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 Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 10:47 am
Title On Reading and Writing
She has to learn sometime
For the first time in her life, Vidya kept something that happened to her to herself, for now at least. The old woman from the shop severely scared her, and she hadn't quite recovered enough from the strange sense of panic to relay the story to someone else. Naturally, not being able to tell anyone really started to bother her, and when something bothered her, its guarenteed that everyone in the house would notice...and they had. But no matter who asked her what was wrong, she always said the same answer "Oh, I'm alright...don't worry!", and she always gave them one of her smiles, and she always shuffled away, or changed the subject. Everyone got worried, and it was Enoh who decided Vidya needed something to distract herself from whatever it was that was plaguing her.
So, the shifter decided it was time to bring out the books!
"Hey Viddy, How's your reading coming along?" Enoh asked one day, leaning against the doorway of the two tale's room, both of her hands resting on her belly. "Getting the hang of it?" She eyed the tale, who was on her stomach on the bed, waving her feet in the air and looking at one of her books, the same page she'd been struggling with for days...and it was near the front of the book.
"...Yes and no, Momma." Vidya sighed out heavilly. "I only get a little bit of it...I don't really understand most of it. Just the little words." She looked back down at the book, flipping through some pages before returning to the first page, the same one she struggled with. "But I'm trying Momma, I really am!"
"Aw, and I can see that, Vidya! Don't worry about upsetting me...but I think you need to learn how to write to understand how to read...Guess I should've thought of that earlier." Enoh chuckled nervously, scratching her neck softly. Right now, she felt like a really bad parent...but that could also have been her hormones telling her she was a bad Mother, since part of her told her that when Vidya was a toddler, she didn't have the attention span to sit and learn how to read and write. Hopefully now that she'd grown, she'll be able to put up with the wait of learning...and it seemed like she had, since she'd been stubbornly trying to understand that first page for what seemed like ever. "So, whaddya say I teach you how?"
Vidya didn't need much convincing after that. She knew certain things would be SO much easier of she were literate, so she squeaked her okay and bounced off the bed, eagerly following Enoh down into the living room, since it was more comfortable for the pregnant woman. It seemed that she shifter anticipated Vidya agreeing to these lessons, since she had books and paper, along with pencils and erasers spread out on the tabletop.
"Okay, here we go...make yourself comfy Viddy, this is going to take a while." Nodding, the tale sat across from her Author, a stubborn determination in her eyes.
---
From there, the shifter introduced the tale to letters of the alphabet, from 'A' to 'Z', along with their pronounciations and small and capital appearances. Vidya took about five minutes on each letter, writing the same one over and over in both capitals and smalls, repeating how they sound and connecting words that started with that particular letter. At the end of the first round of the alphabet, Enoh had her go through it once more, as slowly as she had before. She was a little shakey this time, as she was quizzed on which letter followed the other, and though she mixed up a few letters, she was at least getting the hang of it; if not a little quickly. On the fourth try at the alphabet, she could recite the entire thing, and surprisingly not get the letter and their appearances mixed up. Enoh then allowed Vidya to have a fifteen minute break for being a quick learner.
After the break was over, the pair returned to the lessons, this time teaching Vidya how to pronounce the letters to get what is actually written. This she was a little easier with, since she already understood some of the pronounciation of words, having learnt how to do so to some words earlier.
Over the next few days, they would go over the alphabet again, and now Enoh would actually take out the book Vidya had been struggling with, and help her through the sentences, and progressively, Enoh would offer less and less help, until Vidya could read, though sometimes painfully slowly, on her own. Speed would come with time, or so the shifter so often informed her. During the reading process, Enoh also taught Vidya the rules to writing, and had the tale either try to correctly copy something the shifter said, or to make something up as she went.
In writing, Vidya proved to be ambidexterous, and she often switched hands during lessons, because the other cramped up for some reason. By the time Enoh deemed the lessons over, Vidya could read and write fairly well, both out of natural talent and determination. Though at the present time, the tale could do neither very fast. Not that it mattered to her, at least she could do it! When Enoh announced the formal lessons were over, Vidya couldn't help but puff up in a sense of pride, accompanied shortly by a little dance and a song made up for this very thing.
---
"So Viddy...Any ideas what you're going to do now?" Enoh yawned, leaning back against the cushions of the couch.
"Yes, I do!" Vidya giggled, leaning her head to the side and giving her mother an eyeless smile, pressing her palms together happily. "I'm going to...write to Armel!" She threw her arms out to the sides and then bounced to her feet, giving her author a kiss before dashing out of the living room and upstairs, now going to write her OWN letter for the return gift!
In the end, Enoh had been right; whatever it was that had been bothering Vidya was now lost in the determination of learning how to write. And, hopefully, the tale would realize that writing is a tool to get things off your mind, and hopefully she would use that to her own advantage.
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Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 10:47 am
Title The Return Gift!
Quick trip to Armel's house!
(( This is crossposted to Armel's Tome. heart ))
"This is the place!" Vidya called out happily, looking from the piece of paper in her hand to the house infront of her. She's recently received a package from Armel, and she felt it only right to get him something in return, so she bugged Enoh to go shopping again! The pregnant woman put up a fight at first, but she ended up going anyway; the baby's room needed a few more items anyway. Once she found something she deemed perfect for her friend, she used the return address on the package to track down his house, since she was too lazy to go to the Postal Service building...even though what she was doing now would be considered more work than that.
