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 Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2006 10:18 pm
___________________ramen... a g a i n Sodashi ambled around her small apartment gnawing on a thick chip of dark chocolate imported from some far away place she couldn’t pronounce. There was a little knot of worry in her and so felt the need for something sweet to chew on. She’d left the Vale building earlier today day and hadn’t remembered her potseedlingthing (she still had little clue what it was. Uennie had described a bit, but Soda, who hadn’t paid attention during class, hadn’t even understood the majority of the botany vocabulary she’d used.) until she was already on the train back home. And being her lazy self, decided that it could survive the night without supervision. Sodashi didn’t regret leaving it there; waiting for trains and their connecting buses was of the most irritating things. But nevertheless, after a week with her seedling, she’d grown quiet attached and if anything happened to it… The girl glanced at the digital clock sitting on her bedside table. 5:43 PM glowed in red digital numbers at her. Probably should start getting something for dinner ready so I won’t starve… she mulled. The apartment was ever so lonely…
And as usual, she procrastinated. It wasn’t until 8:39 that her stomach protested her continuous procrastination with a loud growl and a few sharp jabs. Suddenly finding herself not in the mood for Thai curry and rice for the 3rd night in a row, (her neighbor loved cooking and therefore made extra dinner nearly every 2 days and fed the surplus to Sodashi who didn’t mind at all The apple pie was especially delicious last week.) she opened her own cabinet and found only a great number of packets of ramen and a few bottles of soda.
“Ramen it is then,” she muttered. Sodashi began to excavate her kitchen looking for a pot to boil water in, proving just how long it had been since she last cooked for herself.
A few hours minutes later, a pot sat on her stove halfway full with tap water and steam rising out in a slow lazy manner. She looked around and saw the many pots and pans she’s uncovered during her expedition strewn across the room and realized she couldn’t leave them there, else she woudn’t be able to make it to her bed without slipping on something and killing herself. A groan escaped her as she bent down and began cleaning.
“You’re much more different when you’re by yourself. Quiet, resigned, reserved. Much more like a human being,” a new voice floated into the small room. Another girl, evidently older than Sodashi, leaned on the doorframe, a grin on her lips. Her long black hair flowed down to her hips, framing her face beautifully and allowing her own crystal blue eyes stand out.
“Kaira,” Sodashi let out a laugh despite herself. It was a love hate relationship she had with her, but then again, what should one expect from siblings? “What are you doing here? How long have you been standing there?” Then in a more questioning tone, “…How did you get in?”
Kaira laughed and held up a couple of lockpicks for Sodashi to see. She’d grown up thinking she was going to be a spy for their country but then found it much too serious for her. The threat of death always loomed around every corner. But she’d left the agency with a hand at all sorts of weapons, daggers being her best; self-defense, both armed and unarmed; and lockpicking. “I’ve been standing here for nearly an hour I swear,” Kaira told her little sister half sarcastic. “You must be blind not to have spotted me. As for why I’m here… let’s say I’m not in a mood to be in a bustling city and leave it at that. Mm?”
The pot on the stove abruptly began to boil with foaming water and steam coming streaming out of the pot like an erupting volcano causing everything around it to sizzle, hiss, and steam as well. Kaira watched it giggling (probably half at Sodashi and half at the fact everything around it was getting cooked as well) while Sodashi rushed to it and turned off the stove but when it didn’t stop she realized she’d turned off the wrong one and had in fact turned on another.
Once Sodashi had gotten the eruption back under control she asked a little breathlessly, “Eaten dinner then? Just having ramen. Again.”
“Ramen. Figures.” She shrugged a shoulder and resigned to instant noodles. “I’d love some. I’m so hungry I could eat a whale.”
Sodashi found bowls and silverwear and other such things needed to set a table.
“And uh… kid. I’m gonna be staying over tonight.”
Sodashi stopped. “…say that again?”
“Yea um… I kinda need a place to stay.”
Sodashi rubbed her temples. One; she hated her sister (this was not entirely true, but it helped with the argument in her mind). Two; she hated sleepovers. Three; she hated her sister. Four; Sodashi had always felt a lot of peer pressure from her sister. Having one stay over was beyond bad for her health. And her sister knew all of this. “I knew you weren’t just over here to say hi,” she moaned.
“Heh. Yea um… about that…” Kaira gave a sheepish grin.
