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WAAAAA!!!! WAAAAAA!!!!!! Coailiann hadn't stopped crying for the past hour, and Ianna was slowly going insane. The tiny Sidhe child was currently in her rocking arms, tiny arms flailing about in an unintentional attempt of making her mother go crazy. And it was working.

"Oh, Kay..." Ianna murmured, bouncing a little to calm the infant down, though it was to no avail. She had tried the gardens, she had tried singing, she had tried rocking, she had tried rubbing, feeding, changing...But the little girl would not be calmed!

"You know, I left a harp there for a reason, mother. The little girl likes harp music."

The voice entered her head, temporarily blocking out the wailing of her daughter, much to Ianna's pleasure. She didn't even mind the snarky tone. "I can't play the bloody harp."

"I suggest you learn. But no time for that. Another wand has awoken, Ianna. It's in India. You need to go straight away."

Ianna blinked. "India? Can you not HEAR Kay crying, Matty?"

"Oh must I do everything?" there was a huff in her head and the harp started playing on its own, instantly placating the little girl who slipped into a slumber, thumb stuck, in the most adorable fashion, in her mouth.

"Thanks. Now...India..? Who is going to watch Coailiann?"

Matilda almost smirked. "Me. Send her through the portal, Mother. She'll be perfectly sa--"

"There is NO WAY IN HELL I am letting Kay go there with you! You can't handle children! What if--"

Ianna was cut off by a low snarl. "Kay is my sister, and I am perfectly capable of handling an infant. Now send her over or I transport her myself."

Ianna grumbled and stumbled to the tiny doorway which was just Coailiann's size and slid her in, watching the hands take her. "There. Be careful and be su--."

Once more, she was cut off. "I'll be fine. Now, off you go!"

"Okay bu-" Ianna found herself smack dab in the middle of an Indian jungle.

"AHH!....Jungle....YOU WANT ME TO FIND A BLOODY WAND IN A JUNGLE?!" Ianna paused. "AN INDIAN JUNGLE?! WITH SNAKES?! AND AND AND..." she took a deep breath. "Snakes..." Ianna hated snakes.

"Yes." came the response, followed by what Ianna could only make out as baby talk towards her other daughter. A sigh. First the moon, then Atlantis...then Japan and now snakes.

Ianna had a feeling Matilda was trying to kill her.

~*~

An hour later, Ianna was stalking through the Jungle, keen silver eyes looking about frantically to find the wand as soon as possible. Already she had come into much too close of contact with several very very long snakes. That looked as if they wanted Ianna for breakfast. Or dinner. Whatever time it was now.

It was getting dark and Ianna, jungles, snakes and darkness did not mix well. Especially when she was looking for something. It was quite impossible to find things in the dark.

It was the dark, after all.

Ianna gave an exhasperated sigh and closed her eyes, only for a moment. "Matilda, I can't find the wand anywhere."

Matilda's voice didn't come into her head for a good moment. "Oh, sorry, wasn't paying attention. Kay was playing with...Wait, you can't find the wand?"

Ianna growled. What was Coailiann playing with? "No. I can't find it and it's getting dark. Matty, maybe one of the snakes ate it or something."

Matilda laughed. "I don't think so. You're just not looking hard enough. You're staying there until you find the wand, and that's that. You know what this thing entailed when you agreed."

Ianna hissed. "It was only because I love you that I agreed, I'm not going to risk my bloody life in the darkness for a wa--"

A hiss from the right stopped her mid sentence and she turned, quickly, to see one of the largest cobras she'd ever seen. "MATTY!!!!"

Matilda didn't seem too concerned. "It's got the wand." she murmured.

Ianna looked wide-eyed at the snake and saw that it indeed had a wand wrapped tightly in its coils. And wrapped around the wand was a very life-like looking snake as well.

Ianna looked positively frightened. "What am I supposed to do?!"

Matty huffed, "Why, get the wand from him, idiot."

Ianna was silent for a long time. "Get...a wand...from a very poisonous...cobra...in India...You're trying to kill me, aren't you?!"

Matilda didn't answer, and Ianna wanted to cry as she inched forward to the snake, carefully. The snake didn't like her being close, and lashed out, baring its large fangs, one of them scratching at Ianna's arm.

Ianna screamed and cursed as she snatched the wand, feeling the Cobra's fangs sink into her arm and inject her with the poison. As soon as her fingers wrapped around the wand, however, she and the wand were transported back to Headquarters.

Ianna's arm was swollen and bleeding heavily by the time she landed in the couch, and tears of pain and anger were in her eyes. She was already having the hardest time breathing due to the toxin's effects, and she felt her arm was unable to move. Paralysis had set in.

Matilda was finally seeming a little worried. Cobra bites could kill within minutes...and she didn't have much time...

~*~

Matilda decided she had to leave her realm again, opened the portal with some difficulty, and landed beside her mother. "You should have been careful." Matilda said in a soft voice as she knelt down. Coailiann was all but forgotten in the other realm as Matilda's hands touched her mother's arm, a warm glow emitting and a deep pain entering her as she sucked the poison into herself. She was immune to most poisons, and natural ones such as this did nothing to her. But it still stung like a b***h.

Feeling just a bit drained, she finished her mother's arm off by bandaging it. "You wont have use of that arm for at least a week while it heals." Matty murmured.

Ianna was already passed out, her other hand clutching the wand with the life-like miniature of the cobra which bit her. "Well, at least the wand's safe."

Ianna sat at her desk, reading quietly. Her right arm was in a sling, bandaged from where the large cobra had bitten her. Even a week later, it was sore and hard to use despite Matty's magics. And Ianna was pissed.

She hadn't been able to take care of Coailiann so she had to entrust her new daughter to Matilda. She couldn't very well hold her with a dead arm now, could she? A soft grumble came to her lips at the thought of it.

