sure what to think of her.
Angie chuckled softly as she saw the big yawn, gently extending a finger to touch a silky ear. "Awww he's so handsome. You're a lucky one indeed." She caught Dulci being tugged over to the new person and perked her ears up, watching the siamese zurui as Simaria padded closely behind her charge. Angie couldn't remember if she'd seen this woman before, but she seemed friendly enough. In fact, Angie'd met quite a few nice people since gaining the crystal tipped wooden wand.
Wasabineko waved nervously as the attention was turned to her. "Hi!" She crouched down, resting her elbows on her knees to make her masked face level with that of the little ones. "Those are all very pretty names." She replied, giving a soft smile particularly to the face in hiding. "My name's Wasabineko... but that's a pretty big word. You can call me Wasa if you like." She pointed over her shoulder. "And over here in my basket is Casimir. He's still just a baby." She raised her eyes to the surrounding parents, giving them a nod.
"Can I see?" Annora immediately asked. "Daddy has a new baby and he's a rabbit and Makana really likes him." Clearly, the little girl was lacking the shyness her sister and friend showed. She moved closer. "Is your baby a rabbit, too? I remember when Mama brought Makana home and she was a baby and she was called a kitty." She stood on her tiptoes at the basket, trying to peek over the side. "I like the name Wasa. It's easy to say. Like Etain."
Nico reached out, patting Angie on the hand cheerfully. Unlike Etain, this little boy was not at all afraid of strangers, offering up a bubble of sounds as he woke up a bit more. "I'm incredibly lucky," Shiro murmured to Angie. "I have Trio, I have beautiful children, and I have a home. I'm incredibly lucky." That was more than he thought Angie meant, but still, it had to be said!
Etain relaxed a little when Wasa smiled at her; when she lost her guard as Annora peeked into the basket, she flitted over as well, flying up slightly to get a better view inside. "I like the name 'Wasa' too," she offered quietly. "Almost as much as 'Annora'."
Smiling sweetly at Shiro, Angie gently clapped her hand on his shoulder. "There's many who would love to be in your shoes, I'm sure. It's good to know friends are happy." If anyone had brought it up with Angie, she wouldn't admit how she missed having someone to lean on, being that she was all alone on Gaia, but she had more than enough friends to make up for the loss she'd suffered elsewhere.
Dulci, being the shortest of the three girls, tried her best to see into the basket, but was having trouble, at best. Unlike the other two, she made no attempt to try and say Wasa's name, or try and speak at all. Hopping up and down, but careful not to bump into the lady, she did her best to catch a glimpse inside the basket. And it apparently worked because within a few bounces she smiled and stood back so that the others could get their fill too.
Wasabineko chuckled and eased the straps off her shoulders and turned to sit on her rump, the basket settled in her lap. She picked at the lacings until the blankets were loose enough to let Casimir kick free. The feather-dappled baby twitched his talon-feet and gave a curious chirp. It was certain that he sensed the children near, even though they could not be seen through his blinder of cloth. He open and closed his hand in the air, trying to make contact with one of them. "Ah-coo?"
"How come he's got that funny cloth over his eyes?" Annora asked, reaching into the basket to let him hold one of her hands. She showed no ready fear of him. He was just a baby, after all, and rather cute, in an odd-looking way. "Can't he see?"
Aeriel's ears went straight up at Trio's voice... coming from BEHIND the house. She braced both paws against Sankouri's chest then and SHOVED hard, squirming out from underneath him. "Oh no you don't..." she growled, racing towards Trio with fangs bared.
Jaden showed no sign of hearing the woman... or any movement at all. His pulse was present, however, and strong. Whatever had happened to him... it didn't appear to have caused him any true harm.
The moment Aeriel started after Jaden, Izumi and Solstice abandoned their own investigation of Jaden and put themselves in front of Trio, their own fangs bared. "She's trying to HELP, you idiot," Izumi snarled, while Solstice just put his head down lower and prepared to spring at Aeriel in case he needed to.
Etain giggled at the sight of Casimir twitching his feet. "Are his eyes hurt?" she asked shyly, reaching down to take Casimir's other hand.
Shiro watched the goings-on, though Angie's words left him beaming. "Thank you," he offered to her quietly. "And what about you? Are you happy?"
Oh that was a loaded question, one without a real, or right answer. Angie simply nodded, offering a smile to Shiro. "Of course I'm happy. With friends like you and Trio, and a beautiful home, who wouldn't be happy?" Without realizing it, the girl began fiddling with the ring upon her hand, rolling it around on her finger. It was the same ring that'd caught Catta's eye, before Dulci was born.
Dulci again stepped forward to peek into the basket, simply admiring the baby within. As she saw the blinders that were the subject of the other two girls' chattering, Dulci raised a hand to her own eyes as if asking the same questions as already been asked.
Peering in her daughter's direction, watching as the zurui next to the bouncy red-curled child didn't seem to mind the woman, Angie chuckled softly, changing the subject. "I suppose I better go introduce myself, and the little one. I never remember to do that sort of thing."
Wasabineko did her best to hid her unease, trying to think of the best way to word it for young ears. "He isn't hurt. He just doesn't see the same way that you and I do, like fish can't walk on grass or how you can't hug a cactus. So he wears this little scarf so he can make friends without having to worry about his eyes." She bounced him on her knee and he gave a delighted squeal, jiggling Etain's hand that he refused to release until Wasa gave his fingers a gentle stroke.
"...Iiiit's about meal time for Nico here," Shiro decided, with one last glance towards where Trio had vanished to. "Etain, hon, let's get home. Annora, you stay put and do as Angie tells you, okay?" Etain let go of Cas and darted over to her father, and the pair took off into the air.
Annora waved once more to Casimir before Wasa wandered off with him, answering a cell phone, then turned to her dad. "Okay," she called brightly, giving Etain a big hug before turning to Dulci. "Still wanna go lookit butterflies?" she asked brightly, tugging the silent girl along.
"Solstice... get Jaelle and Isyr," Trio murmured, watching Aeriel warily. Sankouri was growling deeply from behind the other zurui, and Izumi was standing guard in front. "Aeriel? What happened to him? He needs care. Do you know where... Talis... Talistan is?" she asked, trying to recall the other fey's name.
Aeriel didn't answer... the irate zurui was pacing in circles around them, her gaze shifting back and forth between her 'charge' and the ones that were keeping her from him. Dammit, it wasn't supposed to happen this way. SHE was supposed to be keeping THEM away!
Jaden was still limp in Trio's arms, the satyr looking as though he'd been through quite a bit. The normally kept, braided hair was matted and flecked through with leaves and twigs. His skin was bruised here and there and looked as though he'd crawled through the mud on at least one occasion. About all that was left of his clothing was enough fabric of his shorts to be considered decent, and the necklace he never removed.
Dulci blinked as Wasa stood up, taking the little one with her. Then Etain and Shiro had to go. Turning to Annora, her eyes went wide, and her hands clung to the other girl's arm as if to keep her from leaving too. Hearing about butterflies again, the young dryad nodded exhuberantly and hopped up and down a few times.
Angie waved to Shiro and Etain as they left and turned towards the girls, to watch them as they played, her silence giving a chance for thoughts to permiate her mind.
Sankouri hunched down, waiting until Aeriel's attention wasn't on him before he leapt, pinning her to the ground once more with his weight. "Izumi, go to Angie. Tell her to take Annora to her house, please," Trio said, standing and lifting the dead weight of the satyr as best she could. "San, keep her there," she directed the dark blue zurui, and she made for the small house, praying the door was unlocked.
Finding it to be so, she shoved it open, pushing Jaden inside and ignoring the neglected state of the place. As soon as she could manage it, she shut the door firmly behind her, locking Aeriel and Sankouri out.
Angie kept a wary eye on the girls, watching Simaria's current state of alertness. As Izumi came over and told her what Trio had said, Angie nodded. "Annora, Dulci, c'mere please." Angie thanked the zurui messenger and held her hands out to the girls. "It looks like you'll be coming over to see Dulci's koi pond sooner than you thought, Annora." The fox-girl smiled, and glanced back at Simaria, quietly asking her to follow them back to her home, instead of wandering like the siamese normally did.
Daddy had told Annora to mind Angie, so Annora nodded cheerfully. "You can show me all over your room," she told Dulci, as the they headed off, her eyes bright and unshadowed. Izumi fell back, trailing behind them warily, nervous of Aeriel.
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Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 7:55 am
"NO, NO, NO!!!" Aeriel heard the lock slide into place and let off a volley of kicks against Sankouri, trying to get him OFF her. "Get her OUT OF THERE!"
As soon as Trio was safely inside the house, San let go, taking the kicks and rolling away as best he could. Confused eyes watched her warily, the response making no sense to him. He'd been expecting a demand to be let inside, not get his charge out.
Aeriel raced for the door, scratching at it wildly with her front paws as the sharp barks started up again. "Help me!" she cried out, turning to look at Sankouri as if this was all his fault. "You IDIOT. I wasn't defending him... he can take care of himself. I was trying to protect you morons FROM HIM!"
At that, his eyes widened, then narrowed. She certainly seemed frantic, but... if she was so determined to keep them away, why not simply SAY that before? Why only now, when it was just him she had to convince? He eyed the cottage, then the seemingly-desperate zurui. Was the confusion before real? Or were her words now a trap?
Aeriel snarled then, sitting down in front of the door when she realised he wasn't helping her. "Fine," she muttered, curling up and glaring at the closed and locked door. "You're the one that'll have to pick up the pieces."
He waited until she was calmer, then padded forward, until he was just beside her, ears perked and straining to hear any sound from inside. As he sat there, green eyes slanted toward her again, watching solemnly.
***
Once inside the house, Jaden seemed to start to wake, letting out a soft moan as he was put on the floor for the time being. He curled up on himself, one hand fisting into the fur of one leg.
Trio relaxed a little as he made a sound, moving to kneel beside him. "It's okay. You're going to be just fine," she murmured softly, reaching up to touch his forehead.
One hand immediately came up, swatting away the hand as a low growl came from the satyr. His head lifted, glaring at the woman with eyes that seemed to gleam crimson.
Trio jerked back, staring at Jaden with widening eyes. "What...?" she whispered.
Shaking his head violently, Jaden slid back slightly, until his back was pressed against the wall. "Get out," he growled, the gleam fading for a moment or two. "Get away."
"...You're hurt," Trio answered softly, her eyes shifting momentarily to the door as she calculated the distance. If she could get there, slide the lock out and get it open before he caught up... But surely he couldn't be a danger to her...
"NOW!" he snarled, the gleam coming back as he shifted one leg beneath him, the hoof letting out a solid 'thud' against the floor as he braced himself to jump.
She didn't question it. She just bolted, hitting the door as her fingers scrambled for the lock to try to wrench it open.
Aeriel jumped back as she heard something hit the door. "MOVE!" she shouted, calling to Sankouri as she darted up alongside the door to squirm inside the second it was open... IF it opened.