“Just sit down and eat Kaira,” Sodashi told her with a dry glare.
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Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2006 10:23 pm
_____________________ramen... a g a i n Sodashi was not feeling well. At all.
A blurry head leaned over her bed eying her cautiously. “… Are… you ok, kid?”
“Kaira. Stop calling me that. I’m not a kid anymore. I’m fine.” Sodashi struggled to push herself to her elbows and suddenly a wave of hurt crashed down on her and it felt like rocks were being pelted at her head. “Ow.” Sodashi ment to say more but couldn’t manage to take another full breath.
“… you’re obviously not. Food poisoning probably. All the MSG in ramen.” She tutted like a mother who had carefully told a child not to do something yet the mischievous child had gone and done it anyway. “I’ll go fetch some medicines.”
Sodashi made some grunting noises which Kaira thought might have meant something but wouldn’t have been able to decipher it worth peas. Digging through cabinets Kaira found Sodashi was not quiet as organized as she would have hoped. Pots and pans were strewn in every cabinet there. School supplies from college and textbooks were also in a number of random cabinets. Probably the only cabinet that held things relatively in the same category was snow- and skateboarding equipment and a first aid kit. It took her 20 good minutes to locate a cabinet which might have been called the medicine cabinet if it hadn’t had something which looked like a forgotten science project and a massload of chips and decks of cards. Just about to find a glass of water, she noticed the expiration date on the medicines. 3-24-02. Kaira resisted the urge to roll her eyes and a groan. That girl… Kaira growled.
“Soda, I’m going to get some medicines for you. Don’t kill yourself while I’m gone, kid.”
Sodashi mumbled something in return from the other room and Kaira was out the door.
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Sodashi wasn't out of bed for another three days. The thought of Aly, without water, alone, withering away in a cold lab crossed the girl's mind a few times during those days... but they were vauge, and accompanied by her short memory, quickly faded into nothing..
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Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 6:37 pm
_____________________the curious incident of the seedling in the n i g h t – t i m e
Sodashi flew down the stairs of her apartment, taking them three by three, her feet barely touching the step before the momentum brought her body forward and she was flying downwards again. The girl threw herself over her bike and took off for the subway, her scarf whipping wildly behind her. Aly. Oh god what have I done..
In record time, Sodashi had arrived to her lab, actually located her key, and threw open the door. Blue eyes darted across the room searching. After a minute of panicked rush, and fear, her heart stopped and nearly fell out of her chest. It was alive. Her seedling was alive. Or.. rather, ex-seedling. During the three days she had been out sick, she had expected the thing to have shriveled up and died of thirst. But. On the contrary, the thing was now a bushy green tree looking rather like a bonsai with a white blossom sprouting from the delicately curling wood.
The girl snatched a wheeled chair from under the nearby table and collapsed, eyes still watching that tree. Her arms suddenly felt like dead weights as if it would take the last of her strength to lift even a finger. Sodashi’s ragged breath slowed, but her heart was taking it’s own sweet time to reconnect itself to her system. Why was it even in panic over the stupid seedling? Not like it was a dog or anything. Just a plant. And what was a plant to her? And why was she numb? With relief? Or just from all the running? The latter, she decided. Not relief. What kind of strange person would feel relief over a plant? Running, that’s all. Running. Sodashi frowned.
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Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 6:38 pm
_____________________the curious incident of the seedling in the n i g h t – t i m e Journal 001 Date || 12-10-06 Curious really. That I would start a journal. But it was Kaira’s fault. She bought me this stupid thing… and I figured I might use it, though she knows I’m notorious for the whole ‘trying and failing’ things. Guess she doesn’t mind. Guess that’s what happens to a person when you live with them for so long. What do I write here? ‘Just pour out all that stuff cooped in your chest’ she says. ‘Write whatever’s on your mind.’ Right then. What’s on my mind? Well I haven’t got a clue. It’s just.. there. Not like it’s a book or anything. Mm. I wouldn’t tell a soul this. But I guess it’s a journal, which requires honesty for it to work properly or something. In the handbook for writing useful journals, probably. Well what’s on my mind is that damn plant. Near gave me a heart attack, it did. Don’t know what’s gotten into my system. Maybe it was the whole getting sick thing. Sheesh. The things you can get in a research facility, I swear. It ain’t healthy for a person. -Sodashi The girl looked up from her writing and studied the plant she’d been employed to.. well.. study. How the hell had that happened? Left in a room for three days with no water. Her lips pressed in a line and her eyebrows knitted together, she watched her charge with new caution. Caution, you must understand, is something Sodashi experienced very little. And the fact she was experiencing this most unhappy feeling towards a plant… well that just screamed foreboding news. Either the girl was going mental, or… she was going mental.