Silver eyes moved to the wand at her side, the life-like snake motionless. "I wish your guardian would hurry up so I didn't have to look at you." she hissed.

The woman gently rapped on the door with her knuckles, trying to ignore the freezing cold biting at her skin. It seemed the world truly was against her, as she had forgotten her cellphone at home, and her ride had neglected to pick her up.
Frankly, only the masochistic would be out in the weather, the woman in question thought to herself as she waited for someone to open the door.

It might've been slightly rude to ask some random person if she could borrow the phone, and this place seemed like a shop. She'd pay if she needed to - Anon, as the woman was named (the prettyness of the name was open for discussion, she'd grumpily declared back when she was a teenager), wasn't particularly rich, but neither was she poor.

Jumping up and down a bit, shaking her arms, Anon turned pleading eyes on the door.
"Please~..." whimpering slightly, she tried to ignore the curious stares of the other pedestrians, staring fixedly on the door.

Ianna's head snapped upward at the sound of the rapping on her door. The sign said open did it not? She grumbled and stood up slowly, wincing as her arm jarred a little, and stepped out from behind her desk.

"I wonder if the person can read or just has a mind to make a poor injured woman get up." she muttered to herself as she walked towards the door, her heavy-booted feet making soft clicks against the wooden floor.

Her good hand reached out and twisted the knob, pulling the door open and narrowing her eyes at the woman. "The sign does say Open, miss, you didn't have to knock."

Okay, so Ianna was in a bad mood. You would be too if you got bitten by a giant cobra and your arm was rendered useless and pain plagued you and you couldn't see your daughter because you couldn't take care of her, wouldn't you?

Ianna huffed and turned on her heel, walking behind the desk. "Well, Come in if you want, don't make me get up for no reason." Her good arm lifted to run her fingers through her mess of silver hair.

"That's a guardian, you dim wit." Matilda hissed in her ear and Ianna growled. "I figured, smart a**, I'm not a ******** idiot." she turned to look at the woman, raising a brow.

Yes, Ianna seemed to be talking to herself. "I don't have all day."

Blinking slightly at the rude tone the woman used, Anon wondered if she had ever met her before - she certainly acted as if the young woman had offended her somehow.

"Well, I thought I'd be polite and knock?" it was phrased more like a question, really - Anon had missed the sign completely, but no reason to tell the other woman that.

Stepping into the shop, the woman couldn't help but wonder if this person EVER cleaned, at all. Sure, her arm was in a sling - but surely it couldn't be that way permanently?

And now.. she was talking to herself. Narrowing her eyes slightly, Anon sent a quick glance to the door. Maybe she ought to leave before the woman attacked her or something?
But it was so cold, the little voice in her head whined.

"I'm sorry, Ma'm, but I was wondering if I could borrow your phone? I'll pay, if you want.." she seemed just the type, she huffed quietly, to refuse a freezing woman's plea.

Ianna perched herself on the stool behind the desk. "I'll give you a phone, in a manner of time..." she paused for effect, "Anon, is it?" Oh yes, Ianna loved knowing people's names before they stated them.

Matilda did come in handy sometimes. "But first, You need to do something for me." her head gave a small tilt. Yes, Ianna was in a bad mood, but....she was getting rid of that stupid wand!That made her incredibly giddy.

Ianna tapped the book to her side, it sliding by itself to the center of the desk. It was a leather bound book, edged with gold, and it looked old and dusty. The glittering gold letters read "The Book of Life And Death" and looked rather menacing at that. "Touch the book."

The moment Anon so much as placed a finger on the book, the book would spring open, light up, and the pages would fly as if there were invisible winds brushing at the paper. It would then land on the page with a sketch of a wooden staff, a cobra wrapped around it in a hissing status. Below that would be beautiful scrawl reading:

"India. Wand ID 00004. A Soul has been trapped within the confines of the wand. Congratulations, you have become the next guardian to take on the task of raising it from infancy to greatness. We, Ianna and I, have the upmost faith in you to complete your task dutifully. Best of luck,

Matilda."

Ianna's silver gaze watched the woman with interest, wondering what her reaction would be.

Feeling her eyebrow beginning to twitch a bit in irritation, Anon reckoned she should have left before things got too weird - but now the woman knew her name, and one couldn't really leave someone on bad terms if they knew your name. Plus, the woman in question was kind of curious as to how the other woman had known her name. Maybe she was in possession of some sort of mental power? It was known that some people could read minds, after all; though why they'd read HERS when all she wanted was to borrow the phone, she had no idea.

Inching slowly towards the door, Anon decided that her earlier decision to stay was dead wrong, and potentially dangerous - nothing good ever came from doing something for strangers.

And the book was moving. So, magic. Definitely magic. Anon winced, having had a few unpleasant encounters with magic, and having heard some of the stories told about loons abusing their power.

"And why should I touch a magic book offered by a woman who talks to herself and know my name, when I don't even know hers?" the silverhaired woman must've thought she was a complete dolt to just do as she asked. Really..

Ianna felt a little frustrated. "Because It's vital that you do, Anon." Ianna's voice sounded very sincere, the previous rude tone disappearing.

Even her eyes showed that she was being sincere. "And I don't talk to myself, I'm talking to my daughter. Matilda." she paused. She normally didn't introduce Matilda to the guardians but...eh.

"Matilda, Say hello."

There was a bit of arguing, which seemed to be with herself, but a voice filled the room. "Hello, Anon."

"That's a good girl, Matty."

"Oh shut up mother."

Ianna grinned a bit. "See what I have to deal with...?" an exhasperated sigh. "Just touch the book and you can use a phone in a few minutes."

Okay, so maybe she wasn't a complete loon. Relaxing a bit, and smiling slightly, Anon nodded; she'd do it, then. She was a sucker for polite people, after all.