"Whatever. Hurry up, we have to go. Just...put it on the doorstep or something." Came the stoic voice of Teivel, someone who was forced to go along with Vidya just in case. Enoh just wasn't comfortable with letting Vidya go somewhere she'd never been before...but now that the tale knew how to get there, chances were Teivel's assistance wouldn't be needed anymore.
Sticking her tongue out at her stag of a brother, Vidya skipped towards the house and set the item, along with a letter, on the doorstep. Wandering back to her brother, they both left, heading back home...Vidya naturally prattling on about something or another.
Along with the plush, the note was buried within an envelope, a thin piece of paper with rather neat printing upon it.The Note
Heya Armel!
Thank you SO much for the lava lamp! I love it to peices pieces! Its sitting in my room now, grah its so distrea distracting. Anyway! I didn't know what to get you in return at first, but when I saw this plush...I don't know, it just seemed to suit you alot a lot, so I bought it for you!
By the way...this is my own handwriting! Isnt it cool?! I've never written a letter to anyone before! I think I'm gonna do this more often.
Bye!
-Viddy
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Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 2:11 pm
Title  AHH FIRST ENTRY!
October 19th, 2005
Journal!
Heee...Its so COOL to be able to righ rit write! Gah...I write so slowly...but...its better than noti nothing. And I make mistakees too. Oh well. I'll get better! I just have to keep practicing, and maybe asking Momma how to spee spell things.
I went shopping by myself the other day! It was so much fun. I've never been out by myself...well Yupei was with me, so i wasn't really alone, but hey. I also got go see Tybalt! I like him a lot. He's fun. I got a lot of tassles and stuff, and they're hanging on the wall right now, so colourful and shiney and pretty!
...My wrists hurt. I'm going to stop now. Bye!
-Viddy
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Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 4:06 pm
Title
Back into Teivel's Room!
The Highwayman
"Tei, whats this?" Vidya called out suddenly, standing behind the stag as he was sitting on his bed, reading, the suddenness of her appearance causing the poor teen to jump and give out a quickly withdrawn, startled cry. The golden-eyed stag whirrled around, glaring at Vidya. Only getting a playful grin in response, he snatched away whatever it was she was holding, and held it at seeing distance.
"Its a CD. Why?" He quietly asked, handing it back to his younger sister. "And what're you doing down here, anyway?" He growled at her, obviously not liking his territory being threatened.
"Whats it of? Can I listen to one of the songs?" Vidya was persistant; she had to listen to one of them! "You left your door unlocked again! So I just came down." She giggled out, leaning her head to the side in a carefree motion. She heard the stag sigh in defeat, and she once more felt the CD getting torn from her hands. When she opened her eyes, she saw that Teivel was in fact complying to her wishes, and he was fitting the CD into his stereo.
"Which song? Only one though, then you're leaving, got it?" He knew from experience that she was stubborn, so it was best to let her get what she wanted to make her disappear. Besides, listening to a song was easy enough. At least she didn't want to go somewhere. "Its a Celtic CD. You can read, you should know that. Its Loreena McKennit...Mieke got it for me a while back." He wouldn't tell her why the doe would get him something like that, but luckily, that question never came up in the first place.
"Number Five, please!" She grinned again, jumping into a seated position on his bed, staring around the room. She liked his room, there were so many interesting things in there! CD's, Movies, a computer, some games, a few nick nacks, and a mysterious door that wasn't his closet, but was locked all the time. Somewhere from behin dher, Teivel muttered the name of the song with an ironic heh, pressing play and going back to his book, only this time, he sat in his beanbag chair rather than the bed, to avoid getting annoyed farther by the blue skinned girl.
Vidya listened happily to the song, though as the melody continued, the happiness faded from her, leaving her staring at the stereo like a living doll, her white eyes empty for but a moment, before they filled with a deep sadness. Teivel never heard it, in fact, somewhere near the first verse of the song he stood and left the room, leaving Vidya alone.
And over the cobbles he clattered and clashed in the dark inn-yard.
And he tapped with his whip on the shutters, but all was locked and barred.
He whistled a tune to the window, and who should be waiting there
But the landlord's black-eyed daughter,
Bess, the landlord's daughter,
Plaiting a dark red love-knot into her long black hair.
The CD shuddered, then suddenly stopped completely. After a moment of silence, a thin voice broke through the air, its tone strained with sadness.
And dark in the dark old inn-yard a stable-wicket creaked
Where Tim the ostler listened. His face was white and peaked.
His eyes were hollows of madness, his hair like mouldy hay,
But he loved the landlord's daughter,
The landlord's red-lipped daughter.
Dumb as a dog he listened, and he heard the robber say:
The voice left the room, and the CD player whirred once more into life.
"One kiss my bonny sweetheart, I'm after a prize to-night,
But I shall be back with the yellow gold before the morning light;
If they press me sharply, and harry me through the day,
Then look for me by the moonlight,
Watch for me be the moonlight,
I'll come to thee by the moonlight, though hell should bar the way."
A sharp pain shot through her heart then, one that shook Vidya from her trance. As quickly as it had started, the pain vanished, leaving the girl blinking with bewilderment and looking around the place. "Where am I...? Oh...Oh yeah! Teivel? GAH! He left!" She squeaked, no longer listening to the music as it played in the background. Vidya looked uneasily around the room, as if something was going to jump out and bite her.
There was a loud noise from upstairs, and Vidya was on her feet within seconds with a cry of shock. She ran out of the room and up the stairs, leaving the CD player still running to that depressing song...