And the truth of it was that this plant had sparked her curiosity. Her curiosity was something very easily lit, but the facts loomed before her. If she gave in she might turn into a real Observer. Not just the hitch-along she usually was when she took up jobs. Worse, research could only lead to more research. Soon she’d be pouring chemicals onto things testing if it might grow a tail or something.
The girl sighed and pushed herself up from the chair she’d fallen asleep in last night and set out into the labyrinth of a building in search of food, caffeine, and perhaps that new Esperanza Wing there was so much talk about.
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Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 6:58 pm
The following RP was done in the Vale Breast Cancer Awareness Thread... and Soda dropped out for a little while due to exams ^^; Kyocho It had been a few slow months around the facility, but things seemed to be picking up at great speeds. It has been a while since Kyo had met up and talked to the other employees. Them with there promotions, the young elf was still slaving away... well more like just working away in the green house. Repotting plants and planting new ones. Even taking care of the watering of the current plants. It was hard work, but it seemed to pass the day fairly quickly and it was enjoyable.... most days. The buzz of news soared through out the building that a new wing was going to be opening. Something about the breeding of Vale. "I think it was called.. "Esperanza Wing"" The elf tapped at his lower chin with a dirt covered finger. Leaving spots across his face. Shrugging his shoulders he let the thought go and nag at the back of his skull. It wasn't until around lunch time he decided to head off and see things for himself. As he wandered down the many hallways. Kyo hopped another one of the employees would show there face. It was sad being alone all the time in that big huge… heat radiating building. Well he wasn’t really that alone if you count the plants. Sodashi-chan Sodashi, upon sudden impulse, had brought her fiddle to work today having nothing better to do, her potseedling still potseedingly after a week. Word had it that some new section of the building was opening… though how word spread in such a lonely place was beyond her. Grand opening was probably a few days ago and the event had flown right past her unawares. Some reproduction research wing called Esperanza. Sodashi mused as she fiddled her way toward the wing, her upbeat music proclaiming her presence as it echoing down the halls. Kyocho Kyo's Elvin ears twitched with excitement as his feet pounded against the tiled floor, but that wasn't what made them twitch. Another sound joined in the echoes of the walls. The sound of a fiddle playing from an unknown person... or was it? Kyo's foot steps stopped to a halt. Waiting as the sound drew closer and closer until the shadow of a familiar figure emptied into view. It was Soda. Tilting his head slightly and cocking an eye brow. "Hey.." The elf manage to whisper. Sodashi-chan Soda pranced down the hall, fiddling an old country tune she'd learned back when she actually attended class and paid attention for more than 42 seconds a period. The girl nearly fiddled right past Kyo had he not let the whisper of a sound through his lips. Determinded to complete the piece she'd started (which was unusual), the girl trotted around the elf as she pulled the song to a close planting herself before him just as she played the last chord. Sodashi looked up from her fiddle, dropping her arms at her sides swinging the fiddle and bow lightly and flashed a pearly white grin. She'd gone to the dentist just a day past. "What's the look for, eh?" Kyocho "Oh no particular reason." The elf grinned. "What brings you out here?" Kyo whispered once again. Not even he knew why he was whispering, but it was rather just the mood he was in. A tired yet awake mood. Shrugging his shoulders. "I heard there was an opening of a new wing, I thought I would come check it out... I hope I'm right though." Sodashi-chan "Really?" Soda's brows lifted in amusement. "You're honestly telling me that I got something right for once? So there is a new wing opening. Huh." The girl pondered the achievement a moment before chuckling to herself and blowing hair out of her eyes. Definitly time to get a haircut. "What brings me out here? I work here remember? Potthing is still a potthing. No idea what I'm doing there. And stop with the whispering. Can't here a damn thing your saying." With that, the girl led the way in the direction of the wing, or so she hoped, fiddle back in her neck playing a personal Disney favorite. Kyocho "I know you work here... I meant by why are you out here... here." The elf waved his arms around. "Well it is a rare sight to see a researcher outside of there labs... right? It is for me. I've been stuck in the greenhouse for quite some time." The elf spoke louder this time and decided to follow close behind the fiddler player. "I don't hate it, but it does get bland and