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 Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2014 8:32 pm
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Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2014 8:33 pm
. Zeke rushes to Duncan's home to pick him up and give him some exciting news.
▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪
Fortunately for Zeke, Duncan was definitely home. A majority of the morning was spent tending to the garden, and the rest of the day was to be used organizing his syllabi for the classes he was to teach that coming Monday. He expected a day without company, which seemed like a fine enough ordeal.
It came, then, at a great surprise when someone knocked at the door. Was it a package? No, postmen usually rang, and he hadn't ordered anything for delivery. Duncan glanced with confusion at his bedroom door before rising, standing, and making his way toward the foyer.
His expression changed from calm befuddlement to complete surprise when he opened the door and found one Zeke Farris there, ever-so giddy, and with a new change in hair color, which made the man seem all the more brighter. Duncan offered a smile and upturned his brows.
"Ah-- Zeke, hello. Did we have something scheduled? I'm afraid I can't remember." If they had, Duncan certainly would've remembered, but there was a chance that his son had picked up a phone call when he couldn't. He glanced curiously upstairs before returning his attentions to Zeke, then stepped aside for the man to enter. "Please, come in."
It was only then that he noticed Zeke's car parked and still near the front. Was there some sense of urgency, or had the boy simply forgotten to turn his car off? Carefully, Duncan smiled and offered politely: "Ah-- I'm sorry, but it looks like your car is still running-- are you in a hurry?"
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Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2014 8:38 pm
. Duncan felt horribly for Zeke. The car ride they’d both expected would take a brief half-hour turned into a journey in its own right when Aina, the newborn and sleeping Frei, managed to lift the lab assistant’s vehicle up from its wheels. Aina didn’t wake for a second throughout the chaos despite the confusion and minor panic that ensued, napping comfortably in the safety of Duncan’s arms while Zeke carefully navigated his (temporary) hovercraft with a cut engine to safety. Fortunately, Zeke’s car managed to stay only a couple of feet off of the ground, and returned to normal by the time they arrived at Duncan’s neighborhood.
In a word, Duncan was fascinated. Strangely, instead of panic, he felt awe; instead of dread, he was curious. This small Frei, who seemed so unassuming and so frail, so small, already contained an incredible magic. He could only wonder what else she had to offer the world.
All of it made him forget that hours ago, when Zeke arrived at his doorstep, he’d sent Mordekai a message regarding the news. With Aina bundled and resting in a blanket nestled securely against his arms, and with Zeke seen properly (and apologetically) off, Duncan retrieved the phone from his pocket. He’d put his phone on silent as soon as they’d arrived at Lab, weary that sudden noises from a strange device would scare the newborn Frei.
He winced. On his screen were notifications of over 20 missed calls from Mordekai. Sheepishly, he returned the phone to his pocket - there was no use calling him now that he was but a few feet away from their home. Fortunately, as it always was when someone was home, the door was unlocked - careful of Aina’s branches, he adjusted the Frei’s head to rest against his shoulder and pushed open the entrance, its hinges creaking with the pressure.
“We’re home,” Duncan called out, tentatively. Not three steps into the door, and Duncan heard heavy footfalls approaching from the living room ahead.
Phone clutched in one hand, Mordekai stared with wide eyes at Duncan and the newborn Frei from across the hall, then proceeded toward them. Mordekai reached forward to give them a hug, grip tight despite his trembling arms, head hidden against Duncan’s free shoulder. “Jesus Christ,” with a breath, he let out an unsteady laugh. “I thought you were dead.”
“I’m so sorry for the scare. I’ll explain it all later,” Duncan replied, and Mordekai nodded, leaning away from Duncan’s shoulder.
“It’s okay.” Duncan saw a glimpse of a wobbly smile before Mordekai hid his face in both of his palms. He smiled with sympathy in return, then glanced at Aina, sleeping still, and swayed her gently in her blanket.