"Hi Matilda. Are you.. invisible?" glancing around quickly revealed that no girl was in sight, except for the woman and her.

"Yes, you truly are unfortunate." her tone had taken on a teasing edge, warming up incredibly fast. She, herself, had had to be a surrogate mother to several of her siblings, and the affection in the other woman's voice was unmistakeable.

Taking a deep breath, Anon made her way over to the book. Taking a quick look at the other woman, she resolutely put her hand on top of the gold letters.
Quickly the book flew up and sprung open, sending Anon reeling back in surprise.
"W-what the..?!" she stuttered, eyes still fixed on the book.
As it seemed to calm down, she cautiously made her way back to it.

".." turning blank eyes on the woman, Anon dumbly pointed to the book.

"Somehow, I have the feeling that I should like to know what that means."
A soul trapped in a wand, and the woman's (whose name MAY be Ianna) invisible daughter having written a message that SEEMED to be for her.
India, she could understand too. But 'from infancy to greatness'? What in the world did they mean with that..?

Matilda's laughter sparked through the room. "No, I'm simply in another realm. I'm one of the ancients...I came from a wand much as your new child shall."

Ianna tilted her head and winced a bit as she shifted, her arm painfully moving in its sling. "Basically, darling, the soul trapped in this wand..." she reached over, careful of the life-like snake wrapped around the staff, and grasped the wand, sliding it over to her. "Died a horrible death. In doing so, a spell my daughter cast caught their soul in limbo, hovering somewhere between life and death until it was ready to be reborn and given a second chance."

The woman paused. "The wand chose you. Slowly it'll go through stages of life, eventually becoming a human baby. Congratulations, Anon. You're a mother."

The moment Anon took the wand, it would glow a deep red and gold color. The act would be irreversible, and the wand would be awoken.

"Oh, umm.. okay?" what did you say to that? Anon blushed, well aware that she'd just ruined any chances of being seen as at least a mediocre intelligent creature.

"So, it's a soul trapped in a wand that'll become a kid?" her voice was a bit hoarse, and just a tad nervous.

Reverently picking up the wand, Anon blinked at the pretty colours. More light shows? Oh well, who was she to complain?
This was just a bit surreal, and as such the woman had found herself in a light case of shock; she really hadn't much to say, mainly because of the fact that her brain was unwilling to cooperate.

"A mother. I'm a mother."

Ianna chuckled. It seemed her previous bad mood had disappeared at the woman's reactions and she shook her head a little bit.

"Yes, it'll become a child. The first stage is the wand, the second stage is the wisp, which is a string of smoke forming the general shape of a child coming from the tip. It's most vulnerable in that form. You need to be careful because if it's sucked into a fan or out the window, you've killed it and it will never have a chance at life again."

The woman thought a moment. "The third is a baby ghost...the wand will shrink and the baby will cling to it. It's a little more solid than the wisp and so long as it holds the wand, it should stay together fairly well. The next would be a human infant...or..mostly human....Matilda, what spirit is in this wand?"

There was a long stretch of silence. "A naga."

Ianna smiled. "So it'll be half human and half snake. And yes, you're a mother."

"Oh.. god.." what'd she gotten herself into? The woman whimpered lightly, tearfilled eyes staring at the wand. Of course she wanted to help the poor soul, literally, but this was all so sudden!

"And.. half-snake..?" luckily for her, Anon had never possessed a great fear of snakes - but on the other hand, she held no great love for them either.

"Wow." shaking her head lightly to clear her thoughts, the woman smiled a watery smile.

"C-can I come here if I need some guiding? I've never had.. a smoke-child before.." she shifted her feet, unsure of what to call the wand's stages.

Ianna nodded and pushed forward a piece of paper, gold letters matching the book that read "Press Me."

"Of course, but press this first. You'll be able to get your phone after." As soon as Anon would, she was transported into a large room. As she entered the main lobby Via the portal connecting the shoppe and the headquarters, the first thing she would notice is the vast...largeness...of it. The high ceilings, edged with gold, the large chandeliers dripping with crystals, the smooth white tile-floors, colorful rugs, and beautiful paintings.

To the left was a large recreational area complete with a large flat-screen television, several rows of various games, movies, video game systems and books. There was a basket of toys in the corner, full of plushies, dolls, cards and various other objects which would appeal to most ages. Included in the area were several comfy looking couches and plush chairs just made for sitting, lounging or bouncing in. It seemed to be heaven on a fluffy carpet. It even had a foos-ball table and an air-hockey table....and for the slightly more food-minded GoTP, a mini fridge always full.

To the right was a large elaborate counter, which seemed to have a force-field of some sort around it, keeping anyone who was not Ianna or Matilda from going behind it. On the counter lay a roster with the names of all the Ghostly children and their guardians, and an appointment book.

From there, it branched off into halls with rows and rows of rooms. Some were storage, some were guest rooms, some were bathrooms, and one very large and ornate door to the end of the hall led to the gardens. "Welcome to Headquarters, Anon. You're welcome here at any time."

Pressing the paper, still in a daze, Anon didn't feel quite as surprised as she should have when she was instantly transported into a large room.

"oh. Thank you. Can I borrow the phone now?"

Ianna walked behind the large counter and handed her a phone. She still wasn't sure how Matilda had gotten electricity to work in another realm but...she wasn't exactly one to complain.

"Go ahead, use the phone." she said, settling herself down on the stool.

"Thank you."
Anon dialled the number to her brother's, still in a daze.

"Yeah, Aron? Could you come pick me up? I'm two blocks from work, some small shop. You can't miss it. Thanks, you're a sweetheart." putting down the receiver, she smiled feebly at Ianna.

"Is it okay if I go wait outside the shop? My brother's picking me up soon.."

Ianna gave a brief nod. "Walk through the door to my left, Anon, it'll take you back to the shop."