Jaden's weight moved to the curled leg, the satyr mobile in a flash. In that instant, he had Trio pinned against the door, his body pressed against hers to keep her from getting it open. It only lasted a moment, however, and he pulled away just as quickly with a hiss. "This... is why I left," he managed to say, backing up and away from her.
Another figure stepped into the room then, the same quiet one that had presided over the shop in Jaden's absence. "I recommend you go," he whispered, bringing up a hand as magic swirled around his fingertips to hold the rebellious satyr in its grasp. "He'll be back to himself soon enough... but he shouldn't have returned yet."
She said only one thing, not looking at either of them as she forced her fingers to open the lock and finally work the door. "I'll want answers soon." The words, meant to be firm, were obviously shaken, and before she could change that, she'd tumbled through the open door, dragging it closed behind her and sprawling on the ground.
Aeriel raced past her, nearly stampeding ONTO the woman as she bolted through the open door. Almost as if she knew what to do, the zurui paused just inside, kicking the door closed behind her.
"What... the hell...?" Trio murmured, looking worriedly at Sankouri. One hand lifted to him, and he nuzzled it lightly, licking her fingers before catching the hem of her shirt in his teeth and tugging. The message was clear. 'Let's get out of here while there's still time.'
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Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2006 1:36 pm
Summer was definitely approaching, and the park was a nice, cool place to take the girls. Trio had opted to take Makana and Annora out today, wanting to encourage a bit of bonding on the part of the two girls entrusted to her, but the plan had rather backfired. Makana was tucked over in a small flowerplot, letting Mouse explore as she watched the little mushroom creature to ensure he was safe. Annora, on the other hand, was swinging on the nearby playset, pumping her legs to see how high she could go. The only thing that Trio could think as she watched the siren was "Flying Fish."
Well, Naien was certainly glad for the nice weather. She'd had more than enough of winter, especially considering that as far up in the mountains as she lived, the last of the snow had only surrendered to the summer warmth a few weeks ago. Even still, the difference in temperature between her mountain cottage and Barton proper was startling, and she'd found the need to shed her spring jacket not halfway to town.
That had been over an hour ago, and she was now about halfway finished her shopping, the chore that had brought her to town in the first place. After pulling the crumpled shopping list from her pocket and looking it over, she continued on her way, taking a known shortcut through a rather nice little park. There must have been someone else there, as she could hear girlish giggles, and the creaking of an old swing set, but she was too absorbed in trying to calculate if she had enough money to finish her errands, and just what would be easiest to steal if she didn't.
Unfortunately, this meant that she failed to notice the rather large rock in her path. The rickety old red wagon she pulled behind her hit it squarely, jarring violently and flinging her groceries every which way. She whipped around and cursed, scrambling to salvage her bags and pile them back on the wagon.
She must have made quite a sight to the small family already in the park.
Hearing the curse, Trio looked up and blinked, getting up to help the poor woman. "Are you okay?" she asked, moving to start gathering up what had been in one of the bags.
Nai was momentarily startled by the other woman's sudden appearance, but she shook it off in favor of a grateful smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. No worries." She laughed, and continued picking up her slightly battered groceries. She was suddenly glad she hadn't bought eggs.
There was a rather large pile of blankets also in the wagon, that hadn't been dislodged. Nai shuffled them around to make room for the groceries without thinking much, plopping the crumpled bags in behind them. She stood, brushing her hands off on her skirt, and turned to thank the blond woman for her help.
The blankets moved.
Trio blinked, then knelt near the wagon, looking at the blankets curiously. "I think someone might've snuck in," she suggested, grinning and waving away the thanks.
Naien shot the other woman a puzzled look, and turned to follow her gaze. She froze suddenly as she remembered something, eyes wide. "Oh s**t."
Kneeling beside the blond, she started shuffling through and peering underneath the blankets. "Oi! Oi, you alive in there!?"
A pair of large, deep green eyes blinked slowly at her from beneath a fringe of white-gold hair.
"...Yeah, you're fine." She let the blankets fall as she stood, mostly hiding the wagon's occupant from view once again, and turned back to the other woman. "...Sorry about that..."
Trio blinked, frowning at Naien curiously. "Is... everything okay?" she asked, smiling softly at the large green eyes. "Who are you?" she added softly, her eyes lingering for a moment before skirting back to Naien.
She chuckled and scratched the back of her head sheepishly. "I'm, err... Not used to having a passenger..." She too turned her gaze to the blanket-swathed child, sheepish grin morphing into a mild scowl, though she didn't really seem to be focusing on the baby. "Some cheap b*****d swiped my bracelet and left her on my doorstep. I'm going to check for missing children reports while I'm in town, and maybe I can find something." She sighed, and averted her eyes to the ground.
"Swiped your bracelet?" Trio blinked, sitting down for a moment before calling out, "Annora!"
The little siren glanced up, slowing herself by kicking up the sand at her feet before hopping off and running over. While Trio waited, she leaned back, peering into the blanket curiously. "I had something like that happen once... with a harp a man gave me from nearby."
She glanced up briefly at the blue girl, 'Annora', she presumed, ran over, then glanced back down at the earth. The blond woman's next words made her look up, however, arching an eyebrow. "You don't say." She paused for a moment, as if debating her next words. "...This bracelet, it was a Christmas gift. I don't know who bought it for me, but it must have cost a small fortune. There was no tag or anything, just this card."
Here she reached into a pocket and pulled out a very battered business card. She smoothed out the creases carefully, noting absently that the words were almost rubbed off in some places. It was obvious that this card was handled frequently. She held her hand out to let the other woman see the card, but made no move to actually let it go. "I'm assuming that it's the store the bracelet was bought from. If I had more time today, I'd have gone to ask them who bought it, but it'll have to wait for another trip. I don't like walking home in the dark."
Trio peered at the card, then chuckled warmly, nodding and drawing Annora over as the siren approached. "Annora, I'd like you to meet... um...," she started, then realized she hadn't yet gotten the woman's name. "These two. This is my daughter, Annora." She paused for a moment before saying, with good humor, "She was left in my care by someone who took my harp. It was their sign that I was the right person for her."
Nai blinked. "Oh, um, name's Naien. Nice to meet you." She remained silent for several minutes after that, as she processed the information the blond had given her. She didn't look convinced. "...So, you're telling me that there's someone out there, who takes stuff from people, then leaves 'em babies? You'll have to forgive me for thinking that's bull." She didn't sound angry at all, or scornful. Simply matter-of-fact.
The green-eyed little baby, after just a little wiggling, managed to free a pudgy little arm from the confines of the blankets and started sucking on her thumb, blinking quietly at the small group now assembled beside the wagon.
Annora didn't really get the whole conversation, but she did know she was being watched. With a grin, she sat down beside the wagon, starting to sing softly to the little girl.
"Actually, no, not precisely," Trio countered, with a good-natured smile. "Makana, come closer, please," she added in a raised voice, watching as the little kitten gathered up her friend and moved closer before continuing. "I forget what exactly Jaden told me, but it's something about helping these kids. Their parents can't really take care of them anymore. Not that they can't feed them or clothe them, but they can't give them the home they need to survive. Something like that. So they look for signs that someone is going to be the right parent. Annora's parents found the old harp that Jaden gave me and realized that she could live at my house safely. She has a sister, Etain, whose parents found a pendant and did much the same thing to Shinobu. But Shinobu moved away, so Etain was given over to the care of my fiance."
Naien blinked, turning to stare intently at the ground as she processed this information. She remained that way for a rather long time, and her scowl only deepened as the minutes passed. Eventually, her brow furrowed and she muttered something, almost to low to be heard. "Someone's a moron then. I'm no mother..."
Oblivious to the gravity of the conversation going on not two feet away, the green-eyed child soon became aware that she was now the focus of one of the people. She blinked up at the older girl, still sucking on her thumb, and made a tiny, near-inaudible baby-giggle as Annora began to sing.
Trio reached out, patting the woman's arm. "Don't underestimate yourself. You never know what you're capable of until you try," she counselled, holding one arm open as Makana moved to settle on Trio's lap shyly.
Annora beamed at the giggle, her voice better even just for the short time she'd already been studying singing. Certainly she was able to keep completely on key with 'Itsy Bitsy Spider', at least.
The scowl remained firmly in place as Nai folded her legs under her, and in one fluid motion plopped down cross-legged next to the wagon and children, hands falling in her lap. "You don't get it." She glanced sideways at Annora, flicking a fuzzy russet ear in her direction. She seemed a sweet kid, and so did the cat-looking one. The blond certainly seemed to be a fine mother. Turning her gaze away from the children, she sighed and shut her eyes.
Well, it was doubtful if the tiny baby would have cared if she were a touch off-key. With another wiggle, she managed to free the other arm, and cautiously reached out as if to poke the singing girl.
Annora laughed, holding up one hand for the baby to catch. She'd played this game before, and recently, with her new little brother! When the song was done, she called Makana over quietly, pointing the girl out. "Lookit..."
Makana smiled shyly, reaching out a paw to delicately stroke the girl's hair. "Hi," she said, her voice a soft mewl.
Trio tilted her head. "So tell me what I don't get," she suggested, her smile fading into a more sympathetic look. "You don't think you'll be able to take care of her?"
Naien clenched her fists tightly and her scowl morphed into a snarl, a flash of sharp canines showing abover her lip. "Of course I can't! I have no money, no job, and I live damn near in the middle of nowhere!" She hadn't met Trio's eyes, instead casting her gaze down to the opposite side. She growled and cursed under her breath. "I don't even remember my mother, how in the hell could I be one to some kid!?" She took several deep breaths, and seemed to get a hold of herself. Her ears drooped, and she looked rather ashamed. "...Sorry about that. You don't need to hear my life's problems."
The girl let out her soft giggle again, and grasped onto one of Annora's fingers. As Makana touched her hair, she tried in vain to see the older girl's hand, resulting in her going adorably cross-eyed.
Trio blinked, her smile fading entirely as she nodded. "It's okay. Sometimes it needs to come out," she said softly. She hesitated, then tilted her head, not looking in the least afraid of the frustrated woman. "Haven't had any luck finding a job at one of the shops?"
Makana giggled softly, and Mouse peeked over the top of her pocket to also see the pretty girl.
"Etain'd like her," Annora decided, telling Makana.
Naien blinked as well, looking slightly confused, then she remembered just what she'd said in her anger. "...I guess I wasn't quite truthful just now. I wasn't really thinking the words through." Here she paused again, before continuing reluctantly. "I have a job, if you could call it that. But... It's really not the kind of thing to set as an example for a kid."
The girl really had no idea what the sisters were saying, but that one word had sounded rather interesting. She removed her hand from her mouth and made a soft little babbling noise, then reaching both hands (one rather slobbery) out towards the bigger girls.
Trio looked curious, glancing over at the kids before looking back at Naien. "What job is it you have?" she asked softly, pushing a little in the hopes of figuring out what to say to help.
Annora tilted her head, hesitantly taking the more slobbery hand, while Makana shrank away from it. But with that one taken, the younger girl was able to take the other. "You're pretty," Annora smiled softly.