boring sometimes." The elf nodded, unaware and unconscious of his rambling. Sodashi-chan She stopped fiddling to answer the elf, "That could just be because I'm the only observer around these parts these days ya know," she pointed out. "'Sides. Winter's my season." Winter, was a time of joy. The crisp cool nipping at her nose while her ears stayed snug under hand knitted wool hats brought a such childish glee to Sodashi's world that probably wasn't healthy for the normal human being. "Well you should wander around more often. This building is HUGE. There could be piles of gold hidden in corners and we wouldn't know it, man." The minor thought that Kyo might not be the delinquent Sodashi prided herself as decided to skip over Soda's painfully slow mind this time 'round. Kyocho The only observer?This single sentence repeated over and over in his mind. "How could that be? I thought there where more Observers around here.." The elf shook his head then stopped in his tracks. Lifting a hand Kyo began to scratch at his head. This place made him more and more confused by the minute. "Wander... around here? I don't know. I didn't want to get into any kind of trouble. Aren’t there like... restricted areas around here?" The elf sighed. Being blunt. "Well... I guess there would be signs to mark restricted areas. SO... I wouldn't be able to wander too far." The elf nodded. Sodashi-chan Soda shrugged indifferently. The only people she saw around this place were that girl Petra and Kyo. Not that she’d been around for too long, maybe all the others really did just hide inside their labs pouring green and blue bubbling chemicals onto their plants to see if the plant would grow an antler or something. Horror movies really were started to get to her head… Sodashi brightened at the talk of trouble. Getting in and out was her profession and she was always happy to add a partner in crime to her list. Back at school they’d had quite a crew Sodashi had been a proud member of. Head of espionage and breaking into things/places. Those were the good days.. “Psh. And who’d be here to catch you, eh? Honestly. Look at the population of this place. Probably a grand total of maybe four?” Sodashi was suddenly torn between some serious action and adrenaline pumping and never-ending curiosity for new things. “Hey, hey Kyo. Whattaya say? Let’s go find somewhere to break in and run around for a while yea? Bring some excitement to that life of yours.” She gave a feral grin, eyes eager for some good chaos and trouble. Kyocho "I don't want to lose my job.. Soda." The elf tapped at his lower chin. "I don't even remember who the manager is..." Kyo sighed and slouched his shoulders. Lifting up his hand and giving his head a scratch once again. Kyo pondered on what real excitement was. Getting into trouble? Sighing once again. "Some excitement huh? Maybe we can snoop around that new wing... I don't think everything is open." The elf winked a devious wink. Change was good… right? Well maybe it was about time for some change… and excitement and this Soda could possibly lead this… frail elf to this new change. It has been a dull few months. Sodashi-chan Sodashi stifled a laugh. Losing a job. What an interesting concept. Sodashi herself had lost too many jobs to count. Not that she regreted losing any of them.. paying her only minimum wage and all. Though that wink was a good sign, she'd been afraid she'd sized Kyo up all wrong, Soda had really hoped for some fun in the unexplored building rather than a wing full of bawling children. She shrugged, indifferent. "Well if you ever feel up to it, call me up and we'll have a go," she grinned crookedly. "Mmm.. the new wing.. Esperanza? Isn't that what it's called? Sounds like a dance.." She picked up her fiddle once more and swayed side to side down the hall toward the wing, the instrument singing the songs of forgotten Gypsies. Kyocho Kyo's Elvin ears pricked with happiness. Following Soda down the hallway, trying to keep up with her pace towards the newly opened wing. "Hey wait up.." The elf kept to pace pretty good, but Soda was still moving faster than him. Unknown to what kind of trouble the two could get into, but it was better than roasting in that green house all day. Since it's the only this elf's been doing for the past few months. Even getting into a bit of mischief was better than planting new plants. The elf sighed. This was a big change and a step out of his comfort zone. Sodashi-chan Soda ignore the elf's plea continuing her pace stepping lightly to the beat of her song, twisting a 360 when the music requested. Unlike the elf, there was nothing on her mind, she was a carefree breeze floating this way and that, always doing as she pleased. The girl had never known the life of being penned up under orders... and well... actually following them. What a concept. Her music dwindled to a stop as she finally looked up at where she was headed. "Hey... doesn't this.. look familiar..?" The girl mused a moment. Seemed the pair was right back where they'd started. Oh yea. Huge building. Unmapped