(( Disclaimer: Lyrics from Lorenna McKennit's "The Highwayman", the extra verse compliments of Alfred Noyes ))
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Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 8:28 pm
Title Whoa, Crazy idea!
October 19th, 2005
Journal!
Did you know Mr (Or Ms? AGH WHAT ARE YOU! I'm gonna say you're male from now on!) Journal that some people make scrapbooks to give to their babies? I didn't! I saw it on T.V. I love T.V. Anyway! I was watching a baby story, because nothing else was on, and I saw the Mommy and the Daddy making a scrapbook! A scrapbook is a picture book, only much more special! Or so I gathered, anyway.
I don't think MY Mommy and Daddy are making a scrapbook. Momma's always reading, and Daddy...he's just crazy, I think...he's been locking himself in the new baby's room and making a lot of noise. So neither of them are making a scrapbook...So I think that I should make one for them! With everyone's help, of course! heart I asked Harmony what she thought about it, and she seemed to think it was a good idea! Samira said she'd help too, and Seaweed, and Van...everyone! So now I just have to go find a blank book, and then go find everybody. heart
But it'll have to be a surprise, of course!
-Viddy
(( Crossposted to the GMFC Nursery ))
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Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 9:14 pm
Title
The Srapbook!
See Baby? Everyone LOVES you! n.n
-Crossposted to the GMFC Nursery-
For the next couple days, Vidya scrambled around the house with a surprisingly empty book, tracking down every single one of her siblings and explaining her idea to them, and getting them to write or doodle on the book itself, to leave their mark or well wishes for Enoh, Nio, and more importantly, the coming baby. When the job was complete, these were the notes left by each kid in the house:Vidya
Ahh I'm the first one to write in here and I don't know what to write...! Uh. Well, lets start here;
Mommy, Daddy! I'm SO happy that you're happy because of this baby! Thank you for being happy, and for being pretty, and for giving us all another little brother or sister to play with!
Okay, now...
Baby! I don't know you yet, but I have felt you kick Momma. Be nice, okay? But I guess I'll overlook it, since Momma seems happy that you're kicking her, which is really strange, don't you think? Anyway! I can't wait to meet you, I know we'll be good friends! I'll try my very hardest to be a really good sister, and I'll read to you and tell you stories and play with you!
And when you're bigger, we can go on adventures in the back yard with Harmony, or Donny, or Ariella, or Valen and Van or whoever else we drag out with us!
And here's a feather from me! Keep it safe, it REALLY hurt pulling it out...
Much Love,
VidyaHarmony
To our new baby-
My name is Harmony. Mommy says I'm about nine years old or so, and I live in the house with all of our brothers and sisters. I am writing you this note to tell you that even though this house is very full of people, we're all very happy you're coming to live with us too. When you are born from mommy's tummy, we will play lots. I like to play with my sister Vidya, and sometimes with my brothers too but not so much. So please be a girl. But even if you are a boy I will play with you.
All of the smaller kids are drawing you things so I will draw you something too. Here is a flower.
This is a yellow tulip. We have some in the backyard. When you come out of mommy's tummy I will show you them. As you can see I am very good at coloring inside of the lines. I also drew clouds because I like clouds a lot. And the sun, you'll like the sun I think. It's very warm.
Well come out soon. We love you already. Love, HarmonyMieke
Dear Baby!
Hello! This is your Aunt, Mieke! I'm so looking foreward to seeing you out here with all of us! And once you find out what your favourite food is, I will most definately cook it for you whenever I can. You'll be growing up alongside my baby! Isn't that lovely?
You should know how special you are to all of us, and no matter what you do in life, or how alone you may ever feel (which I pray will NEVER happen), we love you unconditionally, and we'll always love you. You'll always have a save haven here.
Can't wait to see you grow!
-Mieke
Thoreau
Dear baby - Please don't cry a lot. I wouldn't appreciate it. Also, enjoy life.
- Thoreau
Zhamai
Hello Baby!
Chances are you won't see me around very often, I don't live at home anymore. But I promise I'll come by and visit you.
Wishing you all the best in life!
-Zhamai
Esmerelda
Dear newest member of the family:
Well, I doubt you'll be able to read this soon, but when you can read it I suppose you'll be old enough to talk and ask questions too, so let me offer what I can. If you ever need advice, or help with something, just ask your big sister Essie. Especially if you're looking for a snack. I know the best! Quick tip: Try the roast beef.
Hope to see you soon, and looking forward to seeing you grow!
~Essie
Valen, Van, and Ariella
Thats from Van. He's just an egg, so I rolled him in paint and he rolled himself over the paper for you. He says hello and happy baby life!
I'm Valen, and I'm also gonna write for Ariella. She's a pink-haired girl, and I think she's the only pink haired girl in the house. She says she wishes you're a girl, since she doesn't like boys, but even if you are a boy, she'll love you anyway! We all love you a lot!
Its been fun watching you make Mommy's belly all fat and stuff, but we really wanna see you outside of Mommy's belly. Come out soon?
-Valen, Van, and Ariella
Samira and Tino
Well-wishes for the baby!
I'm not quite sure what to say...it looks like everyone else said everything that I wanted to. So I guess I'll just have to repeat some things...like...we can't wait to see you, and we wish you a full life!
I say 'We' because Tino, one of your brothers, hit his hand with a hammer and can't write properly, so I'm doing it for him!
Love
-Samira and Tino
Teivel
Can't wait to see you, please don't bother me.