Naien looked a little startled by the question, but answered anyways. "I'm a thief." She paused after that, glancing at the older woman with an eyebrow raised. "You're not a cop, are you?"
The little girl looked overjoyed, and giggled again, just a bit louder than before, and took as firm a grip as she could manage on the offered fingers.
"Not a cop. I run a couple of shops in Barton, that's all," she said, looking thoughtful. "You steal for someone else, or just for yourself?" she asked, keeping her voice soft.
"She's strong," Annora said abruptly, her voice loud enough to be heard by the two women. "What's her name?"
She nodded, apparently satisfied with that answer. She glanced at the blond woman again, this time slightly more closely. Most people didn't have such a gracious response to discovering her profession. "Just for myself, and a couple pets." She stopped to consider just how much to say. "Only small stuff, sometimes groceries when I can't nick anyone's wallet. Don't worry about yours though," She added, almost as an afterthought. "I do have some honor. You helped me pick up my groceries, after all." She glanced over her shoulder at the three children at Annora's first statement, but the second made her pause for a long moment, an unreadable expression on her face. "...I don't know. There was no note left with her."
...And it didn't look like she herself would be much help in that department, as she cooed and tugged gently on the captured fingers.
Trio smiled softly, nodding. What help could she offer that wouldn't be automatically turned down for pride? Was there even a worry of pride? She'd barely met the woman, after all. Instead, she simply said, "I'm not worried. Someone trusts you."
"Mama named me," Annora said, reaching out to tickle the little girl's cheek. "And Makana."
She simply snorted. "Then I return to my earlier statement: Someone's a moron." She glanced back at Annora again as the blue girl spoke, and this time when she replied she looked almost... sad? "I guess you'll have to find her mother then, to ask."
"You're her mama now," Annora smiled, ever helpful.
Trio's lips quirked, and she looked quickly away, not wanting her to see the amusement. "Look... do you happen to have a number or something?"
Naien sighed, and looked back at Trio. "She is your daughter, isn't she," she said flatly, turning away as well, to hide the smile that threatened to emerge. "Eh, there's a landline up to my place, but it's patchy at best. You can have the number anyways though." She started patting at her pockets, pulling a pencil from one. "Have a piece of paper? I don't think I've got any."
The little girl burbled softly, releasing Annora's hand in order to stuff her thumb back in her mouth.
Trio frowned, patting her own pockets for a few moments before shaking her head. "No... I don't usually carry much on me when I take the girls out," she admitted. As she was telling Naien that, however, Makana jumped up, moving to a tree and scratching at some of the bark until a nice piece came off.
"I'd say to contact Jaden... he's the one who gave me my harp... but he's been...," how to put it "...under the weather lately. I thought I could go by there at some point soon and get him to call you and talk to you?"
"Mama, mama. Use this to write on," Makana said, coming back with the bark.
She listened in silence to the small explanation, then thought for a minute. "This 'Jaden', is this his card?" She waved the crumpled business card that was still gripped between her fingers for emphasis. "I was going to go sometime this week and ask who bought that bracelet. If he's sick though, there's not much point, eh?"
She glanced up as Makana returned, and was rather impressed by the girl's ingenuity. She pulled the lid from the pen with her teeth, and held a hand out towards the cat. "Lemme just jot down my number anyways."
Annora was also looking rather impressed, one hand reaching up to pet the little baby's hair. After a moment, she started to sing again, waiting just long enough for Makana to get close.
Trio nodded. "Yeah, that's his card. He'll be able to explain a lot better than me, once he's feeling better..."
After doodling in a corner of the bark, to make sure the pen still worked, Nai scribbled down the number in legible-ish writing, handing it off to Trio. "There. Like I said though, it's less than reliable some days" She tucked the pen back into her pocket. "So, this Jaden guy'll know what's going on." It wasn't really a question. "What's wrong with him anyways? Got the flu?"
The child giggled around her mouthful of thumb as Annora resumed singing, reaching out again.
Trio recalled the way Jaden had looked at her, and the talk she still wanted to have with Naukhel, to figure things out, and shook her head. "Not that. Something else. I don't really know what, though."
"I like you," Annora informed the kid, when the song was over. "I'm gonna sing for you again."
She got the distinct feeling that there was something the blond woman wasn't telling her, but decided to leave it be. "Eh, well, hope he gets better soon."
She, of course, had no idea what Annora was saying, nor did she have any way of communicating that she rather liked the older girl as well, so she mutely reached out for the siren's hands again with a burble.
Annora squeezed the tiny hands solemnly, then looked up at Naien. "Can she come play sometime soon? I want Etain to see her... and I want her to meet my baby brother."
Makana giggled softly at that, leaning back to snuggle against Trio as she purred. She was happy with that idea, too.
Trio chuckled, looking up at Naien curiously.
Naien was a little startled by the question, and let it show on her face. "...Sure. I guess that's fine." She paused to think. "I'll have to look after her at least until I can talk to this Jaden guy. Anyways, you guys could take better care of her for a day than I could." She scratched absently at one of her ears, and glanced over at Trio. "How long, do you think, until he's feeling better?"
"Not sure. I've barely seen any of him all winter," Trio admitted. "So there's really no telling. Shiro might have a better idea." Then again, she wasn't really keen on telling Shiro exactly what had happened.
"If you ever need us to babysit for a while, that's fine..."
She nodded thoughtfully. "Well, let me know if I can do anything to help. I'm going to have a crapload of questions for him, after all..." She turned her gaze back to Annora and her little green-eyed charge, and had to bite her lip to keep from smiling. "They're pretty cute." This time she did smile. "I'll probably take you up on that."
That was the spirit. "Don't wait too long to name her. It's good for them to have names," Trio advised softly, rising from the ground. "Can we help you anywhere? We're headed home soon."
"Awww, maaaamaaa~," Annora whined softly, and Makana pouted, but Trio seemed oblivious to it.
Naien opted not to dignify that with an answer.
She shook her head, rising as well. "No, that's okay. I still have to finish my shopping anyways. Thanks for the offer though." She absently swept the dust from her skirt and boots, and looked to make sure her groceries would stay in the wagon this time. Almost as an afterthought, she shifted the blankets around the tiny baby so none would fall off.
The little girl burbled at the movement, attempting to latch onto Nai's fingers instead.
"C'mon, girls," Trio said, herding the two girls toward a nearby car. "It was nice to meet you, Naien. I'll give you a call soon to arrange a time for the kids to get together again." The words were blithe, as though she fully expected Naien to end up caring for the little pale girl long-term. "Have a good day!"
She waved to the departing family, stooping to reach for the wagon's handle with her other hand. "G'bye. Nice meeting you too." With that, she too turned and left to complete her shopping, with a good deal more on her mind than when she'd come.
Why did answers always have to being more questions?
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Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2006 5:21 am
I take after my dad too much, Trio decided, eyeing the cottage from the walk before turning to head off the pathway and around toward the back. Way, way too much. But there were reasons for her being back, despite the scare she'd had. And really, beyond a little horror-movie special effects made real, what had happened? Not much. It wasn't the thrills she was after. It was answers, pure and simple.
Even so, when the bird overhead began to chirp, she jumped.
The cottage was quiet, much as it looked any other time she'd visited. There was no outward sign of the events from before... even the birds seemed cheerful, as they normally did. The top half of the dutch door was thrown open, letting the breeze in as well as through the open windows. There was the sound of someone moving around inside, but there was no outward indication of who it might be.
Now or never, she decided, and rather than approach the door, she called out. "Hello?"
"Hello!" came the return call, a bit softer than what would most likely be considere 'welcoming'. A pale figure moved to the doorway, one arm lifted to shield sensitive eyes from the sunlight that streamed down onto the porch. "Ah, Trio..." It was Naukhel, the elven youth giving her a faint smile as he beckoned her forward. "It's alright. You can come in." With that, he was gone again, disappearing into the cottage.
Trio blinked, relaxing slightly. He wasn't snarling at her, at least... Moving to step into the cottage, she lingered near the doorway. "Thank you." My, didn't this feel awkward?
"Come in." The inside of the cottage was neat and clean... but still cluttered. All traces of the scuffle were cleaned up and it looked just as normal as it always had. There was a change to Naukhel, however...
The cloak he'd hidden himself in was gone, the boy's pale skin nearly gleaming as he moved through the small abode. The clothing he wore was almost reminiscent of medieval fantasy, a sleeveless long tunic that came nearly to the floor. It was split up the sides, revealing comfortable pants beneath and sandals on his feet. His ears, fingers, throat and wrists were decorated with silver jewellery that sparkled as the deflected sunlight hit the multi-coloured gemstones set in them.
Trio blinked, startled by the change. Silently, she moved forward, looking around the place for a bit before finding a place to sit. "You... look different," she said without thinking, mind too busy taking in all the changes.
Smiling, Naukhel nodded. "The seasons have turned... this is the way it always has been." He realised that this would explain nothing, but instead of explaining right away, he motioned Trio to one of the chairs and set a cup of what looked like tea in front of her. "I knew you would be back. You have questions."
She relaxed a little more at that, smiling wryly. Definitely take after Dad too much. "Kinda hard not to, after what happened the other day." She paused then, sipping the tea before looking up. "Did... the seasons have something to do with that, too?"
Nodding, Naukhel slipped into another chair, setting his own cup down. "Jaden and I are affected by the seasons... all Fey are, depending on the Court they call their own." He glanced towards the door then, as if looking at something in that direction... but something far away. "Even those that were brought here will eventually start to answer to those seasons."
"Like Annora," Trio said softly. "Why... why did he seem like he was going to attack me?"
"Because he likely was." Shifting his gaze back to her, Naukhel watched her carefully for a moment. "Jaden is Unseelie. While that may not mean much to you, it means quite a bit to our kind." He seemed a bit uncomfortable for a moment, but continued anyway. "Unseelie satyrs are the kind of the Greek tales, at times. They are mischievous, playful and generally fun to be around. But they also have a darker side. I'm certain you've heard about the more 'laviscious' tendencies of satyrs?"
"There's a few myths I sort of remember," Trio nodded, looking a little embarrassed. "But I'm not that well-read on them, I'm afraid."
"Let's just say that if he hadn't been able to exert a bit of control over himself... things might have ended up with you hurt in a lot more ways than simply physically." Naukhel's gaze was solemn then as he watched her. He was too polite to simply SAY what would have likely happened.
Trio's eyes widened slightly, and she nodded slowly. "Okay... I can understand that." She swallowed then, looking down at her hands. "So... how do we know when not to approach him? I mean, it certainly looked like he needed care..."
"Jaden usually knows when his change is coming... and leaves." Naukhel glanced towards the back of the house where the bedroom was. "That's where he was. Normally, he returns in May or June. By then, his temper is pretty well back to normal, with only a few slips, as you saw. By Midsummer's Day, he'll be fine... and he won't start getting touchy again until October."
"...What about you?" Trio asked softly, peering up at Naukhel.