Ianna gave a small yawn. "Don't forget your child, either. I hate that wand." she looked to her arm and shuddered.

"Okay, thanks. See you." and with that little announcement, Anon walked off to the door on Ianna's left, the wand fitting snugly in her arms, intent on ignoring humanity in general until she'd gotten home.

The door creaked as the young woman made her way in, wand firmly glasped in her hand, and nose properly wrinkled at the sight that greeted her. Really, when she found some spare time she'd make sure to offer her assistance in cleaning the place up - or at least dusting.
Her red-rimmed eyes quickly scanning for anyone, she sighed as she saw none. However, spotting a foot stool standing near one of the shelves, the woman decided to sit, wait, and hope that Ianna or another living person would show themselves soon.

Ianna, still quite annoyed with her eldest daughter, stalked into the wand shop. Her arm was still in a sling, and she seemed to distracted to notice Anon had entered.

"Woman with a dead arm, and you want me to go to WHERE?! No. No no no no noooo. Not yet. No way." she grumbled softly. "The wand can bugger off for all I care, until my arm is healed, I go nowhere."

Ianna paused listening to the voice in her head and closed her eyes. "You said it'd be better in a month. It's been three weeks. Can't the wand wait a week? It's waited a few hundred years already, what's a week?"

Another pause and she closed her eyes. Oh. Yes. That. "Well, You go get it then.....Yes I know you have Coailiann...Matty, there's nothing I can do. We have to wait. Yes. Yes. No....Yes.....God damnit." she slammed the book of life and death down on the desk and sat herself down, using her one good arm to rustle through the pages.

As per usual, the book allowed dust to fly everywhere, though it didn't seem to bother the irrate Ianna. "Pegasus. I'm not going until my arm is better." she slammed the book shut with a resounding thud and glared at nothing in particular. "Thank you."

Then she was silent, finally noticing Anon. "Oh...Hi."

Staring wide-eyed at the woman now identified as Ianna, Anon dazedly waited for her to stop talking to Matilda (the young woman sincerely hoped she was talking to her daughter, and not herself), and notice her guest.

"Hullo." maybe coming wasn't such a good idea, anyway?, "Do you remember me? I was here some time ago, and I got this wand.." the purply-haired woman waved the cobra-wand around, proving her point.

"I had some questions, so I thought I'd come back - but if this is a bad time, I can come back later...?"

Her family had asked questions about the wand she'd been dragging around everywhere - with a rather scary-looking cobra-statuette on top, no less - questions she couldn't answer; and questions she wanted answers to. But most of all, the young woman reckoned, she needed confirmation that she wasn't insane and that taking on this responsibility was a good idea after all. Sometimes, at night, she'd wake up in a sweat, having had dreams of the cobra on the wand coming alive and trying to kill her. The thing looked entirely too life-like, she felt.
It wasn't that the wand itself had anything to do with the nightmares, per se, more like the stress and uncertainty of it all had manifested in her dream, taking on the form of the cobra. It was just a subconscious personification of her fear, but it was still scary.

Ianna nodded her head, her stress level seeming to drop just a little bit. "Hello, yes yes, I remember you. I don't forget the guardians of my babies." she smiled weakly and wiggled about in her stool, trying to get comfortable.

It was hard to get comfortable with an arm unable to be felt or moved. "Sure, ask anything you'd like. I may not be able to answer, but Matilda can. Hopefully. And what we can't answer, I'm sure you'll find out in time." she reached for a glass of water beside her and took a sip.

God she hated her life sometimes. It was too damn stressful.

And she missed her Coailiann. A lot.

Oh. That's nice to hear," Anon smiled faintly, happy to not have to introduce herself everytime she came here.

Carefully arranging herself on her small stool, the young woman eyed Ianna's sling. It did look a bit uncomfortable, come to think of it.

"How long will it be, exactly? My family's been rather excited about getting the opportunity to buy baby clothes again, and my mom's in seven heaven." the young woman winked at the older one, her bloodshot eyes making the scene look quite peculiar.

Ianna chuckled. "It's different for everyone. Matilda grew to ancient in two months, but she was special. Ganty has had hers for weeks and there's been no sign of true change, at least on the outside. So truely, it's uncertain. The child will come out when it feels as if it's time to." she smiled a bit and rubbed at her arm.

It felt so odd having it there but not feeling it unless she touched it with her other hand. "Is there anything else you long to know?"

The young woman sincerely hoped her child wouldn't grow so fast - frankly, it'd be scary beyond words.

"Is there any way to tell?" Anon smiled hesitantly, a bit unsure if her questions were completely and utterly idiotic.

Ianna gave a small shake of her head. "No, there really isn't a way to tell..but your child won't grow as fast as Matilda did."

Ianna seemed to know what the woman was thinking on that. "Matilda saw how it hurt me, and slowed the process down quite a bit."

"Oh, thank goodness." the woman breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

"Have you ever had.. nightmares about the wands?" her voice was mousy, some distant part of her noticed in disapproval. She knew it was silly to ask, but as it was.. she needed to tell someone, and Ianna seemed good as any. Her family would only look at her if she'd lost her marbles, and her friends would laugh it off.

Ianna thought and shook her head. "No, but the day that Matty evolved from wand to wisp, I woke up to find the room filled with a very bright glowing wand and a small wisp of smoke emerging from it." she smiled a little. "Of course, I thought it was some kind of parlor trick...."

She looked a little happy at the memory. "It was interesting, no less...But I don't believe I ever had nightmares."

The purple-haired human giggled at the thought, "Who wouldn't? After all, it's not everyday you wake up to such a sight.."

The lingering smile on her face vanished as the young woman tiredly rubbed her forehead. "It's just stress, I know, but still."