areas. Don't really know where we're going. Oops. Ha. "SO. Good buddy ol' pal, Kyo. Ya wanna lead now?" Kyocho "Huh?" Kyo glanced around the hallway. It did look familiar... very familiar. "We went around in circles." The elf stifled back a slight laughter. There doom to get in trouble was held back slightly. Sighing a bit. There where actually a lot on this elf's mind. Mostly that he thought this place had a lot more researches... and if so what happened to all of them. ... It made him worry. Did the owners of this place do something to them? Looking up to Soda. "Umm.. Sure I guess I'll lead, but I don't think I'll lead to anywhere even better." The elf began to pace forward. Passing Soda on her right. Minutes began to pass while they wandered down the many halls of the building. "Why do you think they need a place so big... when there are only so many researchers?" Kyo seemed to speak to himself, but his voice carried on the echoes of the hallway. Sodashi-chan “Sure ya will! Be confident in yourself, eh? Think about it. If you were me – er.. a spy, and you were sent into enemy camp leading a small squad to infiltrate, you’d go on straight ahead wouldn’t ya? None of that ‘well uh.. I don’t know where I’m going..’ business. Damn straight you didn’t know where you were going. You’re in enemy camp! You infiltrate. Dive in!” By the end of the speech Soda was pretty enthusiastic, voice nearly to a shout. She gave a lopsided grin and fell behind following Leader Kyo playing the Mission Impossible theme… which, unfortunately, didn’t sound nearly as grand on a fiddle. Not stopping her passionate imitation of MI III, she answered, voice muddled a bit with her jaw pressed against the fiddle, and answers short, her mind focused on MI III. “Reserchers? Not a clue. Haven’t seen many myself. Place is pretty lonely if you think about it. We should stir trouble. Get the police force here. That’d add to our numbers.” She laughed, her curiousity suddenly wondering if the PD here was as good as the one back home. Kyocho "An enemy camp? Who's the enemy, the owners of the place?" The elf chuckled at his lame-o joke then sighed at the end. "I guess your right, I've become a little softy over the pass few months. Maybe the greenhouse gases got to me or something." Slouching his shoulders. Kyo lifted his arms up and rested them behind his head, his eye gaze following up towards the ceiling. This frail elf began to deeply ponder on why there hasn't been many researched out and about... it was really strange and would have to be something that needed to be looked into. Kyo listened to the poor excuse of a MI III theme song, but it was better than some. "Your really good on that fiddle you know." Kyo nodded. Sodashi-chan Sodashi laughed gently at the joke, the quote 'My school resembles a prison' crossing her mind. "Soft? Hey don't go putting yourself down, right? There's a difference between soft and safe. But yea, I think the fumes have definitly gotten to you. I've never seen a single person SIGH so much," she laughed again, watching him. Now Sodashi definitly wasn't the sharpest tool on the block but clearly, something was bothering the elf. And it was really cramping her style. How in the world were you supposed to have fun with a sighing elf? What happened to the devious wink? Thinking, was not something that usually occured naturally to Sodashi, and she nearly missed the compliment as Kyo spoke in his soft voice. "Eh? Oh. Ha. Mm.. Thanks. That's what happens to a person when you sit at home watching boring movies, eh?" Her smile faded some as she went back to thinking about the trouble elf before her. What in tarnations could be bothering him so much...? Kyocho Kyo laughed full heartedly. "Yeah, I think so too. Those toxic fumes of boredom I tell you." Nodding. Kyo slowed his pacing down so he stood next to Soda. "I'm glad I finally found some one else around this place. It's gotten really boring as of late and sorry for sighing so much. I think I'm just down since I've been all alone in that green house all this time." Kyo nodded. Something’s have to change... eventually right? If he kept working at it, Kyo believed it would eventually get him some where and any where other than that green house was better. Sodashi-chan "Ew. I sympathize. You ought to come around the labs more often. Then at least you'd be in the air conditioning.." The girl had officially given up on fiddling and talking at the same time and sent that type of multi-tasking to the pits of the impossible. Her arms swung lightly by her side, the extra weight of the fiddle on bow adding to the momentum of the rock. They walked on in a silence, all conversation seeming to have been exhausted, so strange and awkward for Soda who led a life was full of loud noises and the busy bustle of city life. She broke the silence rather ungracefully. "SO. I'm starving. But curiousity's eating my insides about what this new wing looks like..." she gave a mock sigh. "Curiousity killed the cat, eh? Or rather.. starved it in this case." Kyocho "Well... we could STOP at the