-Teivel
Sieanna
I'm still kind of new to this family, but it was still such a joy watching you get bigger in Enoh's belly. It'll be neat to see you once you come out (minus the baby goo and stuff), and I'll even take you swimming with me! I'm sure you'll love the water.
-Sieanna
Vidya AGAIN
This really isn't everyone baby...but they were everyone that I could find. So, I'm gonna just summarize for EVERYONE else, and say we all love you! And come out soon!
-From everyone else, in Vidya's words.
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Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2005 2:23 pm
A Special Gift for Vidya!Eight had finally caved and allowed Faye to fly on her own to Enoh's house, carrying a carefully wrapped bundle in her arms with a card taped to it. It was something the cherub had found while on a random shopping trip with Eight, finding a certain trait about this gift perfect for Vidya.
When she reached the Love household and touched down on the front porch, Faye looked around...someone was home, she could hear voices and movement! Giggling softly, the cherub set the package down in front of the door and knocked on it, fluttering off before anyone answered it.
The package was wrapped in pretty, blue wrapping paper, a simple card with a panda's face on the front taped to it. Vidya's name was written on it, and on the inside it read:Faye Hi Viddy! It's Faye...well...sort of! Liam's writing this for me while I tell him what to say! I found this when I went shopping with Momma one day and it was so cute! The tag said its name is Mayu, but you can name it something else if you want. Momma said it could be a good 'thank you' present for playing with me when we visited before, so I guess you can call it that~!
Since I don't know our phone number, and I can't remember if Momma said your Momma had it, Liam can write it down at the bottom under my name. Hope I can come over again soon!
~Faye 
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Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2005 7:01 am
Title Finding Faye's Gift!
AWW WINGED PANDA
"Door! ...DOOR!" Vidya cried out once amist panicked laughter, and the second time she practically shrieked the word...why wouldn't she, since Teivel had cornered her and was attempting to capture her! You'd shriek too if an abnormally tall, white-haired, golden-eyed stag was after you! Poor Teivel had never gotten a rest from the blue girl's annoyances, and this time, he caved and started playing 'cat and mouse' with her, though she didn't realize that was what the game was called. By the time Faye had knocked on the door, Vidya was crouched behind a laz-e-boy chair and the wall, finding it the safest place to hide from her Tahnee brother.
After her shriek, Teivel sighed heavilly and pushed the chair back in place (he'd pulled it away from the wall, since he could), perhaps a little tighter than it should have been (hey, why not squish her while he was at it?), and went to the door as per her shrieked request. Upon opening it and finding nothing, he naturally looked down; after all, things were always left on the doorstep. He was right, of course! Kneeling down, he scooped up the package and stepped back inside, closing the door after him.
"Dia, It's for you." He grumbled softly, turning his golden eyes back to the chair he'd last spotted Vidya. Naturally, she was attempting to free herself from it the hard way; and that meant climbing over top of the back. Since Vidya was known for being so utterly graceful, it wasn't much of a surprise when she caught her foot between the couch and the wall, and went tumbling down onto the actual seat with a startled cry. A second later found her half-bouncing, half-rolling to find herself on her butt on the floor. Her antics, as accidental as they were, drew only a 'Why me?' sigh from Teivel.
"Oh yay, present for me!" She cheered, getting up and dusting herself off. By chance alone she caught the package as Teivel tossed it at her, before promptly taking this opportunity to escape from Vidya, and go back to his quiet, sane, and blue-skinned girl free basement. Though she had already stood, she plopped herself back down onto her butt and slowly but steadily read the card.
"Oh, Faye! I should call her, she hadn't seen me now that I've---OH ITS SO CUTE!!" She cut herself off with a squeed, cheery cry when the winged panda plush fell from its wrappings, and onto her lap. Unable to help her delighted squees, she picked it up and squished it tight against her, giving it one of the warmest welcoming hugs in all of history.
Picking up the card and the packaging with her free hand, Vidya jumped to her feet and raced up to her room, going to find a nice cosy place for her new bear right away.
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Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2005 7:03 am
"Whattcha doin'?" The blue-skinned Tale had asked for about the zillionth time since she'd grown. She was curious as a toddler, and that most definately stayed with her as a child...and if it were possible, this curiousness had gotten worse. At this point in time, Vidya was asking her Mother what she was up to, as the obviously pregnant woman was staring at about five books all sitting on the coffee table. At the girl's question, Enoh leaned her head backwards, viewing her daughter through a thin veil of electic purple bangs.
"I suddenly had the urge to look up Baby names..." She grinned sheepishly, her gaze and head moving in correspondance to Vidya's movements as the girl rounded the corner and sat down beside her, picking up the nearest book.
"Baby names? I thought we all just...came with names.." Vidya mused curiously, though her attention was halfly divided by the name book as she flipped through it. She didn't realize it, but her author started to giggle beside her. "Where's Daddy?" Another out-of-nowhere question from the resident nymph.
"Daddy went out with Adonis, or I'd make him stay here with me and look through these books" The question about Nio was easier to answer, so that one came first...now to tackle the musing question of names. "Aside from you, Zhamai, Harmony and Iva, everyone else already had their names from their birth parents. Meaning...their real Mommy or Daddy named them, probably looking through books like I am now, so that when I got them, they already had a name, and all I had to do was learn it." She too had picked up a book, looking idly at the cover. She didn't see the look of horror crossing the blue girl's face. "Your name was chosen by the Study, I suppose...I named Zhamai, your Dad named Harmony and we both named Iva." She didn't know whether or not Nio named Esmerelda and Fortuna, so to be safe, she left them out. Finally, the shifter looked over at Vidya, noting for the first time, with a heavy look of concern, that the tale looked simply horrifyed. "...Whats wrong, Viddy?"