“Aina, there’s someone here to see you,” Duncan gently coaxed, voice low, “His name is Mordekai. He’s very excited to see you.” When the Frei made only a small noise in response, Duncan chuckled, looking back at Mordekai - the blond was still hiding his face behind one hand. “She’s a bit of a sleepy one.”
“Y-yeah-- you should let her sleep,” Mordekai replied weakly, fingers curled against his bangs. He laughed again, just as unsteadily as before. “Bein’ born must be tirin’.”
In spite of Mordekai’s suggestion, the Frei’s wings twitched, and - quietly - she looked back at him. “Well, there she is,” Duncan whispered, tapping Mordekai’s shoulder once more, though the blond retreated and turned shyly away.
“Oh god. Mm-mm,” with a shake of his head, Mordekai faced away from Duncan, both palms covering his face. “I can’t. Gimme a minute.”
“Aina’s gone all this way for nothing?” Duncan asked, grinning playfully as he stepped around to where Mordekai was facing. Aina watched both him and this stranger in silence, and Mordekai laughed despite the heat rising to his ears.
“Not yet,” Mordekai blearily replied. “Y’really named her Aina... that’s good.”
“Yes, Aina. Aina Sabine, as we agreed on,” Duncan smiled wide, and the Frei glanced at the older man when he echoed those familiar sounds. She recognized the sounds as hers, and hers only, and smiled for the first time in her unfamiliar home.
“Aina Sabine. Duncan. Zeke,” Aina spoke, drawing out the syllables in her small voice. “Aina Sabine,” she pointed toward herself; “Duncan,” she pointed toward Duncan. Her gaze wandered toward the door - some part of her knew that Zeke was now very far away. Then, with a frown, she stared at the man in front of her. Did he have a sound, too?
“Mordekai,” Duncan suggested, and Aina smiled.
“Mordekai.” She pointed at the person in front of her. Mordekai was his sound, as Aina Sabine was hers and Duncan was the sound of the person who held her. Mordekai, new, Aina Sabine, hers, Duncan, comfort, home.
“Hi. Mordekai, hi. Duncan, hi,” she offered Mordekai a small wave of her hand; it was what Duncan had done for her to help her smile. When Mordekai didn’t do the the same, she frowned, hands falling to her blanket. “Hi?” she repeated, unsatisfied.
“Uh, just--” Mordekai began, inclining his head. “One more second.”
“Son,” Duncan spoke, placing his hand on Mordekai’s trembling shoulder. “It’s alright.”
“It’s alright,” Aina repeated. Mordekai clutched his fingers against his temple; breathing in, he lifted his hands from his face.
It was red and wet with tears, but he smiled nonetheless.
“Sorry… Aina Sabine, huh?” he wiped his cheeks, laughing clumsily, ”Hi… sorry, got somethin’ on my face.”
Aina brightened, with a peal of laughter of her own. To her, laughter was a lovely sound.
“Hi,” she repeated, slowly at first; “Sorry, got somethin’ on my face.” Mordekai’s laugh lightened in turn.
“Yea, y’got some baby blues an’ a baby nose.” Mordekai reached for the Frei, and Duncan held Aina out for him - the blond held her with all of his gentleness, swaddling her like the infant he understood her to be. Leaning forward, he pressed his forehead against Aina’s. “Duncan, she’s so small. You’re so small, Aina, did you know?”
“Did you know?” Aina repeated, giggling as Mordekai’s bangs tickled her face.
“I do now,” Mordekai replied; nuzzling the Frei’s forehead, smile growing with the Frei’s delicate laughter. “Hi, baby girl.”
“Hi, baby girl,” Aina mimicked, hands reaching for Mordekai’s cheeks.
“Mm-mm, das you,” Mordekai poked her nose, causing her to blink; “Not me.” Leaning away, Mordekai grinned, tears falling from his eyes - Duncan laughed, all warmth and contentment from the voices echoing through their home.