He knew that was coming. "I am of the Seelie Court," he answered, the smile returning a bit. "I am strongest in the summertime and weakest in the winter. Unfortunately... with jaden being unable to handle things well then, I come here. For my own safety, as well as to assist him."
"Your own safety? I don't understand. If you're weakest then...," Trio asked, frowning curiously.
"It isn't good for me to be in Arcadia," he said. "I am... an anomaly among my own kind. For one of my race to be Seelie is unheard of. And while I'm strong enough to defend myself during the summer, when my people are at their weakest... during the winter I could never hope to survive there. Jaden is also at his weakest in the summer... but it's also when he's the most personable, and enjoys his time helping other Fey."
She considered, then blinked. "It was near the beginning of summer that he gave me the harp," she said softly.
"Actually, it was still in the wintertime," Naukhel said, chuckling softly. "But that year, he didn't seem to have as bad a time of it as he did this year. I'm honestly surprised that he held out as long as he did."
Trio blushed, wrinkling her nose. "I've... slept since then?" she tried sheepishly. "What sorts of things should I expect with Annora? And how will I know?"
"There's really no need to worry until she's older,' Naukhel said, sipping from his cup. "Most don't start showing signs until they're a teenager or later. And there's also no real way to tell what to expect, until it happens. Keep an eye open for her moods during the seasons, that should give you a good indicator. While all Fey are different, most Unseelie tend to be more active and happy during the winter... while the Seelie tend to prefer summertime."
"Um...," Trio blinked, tilting her head.
"Hmm?" Naukhel blinked at her then, lifting a brow.
"...How do I know what she is?" She paused, then blushed. "I don't really know how to tell."
"That's why I said to watch her..." he answered, smiling. "I don't have any more of an idea than you do. If she tends to get more moody and cranky in the summer, then chances are, she's Unseelie. But by the same token, Jaden's Unseelie, and that's the only time of year anyone can really be around him... is when it's summer. So it's confusing at best."
"Can I ask something that might be a little more... hurtful?" Trio asked softly, chewing on her lip. Clearly, this was going to be an interesting thing to plan for.
"You may ask whatever you like."
"Are all reactions as potentially... harmful as Jaden's?" She frowned as she asked it, not liking the wording. "I mean, is everyone likely to outright attack or hurt those they're around?"
"No... not at all." He appeared thoughtful then, tapping a finger on his cheek. Seelie are less prone to becoming violent... but neither Court will actively hurt those they care about. The problem with Jaden is that the ONLY person he's truly close to is the human woman who raised him... and she's been dead quite some time now."
"But... what about Talistan?" Trio blinked, then realized she hadn't seen the other man in quite some time. Then again, she hadn't seen Jaden in quite some time, either...
"Talistan and Jaden have... an interesting relationship." Naukhel felt it prudent to just leave it at that. "Neither of them really has any delusion that there's anything more there than convenience."
"Oh." Trio blushed faintly, frowning. "Naukhel... I met a woman called Naien the other day. She had a card from here... and a new baby girl that she seemed completely clueless about."
Smirking, Naukhel nodded. "Alicorne. I remember that relic. I give them the cards to lead them here, should they have questions."
"She's got a few," Trio nodded, tilting her head. "Um... should I send her here? After what happened, I wasn't really sure."
"Of course. Jaden is doing much better now, and he'll be back to his old self after a day of rest." Naukhel snickered, shaking his head. "Getting him cleaned up was an adventure."
Trio blinked, then smiled softly. "Can I see him when that's happened?"
"You can see him now if you like." Naukhel pointed down the hall towards the cracked open bedroom door. "He's in there. Watch out for Aeriel though. She bites. Hard."
Trio grinned at that. "She takes after her mother, then," she noted, looking at Naukhel for another moment before nodding. "If you're sure he won't mind?"
"Go on... he'll probably enjoy the company." Naukhel got to his feet then, taking the cups and moving with them to the sink.
Trio nodded, heading toward the room with a hesitant smile. "Knock knock?" she asked, pausing at the doorway.
"Come in," came the familiar voice... and with its familiar jovial tone, even if it did seem a bit weary. Jaden looked much better than he had, the satyr dressed in his normal shorts and a sleeveless top. The unruly black hair had been washed, combed and re-braided, the dangling lengths jingling slightly as he moved, thanks to the charms and jeweled drops that hung along the lengths and the ends. All in all, he seemed to be back to his normal self.
"Hey," Trio said, slipping into the room with a quiet smile. "I hear you're feeling better?"
The satyr had an almost sheepish look on his face as he nodded, and patted the edge of the bed with one hand. "Come sit... I promise I won't do anything." He looked up to her then. "I want to apologize for my behaviour the other day... there was no call for it, and if I'd been in full control of myself, I promise you, I'd never have dreamed of doing something like that."
Trio smiled at him, the hesitation fading at the apology. "Naukhel explained," she assured him, sitting on the bed where he'd directed. "And nothing happened to me beyond a bit of a scare. I'm fine, so don't worry about it, okay?" she added.
"I still worry," he said, looking guilty as his hands rested in his lap. he was sitting up in the bed, pillows piled behind him and it looked as though he'd been reading. The only indication that they weren't alone in the room came in the form of a soft growl somewhere in the vicinity of a heap of blanket a few feet away from where Trio sat.
Trio smiled at the growl, hesitating a moment before reaching out to lay a hand lightly on Jaden's arm. "Try not to? Everyone's fine... though I think sometime when things aren't so serious, Sankouri wants a rematch with Aeriel." That last was said with a wide grin.
Aeriel snorted, the blanket wufting out a few inches in one spot and letting Trio know where the zurui's nose was. "Bring it on."
Jaden just chuckled, reaching and ruffling the blanket for a moment. "I don't know... I'd never seen her like that before. I think she was trying to protect you."
"It's easy to see both her father and mother in her," Trio smiled softly, reaching out to rest her hand just beyond the nose in a show of trust. "San didn't hurt her too badly, did he?"
The blanket nipped at Trio's hand, then retreated back into a ball. "No, she's not too bad. Just a bit pissy still from where she had to get a bath after rolling around in the dirt. She didn't have any wounds at all, really, except a few scratches and bumps."
Trio smiled warmly at the bundle before looking up at Jaden. "I'm glad you're better. I'm sorry I made things worse for a little while."
"You didn't..." he answered, looking at the bundle instead of at her. "It was just the way things were at the time, and I was having difficulty adjusting to being back here. I'm usually 'twitchy' for a day or two afterward."
"When you've rested some, if you don't mind, I'd like to bring the girls by to visit?" Trio asked. "It's been a while since you've seen either of them."
"Either?" Jaden lifted a brow then, tilting his head to the side. "Naukhel didn't give you another relic, did he?"
Trio blinked, then grinned abruptly, reminded. "No, no other relic. Shiro and I are getting married soon. And about the only place that Annora goes without Etain is singing lessons."
"Really?" Jaden beamed a smile then, grinning from ear to ear. "Congratulations, then! And you'll have to let me know how they like being sisters, yes?"
"They seem to like it pretty well," Trio nodded, grinning back. "I was worried about Annora for a while - she seemed really upset about something, but she's back to her old self now. She came to me determined to be an opera singer." She laughed then, leaning back. "I don't even know where she got the idea."
Smiling, Jaden nodded and leaned back against the pillows. "It'll be good to train her voice now, before she really comes into it. And make sure she knows that she'll be able to influence people with her voice when she's older, likely. If she's aware of what she can do, and responsible about it, you should have no problems."
"There'll be some problems," Trio countered, smiling softly. "It's part of life that problems exist. But I'll do my best to teach her about what she can do, and how to be responsible." She watched Jaden for a moment, then tilted her head. "Is there anything I can bring you, next time I come?"
"Not that I can think of, offhand," he answered, resting into the pillows with a smile. "I'm just now starting to get bored, and I'll be up and around in a day or so." As he spoke, the blanket moved and the five-tailed zurui came out, slinking towards Jaden and draping across his chest.
Trio grinned at that, admiring the zurui for a moment before rising. "I'll bring the girls and Sankouri next time I visit," she promised, reaching out to pet Aeriel briefly. "And I'll make it soon."
The zurui apparently didn't want to be petted, and snapped at Trio's hand as it got closer. Only Jaden's hand coming to rest on her muzzle stopped her from persuing the effort, with only a small growl coming from the fox.
"I'd apologize for her, but it would be pointless," Jaden said, shifting his hand to pet the bristling animal. "She's better with you than she is with Naukhel."
Trio's hand pulled back abruptly, but she didn't jump. "Her mother used to bite everyone. Still bites most people, though she's seemed to stop chewing on her mate quite so often," she returned with a chuckle. "Aeriel, thank you very much for trying to protect me."
Aeriel looked up at her, ears pricked forward despite the way her body clung to Jaden's. "You didn't listen," she muttered, tails fluffing slightly and wrapping around herself.
Trio nodded. "You seemed a bit... less than coherent," she returned gently, before moving to the door. "I'll see you both again soon."
"Thank you, Trio," Jaden said, watching her go before curling up on his side with one arm draped over the zurui.
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Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 12:28 am
It wasn't that Annora didn't like the new house. On the contrary, she loved it. Here, she didn't have to share all her space with others and Daddy didn't go home half the time. But today had been a weird one. Today was the day that Mama and Daddy had left for a week away, and Az and Hun Min had been left in charge. But Hun Min went home at night, too, and only Az was here. Annora sat in her bed, the dim light of the night light casting odd shadows over the wall as she listened to the door close behind Hun Min. It was late - late enough that as soon as he'd locked the door behind the Juusanshi, Aziraphale was making his way to his own bed. Annora listened to his footsteps down the hall and up the stairs, and waited until his door had closed.
After that, the sounds seemed that much worse. Each creaking or tapping was so much louder when Daddy and Mama weren't around! Finally, when it had neared an hour that Aziraphale was silent, and Annora was jumping at each individual sound, she slipped out of bed, creeping to the door. Cracking it open, she saw nothing but a dark hallway, full of shadows that she didn't really like the looks of. But she knew where she was going. Her tiny body slipped out of the room, pushing the door shut behind her distractedly as she hurried across the hall. Five feet, and she was slipping into another door, closing it tight and sighing in relief.
Etain was still awake, herself, her windows wide open as she perched on the windowseat on the loft. When her door open, she blinked, then leaned over the edge of the loft. "...Annora? Issat you?" The sylph sounded horribly sleepy, but her bed hadn't even been turned down for her to get into it.
"Uh-huh," Annora nodded, moving to climb up into the loft. "Thought you were asleep," she admitted, as she reached it.
One more pillow was settled on the window seat for Annora as Etain snuggled into the one she herself was hugging. "Can't sleep," she confessed. "Everything seems really dark."
"Quiet," Annora agreed, her own thoughts obviously focused on sound more than light. She curled up on the seat, leaning against the wall.
"Why'd Mama and Papa go away for a week?" Etain asked, poking solemnly at the open windowsill.