Ianna slid off the stool and walked over to her, placing her good hand on her shoulder. "You'll do fine, you know. If you wouldn't be able to, the wand wouldn't have chosen you. Nagas are....well they're odd creatures." she smiled a little bit.

"You don't need to stress over it, you'll be fine." she repeated it as she pulled up a stool and sat beside her. "Is there anything else you want to know?

Anon looked at the other woman, small tears gathering in her eyes; it had been a really stressful month. "I.. guess you're right. Thank you. I needed to hear that."
Bowing her head, the human worried her lower lip.
"Not really, no. But.. do you need any help with that sling? It looks a bit uncomfortable, so if you need to get it adjusted.." the young woman blushed slightly, "I'm no doctor, but I did have a lot of adventurous brothers."

Ianna sighed softly. "I can't feel my arm, it's like it's not there, though it is...so there really can't be uncomfortable..the fact I can't feel my arm is the uncomfortable part." she laughed weakly and rubbed at her arm.

"Cobra bite trying to get your wand. At least I'm not dead though..."

"Oh. I can't imagine not being able to feel my arm." she shuddered at the idea, quite alarmed.

"I'm sorry about that." she looked around a bit, a little flustered, "I think I'll take my leave now, if that's okay with you? Might as well get some things done, since I've got the day off." Anon shrugged, the prospect of cleaning her apartment wasn't fun, but it had to be done.

Ianna nodded. "That's fine, and you don't need to apologize. But don't be a stranger, it gets lonely around here, especially since Matty has my infant daughter." she blinked her eyes. "She also came from a wand, but she decided to bypass the first two stages and come straight out as a human infant..the little rebel."

Her smile was so geniune when she talked about her little girl. "Have a good day, Anon."

"I won't, and you too." Anon smiled, before making her way out of the shop.

[ Message temporarily off-line ]

Malen lounged on a couch with Kishi watching Blue's Clues, purely for kishi's benefit or atleast that's what he'd tell anyone who caught him.
Kishi's wand was nestled to her chest as she was to his both small hands of the succubus girl gripping it firmly. While she no longer needed it to keep her solid she still refused to put it down, possibly because Coailiann might hide it on her. Malen wouldn't put it past his other jealous daughter.
Walking into the headquarters, wand in hand, Anon curiously eyed the room.
On one of the couches, a comfortable looking thing, sat a man and a young.. girl?
Raising her eyebrows, the woman made her way towards the only other people in the HQ, eyes on the girl the whole time. She was rather pretty, in a dark, gothic sort of way.
"Hello, I'm Anon. I was just checking in to see if anyone was here, you know.." scratching the back of her head absently, a habit picked up from one of her numerous brothers, the grey-haired woman smiled tightly.
Malen looked up and smiled " Hello Anon I'm Malen and this is Kishi" he said nodding towards his daughter." Ianna is out but perhaps I can help you." He paused eyeing her wand " If it's a guardian question I probably can help, I did manage to get Kishi this far."

Hearing her name several times kishi pulled herself up and waved at Anon. Her wings flutterd breifly and she giggled happy to meet new people.
Relaxing her smile into something more relaxed, Anon nodded at Malen and his daughter.
"Well, not so much of a question, I just.." the woman paused to consider her words, "needed likeminded company."
Taking a seat at the nearby, Anon laid the wand by her side, the one closest to the others, carefull to let the wisp stabilize itself before she let fully go of the handle.
"Besides, there's not fun in sitting home all day, and I needed some air."
She sighed, gently stroking the wand before looking over at Kishi and smiling.
Malen nodded "Mnnn well you're always welcome here and since work is slow these days I'm usually here. I'm pretty open minded so if you just want to talk about stuff in general I can do that too." Malen could feel his misplaced mother hen instincts kicking in. Though he was still a child at heart he was always trying to be there for other people. Having been raised in a very close family he simply couldnt see the point of people distancing themselves from others.

Kishi merely gurgled and waved her wand about, grey eyes filled with amusement.

"You work here?" an interested look on her face, the woman in question eyed the man on the other couch, before getting distracted by Kishi's gurgling.
The girl was too cute! A latent maternal instinct kicked in, and Anon leaned down to look the small girl in the eyes.
"Hello, sweetheart. I'm Anon, who're you?" her voice becoming sickeningly sweet, the grey-haired hoped to avoid scaring the child. In her experience, children were a jumpy bunch that made a lot of noise and liked to hit each other. That wasn't to say that she didn't like children, simply that children were a weird species.
" No I live here" Malen said shaking his head " I fell in love with Ianna when I picked up Kishi's wand and ended up moving in here." No matter how many times he told the story it always filled Malen with a pleasent heat when he spoke of his and Ianna's first meeting. he watched as Anon approached Kishi and laughd softly " Apparently this succubus's charms work on everyone."

Pleased with the attention kishi held her arms out an obvious sign she wanted to be picked up. she cooed softly while staring at Anon.
Giggling lightly at the succubus, Anon carefully scooped her up and carefully set the child on her lap.
Smiling at the child, the woman replied to the other adult in the room.
"Wow.. you and Ianna are in a relationship?" stroking Kishi wings carefully, Anon smiled softly at the child.
"It should be forbidden to be this cute, it should." still talking in the voice most adults use when confronted with a baby, the woman couldn't take her eyes off the child. Something about her was just so cute and compelling - but on the other hand, Anon had been prone to reacting to all children this way.
Malen laughed " Ahh yes cute children should be outlawed. And yes Ianna and I are togeather, I babysit and cook for free and she loves me and that's all I really ask for" he said smiling. " mm what species is your little one?" he asked curiosity getting the better of him.

The strange touch on her wings startled kishi for a moment and she froze. Then as Anons gentle words filterd into her ears she relaxed and and simply flexed her wings while taking in this nice woman who was holding her.