"You..." Vidya started, panic noted in her voice, as hard as she tried to hide it. "You're going to GIVE the baby AWAY after you name it?!" She cried out in distress, hugging the book closer to her and staring at Enoh with wide, panic-filled white eyes. "I DON'T WANT YOU TO GIVE THE BABY AWAY!" She whined out, pressing her hands against the shifter's stomach now. While the tale was going on about why they should keep the baby instead of giving it away, Enoh stared at her in wide-eyed confusion. Okay, THIS came out of nowhere, especially for Vidya.
"Vidya...we're not going to give the baby away, where did this come from?" The shifter couldn't help but wrinkle up her nose, and her hand ran itself through Vidya's blue-streaked bangs.
"You said that...their birth Momma and Daddy named them, and then-" She paused for another whimper. Everyone was so looking forward to this baby! INCLUDING Mommy and Daddy! Why would they give it away then, after they named it? "You're not giving the baby away..?" Suddenly, the shifter's words sank in, and Enoh laughed softly, halfly hugging the distraught girl.
"No, we're not giving the baby away...Its just that something happened to their real parents, and left me to take care of their kids." Enoh got uncomfortable here...how could she tell Vidya that their parents either didn't want them, or both died? She just...couldn't. Instead, she lightly tapped her knuckles against Vidya's forehead. "And if you'd been listening, you would've heard that we named Zhamai, Harmony and Iva...and did we give them away after naming them? Nooo." She laughed again, and Vidya suddenly lacked the panic and distress she'd felt earlier, merely staring at her mother with Blank eyes; which form experience meant that Vidya was listening, and trying to sort it out at the same time. "Well, Zhamai moved out, but he did that on his own accord, so he could build a house for his mate and daughters." She tapped her chin a bit.
"So..." Vidya stated after some time, her eyes losing that blank stare as she focused intently on her mother. "So you're going to name the baby and keep it, until something happens and you have to give it to someone else?" The tale tugged lightly at her small braid, toying with the feather at the tip. When Enoh nodded, and added a quick 'God Forbid' at the mention of something happening, the tale piped up once more. "Can I take care of the baby if something happens? That way it can stay with all of us until that something stops happening!" She'd brightened considerably by this point.
"I really hope something doesn't happen, but if it does...well...I'll keep your offer in mind, sweetheart." Enoh laughed once more, tweaking the girl's headwings.
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Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2005 9:10 am
Title Baby Names!
Part Two
Cross posted to the GMFC
"Okay...now that's settled..." Enoh lightly scratched her cheek, then looked back at the Baby names book she'd been holding. "Want to help me look through these? Daddy and I need some name ideas."
"YES! I'll help!" Vidya eagerly replied...almost TOO eagerly. Excitedly, she opened the book she'd been holding, and stared at the pages she'd accidentally flipped to with a huge look of confusion. Blinking slowly, she turned back to her mother. "How do I do this?" She pointed at the book.
"Oh...You just...either read every name, or randomly point at one and decide if you like it or not. How's about this, we'll take turns saying names! You can start if you want, and then I'll go, and then--"
"Oooh...Baby names!" Valen fluttered into view, accidentally cutting off his mother. Without invitation, the Tahnee Cherub picked up a third baby name book, and seating himself on the floor, he contently flipped through it. "I wanna help to!" He grinned boyishly over the book at his sister and mother.
"Hello to you too, Valen." Enoh started with a giggle. "Alright then, we'll all take turns. Vidya, then Valen, and then myself." As she said their names, she pointed towards them, to make sure they got the order. "Alright Viddy, ready to start?"
"YES! Okay...!" The tale held the book out at Arm's length after moving to sit indian style on the couch. Closing her eyes, she opened the book to a random page, and equally blinded, she pointed at one of the names. Opening her eyes, she leaned over the book and upon realizing she had no idea how to pronounce it, she looked for the pronounciation. "E-Oo-Stah-Kyo...Eustaquio! Weird name...its...a boys name, and it means....fruitfull..?" Vidya leaned back and wrinkled up her nose a bit; it was obvious she didn't much like the name.
"Thats a strange name.." Valen mused, before opening his book in the same manner that Vidya had, only moments before. "Arwel. Boy's name...Its Welsh, but it doesn't have a meaning?" He blinked. "Can names not have meanings, Momma?"
"Yes, thats possible. I'm pretty sure my name has no meaning! How about I write down what names we agree on, hm? That way we can show Daddy later, and then we can get him and anyone else to play this game too!" A sound of cheering came from both kids, so the shifter pulled out the pad of paper and opened it, jotting down Arwel onto it. It sounded alright, so why not at least consider it? "Okay, my turn! Lets see...Evike, the Hungarian pet form of Eve..."
So their little game continued. Vidya always managed to get the really long, hard to pronounce and often outlandish names, and it started to become a bit of a joke to the trio. Valen managed to get all of the smaller names, though there were a few times his random choices were as out there as the ones Vidya was unlucky enough to get. Enoh, luckily, had a nice mix of both. By the time they had gone through as many names as they wanted, Enoh had quite a list made then...and looking at it, she steadily dreaded the day she had to actually pick ONE out with Nio.