"Az said it was a honeymoon," Annora said, hesitating before tilting her head. Clearly, Etain wasn't any more okay with it than she was. "He said they needed some time together."
Etain sighed, wings buzzing for a moment as she looked up at Annora. "Why don't they want us to be there too? Don't they miss us?"
"I dunno," Annora frowned, looking at Etain for a moment before shifting her pillow away. "C'mere," she directed, waving Etain toward her.
Obediently, Etain crawled across the seat over to Annora, plopping down in front of her.
Annora reached out, dragging Etain into a cuddle. "Can I sleep in here tonight?" she asked quietly.
Etain willingly snuggled in with Annora, quite assured of the fact that her big sister wouldn't let anything bad happen. "Of course!"
Annora smiled softly, closing her eyes and just listening. Now that she could hear something other than the creaking and tapping, the house seemed oddly safer. "Can I sleep in here tomorrow, too?"
"Uh-huh. An' the day after that an' the day after that." And then Papa and Mama would be home, right? At least, it seemed like that was around the day they'd be home.
"Okay," Annora smiled, relaxing. A moment later, a huge yawn split her face. "Maybe they'll bring us stuff."
"Mmmmhm... Like a big teddy bear..." Etain was about ready to fall asleep right there on the windowseat. It wouldn't be the first time she did that.
Annora giggled, scooting down so that she was more comfy. "And a necklace."
"An' a butterfly," Etain mumbled contentedly. "An' a fishie."
Annora yawned again, her eyes drifting shut as she felt sleep begin to claim her. "An' opera," she muttered, before sleep won out.
"Lotsa opera," Etain agreed, then fell asleep against Annora, feeling rather safer than before.
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Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 8:22 pm
Annora kicked her feet in the pool, watching Makana play nearby. Etain was off with her father, getting another flying lesson, and she'd just come back from her singing lessons. She liked the new house, now that Mama and Daddy were back. It wasn't as crowded as the old one, with all the pards and pixas and people milling around. There were some curious birdlike creatures there with metal feet that Mama called "Dreams", but watching them usually made her feel good. And they were friendly, too, coming to rest on the ground near her and chirp. And Daddy's zurui pack had come to live in the yard, patrolling it for people. And Aziraphale lived in the house with them. Annora liked Aziraphale. He enjoyed listening to her sing, even if he couldn't himself, and he almost always had something yummy baking. And Hun Min helped watch them during the day.
Annora also really liked her room, which had been decorated with her help. There was no water in it, but Mama had been certain to put a windchime just outside the window near her bed, so that on windy nights, it was supposed to sing her to sleep. And she had a pretty couch where she rested sometimes, and Mama had set up a small computer for her and showed her how to use it to play the music Mama put on. There wasn't as much stuff there as there was in Etain's room, but Annora spent most of her time either IN Etain's room or outside, playing in the yard. They had a pond AND a pool in the yard, and a fountain that both parents told her she shouldn't play in (though she did anyway sometimes, when they weren't looking). And in the backyard, if you played on a windy day, you could hear Kikuei's chime collection from his windows, and that just made the yard so much better, too.
Lately, ever since Mama and Daddy had gone on their honeymoon, Annora had taken to sneaking into Etain's room after they were all in bed. It wasn't difficult to do, and she liked to be with her sister. It helped to make her feel better against the creepies that the dark brought. Etain didn't sneak into her room nearly as often, but that was okay. There was more to do in Etain's room, and since she couldn't have her water indoors, it made Etain feel better to have her air.
As Etain and Shiromaru came to a landing, Annora jumped up, ignoring the way the grass and dirt clung to her wet feet as she darted toward her sister for a hug. "C'mon! Let's play," she demanded, even as she leaned in for a quick hug for Shiromaru as well. Certain things were important, after all.
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Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2006 3:06 am
Quinn had gotten so caught up in the day to day trials and tribulations of life that she had neglected taking the boys out for a day of fun for some time. Belen was growing quickly, as amphibians are apt to do, so now, he and Moss were of a size with one another, though the canine boy was just approaching his toddling years. Vowing today would be the day that she and the boys would have a bit of fun together, Quinn called Trio and asked her if she might like to bring her girls out to play with the boys. Belen spoke of Makana often -- quite taken with her after just one meeting and he would make his purr-noise whenever he spoke of her.
Loading the boys into their double stroller, Quinn ambled down the sidewalk to the previously arranged meeting place -- a park with a big, wooden play fort, slides, swings, teeter totters, the works! Placing Moss down in the sandbox where she could keep an eye on him, she freed Belen to scramble about at will, warning him not to go to the spash pad or the wading pool without permission and supervision. He did have a penchant to run off when water was concerned.
Trio and the girls arrived about ten minutes later, Trio stepping out of the car and moving to unhook the girls from their respective carseats. "Hey there," she called, once the two toddlers were scrambling their way onto the playground, leaving her to pad behind a little more slowly. She hadn't changed much, but for a bit of jewelry (two silver rings on her left hand and a pretty green pendant that nestled just in the center of her chest.) "How goes?"
Annora was beaming, already humming something not too far offkey and bouncing her way to the sandbox. Makana, on the other hand, was slower, seemingly captivated by something in her pocket rather than by her surroundings.
Quinn waved as the trio approached, laughing as she thought of Trio in a trio. She dug about in her capacious diaper bag for a bottle of water and proffered the beverage before responding, "Not too bad. We've been stuck in the house for too long. Glad that I could finally get the boys out. Belen has been speaking of Makana non-stop since they met, so hopefully this will make him happy! And you know how Moss loves his girls! I'm going to have my hands full with that one..." She reached out and took Trio's hand in hers, running a thumb gently over the rings and lifting an eyebrow, "Got something you want to share?"
Moss gave Annora a drooling grin as the siren approached him. His love for all things female was boundless and this little girl could sing too, another of his favorite things. Waggling a sand shovel at her, he called out, "Sit! Sit!"
Belen eyed Makana with interest, gesturing her to join him and purring for all he was worth.
The smile that answered that sly little question blinded about as well as the sun, and Trio sat back. "We got back not long ago. You remember Shiromaru, right?" she asked, her right fingers moving to toy with the rings. They still felt so strange, having both on her hand at once.
Annora snickered, moving to flop down in the sand. "Building something?" she asked, reaching out to scoop up a handful of sand and she sprinkled it over one leg.
Makana blinked at the purr, finally looking up and pausing. He looked awfully familiar, but he was so big, and what she was thinking of had been a tiny little thing. But he could purr, and that was a good thing! With a shy look, she moved closer, cupping her hand carefully over her coveralls pocket.
"Of course I remember! How could I forget?! The two of you were such life savers when Moss first arrived. I think there might be a shrine to you somewhere in the depths of my house." She chuckled a bit at that and indicated the necklace, "Did Mr. Cassanova get you that too? If he's got extra money lying around, I wouldn't mind a few shinies." Her grin began to challenge Trio's for hugeness.
Moss considered Annora's question carefully, for it hadn't occured to him to build anything. Watching her sprinkle sand on her leg, he got an idea and scooped a big shovelfull on her other leg, "House. You house."
Belen cocked his head to the side, magenta gills flopping. "Whatcha got?" He reached behind him on the play fort and grabbed his water bottle, using it to moisten his skin and gills.
Trio laughed, leaning back a little. "If he got you one, you and I would have to go rounds," she teased, sticking out her tongue. "I'm afraid we're too busy putting money aside for schools and such to worry about many more shinies, but it is traditional to have a ring when you get married."
"I'm not a house!" Annora said, laughing and shaking her head at Moss. She watched him pile the sand on, curious about what he was doing all the same. "I'm a silly girl!"
Makana blinked. He was definitely different from the tiny thing she remembered. He could talk! Carefully, she withdrew a tiny, rust-colored kinoko and held it in her palm. "This is Mouse," she said softly, adjusting the glasses she wore a little.
"I suppose you're right... but just keep me in mind, you know, if you have some homeless shinies." She laughed at that and took a swig from her own water.
Moss' forehead wrinkled as he searched for the proper word, "House for you. Yes. Silly girl house." He nodded and smiled and shoveled on a bit more sand.
While no longer tiny, Belen wasnt very big either. He stepped forward slowly, so as not to scare the creature and gazed at it, eyes level with Makana's palm. "Pretty," he cooed quietly. And after a pause, "What's it eat?" He had developed language all at once, so it still took him a bit to come up with what he wanted to say sometimes. Quinn had to enforce that he not resort to grunts just to ensure his speech was maintained.
Trio grinned, lifting her face to the sun. "I'll definitely keep you in mind," she promised, feeling the faint pulsing warmth of the green pendant. Homeless shinies. That was a remarkably good name for them...
Annora reached out, patting Moss' head lightly before nodding. "Silly opera girl house," she decided, and as soon as he was done with one leg, she began to carefully decorate it with musical notes. "What about your house?"
Makana hesitated, then held out Mouse a little more toward him, one pawpad gently petting the mushroom-creature's top. "He eats candy. And dirt. Mama said he eats dirt, too."
Leaning back on the bench, Quinn watched the kids play, happy that she was finally able to get them out of the house and basking a bit in the warmth comming from Trio's happiness.
"Moss house?" He cocked his head, puppy ears rising and he pointed the way they had arrived. "Moss house there!" He crawled closer to her and made an awkward attempt to snuggle into her. He liked being close to girls. "What opp-rah?"
"Mom has candy! MOM!" He bellowed, the sound comming out much louder than one would have thought possible. Quinn's ears perked at the sound and she sat bolt upright, scanning about for the emergency.
"What?! Belen? Are you ok?!" She called, as he scampered up. Seeing no obvious injury, she quietly and not very seriously debated giving him one in retribution for the fright.
"Can I have candy? Not for me, for Mouse. You can rub it in the dirt if you want. He's like those things in the garden... with the big hats..."
"Big hats...?" Quinn thought a moment before realizing he meant the mushroom people. Digging into her pocket, she produced a handful of hard candies of various flavors and handed them to the little axolotl. "You may have one too, if you would like. And share with the others, if they want some too."
Belen ran in his lurching way back to Makana, proffering the candy the entire way.
Makana's ears flattened as Belen shouted, and she twisted, curling a protective arm around Mouse as her tail puffed to twice its normal size. The sound had shocked her, and when he went loping off, she carefully uncurled, tucking Mouse in her pocket with a worried look. Her ears were still flat, and tail still poofed when he returned, and as he ran toward her, she took a few hesitant steps back, huge gold eyes simply watching him.
Trio, too, had been startled with the loud yell, but a quick check on both the girls and their two playmates had calmed her, and she settled back against the bench, toying with the green crystal as she willed her heart to calm. Silly to get so shaken up over such a little thing. "What'd he want?"
"Opera's when someone sings and they're really good and can sing a long long time and they break things with their voice," Annora explained, awkward arms coming up to snuggle back. Most of her own siblings weren't quite such cuddlebugs, except maybe for Etain.