"Mm, I'd love having a cook," wrinkling her nose, Anon made a half-smile, half-grin at Malen.
"Wandie? Oh, she's a Naga. Or that's what Ianna said anyway," using one hand to support the child on her lap, the woman curled a finger along the cobra-statuette, making the wisp flutter about a bit, still connected to the wand. For a moment, her eyes seemed far away and a soft look came to rest on her face.
Shaking the moment off her, Anon turned back to Kishi, eyes twinkling.
"Half-human, half-snake. And what about this little one?"
" Kishi's succubus well a Cambion half succubus and half navajo or so the book read. I'm not sure exactly how that happned. Most likely the succubus enchanted the man and things went from there" Malen perferred not to think on Kishi's past becuase thinking of it meant thinking that she'd died. " A naga eh? sounds like things are going to get interestign around here when all the wisps and such are children. kitsunes, Phoenix's, Drow, and a naga, it's like a magical menagerie."

Kishi smiled at the wisp and waved her wand in it's direction.

"A succubus?" repeating other people seemed to have become Anon's new hobby.
"Probably something like that. And weren't the Navajo native americans?"
pondering her own question for a moment, the woman mentally shrugged, and turned her attention to the other part of what Malen had said.
"Drows and phoenixes?" raising her eyebrows in an amused gesture, Anon continued, "Things have certainly been happening since I was last here."
Smiling at the girl, Anon adopted The Voice again.
"Do you want to see the wand, sweetie?" it couldn't hurt, could it? If only Kishi was careful with the wisp, nothing should happen.

"It's certainly always changing around here. Every so often a new wand pops up and I wonder just how much longer Matilda can hold out." Though Malen had never met Matilda he still cared for her becuase she was Ianna's daughter like Coailiann was.

Not understanding everythign that was being said but knowing the word wand and following Anon's eyes Kishi got the idea and reached one hand out for the Naga's wand while cluthign her own in the other hand.

"It takes her energy, finding the wands?" sending someone to India would certainly tear on her, the woman couldn't help but think.
Carefully putting the wand into the child's little hands, Anon gazed seriously at Kishi, hoping to imprint upon her the importance of being careful.
"But you have to be careful, alright?" she added as she watched the wisp flicker about. She had a nasty feeling that on some base level, it was aware. Not thinking, perhaps, but sensing.
"Yeah her and Ianna both, Ianna never seems to comeback uninjured " he sighed. He wished he could help in some way other than babysitting but it just wasn't meant to be.

"mmm" kishi murmured holding the wand and staring intently at the wisp. it was pretty like the other wisps and wasn't afraid of her.

"Well, I'm sure they're able to handle it. Ianna doesn't seem like the kind of woman who'd roll over for anyone.." and she really hadn't seemed that way - Anon was sure she was able to take care of herself, despite the fact that she was injured when Anon first met her.
The small, lightly purple-coloured wisp flickered again, before settling down.
The woman to whom the wand belonged smiled. Kishi seemed to be doing fine, and she relaxed, forcing her muscles to relax as well.
" No comment" Malen said his tone light and teasing. Oh he could comment but he was chosing not to especially since sexual humour wasn't appreciated by all.

Kishi giggled and smiled at the wisp, it was purple, she had been purple, the nice boy was purple, purple things were good

"Oh?" drat that man, now she was curious. But curiousity killed the cat, and Anon had no wish of dying.
Kissing the girl on top of her dark hair, the woman smoothed down a few stray locks, and bestowed the girl with a fond look.
"Well.. I suppose we'll have to get going soon," Anon's mouth curved downwards in a slight frown, not quite willing to leave the comfortable couch she was sitting in and walk home.
"mm well like I said you're always welcome here and trust me people pop in at all hours. Plus Kishi seems to be quite happy with you around so there's extra incentive to come back." Malen was happy Anon was a very nice guardian and she was so fond of children unlike several of the other's he'd met.

Kishi stared up at anon with pure glee evident in her grey eyes. She fluttered her wings and wriggled suddenly getting fidgety
"Thank you, Malen," taking the wand away from Kishi and placing it next to her, yet again, Anon stood up, making sure that the child was securely placed in her arms.
Smiling, the woman walked over to Malen, a mere few steps, and handed him the succubus.
"And thank you for the talk; it was nice meeting you and Kishi. I'll be back sometime soon, I reckon."
Gathering the wand, Anon waved before making her way out of the room.
"Bye!"

"Mindflayers. Mind flayers. Now Matilda has me going after brain sucking squid? I really need to get a better job," Ianna was muttering, her fingers trailing over the surprisingly dust free book spines of the upper most level of the library. The ladder below her wobbling slightly with every movement.

She didn't seem too concerned.

She had told Matilda the wand would have to wait a day. She needed more research. It had been literally forever and a day since she had read up on the specific species and she wanted to know what she was up against.

Bah. She wasn't going to die today or any day soon.

Hopefully.

"AHA!" she cried, finding the book she was looking for and triumphantly pulling it from between it's brothers. She held it up in the air as if it were a trophy and giggled - the ladder wobbling more.

Note to self - Fix the wobbling in the ladder before someone fa---

"AHHH!"

THUD.

Ianna winced as she fell off the ladder and onto the cat-walk, "alls." she finished, just above a whisper. That HURT.

Carefully she sat herself up and dusted herself off, book still clutched in her hand.

At least it hadn't been damaged.

Adjusting the placement of the tabs before pressing them down Malen sighed ,raising babies was cute really it was but the diaper part was one thing he really wished he could have skipped. " There now try and stay clean for more than an hour ok." He teased Kishi gently ruffleing her hair before picking her up. The succubus baby simply smiled back and tapped him lightly on the head with her wand.

A noise from the direction of the library cuased Malen to sigh again, it could only be Ianna havign trouble since Coailiaan wasn't a book worm and Del had the good sense to ask for help. Walking into the library he spotted Ianna and growled " Do you know what it means to ask for help?." As if sensing her fathers annoyance Kishi waved her wand angrily at Ianna.