Arwel, Marius, Milan, Korbin, Mordechai and Lucius were but a few of the boys names that the three had called out, that seemed to be interesting, while Evika, Persephone (Enoh likes Greek Mythology!), Lareyna, Eirlys, Zahira and Freya were a few of the girl's names. Enoh had a rather long list, and naturally wondered if it were possible to reverse time and make it so that their little game never happened...
As the shifter looked over the names, the two kids bade her farewell and danced off, probably going to go play somewhere for the time being. Now all Enoh had to do was wait for Nio to come home...
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Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2005 9:48 am
Title Cameras kill ghosts...?
Oooh, this game looks neat...
As always, Vidya quietly walked down the basement stairs, though she wasn't trying to be silent, it just came naturally. And, like always, she wandered into her older brother, Teivel's, room. From what she could see, he was fitting a CD into the black box near the TV. Curiously, she wandered around him, so she was standing partially behind him, though at his side.
"Whattcha doin?" Her question brought a startled grunt from the stag, and he wheeled around and narrowed his golden eyes in a death glare at her. Upon seeing she wasn't going to leave, and insisted on giving him one of her happy Vidya smiles that were a little hard to ignore, he sighed and shook his head, sitting back on his bed.
"I'm going to play a game."
"Oh! What game?"
"Fatal Frame." As if on cue, the PS2 whirred into life, and the words 'Tecmo', followed closely by the chime of a bell and the logo for 'Project Zero' faded on and off of the screen.
"Ooooh...can I watch?" She looked hopeful, staring at the screen as the logo faded, and instead came up with the starting image of two identical girls facing the screen and holding hands, their long black hair covering their faces, and a red rope tied over the obi of their white kimono's, the rope linking the two girls. In the background was a table of candles, but otherwise, the image on the screen was dark.
"Its a scary game." He warned, in hopes of scaring her off.
"...I...I don't mind!" Teivel's furry ears twitched at the nervousness in his younger sister's voice. He grinned to himself; she'd be gone before the game got good.
"Alright...you can stay. I'll start from the beginning for you, so you don't get confused." Yes, play the nice brother, even if it'll probably scare her out of your room faster! Vidya nodded and jumped onto the bed, lying on her stomach beside her seated brother, resting her hands on her chin and waving her feet in the air. Teivel hit the start button, and the PS2 whirred once more. The beginning image faded to black, leaving Teivel's room in darkness. Then, from the speakers, came a woman's voice.Opening Didn't we always promise eachother...
An image flashed onto the screen; a sepia shot of a little girl lying on the ground, her leg at an odd angle. Once more the screen went black.
...That we'd always be together..?
Another sepia shot filled the screen; this time, it was a video-like shot. Two little girls running down a path, one far ahead of the other. "Mio...Mio wait up...Don't leave me..!" A twig snapped in the background, and the little girl had had just spoken fell. Photo-like shots of her foot slipping, accompanied by the fall to the ground, then flashed up on the screen, one by one. Then, at the very end, it was back to the video motion, of the other girl slowly peering off the cliff.
"Mayu...? Mayu! I'm sorry...I'm so sorry..."
The screen flashed to white, and the rest of the opening video continued. Twin girls, Mayu, one with a bandage over her right knee, and the other, Mio, sat on some rocks in what would soon become 'All God's Dam', talking about how they used to play here. Mio asked Mayu if her knee hurt, and all the girl could say was 'It does a little bit'.
As the scene continued, Mio turned to speak with Mayu once more...only to notice that her twin had disappeared. Calling her name, Mio searched around her, until she saw the limping form of Mayu, chasing after what looked like a crimson butterfly...
As the opening continued, Vidya found herself getting more and more into the story, wanting to know so badly how it was that the girls got themselves trapped in the lost village, why there was a flashing image of a girl in a white kimono crying infront of the entrance to the village, whispering 'I'm sorry, I'm so sorry...'. But most of all, she wanted to see how this would unravel. Against the warnings of Teivel, she stayed there, her white eyes never once leaving the screen. Well...aside from a few times where she had to cover her eyes out of fear...but it was only a few times! Okay, it was a lot...but deep down, Vidya found she loved the thrill. The creepy music that got your nerves standing on end, only to have nothing happen...and, once you found yourself in a false sense of security, the ghost of a darker time would pop out of nowhere, groaning something about the twins and a sacrifice, and needless to say, it would scare the senses out of her. But again, she loved the thrill of being afraid, in this case.
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Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2005 10:10 am
Title Cameras kill ghosts...?
Part Two
(( Disclaimer: I'm not spoiling anything, as everything I put in here happens early in the game. Besides, I can't explain whats going on nearly as good as it looks or as creepy as it feels upon playing the game. n.n If you want a good scare and a completely awesome story with absolutely gorgeous graphics, I suggest you get your hands on a PS2 or an X-box and play Fatal Frame: Crimson Butterfly. heart ))
As Teivel reached the second chapter in the game, Vidya's interest was piqued. There, somewhere near the beginning of that chapter, she witnessed a cutscene that caught and held her attention...if not freaked her out to no end.
The Scene
Mio opened the sliding doors within the mansion, her actions guided by the light of the moon that streamed through the broken ceiling, as her flashlight had expired upon entering. Upon first seeing inside the room, it appears harmless...but as Mio takes a single step inside, and slowly makes her way to the centre of the room, a pounding heartbeat echos in the area, and the light fades to a static-filled scene, done in black and white. A Crash of lightening in the background, and the room grows twice as dark as it had been before. Panicking, Mio slowly starts to move, but as she does, the thunder illuminates strange forms on the floor, all lumped and broken. Still, what the forms are is unknown.