break room and get something to eat before we head over to the new wing." Kyo tried to weasel out of going to the wing. Something about snooping around there didn't seem appropriate, but curiosity was getting the best of his judgment. "I know what you mean... I'm so curious as to what it's like and what's going down. I think I remember hearing something about a breading wing? I don’t know.." Kyo shrugged his shoulders. Sodashi-chan Sodashi, though her hunger was biting the her insides, didn't feel like straying from their path. Plus the thought of a possibility of some excitement poked at her and tugged her towards it as only a beloved... er.. hobbie can. "Mm.. It's fine. Esperanza Wing is good." She smiled easily, ignoring Kyo's attempt to get out of trouble. "Reproduction's what the bulletin said. Soon to be full of little kids no doubt..." The girl didn't try to hide her discontempt with the buggers most would claim were 'adorable.' Annoying was what they were. Brain-damaged and lacking functional eardrums.. though they seemed to work perfectly fine at the mention of candies or shinies... Kyocho "Reproduction huh! I think that would be something pretty amazing I think." The elf nodded. The thought of being able to reproduce two plants to make kids... Hey wait kids? "What do you mean kids, what kind of place is this facility anyways?" Shaking his head. This place was getting more and more complex by the second. "The farthest I have ever gotten in this building was in the green house and all I've seen are normal plants." Sodashi-chan Sodashi gave the elf a look that probably would have fallen in the category of amusement. Never gotten past the greenhouse? What did this poor child DO everyday? Sit and play with dirt planting plants all day? No wonder he was sighing all the time. Then again, she couldn't say more. She couldn’t recognize many plants save for the oaks which were probably pines in her high school. She kept a grin on and clamped her mouth shut, nodding slightly. “You know.. you really should go out more often. There’s so much more out there that no one knows about. It’s like when you go backcountry skiing?” She stopped here breaking the climax to do a hurried explaination. “That’s when you get back in the mountains off the trails and just wander, by the way..” Here she picked the momentum back up like she’d never dropped it, “And you find that untouched powdery snow? And you sink three inches the moment you walk on it? I swear it’s the most amazing feeling you’ve ever had.” She grinned, still looking forward, peeking a glance at him, looking for a reaction to it all. Kyocho "Oh Hrm.." Kyo gave Soda a nod. "I do need to get out more, but there really wasn't much for me to do. Well since I was the only one in the green house I didn't bother to leave." Kyo kept his pace the same as the two wandered down the halls. Wandering the many halls that made the facility. There was more to this facility then what the outside permitted. "I hope we are getting closer. I'm really curious as to what this place is like." Kyo nodded. “I think it’ll be more like a hospital wing.” Alinedra Ali and Edwin soon feel into a routine. After having made the small fencing that the ivy would be urged to grow up, they proceeded to changing pots. Now, some plants are eager to be replanted. They keep their roots in reasonably well kept order and are easy to replant. Others however, who's personality is quite sparadic and slightly selfish, can get themselves into just about any sort of trouble. The trouble with the ivy plants were, not only were their tops entagled together, having been started in a common planter, but so were their roots. It was a tough time attempting to untangle everything, and they were both soon covered with a layer of glowing sweat from the hard work. Edwin stood up after a while and brushed his orange hair out of his eyes, along with a bit of dirt that had been there. " This will definately never happen again. I did'nt realize how much these little buggers would entwine! Definately making note of it and informing staff so it never happens again. " Edwin began to write things down on pages in his work journal while Ali continued to untangle. They were only a quarter of the way done, on a job that should have only taken the day to complete. Returning, Edwin handed Alinedra a message. " Here, take this to the greenhouses and make sure it gets to some staff. I think Kyo is the only one working there regularly. He's scheduled to be in today. I know for a fact he's got another batch of these ready for planting, so make sure you hand this to him personally." Turning and continuing to mutter under his breath about the audacity of ivy, Alinedra got up and shaked the dirt off of all her visible areas. Ali hadn't seen Kyo since her promotion to the biodome. It had been unfortunate, since he had been her first friend here at the Facility. Work schedules were, unfortunately, hard to work around, and with her classes, she just had zero time to see him. As Alinedra departed the biodome, she walked at a comfortable