“Welcome home, Aina,” Duncan beamed.
“Welcome home!” Aina cheered. They all laughed, Duncan and Mordekai and Aina Sabine, and the newborn Frei thought it was the most lovely thing in the world.
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Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2014 8:39 pm
. Aina meets Cruz and Anita for the first time.
▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪
November had arrived and winter began to settle timidly into Barton. The gloom seemed to follow up Gambino, too, and Aina marveled the fog quietly from the back seat of Duncan's car. They were going to go meet Auntie Rebecca today, along with cousin Jillette and Jerri. She was curious about them-- she'd only seen them in small photo frames around the house. Curiouser yet, they were also going to stop by to see another Frei friend, Cruz, and Anita, his guardian friend. Their home was on the way to Auntie's, anyway, and Mordekai smiled a lot when he heard their names, which meant they must have been very important.
The ferry ride into Gambino was long and dreary, and it seemed like Cruz and Anita were still a long ways away. The newborn Frei didn't have much energy left in her to fare the rest of the drive with open eyes, so she napped a little while-- by the time she woke up, she was being lifted up from the car seat by Mordekai, and they were in an unfamiliar place. She looked up at the towering buildings blearily as she was left to float at the edge of her seat.
"'Ere we are," Mordekai whispered; he ruffled the Frei's hair and set a backpack down in front of her-- it was huge and bundled with blankets. Aina rubbed her eyes but didn't protest as she was lifted up by Mordekai from under her arms; her ribbon and torso were cozied comfortably into the warm backpack. Mordekai carefully turned around to adjust the backpack straps around his shoulders, but before standing upright again, he wiggled his back a bit.
"You ready?" he asked, glancing back behind him, toward the Frei. Duncan smiled at the two as he watched the interaction from the driver's seat until walking out of the car himself. When Aina nodded, Mordekai carefully stood up and straightened out his back. He looked toward the apartment complexes.
"Onward an' upward, then!" The blond looked back at Duncan and grinned, "Yeah?"
Duncan chuckled, then gestured toward the apartment. "Onward and upwards."
---
Once Mordekai reached the apartment floor they needed to be on, he struggled not to rush toward the door. Duncan was with him, after all, as was a small Frei that was napping contentedly in a backpack he wore across his shoulders. By the time they got to the front of the door, though, Mordekai grinned toward it but seemed to hesitate before doing anything else-- he adjusted his jacket, fixed his beanie, and cleared his throat.
Duncan glanced up toward the man with a curious smile. "Are you nervous?" Mordekai responded with a small laugh.
"No!" he protested, "Just--" he breathed, "Excited."
Duncan laughed in return, then nodded. "I can't blame you."
The two exchanged glances; with that, Mordekai tapped on the door once, twice, then stood back with Duncan.
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Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2014 8:39 pm
. Ethiriel visits Aina and Duncan.
▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪
Aina helped Duncan call a Raevan friend over for tea. They had to go through Mister Knight, first, but he was very polite, and Ethiriel seemed keen on the idea. They were to meet on the weekend, just for a little bit, to get acquainted with one another. Duncan recalled Ethiriel at the Christmas Party and considered her very amiable company, to be sure, though they had only met briefly.
And, though Aina had not met her yet, she was very fond of her name. While Duncan prepared what he needed to for Ethiriel's arrival-- the tea set, the kettle, and an offering of rusted material, the Frei sat swaddled in a blanket at the living room. Her head was just poking out of the blankets, her chin tucked on top of the couch she had taken comfort in.
"Ethiriel," she repeated. Though her voice was quiet, it was much livelier than it had been in the past month-- as the fall was kicking in, so was her energy.
Duncan looked up, surprised at the sudden interjection-- he placed the last teacup on the table and nodded, his smile calm. "Yes, Ethiriel. She'll be here very soon."