Severely unnerved, Mio turns to walk off of the platform, when her foot hits something soft. Gasping, she looks down, and her eyes widen in fear as the light illuminates what it was she ran into; a slashed, and otherwise mutilated form of a man. Groaning, the limbo man lifts his torso, trying to grasp at Mio's legs, to which she naturally steps back, and looks around for the exit. However...
There is no exit in sight. All she sees now, is countless, mutilated corpses, either sprawled out on the floor or lumped over one another. And there, in the centre of the room and surrounded by the bodies, stood a woman, her head lowered, her lips curled into an insane grin. The woman was dressed in a Kimono, the bottom half of her white garments splattered with blood, and a red rope tied about her waist, one that frayed at the end as it reached towards the ground. Not even a second later, she threw her head back to reveal what looks like rope burn marks upon her neck, and laughed. That insane, manical laughter split the darkness of the room, and the bodies around her seemed to shudder with fear, upon fearing that laugh in the darkness.
The scene ended, and Vidya watched as Teivel guided Mio safely out of the room, safely away from the being that, if touched only once, would have killed Mio instantly...or so Teivel explained. A little walk after escaping that room, Teivel saved and turned the lights back on, needless to say a bit disappointed that Vidya had't left yet.
"Tei...who was that girl? The one who was laughing...?" Her voice was soft, partially afraid, but partially genuinely curious.
"Eh? Oh, thats Sae. She's kind of like the main villan in the game...but in reality, she's not that bad. You'll see as the story progresses...if you're brave enough." The stag smirked. "If you want, I'll continue playing later, I'm kind of hungry.."
"I'm brave enough!" Vidya stubbornly stated, jumping off the bed. Instinctively, she stayed close to her brother as they went upstairs...she didn't want to be in the basement all alone!
Still, the tale couldn't help but pause to think about Sae. The girl looked insane, yes...but even through that she was still fairly pretty. Not to mention intriguing...Did Sae kill all those people? Why was she laughing like that? Why were there burns on her neck? Was that blood hers, or no? And that torn rope...it looked like the ones that the twins in the opening shot were wearing, only theres were connected to eachother, not broken and frayed like Sae's was.
Vidya couldn't help it, she had to know.
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Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2005 10:46 am
Title Cameras kill ghosts...?
Part Three: Reflecting, and Halloween
((Okay. NOW there may be a few spoilers, depending on your opinion of spoilers. I'm not going to give anything big away, like the ending, since even the Good ending has little to do with Sae. Everything I'll put in this post will have been explained within the game at various times, though mostly near the middle to the end, and the most will be in the chapter that Sae has all to herself. heart I'll put another warning before I start with the whole Sae thing, and let you know when it ends. It'll be written like this: [START] and [END] and I'll even put the font to white. Okay? Okay. xD ))
It became routine. After dinner, both Stag and Nymph would go into the basement and play Fatal Frame. Or rather, Teivel would play it, and Vidya would watch. Normally, the Tale wouldn't think of watching just a video game with her brother, but this was one of the games where you didn't MIND just watching it...after all, it looked like a movie, even in game play. And when Teivel successfully finished the game a few days later (they usually played two chapters a night, and since the game has 8 chapters plus a final chapter, it took five days), Vidya was left with mixed emotions. And however powerful and beautiful the story was, it was Sae that truely caught her attention. The same night that they finished the game, Vidya lay awake in bed, reflecting on the character that so intrigued her. Reflecting on Kurosawa Sae, Vidya couldn't help but feel pity and sadness for her.
[START]
On the day her twin sister Yae was supposed to strangle her to perform the Crimson Sacrifice, and ultimately save the village, they tried to run away. Yae wanted nothing to do with killing her beloved twin, while Sae thought it was the ultimate bonding between the two of them; that way, they could be together forever. The tale didn't quite understand why it was that Sae purposely slipped off the side of the cliff, at the same spot that Mayu slipped at the very beginning; but she supposed it was in hopes of Yae hearing her scream, and to come back for her, so she could persuade her beloved sister to go along with the sacrifice and kill her.
Unfortunately, that never happened...Yae never came back. Sae was ultimately captured by the Ceremony Master and brought back to the village...and she was made to perform the ritual by herself. She tried to get them to wait, saying that Yae would come back and perform it with her, but on the night of the ceremony, Yae hadn't yet returned. So, Sae was hung, in hopes of accomplishing the same thing as having Yae kill her. The ceremony naturally failed. It was then that Yae came back, in the last seconds of the village before it completely vanished. She stood at the gates, crying and apologising...but it was too late. Yae lost all of her memories of that traumatic experience, and when a traveller found her, he took her to a town, and away from the horrors she could never recall again.
According to the story, Sae was so adamant about Yae coming back that even in death, her spirit lingered over the village, even after the ritual failed and the repentance came, where Sae's spirit was forced to watch and partake in the death of the villagers, both by her hand and by Malice that lifted her hand. It was because of Sae's devotion and yearning for her sister to return that kept the village alive, where the failed ceremony was replayed over and over, night after night...though the participants had long been dead.
It was because Sae wanted to be with Yaw so badly...she didn't mean to be an evil spirit, but as the days turned into months, and the months turned into years, Sae's spirit grew angry and full of malice, and soon it delighted in the reoccuring ritual played by the spirits that were once part of it. She grew to enjoy the pain that the failed ritual brought. She was vengeful, and thats why she was so adamant about killing Mio during the game; even though Yae's spirit had attached to Mio at the entrance of All God's village.