Belen slowed and his chin tucked down, finally gathering the visual cues of discomfort that Makana was presenting. "I just wanted to get him some candy. You don't have to be all poofy... Mom says that if kitties are poofy that means they are scared. You are a kitty, right?" He wiggled the candy out, trying to entice her, making teenie purrs.
"Just some candy... and perhaps to give us heart attacks..." She rolled her eyes. "You are so lucky to have girls."
"Ooooo!" Moss sang shrilly, left eye squinting as he tried to sing higher and longer. Finally, he burst out into a pant, tongue lolling in a particularly doggie way. "Moss no opp-rah good. 'Nor good? 'Nor sing Moss."
Makana hesitated, then crept forward, protecting Mouse the whole while. "You got loud," she accused softly, but her ears were beginning to creep forward, and her tail wasn't lashing quite so hard anymore.
Trio raised an eyebrow at that, snorting. "If you don't think they can be hellions... think again," she informed Quinny.
Annora hesitated, wrinkling her nose at the shrill sound. Once Moss was done, she stood up, drawing in a deep breath as her new teacher had taught her and remembering that high wasn't always good, especially if she didn't want to break something. So she settled for about a half-octave lower than Moss, using all her skill to make her voice ring out clearly through the playground.
"...I rest my case," Trio murmured, when they could hear again.
Belen's voice dropped even lower, barely audible, especially over the racket Annora was making. "I wont get loud no more. We got them things in the garden, so I wont hurt it. Promise. Want to feed it? I got candy." He tossed the candy a bit in his hands so it bounced and glinted in the afternoon light.
Quinn chuckled as Moss laughed and clapped. "Moss like! Moss like! AGAIN!"
Makana relaxed as Belen's voice dropped. She was used to Annora's din, though she hated it, and moved a little farther away, to where there was a bit of dirt peeking out of the grass. "Over here. Sit down first," she directed, kneeling and lifting Mouse carefully out of her pocket.
Annora drew a breath to sing the note again, and was stopped with a "No!" from Trio. "Honey, why don't you sing one of your other songs," Trio added, when Annora looked upset. "Itsy Bitsy Spider?"
That brightened her right back up, and she began to sing, flopping down into the sand once more.
Belen skiddered over and sat, plopping because he couldnt use his hands. He really wanted to go play in the water, but he wasnt sure Makana would like that.
"What Spider? Teach Moss Spider?!"
Makana gently set Mouse down in the dirt, watching for a moment as it wriggled and leaned forward, falling into an odd little somersault when it overbalanced. She righted it patiently, ears perked for any hint that they weren't safe. And only once Mouse had calmed a bit did she reach out a hand for a piece of candy. "Red candy," she directed. "He likes red."
Annora blinked. Teach? Was that like when Anni was teaching her? Puffing out her chest with self-importance, she lifted one finger. "First, stand up."
Belen dug about in his pile of candy, popping a green one in his own mouth while handing a red one over to Makana. "Here ya go!"
Moss stood tentatively. The sand was difficult to manuever in, but he wanted to learn. "Spider!"
Makana beamed, carefully unwrapping the red candy before handing it to the little mushroom creature. The wrapper went into her back pocket, well away from where it could contaminate his dirt in her chest pocket, and she grinned widely at Belen. "He has a big pot of dirt at home, and some flowers. Mama says that I can get him a couple more soon."
Annora frowned. Wait... what came next? Oh yes. "Take a deeeeeeeeeep breath," she said, then noisily sucked in a breath herself.
"We gots lots of flowers in the garden... you could probably have some." He sucked in deeply, preparing to bellow for his mother, before remembering that he had promised to be quiet. Instead, he lumbered over to where he had left his water, and gave himself a good dousing before returning to sit next to Makana. "We can ask her later," he added, sagely.
Moss' chest puffed out in his effort to suck in enough air. His little hands were in fists, held out to steady himself and his cheeks were puffed out as well.
"Daddy grows lots and lots of flowers all over the place," Makana murmured, though as she thought about it, she couldn't really remember her father doing much gardening. "They're on trees and really pretty. They're pink," she added, then paused, peering at Belen. "Do you like pink?"
Annora finally stopped, letting all the air out again before drawing another, much calmer breath and beginning. "Theeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee itsy bitsy spider...," she sang, then trailed off, waiting for him to sing it, too.
Belen flopped his glaringly pink gills and smiled, "YUP! Do you want a candy? Or... or..." he looked about himself, trying to find something to give her. She was just as great as he remembered. He had enjoyed standing on her nose, but he was a little too big now. Spotting clover in the grass, he picked a few of the flowers deftly and began weaving them like Quinn showed him. He held up the little crown proudly, face falling as his gift crumbled. He tossed the flowers, grumbling, "You didn't want a stupid flower crown anyway..."
Moss exhaled loudly, trying to copy everything Annora did. He then inhaled and sang, "DAAAAAAA ITTY BITTY SPIDERRRRRR" looking at her expectantly.
Makana blinked at the Belen's scramble, watching him curiously for several long minutes before reaching out and taking one of the flowers he'd tossed. "Thank you," she said softly, offering a shy smile as she stuck it just beside one large ear. Wasn't Annora usually the one everyone was fawning over? And Etain, and now Nico, not that she could blame them with Nico because he was so cute and tiny and fluffy. But this was an entirely new experience for her, and self-consciously, she lifted her hand to readjust her glasses once more. "How'd you make them connect?"
Annora beamed. Here she was, a brand new teacher, and already he'd learned the first line! Wouldn't Anni be proud? "Went up the waterpout," she continued, and only the fact that she'd repeated the song over and over until Trio was fair cringing over on the bench already ensured that she pronounced things as well as she did. What was a missed letter here and there?
Belen blushed a fuchia to match his gills as Makana retrieved a flower and placed it behind her ear. Suddenly shy, he played with his hands and explained under his breath, "You just kinda wind um... but I'm not good at it..." His gills drooped a bit, his voice dropping off.
"WENT UP DA WATERPOUT!" Moss sang loudly, perhaps too loudly to be actual singing, but he was having fun. Ear perking, he dropped his voice and asked, "What waterpout?"
"Show me?" Makana asked, glancing over to ensure that Mouse was happily sucking on a corner of the candy. "I wanna learn."
Annora drew herself up to explain, then blinked, one finger lifted in the air as she realized she hadn't the first clue what a waterpout was. Or a waterspout, for that matter. "MAMA!!!!" she called instead, at the top of her lungs.
Trio, rather than panicking, just got a resigned look on her face and pushed herself up. "My turn," she noted, as she made her way to her daughter. "What is it, sweetie?"
"What's a waterpout?" Annora demanded, then looked at Moss to see if he had any other questions while Trio was there.
Belen's flush went even deeper, if that was possible, but he picked out a few clover and tried to show her. "You have to make sure that the stems are long and then you hold them like this," he held the flowers so that their stems were pointing in the same direction and they were offset, one flower head about half way down the stem of the other. "And then you wind them up so they stick together and then just keep adding flowers til they go in a circle and connect... Its kinda hard."
"Why water sad? Why pout?" Moss added, nodding with exhuberance.
Makana nodded, trying to manipulate the flowers. But paws that were oh-so-delicate when caring for Mouse weren't very good at winding flower stems. She wilted as she continually messed up, looking up at him with huge, sad eyes. "I'm not as good at it as you are," she murmured.
"Not waterpout, waterspout," Trio corrected. "It's a place built into the ground where water comes out when you turn on the faucet."
Wanting some way to make it better for her, Belen reached out and tried to help, too young to blush when his hands touched hers. "Maybe if you use your claws more..." he offered, unsure but wanting her to smile again.
"WATERS! Bell Bell like waters! 'Nor want swim?"
Makana watched him, eventually just handing them over. "I'll get daddy to really teach me," she decided. "So that I can make you a crown next time, okay?" Her smile was shy but warm.
"Swimming?! Let's go, where is it?" Annora demanded, bouncing on her tiptoes. Nevermind that she didn't have a suit. Who cared if she went naked? It was WATER.
A smile. He sighed and doffed his shirt, wrapping the flowers gently within its folds. It was suprising that he had kept the thing on this long. His gills perked back up and flowed in the breeze. "Do you... do you like water? Its ok if you dont, I was just wondering..."
"MAMA! MAMA! WATER!" Moss called, toddling as quickly as he could to Quinn. "'Nor want waters. We 'plash now?" Moss knew that somewhere here was a big colorful area that squirted you and shot water about if you hopped around on it. He loved it.
Quinn looked over to Trio, wanting her opinion on the activity.
Trio looked mostly resigned, shaking her head. "I think Makana and I are likely outnumbered," she murmured to Quinny. "Is there water around?"
Annora was right on Moss' heels, bouncing and humming cheerfully. Wait'll she told Etain about THIS!
Makana wrinkled her nose at the thought of water, gathering Mouse and his candy up. "No. It feels funny on my fur," she explained, grooming a bit of candy-sticky from said fur before getting up. "Annora's loud today."
Belen stood quickly, "Where are you going? Did I do something wrong?" He held the shirt wrapped bundle carefully, not wanting to spoil the flowers it held.
"There's a splash pad down the hill. Its more sanitary than the wadding pool. Bell, honey. Do you want to go to the splash pad?"
Belen replied curtly, "No thank you. It feels funny on my skin." No matter that she had caught him mid douse. He was determined to make Makana like him again.
Makana blinked at him, tilting her head. "You like water, don't you? Like Annora does," she pointed out the girl who was already bouncing and tugging their mom toward the water. "Aren't you going with them?" She didn't seem particularly upset. Just completely confused.
"Not if you dont want to. I want to play with you. I can always swim at home later. But you're special." Again, his voice lowered as he spoke, the last word comming out in a shy little whisper. He was too young to be twitterpated by her, but old enough to know he liked her a whole lot.
Makana blinked, this clearly being a foreign concept to her. "I am?" she asked, head tilting curiously. "But Annora's going to swim. And she can sing." There wasn't much bitterness in the words. More than that, really, she seemed very matter of fact, as though these two things should mean that of course Annora got more attention than she did.
"So can the radio... and Mom and lots of other people. And like I said, I can swim everytime. You're the only other person I know that can purr, though. You taught me. I remember. And I bet Annora doesn't have a cool mushroom person. And I bet she wouldnt even try to make a flower crown." He nodded, being matter of fact himself.
Makana was smiling very shyly at him now, gold eyes alight with pleasure at the words. Though... she did have to correct one thing. "Annora would love flower crowns," she said. "She'd make them all the time for Etain." The rest, however... "Maybe... I can put my feet in while you play?" There. That was what her mom called a compor...compre... good way of working things out.
"Only if you want to... But since we're with Moss, we'll probably just go to the spash pad. So you dont even really have to get wet and you can still play. Just dont jump on the colored parts or stuff squirts... though, if you watch real close, you can hop on certain spots and squirt someone far away from you. That's kinda fun." He was purring now, in his funny way, the sound odd comming from an amphibian and a little nasal since he lacked the proper mechanism. "We can play something different too. I dont mind. I want to do what you want to do."