"Mm..." Aina's swaddle of blankets slowly slipped from around her horns; the Frei stubbornly adjusted them to wrap around her head again, then rested her cheek against her folded arms. Duncan laughed quietly at the display, then pulled a chair out from the dining table to sit on.
"Do you remember what her name means?" he asked, while folding up a napkin.
"Uhuh," she recalled, her voice muffled against her arm, "Light an' delicate. Pretty."
"Not quite pretty."
"Mhm," Aina protested, nodding against her blanket.
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Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2014 8:39 pm
. Duncan and Aina visit Durem Historical Museum together. They meet Rhedefre under chaotic circumstance.
▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪
Duncan had finally had an opportunity to show Aina to Durem Historical Museum, the place he disappeared to at odd parts of the week. Since Aina's birth, he had precious few moments to spend with Aina alone, but his supervisor had given him his blessings to bring the Frei over for small visit with the staff during work hours. And, while admission was free, a tour was not, and though it was offered as a gift, Duncan declined. Aina, as it were, was not keen on paying attention to anyone for too long.
The halls of the Durem Historical Museum were long and winding, its ceilings glass and high-reaching. There was a cornucopia of art to admire, and despite her quiet, Aina was intent on studying and admiring every piece, curious blue eyes intent on seeing everything. Then, as they reached the very foot of the museum, Aina tugged at the bottom of Duncan's sleeve.
"Hungry," she said.
"Oh, goodness," Duncan murmured.
Duncan wasn't used to Aina's feeding habits, and, as it were, had left her lunchbox at the staff lounge, in the front of the museum. And, while Duncan knzw the Durem Historical Museum was no Smithsonian, no Metropolitan Museum of Art, he also understood that this was going to be a long and arduous trip back indeed.
He held Aina's hand very tightly, so as not to lose her, and begun their journey.
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Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2014 8:39 pm
. Duncan, dressed as a stage magician, and Aina, dressed in pajamas, go to the Lab's Halloween function together.
▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪
Duncan and Aina arrived shortly after the garden opened to everyone. It felt a fair bit silly, dressing as a stage magician at a place where true warlocks were present, but he felt a bit short on ideas.
Aina wore a loose ensemble of silk pajamas, cap and all, a teddy bear tucked underneath one arm. It was a much more fitting outfit than Duncan's, and the sentiment felt all the more punctuated as she stared up with childlike wonder at the jack-o-lanterns hovering above them as they passed the garden gates.
Then, there was noise. Aina's admirance of the jack-o-lanterns diminished somewhat as the ambiance of the party filled her ears. She kept her bowed slightly as Duncan's handhold encouraged her to carry on. She returned a confused glance when Duncan looked back on her, just to check-- this was, after all, her first time at a big gathering.
"It's a bit loud, isn't it?" Duncan asked.
Aina nodded-- the world would have been much quieter if Duncan had picked her up, if she had arms to hide her ears against, but Duncan much preferred walking with her instead. The Frei's nod was confirmation enough, though, and he focused on getting her to the lounge.
"We'll only stay for as long as you'd like, but I think you'll meet a lot of friends here," he smiled, "Both new and old."
Aina nodded again-- she wanted new friends, certainly, but rarely did she know them to be so loud. Instead, she searched the crowd for old friends, Raevans and humans she'd already met in the sanctity of quiet.
And, just ahead, she managed to find one. She was sure of it-- who else had antlers and spoke so magically?
"Cesc."
"Cesc?" Duncan looked down at Aina for confirmation, then glanced back up again toward the stag-- though he was with four other unfamiliar faces, Duncan waved toward them nonetheless. "Cesc! Hello!"
Aina protested with a surprised look up at the older man, but she immediately flicked her gaze down toward the ground again and placed a palm against one of her blushing cheeks. She could scarcely imagine saying "hello, it's nice to meet you" to so many people at once.
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Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2016 8:26 pm
. Far from home, Anita and Cruz ride back with Duncan and Aina to their home to retire for the night.
▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪
For the folks who intentionally avoided the fright filled hedge maze, like Cruz and Anita, the night at Lab's Samhain Soiree was a relatively quiet time filled with mingling and merriment. As time ticked on and a certain rainy frei grew sleepy, a request was put forth to Duncan that they could return to the Clarke home for the night instead. With the garden situated in Durem, it was an easy ride and Cruz decided to take the car with Aina and Duncan while Anita was able to relax and blast some music.
Cruz: -rolls up his tattered ghost sheet from the back of the car and closest the door as Anita pulls up to park behind them-
Anita: -waves as she gets out and offers to take Cruz's sheet- ”Thanks for letting us stay over, Duncan. I just gotta get a couple things from the car.”
Cruz: -hands it over and smiles at the other two- ”Need help carrying anything?”
Aina: -the sleepy Frei she is, was leaning against Cruz while she was quietly falling asleep in the backseats; whines a little bit when Cruz moves out of the car and stays put-
Duncan: -promptly exits the driver's seat once the car is off; to Anita, he smiles- “Of course. You two are welcome here anytime.” -he opens the passenger's seat on Aina's side and glances to Cruz, laughs a bit- “Ah, if you could get the bowls at the front passenger's seat, thank you.” -leans down to pick Aina up, gently- “We're home, Aina.”
Aina: “Mm...”
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Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2016 1:05 pm
. At the same time as Lab's Halloween soiree, the farmhands at Hartline have a party of their own.
▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪
There was a Halloween get-together for workers at Hartline Farms. It lasted from evening until late at night, but folks were told to come and go as they pleased; the only thing Stephen asked of everyone was that they behave and not wear a costume they wouldn't want their boss seeing on a regular. It was BYOB, but with all of the guests bringing something to the table, they had enough bottles at the kitchen counter to supply a small liquor store. Maybe.
Workers at Hartline came and went by the handfuls every season, and if at the end of the year someone stuck around for more than a few months after getting hired, it was reason to celebrate. This year, there was Josiah, Amir, and, of course, Damien Lark. Even with all of the (playful) chaos that followed Damien's addition to the payroll, Stephen (now a zombie) gave him a pat on the back and gave a toast to his efforts.
The party was casual and small, with only seven of the eleven paid staff being present, but Maree tolerated nothing less than it being as loud as it could be, and it was impressive how rowdy Hartline workers could be, given that most of them had seen their 20s off to the wind decades ago. There was drinking and crappy dancing and crappy singing, and afterward, more drinking, then eating, then playing card games and gambling away all their free time and spare cash, of which most of them had barely any.
By night, everyone sat around outside at Stephen's back porch, full and hazy and lit by the bright embers of the fire pit. Maree prodded at what chalky logs remained, and the fire pit coughed up a plume of smoke that surrounded everyone. Seabiscuit, who was lying down between Damien and Mordekai, elected to stand up, whine, and step down from the porch to avoid the ash.
Mordekai: -covers his mouth with his arm and waves the smoke away from around his face, laughs- “Yeesh, y'want me t'do that for ya, 'Ree?”
Maree: -glares up at him- “I got it. You sissies can't even take a little smoke?”
Amir: -coughing and squinting- “This isn't a little smoke! Damn, what did you do?”
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Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2016 1:05 pm
. Leigh, Anita, Cruz, and Johan visit the Clarke-Kantor household for Halloween.
▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪
Halloween was here! It was an exciting time. Duncan made sure to decorate the front of the house somewhat with an array of pumpkins, and the trees turning with the seasons seemed to do the rest. Even with the little amount of effort he took into outdoor decoration, it was frankly much more than the rest of the cul de sac seemed to be invested in-- most of his neighbors were, after all, seniors of his age. They had left the festivities to their children and their children's children, by now, most of whom lived a few miles away, closer to the suburbs and away from the country.