Daniel had arrived at the Headquarters early, as usual using it as his hideaway to collect his own thoughts, and to stay away from Kel collecting hers. He was pretty useless at helping her out with that dissertation she was writing, but if he could get her to write some research on ancient views on phoenixes next time, it would always be a bonus...

No sooner had her stepped through the portal however than he heard a distant 'thud' coming from the direction of the library. People were here today? Bennu giggled softly in the crook of his arm, wispy fingers presumably stuck in his mouth, as far as one could tell with a flame-coloured ghost.
"Shall we go and see, Ben?" The lanky man's voice was rather at odds with his solemn appearance, and he carelessly threw his long black coat over the sofa before heading towards the library door and peering around.

"When I hear a thud, it normally spells pain," he said, leaning against the doorpost and smiling wryly. "Morning, Ianna, Malen," and he nodded to both, noting with surprise that Kishi was fully solid now, a true baby. Bennu clapped wispy hands in delight.

Having been at the head quarters just yesterday, Anon had been surprised to find herself at the place again. She'd been taking a walk, quite relaxed, and hadn't watched where she was going.

Anon trusted her feet, and had ended up in front of the head quarters yet again.

Shrugging, wand in hand, she made her way through the main hall, noting that no-one seemed to be there.

Going through the portal always made her stomach do a flip-flop, and after entering the lobby, Anon stilled for a moment so that her stomach would have time to settle down.

Noticing the lack of people here as well, the woman decided to go explore. Might as well get something done, since she was already here.
Making her way to one of the doors, she stepped through - and promptly knocked into a man she'd never seen before.

"Eep! Oh my goodness, are you okay? I'm so, so sorry." waving her wand around to visualize just how sorry she was, the grey-haired woman failed to notice anyone else in the room.

Ianna looked up to her irritated...Whatever he was, and narrowed her eyes, "I didn't need help. The ladder wobbled, thank you very much." she stood herself up then, setting the book down carefully. It was an old one. Too valuble to be dropping like that.

"Hello precious," Ianna murmured, picking Kishi from Malen's arms and cradling her, cooing softly as she kissed her forehead. However, the quiet family moment was short lived as she heard two voices, "Ah! Daniel! Pleasure to see you again!"

It...Had been a while. Forgetting Malen was there for the moment, Ianna scrambled down the stairs - with his daughter in her arms, and came to a screeching stop a few feet away from him.

Damn. Her back hurt.

"Ah..Yeah..Wobbly ladder + incredibly bouncy me = Ianna on her back. Thankfully, the walkways are carpeted. Velvet. Velvet breaks falls well....Hello, Anon."


Women, Malen mused were the most frustrating creatures known to man.He watched as Ianna appropriated Kishi and whisked off to greet Daniel and Anon. Staying put for a moment so he could get himself in check he waved. " Hey there good to see you two." It was very good to them depsite how much he loved being alone with just his family. Beucase sometimes the people you love are the people who put you in insane asylums.Wriggling about in her mother's arms Kishi reached for Bennu wanting to play with the other winged one again.

As the newcomer stumbled against him Daniel caught her elbow and set her back on balance before grinning at her apologies.
"I'm fine, don't worry about it, Miss..?" He grasped the name Ianna called her as she came over, ".. Miss Anon. And as Ianna says, I'm Daniel, pleased to meet you." He bowed a little, keeping his grip on Bennu, who suddenly was a lot more excited as he noticed Kishi, and a new wand. So many changes!

"And are you sure you're okay? Falling off ladders, despite velvet, is a dangerous occupation." He looked over to Malen and winked solemnly behind the glasses. "What were you looking up?" His expression is mildly amused, and he shifted his 'grip' on the baby ghost that was Bennu, making it more secure.


"Pleased to meet you as well," letting out a nervous laugh, Anon turned to Ianna and Malen.

"Hello, Ianna, Malen, Kishi." registering the words that'd been spoken, the woman turned half-concerned eyes on Ianna - granted, they didn't know each other all that well, but the other woman had been helpful on all but the first occasion. Raising an eyebrow in silent question, the grey-haired woman resorted to staring bemusedly at Ianna and feeling just a bit lost.

"You fell down a ladder?" small wrinkles appearing on her forehead, Anon glanced at Ianna.

"Oh, I'm just fine...It wasn't too high, and I got the book I was looking for. Mind flayers. Brain sucking squid...New wand..." she shuddered a little bit, "I pity whatever guardian gets that baby...." she trailed off and looked over to Malen, "Coming down or are you going to stand there like a bump on a log all day, eh? I didn't get a hug today."

She raised her shoulders and let them fall again, "How're you, Anon?" her eyes wandered to the door, "And I'm just wondering when Coailiann will figure out she'll get more attention in here then from the television..."




"I am far more attractive than a bump on a log" Malen retorted making his way down the others. Upon reaching Ianna he wrapped his arms around her want from behind and blew on her neck "mm well if Coailiann is being entertained by the telveison she's not inbetween us which is a good thing."


Kishi began to whine as she struggled to reach the orange baby ghost.Flapping her wings futilely she frowned in annoyance.

Bennu drifted away in delight from Daniel's arms, espite his reluctance at letting the little ghost do so, as he was not sure just how well the phoenix spirit could support himself. But he was happy to see Kishi again, as much as you could tell a ghost was, and highly curious at her true rebirth and escape from the wand.

"Ben, let me ask before you drift away," said Daniel apologetically again, stepping away to attempt to retrieve the ghost babe. "Sorry Ianna, Malen." He turned his attention to Anon then, noting her slight bemusement.
"Have you visited this place often?" He grinned curiously.