"Can you show me how to squirt other people?" That sounded like a great way to actually play with her sister the way her sister liked, for once! Ears now perked again, Makana moved to follow the others, reaching out to catch Belen's hand. "I like your purr."
Quinn called back to Belen, "You sure, crabby pants?" Their was a smile on her face, so she knew he would know she was joking. Seeing the boy following, hand and hand with Makana, which she quickly pointed out to Trio with a grin, she scooped up Moss and made her way down the hill. She set the emerald boy on the padded part, in a big blue square. "Play nice, sweetie."
Belen was quick to entwine his fingers with Makana's, offering a, "Thanks!" followed by a, "Wow! You're soft!" before skipping after the others. "The trick is to watch for a bit. I'll run all around and you can see where the water comes out. Sometimes, it comes out close by and sometimes far away depending where you are. So you watch me and then you can see where to go!"
Makana nodded, moving to sit nearby after depositing Mouse with Trio. She'd fished his leather pouch out of her pocket, so that he could have his dirt and everything, but on impulse went to scoop up a pawful of water to wet the dirt with again, so that it was nice and moist for him. "There," she said, then sat down, watching Belen with sharp eyes.
Annora was already running through like a madwoman, shrieking and bouncing with laughter. Clearly, this place was her cup of tea!
Moss tottered after Annora, squeeing and barking with delight as the water from her jumps hit him.
Belen began very methodically going about the pad -- starting in one corner, hopping to see what happened and then moving a few feet to one side or the other, depending on where he was in his expirament, so Makana could see what happened with each pounce. He laughed if his pounces caused the others to get wet and shook his gills when a particularly big stream soaked him. "Whenever you're ready!" He called. "I'll block you from the water, if we make a mistake." It was a valiant offer, even if he did only come to her chest.
The thought that he perhaps couldn't block her didn't even occur. Her father was a water demon, after all, and could do such things as easily as breathing. Makana moved after him, careful but not particularly skittish now. "Where to first?" she asked, reaching for his hand again.
"That orange square should squirt right by where Annora is now. You jump and I'll jump after you to block you if the water comes. You'll have to crouch though... cause I'm not very tall." He clasped her hand and made his way around the pad to where the direct route to the orange square would be. Calling, "Moss! Get Annora!" so that she would be in the right place and giggling a little as his canine brother clasped Annora around the ankles, barking happily; he moved his arm to kind of toss Makana forward and prepared to leap in her wake.
Makana yelped, laughing as she landed squarely on the orange square and watching Annora get drenched. Her siren sister loved it, clapping and demanding it happen again as Makana immediately crouched down.
Annora got her wish as a moment later Belen landed next to Makana, bent over her protectively. He laughed and exclaimed, "Again!"
"Again, again," Annora called out, bouncing and flinging her wet hair wildly. Makana hesitated, then obliged her sister by leaping straight up, eyes dancing. This was what play was, and she was, after all, still a child!
Laughing wildly, Belen left her side momentarily to run over to Annora, concious to run over on the grass so as not to accidently get Makana wet. "Get me too!"
Makana nodded, jumping up and down repeatedly now and watching the other kids laughing. This was nice, she decided, too cheerful to be selfconscious. Maybe they could do something like this at home, too.
"Do you want to try it, Makana? That little one over there," he indicated to the left where a little spout was stuck on a spring comming from a pipe, "that one just does a teenie amount of water, like when it sprinkles. You dont have to, but it might feel good. Its kinda hot out." Belen went back over to where she was, offering a wet and slightly slimy hand. "I'll go with you..."
Makana shook her head vehemently. "I can make it splash on you, though...?" she countered, hesitating over taking his hand.
A tell-tale chiming echoed through the park and Belen's gills quivered with excitement. "ICE CREAM! Do you like ice cream?! I'll buy you one!" All thoughts of trying to expand Makana's horizons were dropped. This was ice cream!
Ice cream. That was something the kitten ADORED, and she darted off toward the sound quickly, completely forgetting where she was. A moment later, she was doused as she hit the very large spray of water, and she froze under it, yowling miserably before stepping out. Once out of the water, her fur clung to her, making her body look a great deal more angular and very oddly shaped. The tears in her eyes were obvious, even as she stood there soaking wet. And Trio rose, tucking Mouse into her own pocket and carefully keeping her lips from twitching as she made her way to her miserable daughter.
Belen was crestfallen as the water hit Makana. He had failed. Utterly and completely. Tears whelled in his own eyes, falling to mix with the water from the splash pad. He had promised to keep her safe....
Quinn made her way over to him kneeling so she would be on a level with him, ignoring for now the trickle of water streaming down her back. "Its ok, Bel. You didnt know..."
Annora, utterly clueless about just why her sister was so upset at being drenched on such a hot day, merely sat and watched, waiting for the drama to unfold.
Makana, on the other hand, crept out of the pad, ears flat against her skull. She shook herself off as best she could, her fur not really meant to be so drenched, and ended up looking like a poofy little rust-colored hedgehog. The ice cream truck was coming closer, but she no longer seemed to care, instead choosing the sunniest spot she could manage and curling up in it.
"Come on, honey. Let's go over there. I've got water in my underpants." She meant the last to illicit a smile, but even that did nothing to improve the axolotl's mood. He followed Quinn, the silence only broken by his sniffles and Moss'' occasional confused barks.
"She's never gonna like me now, Ma. Never in a million trillion bajillion years..." He sat not far from where Makana was, looking at her wistfully.
Trio watched the two for a long moment, then patted Makana on the back before getting up and moving to kneel just behind Quinny, leaning in between them and murmuring, "You know, her favorite thing when she's sad is a story. I wonder if someone might go tell her one..." Impish eyes grinned up at Quinny for a moment before she pulled back.
Quinn returned the look, dreams of the cuteness that was sure to insue dancing patterns behind her eyes. "Bel-bel. I've got an idea, babe. Who tells Moss stories that make him smile better than anyone else?"
"Me..." the boy blubbered.
"Well, a certain birdie told me that Makana loves a story when she is sad. Maybe you could tell her one?"
Belen looked up at her, still feeling dejected, but willing to try anything at this point. Quinn thumbed away his tears and kissed his forehead as the boy regained his feet and ambled over to Makana. "I knew this Farmer once. His name was Farmer Brown and he had a big problem. He had these cows and the cows, they weren't like normal cows. They liked to type."
He sat down near her, waiting to see if she gave him an indication to continue.
Two golden eyes peered up at him from a very miserable face. "Type?" she murmured.
Trio leaned into Quinny. "I'll get the kids some ice cream. Tell me what Belen will eat?"
Quinn leaned back, "It would take less time if I told you what he wouldn't eat. Grape popsicle for him and lime for Moss, please." She handed a $5 out to Trio to cover the cost.
Encouraged, he continued, "Yeah. See, they found this old type writer in the barn and from then on, all the Farmer could hear was 'Click Clack MOO! Click Clack MOO!" He did the moo's with exhuberance. They were his favorite part.
Trio saluted, waving Annora over to help her carry everything back.
A shy smile touched Makana's lips as she listened, uncurling a little bit. "Did he hate it?"
"You bet! One day, he went to the barn to get the milk and he found a note. It said:
"Dear Farmer Brown:
The barn is cold at night. We would like electric blankets.
Signed: The Cows"
"Well this, of course, was very upsetting and the Farmer refused. The next day he went down to the barn and found another note. Do you know what it said?"
Moss crawled into Quinn's lap and sucked his thumb, which he thankfully went for as much as breasts now. This was one of his favorites.
"No," Makana admitted, rolling to her back so that she could watch him more easily. Besides, her front also needed to dry.
"It said: Dear Farmer Brown, There is no milk today. We are on strike. Signed: the cows. Farmer Brown was REALLY mad now. He wrote is own letter back to the cows telling them that they were cows, they would give him milk and they didnt need electric blankets. That's when the cows got the chickens to help too."
"What did the chickens do?" Makana asked curiously, beginning to purr ever so quietly as the story and sun's warmth both settled her.
"The chickens helped the cows write another letter and this time they both asked for electric blankets and the chickens wouldnt lay eggs and the cows wouldnt give milk until they got their blankets. Farmer Brown was tearing out his hair. Cows gave milk! Chickens layed eggs! What was he to do?"
"Why didn't he just give them the blankets?" Makana asked, eyes closing.
"Why indeed." Belen replied sagely. "After several days of no milk or eggs, Farmer Brown wrote the cows and chickens a letter. He told them that he would bring them blankets if they got rid of the typewriter and gave milk and eggs again. The cows and chickens thought this over, decided it was a good idea, and wrote a letter back saying that they would send the typewriter down with the ducks.
Everything was set, the Farmer delivered the blankets, got his milk and eggs and waited for the ducks to deliver the typewriter. They never came."
Makana blinked, eyes opening again. "Why not?" she asked, not even noticing Trio's return.
"The next morning, the Farmer was awakened by a strange sound and a note at the front door.
Dear Farmer Brown: The pond is boring. We would like a diving board. Signed: The Ducks" Belen prepared himself for his favorite part, "CLICK CLACK QUACK CLICK CLACK QUACK!" Moss joined in at the end, for he had been waiting for this part and the boys curled in fits of laughter.
By now, even Makana was giggling, sitting up at Trio's nudging as she was handed a small bowl of vanilla ice cream. "I like that," she laughed, repeating the final phrase after a few moments.
Annora, who'd come in at the tail end, just looked at the others oddly, sucking on a rainbow popsicle.
It seems that the story worked on everyone, for indeed, even Belen's spirits were brighter. Quinn, however, was noticing the pinkness that usually just inhabited his gills had started to move down to his flesh and indeed, was creeping about hers as well. "Looks like its time to get home, boys. Sunburn is a nasty nasty afliction. Tell the girls bye and we can play again another day."
Moss happily barked "BYE BYE BYE" over and over. Belen waved good-bye to Annora, but took his time with Makana, trying to make it perfect. He had only just got her smiling again.
Makana, clueless about his intentions, waved goodbye, still lapping at her ice cream. "Teach me the story next time," she added, with a bright smile, while Annora ruffled Moss' hair.
Trio grinned, moving to sit in the shade while Annora played on the splash pad more and Makana sunned. Today had been quite a bit of fun.
Belen followed Quinn and Moss to where the stroller waited but on a last thought, ran back and kissed Makana on the nose before smiling and calling, "Goodbye" over his shoulder as he skipped back to Quinn and was put in the stroller. The trio left the park, a very hot, but happy bunch.
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Posted: Sat Jun 17, 2006 3:02 pm
Annora Lyris has grown into a beautiful child!
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Posted: Mon Jun 19, 2006 11:22 am
The sidhe leaned against a tree and stared at the house. There were lights on inside but he didn't dare get any closer. The last time he had been in that place and slept in his own bed, he had traded harsh words with the drow that had taken up Jaden's work in gathering and watching over the relics. After that he had set out, determined to find his wayward satyr.
He'd succeeded, but not in the way he'd hoped. He glanced down at his wrists. For the first time since the iron shackles had been placed on Talistan's wrists, they felt heavy. Was he that tired? It was exhaustion he knew, lack of glamour, and something darker that had settled over his being since the full moon had passed some nights before.