The inside of the house, however, was a different story. But to say that the house was decorated was inaccurate-- no, this house was simply littered in everything candidly Halloween in some sort of fashion that made sense to one person only. That person, being scarcely more than one month old, took to everything that was the shiniest and most colorful immediately, and so an array of candles of various scents and banners of orange and purple and green were thrown about the stairs, ghosts hung from strings and strange corners of the house, and most importantly of all, Jack-O'-Lanterns with strange faces stared longingly into the home like aimless wanderers. Aina did as she pleased and she seemed, for the most part, was satisfied with her work. The most crucial part, however, was yet to be finished.
So she sat at the couch. She was sitting on the couch (and wandering about in between) staring at the foyer since well before evening, wondering when Auntie was supposed to arrive to finish the costume. She glanced back at Duncan and Mordekai, who were in the kitchen preparing food for when everyone arrived. Duncan glanced back at Aina, who was floating and looming incessantly from the couch, and raised his brows.
Duncan: “Are you excited to trick-or-treat with Anita and Cruz, Aina?”
Of course she was! But, shockingly enough, before she could protest, there came a ring at the door. The Frei looked back toward the door and immediately rushed toward it, shouting “Auntie!” in a voice and at a speed much faster than Duncan had ever seen her move. Mordekai glanced back from his cooking with a mixture of shock and awe, eyes wide, and he laughed a bit nervously.
Mordekai: “What's gonna happen if it ain't Leigh? Or 'Nita or Cruz?”
Duncan: “Let's think optimistically, son.”
Without hesitation, the Frei opened the door.
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Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2016 1:06 pm
. Cruz and Aina begin their trick-or-treating quest in the evening, with Anita and Mordekai as their chaperones.
▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪
Before Anita's request, Aina was quick on the draw and had been floating quietly away from the house as quickly as she could. She looked back when Cruz did at the two adults and paused, pouting curiously, then glanced up at the mistletoe Frei with a small smile. She giggled and swung her candy pail, too, which was the standard orange-and-black jack-o-lantern they sold anywhere-- then shrugged.
“I dunno!” she called out, her small voice raised to an excitable shout. Aina glanced back at the rest of the neighborhood, the faint sound of spooky music echoing from the reaches of a house nearby.
A few of the local younger children were already scouting around the neighborhood for treats; some of them Aina recognized, unlike the folks that were distributing the candy. She had only existed for a month, and it was difficult remembering all of the faces that passed by their home to say their congratulations.
Fortunately, Mordekai caught onto Aina's indecision after a few more moments of silence. He pointed across the street, at a home lit from inch to inch with Halloween décor. “How 'bout we start up at Miz'Dianna's place, huh? Sure she'd like seein' your costumes.”
Aina looked back one more time, brightening again-- with an eager nod, she gripped onto Cruz's hand and floated away toward nana Dianna's.
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Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2016 1:06 pm
. Aina, Duncan, and Mordekai celebrate their first Christmas with Anita's family, the Marlenes, who receive them with open arms.
▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪
Prep-work for holidays was always a bit hectic but this year was especially scattered. Not only was there food and gifts to account for, there was nearly double to keep in mind with the merging of two households for this particular Christmas celebration. Duncan arrived with Aina and Mordekai to Gambino mid-morning Christmas day, where they were quickly brought in by Cruz, Anita, and Minerva to get comfortable. Cruz was still doing some last minute wrapping, which he enlisted Aina's help for. Most of the afternoon was spent cooking, the kitchen shared between Minerva and Mordekai while Anita and Duncan did work on some of the remaining cards and the raevans played with Tango.
By around three o'clock, it was time to pile everything they had into their vehicles; Minerva packed the gifts and carefully packaged food stuffs into the back of her silver SUV, with Duncan in the passenger seat and Tango eagerly swaying in the back. Cruz and Aina were delegated to the back of Anita's red Oldsmobile with Mordekai riding shotgun. From the Isle to Durem was a lengthy enough drive; the ferry was a better option considering how jam packed holiday traffic was, which meant a leisurely trip across the water. Christmas jams blared on the classic rock station, which Cruz eagerly sang to almost the entire way – he encouraged everyone in the car to do so as well. He and Aina spent the rest of their time looking out the windows and pointing excitedly at all of the decorations they passed, as well as giggling to themselves when they noticed Mordekai and Anita holding hands upfront.