Smiling at Ianna, questions forgotten, Anon tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. She still hadn't gotten used to her new haircut, a rather drastic one if you asked her, and it seemed prone to falling in her eyes all the time, despite the lack of length.

"I'm glad you're alright." making a face at the cliche sentiment, the woman turned to Daniel and grinned, "Nah, just a few times - I have a wisp, as you see" pausing to show off said wisp, "but I've been rather lazy and haven't gotten out much."

Ianna gave a small shiver, "Mmph, our children do not get in our way, Malen. You simply want me too much." she smirked, turned her head, and poked her tongue out before turning her attention over to the other two.

"Kishi it seems, wants your little ghostie there, eh?" she set Kishi down on the carpeted ground, ruffling her black hair lightly, "There ye go little girl, If you wanna play, go ahead."

She took a step backwards and leaned into Malen, "Anon, I'm sure your lil snakelett will come soon enough."


" Keep your tongue in your mouth unless you intend to use it " Malen whispered in Ianna's ear while grinning. He debatede breifly whther he was too wanting or if children were interuptive and came to the conclusion that both were probably true. Smiling at Daniel he shook his head " Don't apoliigse Kishi's egging him on with her cute baby charms. when he's trying to break into headquaters at night to see her then you can apoligise." he joked.

Kishi let out a squeal of excitement happy to be free of the inprisoning arms.

"Luckily enough he's not quite at that stage yet, huh?" Daniel grinned and hunkered down by the small pair, resting his wrists on his knees and looking up at the others.
"Maybe they'd want to meet your little wisp, Miss Anon? Does it have a name?" His tone was politely curious, but a grin lurked behind his pale eyes as he studiously ignored the sub conversation.

Bennu was astounded. Where was Kishi's wand? It truly was gone. He was bound to his inextricably, or so it seemed, his prison but his safeguard. He wasn't to know that was where he had been trapped to save his life.


"I should hope so," the young woman gave a small, wistful sigh, though feeling a bit silly. She really did want a little girl to spoil.

Getting shaken from her thoughts by Daniel's comment about breaking in, Anon grinned slightly at the thought of the baby ghost breaking in to the head quarters.

"You think?" holding the wand up to face-height, the woman scrutinized the object for a few moments before leaning down and laying it beside the succubus-baby.

Watching the wisp give a small shiver before settling down, Anon turned her attention to the question she'd been asked.

"Oh, don't bother calling me Miss. Might as well call me Anon, right?" nodding at Daniel to make her point, she continued, "And I haven't named her yet."

Stopping to contemplate something, Anon smiled hesitantly, "Frankly, I'm not even sure she's a she."

"You should meet Zasalamel. Or Yashima. They're built in p***s detectors," Ianna laughed before narrowing her eyes at Malen, "Imp. You're the biggest flirt I know - and that's saying something. You're almost as charming as Callix."

She smirked then and turned her attention back to their guests, "Daniel, you sure have adjusted well to having a kid of your own, even if he is just a puff of smoke. All ready for him to pop into infancy?"


" I'm wounded deeply wounded by that comment. If's that how you feel I'll join Coailiann in the t.v watching " He teased. Ianna was not likely to let him out of her sight and Coailiann stole enough of his attention from the other household inhabitants as it was.

Kishi looked at her father for a moment before latching onto the wand again. It was different from hers but still pretty and with purple. Grinning she tried to split her attention between Bennu and the wisp.

"Adjusted, hah. You have no idea..." Daniel scratched the back of his neck and laughed slightly. "I guess... I can't wait for him to be freed from the wand properly, that's true. Though somehow... at least while he's a little ghost, he has no diapers to change." Pale eyes produced a wink from behind the glasses.

"It took me a little while to work out that Bennu was a boy," he nodded to Anon. "And I gues you don't truly know til they appear, huh?" His eye drifted to watch the little flamecoloured ghost, clapping wispy hands curiously as he was equally distracted between a new wisp that might be a friend or Kishi whom he knew already. So many new things to explore...


Getting a bit uncomfortable with Ianna and Malen's flirting, Anon shuffled her feet and blushed slightly. Her endeavours in the romantic direction wasn't exactly noteworthy, and she'd never quite seen anyone be so open in their flirting. It was rather.. interesting, if not a small bit scary.

Not that she'd come from a conservative home, but with a bunch of sterotypically protective elder brothers, she'd been doomed to romantic-idiocy. It was fate.

While it's guardian made a fool of itself, the small wisp tried to adjust to it's new position. The only thing it could really do was flicker, and so it did.

Back to the flustered young woman, Anon had gotten herself together. Well, so what if they were open about their relationship? Good for them.

"Probably not," half-shrugging, the woman glanced at her charge. Purple wasn't a very manly colour, but that was hardly an estimation.

"Do you know when Bennu will become a child?" tone interested, Anon turned her eyes to the ghost-baby.

Ianna raised a brow, "Go ahead then, we all know you love her more than me," she teased in return before looking to the other people in the room, "Terribly sorry, but I probably should go get my studying of this book started. It's not fun, but it's worse having something happen to you without being prepared. Have a good day, all, and Malen? I'll see you tonight."

She smirked, blew a kiss, and jogged out of the library with her book tucked happily beneath her arm.

Definitely, definitely needed to study.


Malen stared after the love of his life with a fond smile before shaking his head." There's soemthign about women I've never understood."he bowed to Anon and David before scooping Kishi up. "Sadly I too have things I should be doing so I'll leave you two to talk." that said he swiftly followed Ianna out. Kishi waved at her friends and pouted slightly at having to leave them.

Cradling her wand, which she'd managed to snatch from Kishi as the girl's guardian picked her up, Anon smiled slightly.

"I should get going, too. I've already been here too long, considering there's an apartment that needs to get cleaned." Waving slightly at the baby-ghost and his guardian, she made her way out of the library.

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