Could he walk back through that door without know just what or who was waiting for him?
"...ma-ia-pop pop! Ma-ia-hii, ma-ia-huu..." came a bright voice from nearby, accompanied by a more adult snicker. The voice trailed off a moment later, three figures - one much taller than the others - stopping at the edge of the walk toward the Changeling cottage. The smallest, a dark blue zurui with vivid green eyes, turned that gaze directly on the figure lingering under a nearby tree, but the other two seemed completely oblivious. "Do you think they're home, mama?" came Annora's question, the special headphones moved to lay around her neck.
"Not sure, sweetheart. It's getting kind of late. Maybe we should just come back tomorrow..."
Talistan froze when he realized he'd been spotted. He recognized the human, she was one of the first to visit Jaden and receive a relic. He knew the Zurui as well, a constant companion of the girl's. But, could the other figure with them actually be Annora? The siren had certainly grown since he'd seen her.
He had to chuckle to himself. Perhaps Jaden had been right about giving the relics to the humans and other beings that wandered through Gaia.
Silently, the zurui approached him, and it didn't take long for Annora to spot the dark creatures' movement. Figuring that anyone Sankouri approached would be friendly, she darted over, her mother blinking before moving to stride after her.
"Hi!" came the smiling greeting, the siren waving to Talistan without the least hint of shyness.
Talistan cringed back. He could only imagine how he must look. Dirty, disheveled... like something a cat had dragged in. It was too late to retreat though. The sprinting siren was already on top of him.
"Hello, Annora," he spoke softly. "You've grown so much."
If she was put off by his appearance, she didn't show it. Instead, her chest puffed up at being remembered.
"Talistan? Is that you?" Trio asked, reaching them both a moment later and offering a hand. "It's been ages since I've seen you. Sweetie, you met Talistan when you were very little," she added to Annora, who laughed.
"He said I grew!"
"It's been some time... Trio," Talistan nodded and ran his fingers through his messed and dull hair. "This is the first time I've been here in some weeks. I realized Jaden wasn't coming back on his own so I went to look for him." His gaze moved back to Annora and he gave the excited siren a rarely seen smile. "And I said that because you have, little one. I wager you'll be breaking mortal hearts very soon. Perhaps a few immortal ones as well."
"Noooo," Annora said, as though Talistan had asked her a (rather stupid) question. "I'm not going to break hearts. I'm going to SING," she informed him, nodding firmly to show how determined she was. "I'm going to be a opera singer," she added a moment later, with a proud look.
Trio grinned wryly, waving to the ground. "Like to sit and chat a bit?" she asked, setting her bag down nearby. "Was it hard, looking for him?"
Talistan slid to the ground more than he sat, and leaned back on the tree once he was down. "And you'll be quite an excellent singer," he mused at Annora, wondering just what kind of chaos a siren's song could bring to the world at large. "And no... it wasn't too hard looking for Jaden. Just... time consuming and frustrating."
Annora peered at them both, then decided that Talistan's lap was the perfect place, and planted herself there without so much as a by-your-leave. "Will you come listen to me?" she asked, leaning back against his chest.
Trio watched the two for a moment, a sympathetic look on her face. "You... look like it was very wearing," she finally offered tactfully.
Talistan had to scramble to move his hands and the chain between them back when Annora began to sit. It left him no protection as the young girl landed on his bruised thighs but he gave no indication of the discomfort outside of a wince in his eyes. "O-of course... I'll come and listen to every note," he nodded. He'd thought at first he might ignore Trio's question but decided his silence would probably invite a more detailed inquiry. "Parts of the search were wearing," he did agree with a nod.
Annora beamed at him, snuggling back and completely oblivious to his discomfort. "I'll sing something just for you," she informed him, having only recently become aware that some singers dedicated songs to special listeners. "Etain's gonna make my dress."
Trio eyed Annora for a moment, then murmured, "You can tell her to get off...?"
"Why would I do that?" Talistan shrugged, feigning surprise at the comment. "As long as she doesn't touch my shackle cuffs she'll be fine."
Ignoring the adults' conversation, Annora continued. "Etain and I are making an opera. It's gonna have water and fish and fairies and butterflies and horses and everything," she informed him seriously. "And I'm gonna sing it. We decided."
Trio chuckled, offering Talistan a warm smile. "She's been very enthusiastic about her singing lessons."
"I can tell," Talistan nodded, thankful for the distraction from his appearance. "How is her voice?" he asked Trio, an obvious, leading tone to his words. "Beautiful? Luring?"
"Offkey a lot of the time," Trio said, grinning. "Although that's lessening now that she's in lessons. I suppose a little luring. I have yet to hear anyone complain of her singing, and most, myself included, want her to continue, even when she's off the mark." There was the faintest hint of challenge in her eyes as she watched Talistan. "You ought to see the way she watches over her sister," she added pointedly.
Annora, realizing that the adults were talking, pouted a bit before simply snuggling up to Talistan and humming.
"And she should," Talistan nodded, meeting Trio's gaze squarely. "Sirens are meant to sing. So, who's teaching you, little one?" he smiled down to Annora.
Trio relaxed when Talistan smiled at Annora. That question had raised her hackles, she had to admit, but she KNEW she was raising Annora to value life. She knew it...
"Anti," Annora said promptly, giggling a little. "He's a... um..."
"A Yuniko," Trio cut in, with a smile to her daughter. "He's bonded to Shiromaru."
"A yuniko?" Talistan tilted his head curiously. There were so many strange creatures in this realm, he wasn't surprised he didn't know this particular breed. "I'd thought those nymphs were giving you lessons? But as long as you're happy with your teacher."
"Nymphs?" Trio blinked, trying to recall.
Annora shook her head impatiently. "He's a horseman," she said firmly. "And he's really good!"
"The sirens in that grotto west of the casino," Talistan clarified. He'd only seen the place a few times but it was one of the nice areas in Gaia... plenty of glamour to enjoy. His gaze moved back to Annora and he chuckled. "Well I've never heard a horse sing but I'll take your word for it, little one. I look forward to hearing your voice."
"Ahh," Trio nodded, blushing faintly. "There were some... misunderstandings," she said slowly, her hand going to toy with her wedding ring. "But things seem to be better now."
"I can sing for you now?" Annora offered gleefully, bouncing a little.
Talistan eyed the new ring curiously but didn't ask. He prodded Annora to stand, giving a sigh or relief when she did move. "Sure, little one. Sing a song your teacher has taught you."
Annora beamed, drawing a deep breath before launching into a remarkably on-key version of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star", her eyes closed and a look of utter contentment on her face as she sang.
Trio smiled, leaning back a bit to watch her.
Talistan also listened with rapt attention. The little one's voice wasn't deadly... yet. But he wondered just how long it would be. His eyes wandered over to Trio. It surprised him that she was encouraging Annora to develop her voice. She had to know the dangers. Sometime soon, perhaps he would have to talk with her in more detail... away from Annora's ears.
As Annora finished on an incredibly sharp note, he leaned back and applauded loudly, causing his chain to rattle in approval as well.
Annora beamed, falling into a clumsy curtsey that drew a proud chuckle from Trio. Once done, she flopped down on the grass again, this time beside Sankouri.
"What do you think?" came Trio's soft question, watching him.
"Very well done," the sidhe commented to Annora first before turning to Trio's question. "I think she has tremendous potential. I think you believe that too," he added, giving Trio a knowing look.
Trio considered the look for a moment, then looked at Annora. "Sweetie, would you go over there for a bit, and take Sankouri with you?"
Annora frowned, but nodded, waiting for the Zurui to rouse himself before the two headed just out of hearing range, though not out of sight. Trio waited until they were gone, then leaned forward. "But...?"
"But what?" Talistan relaxed, not bothered if Trio saw how worn he had become.
"But it sounds like you have other things you want to ask me," Trio pointed out calmly, a hint of worry in her gaze as she watched him relax.
"Curiousity mainly," Talistan shrugged and let his head fall back. "What do you plan to do when her true voice begins to come out in her song?"
"Find a way to teach her to control it," Trio said, watching him. "And continue to teach her how precious life is." She looked down at her hands, considering them for a long moment before adding, "I thought about convincing her not to ever sing, but... it's so much against her very nature. And if she doesn't learn how to control it, she'll make mistakes that could hurt others... badly."
Talistan let that sink in for a moment then continued. "Tell me of this 'horseman' teaching her to sing. Does he understand what she is?"
"I believe so," Trio nodded. "Shiromaru and I had a talk with him when we arranged for lessons to begin with." She paused, then added, "He has at least as much understanding as we do."
Talistan bit back a scoff at the innocent statement. Provoking the girl wouldn't accomplish what was necessary to keep Annora safe. "Tell me what you understand about her," he asked in a smooth tone.
"I understand that she could be a danger," Trio said firmly, eyes narrowing. "But that she doesn't have to be. I understand that she's never willingly hurt anyone before this, which leads me to believe there's more to it than simple predisposition. I understand that her voice is a weapon, and that any good weapon needs training and understanding in order to be safe." She paused, then added, rather defiantly, "And I understand that she's a little girl who needs love as much as the rest of us, and she has a family who adores her."
Talistan met the defensive speech with a calm, unreadable expression. After Trio was done and the sound of the night life awakening in the woods behind them had kept the silence away for a few minutes Talistan spoke again. "Perhaps Jaden was not mistaken in giving Annora's relic to you." It was the closest he had come to complimenting any of the caretakers.
Trio opened her mouth to continue, then blinked, mouth gaping for a moment before she finally closed it. It was another moment before she smiled softly, swallowing. "...Thank you, Talistan. For that... and for caring what happens to her."
"Of course I care what happens to her," Talistan sighed, enjoying the cool breeze and the moonrise on the far side of the yard. "I care about all the little ones. I can't help that I question the wisdom in giving them humans. Some humans...." he corrected slightly.
"Hopefully, eventually I'll have your full faith," Trio said quietly, watching him.
"Only time will tell," Talistan shrugged, giving Trio a faint smile, an expression he'd only reserved for Jaden and the little changelings.
She smiled back warmly, turning to look at Annora before waving the little siren back over to them. "I'll bring Shiro and Etain by sometime soon, too, if you'll be around?"
Talistan's silver eye shifted towards the house and a frown pulled at his lips. "I can't say one way or another yet. However, I would like to see this little sister some day."
"You know... you could always come visit us, too," Trio offered softly, brows furrowing in worry. "You'd be more than welcome."
"Once things settle down," Talistan nodded, though his answer was non-committal. "We'll see which way the winds are blowing. The invitation is appreciated, thought."
Trio nodded, hesitating before rising. "We... should probably get home soon. " As she mentioned it, Annora frowned, then moved to fling her arms around Talistan in a tight hug.
Talistan was startled by the hug but didn't try to squirm away from Annora. He patted her gently on the arm and let her hold on as long as she was content to.
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Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 7:46 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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