Thanks to the stop and go once getting into Durem proper, they arrived to Jess' neighborhood nearly three hours later with the sun already sinking for the night. The porch had a warm glow but the stoop was too narrow for all of them to stand together right at the door. Minerva lead the way, with Tango in tow, while the others had their arms full with as much as they could comfortably carry in one trip. As soon as there was a knock, two completely different sets of barks came from the other side of the door. Tango gave a short yip in turn.
Anita: -laughs and rests her chin on top of the boxes she's carrying- ”I hope Keith's ready to wrestle them from the door.”
Minerva: “He better be. I told them we were bringing tons of stuff.”
Cruz: -floats closer to Aina with a wide grin- ”There's two more doggies. They're really nice.”
Aina: -giggles while hugging Tango's side, holding onto one bag herself- “Are they big and fluffy like Tango?”
Mordekai: -brightens and leans forward to hear the dogs approaching a tad clearer; adjusts the boxes of food he has on hand and looks back at Cruz and Aina- “Dunno, his cousins sound littler, eh?”
Duncan: -laughs- “You can tell?”
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Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2016 1:06 pm
. Ethiriel and Henry invite Aina, Cruz, and Cesc to her birthday party.
▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪
Anita's car was a blessed sight for Aina and Duncan both. Duncan parked parallel to the sidewalk in front of Henry's residence, collected their food and gifts (though Aina insisted on carrying the gifts), then walked hand-in-hand with Aina to the porch. Given that the door was already slightly ajar, Duncan walked inside with the Frei and peered around the foyer. There were a few familiar voices in the distance, and Duncan walked toward them, one shy Frei in tow.
"Hello, everyone," he smiled and bowed his head; he deposited food for both Ethiriel and for humans accordingly, though Aina still clung onto her presents. The Raevan glanced up at the decorations that Henry had put up in sheer awe, clinging onto the hem of Duncan's sleeve.
"Pretty..."
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Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2016 1:07 pm
. Ethiriel, Cruz, and Aina visit everyone at The Vermillion with their families.
▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪
Mordekai: -looking up at the entrance- "Don't think I've been here ever! It looks real nice."
Duncan: -laughs and glances over at Cruz and Aina- "We've been here a few times. I believe we brought you some cupcakes from here?"
Mordekai: "Ooh."
Aina: -she doesn't idle for too long at the entrance; swings Cruz's hand and smiles up at him- "You don't have to miss Miss Vivi! She's right here...!"
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Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2016 1:07 pm
. Mordekai helps Henry install a greenhouse to the side of his house, and Aina visits Ethiriel meanwhile.
▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪
It had been in discussion for several weeks now, and finally, building a sun room for Ethiriel was in the works. Henry had spent most of the previous day in the hardware store collecting everything needed – even having borrowed someone’s truck to transport it all. He had spent a good amount of money but he didn’t care, this was all for the silvery Frei in his keep. The nurse had been looking forward to this ever since the idea came to pass, and now it was finally in fruition.
Henry had sent Ethiriel to work with Gabe in the library – he knew she would enjoy the quiet and a chance to practice her braille outside of her own room. It was good for both of them, he thought, and it made worrying about her being alone the opposite of a problem.
By the time Mordekai was to arrive, the nurse had everything set out in their large back yard, waiting for his friend to make it.
Henry: –double checking to make sure he had everything and wouldn’t have to make another trip to the store for the day, basking in the warm April’s sun-
Mordekai: -with a sizable toolbox in one hand, he checks the time on his phone once before knocking on the front door; he steps back and waits, humming-
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