She must have been so angry...
[END]
Vidya whimpered softly and turned over in her bed. Sae wasn't all that bad, when you got right down to it; she just...didn't know what else to do. Frankly, Vidya figured that if she were in Sae's place, she would have done the very same thing. Eventually, Vidya went to sleep, and for the first time in her memory, she didn't dream.
When she awoke the next morning, Teivel pulled her aside, asking her if she had a halloween costume yet. Confused, Vidya stared at him like he was crazy; she'd never even HEARD of Halloween before! He explained to her the origins of the holiday, and what Halloween meant in this day, and what most kids her age and younger did on All Hallow's Eve. It took a while, but she finally seemed to understand. So, when he asked her again, and when she said she didn't know who to dress up as, Teivel gave her the most brilliant idea.
"Why don't you dress up as Sae for Halloween?"
Perfect. It was perfect!
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Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2005 10:55 am
Title Catching up
October 25th, 2005
Journal!
Wow, so much happened lately! Me and family made a scrapbook for Baby, but we havent given it to Momma or Daddy yet, because we're waiting for the right time to do it! I cant wait until they see it, because we woeked worked so hard on it. I think I'm getting better at this writing thing, because my wrists don't hurt as much when I write! I still ask Momma a lot for spelling, though...but I'm getting better! Momma says I'm also ambid...I can use both hands to write. I guess I can, I've never noticed it before. Maybe I should take note of it? I'm using my...left...? Yes, left hand now.
Anyway. Valen, Momma and me got to pick out Baby names! I hope Daddy likes them. Poor Momma, she only has one baby and she has about a million names! I wonder which one they pick. I kept getting really really weird stuff like Eustaquio and Persephone. But it was so much fun! Maybe we should play again if Momma has another baby, or if a baby comes to us without a name.
I'M SO GLAD MOMMA ISNT GIVING UP THE BABY. I thought because she was naming it, she'd be giving it to someone else. I almost cried! But I just didnt understand what Momma was saying, so I was wrong, thank you! That makes me happy, to know I was wrong about the baby. So yay for keeping baby!
Teivel let me watch him play a video game. He said its called Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly, or Projeckt Project Zero 2: Akai Chou. I think Akai Chou is japanese. I should ask Jiro next time! Anyway, Fatal Frame is really scary, and I had a nightmare about it once. But I still watch him play! Its really really interesting...I really want to dress up as Sae, I think thatd be fun! I'm so happy that Teivel suggested it. I don't think anyone would really recognize me if I dressed up as Sae. Maybe I should ask Mieke to make me that costume for this Hallows Eve thing? Oh, and Im using my right hand now. Guess I can use both hands, like Momma said?
I wonder if anyone else is dressing up. I don't see anyone enough to ask. Its really sad...I want to see everyone again, but they're always busy and stuff. I think Im going to try harder to play with everyone again.
-Vidya
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Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2005 5:56 pm
Title Halloween Costume!
Mieke, can you make this, please? =o
"You want me to make what?" Mieke blinked, staring up at her blue younger sister. Vidya had been so excited that she barely breathed while asking Mieke to make her halloween costume...and so it wasn't unusual that Mieke was confused. "I'm sorry, Dia...but you've gotta speak a little slower than that, all I heard was Blahblahblahblah~" The doe teased, shifting Minoru, the male of her twin fawns, on her lap. Minoru's twin sister, Maral, was off with the twins' father, Momo...and knowing Maral, Momo would have no trouble at all. Mieke was watching the more energetic of their fawns.
"A costume." Vidya repeated, but slower this time. "A Halloween costume...Teivel suggested it!" Again, Vidya held out the pieces of paper to her older sister. "Sae Kurosawa from Crimson Butterfly~! See? Its really easy...Its just a white kimono with a butterfly bow at the back of the obi, and blood splattered all down the front." She motioned to the picture, making sure Mieke saw it all. "I'm gonna ask Momma about makeup and the wig, but could you make her costume for me?" Vidya pleaded. After a moment, she looked down at Minoru, who was attempting to grab the blue jewel that rested on her forehead. Seeing Minoru reach for her like that, Vidya had an idea. "...I'll watch the twins if you do!" Mieke seemed to consider this, lightly tapping Minoru's chubby fingers before they reached Vidya's gem.
"Alright...But you've gotta watch both twins while I make it, no passing one off to Momo." The last part she added quickly, but from Vidya's confused look, it was obvious she wasn't going to do that anyway.
After that, Vidya took Minoru from her sister, as the doe went to plot what she'd need to get for the costume itself; fabric was an obvious, something white and warm, because it was getting cold out...and then she'd need to get a pattern for the kimono itself, plus a length of red rope, and, of course, a litre of fake blood, by the looks of it.
For the next few days, Vidya would take both twins to play in the living room for three hours each day until halloween. In all honesty, Mieke had finished the Kimono after the first day, but who was she to spoil three hours off twin duty until Halloween? The Doe Tahnee was a young mother, and though she was energy incarnate, even she needed a rest from them. Besides, Vidya had a blast with them! She fed them, took naps with them (naturally, pictures had been taken of Vidya with one of the twins on her, the other curled against her side, all three asleep), and generally entertained them for the alotted time she had them to herself.
Playing with Babies was fun, in her mind!
By halloween, she had her very own bloody kimono...not to mention the skills of distracting twin babies, and of course, how to use and apply special effects make up; limited to skin colour changes and angry burn marks on necks.
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