pace through the labrynth of hallways that composed the Vale building. She knew the way well, and barely had to look up from her thinking as she made her way. She wondered how the other employees were doing. There had been many when she had first been hired on in a janitorial position, and have hence dwindled to almost non existance. She had heard of some being promoted, but very few. And in truth, not much at all had happened since her promotion to biodome technician. She heard rumors from the researchers of a rare Vale being fought over for guardianship, but those were not really a part of her concern. She felt so close, yet so far away from her ability to interact with such things, that Ali felt it wise to not linger. After all, she was so busy with college. Stepping outside, she felt the warm sun and a slight cool breeze. She indeed missed working in the greenhouses, for her and Kyo would often picnic out in the air during breaks. The biodome was not quite the same. Doing her same little hop on the stepping stones to the greenhouses, Ali came up outside the one that was generally used the most. Pulling the huge door open, she was assaulted by a blast of warm humid air from the inside. Suddenly the familiar smell of dirt and fertilizer washed over her, and she knew she missed this part of her job. Getting inside however, there wasn't a single sign of Kyo, or any other person for that matter. Finding a sheet of paper, she wrote a quick note indicating the need to see Edwin in the likeliness that Ali herself could not find him, she left the greenhouse and continued on inside. He was apt to be up to some form of small mischief, and it was only a matter of time before she found him. No matter how small of a wanderlust he might have, Kyo had always been big on duty as well. With a shrug, Alinedra went into the building to find the young elven man and whatever adventure he was entertaining. Yiiei The young woman wandered through the building, her first time back at work since she take off for a leave of absence. Though it had been weeks, the place was still as familiar to her as it had been when she had worked dedicatedly everyday. Her liquid amber eyes searched the corridors as Petra looked around, looking to see if any of her co-employees or researchers were there. During her leave of absence she had missed working at the Vale and even the presence of the people that she worked with. And when things in her life had cleared up to allow her to return to work, she had been eager to reaquaint herself with the other employees and researchers, well prehaps with the exception of one. Running a hand through her cerulean hair, the student began her search. Kyocho Kyocho released yet another sigh, but another thought came creeping into his mind. What the heck happened to the other two employees. Petra and Ali. Well sooner or later they would have to run into them, right? But what would the chance be that it would be sooner and that sooner happened to have all of them find each other? Well odd... I guess. The elf was leading Soda down a random hallway. Unknown to where it might lead, but it lead down to a fork... they either had to turn left or right. But what they didn't know was that down one hallway lead to the green house where Kyocho had been working... and where Ali had gone to visit the vacant heated room. Also down the other hallway had Petra wandering down it's corridors. "What's the chance of that?" The elf cocked his head and raised and eye brow. However Kyocho's and Soda's ultimate goal was reaching the new wing. Hopefully it wasn't to far away. Yiiei A grin widened as the young woman spotted two figures at the end of the corridor. With a little bounce to her steps, she hastened her way towards the pair. Petra had been wandering the building for sometime and had begun to think that perhaps no one was around, luckily that wasn't the case. As she drew nearer to the two, her eyes squinted then rounded in delight as she identified them. The unmistakable elfin ears and the most recently appointed Researcher. Waving a hand in the air, she called out to them in greeting. "Kyocho. Sodashi." The cerulean haired woman flashed a smile as she joined them. Kyocho "Petra?" The elf's eye brow seemed to rise even more in a some what confusion. "Where the heck have you been?!" Kyo shook his head in disappointment, but soon was laughing with a smile on his face. "Umm... Soda and I are planning on trying to find the new wing they just opened up. Something about... reproduction. I don't know, but do you want to come with us? The more the merrier and maybe a better chance at finding this darn place." Kyo nodded then looked back over to Soda. "What do you think?" Alinedra Ali plods through the empty halls. Soon, in the silence, her mind begins to wander to other topics. Her mind was suddenly full of technical terms she was studying in class, and her continued worry that her career might have hit a stagnant area. Lost in those thoughts, Ali was incredibly suprised to turn the corner and run full on into three of her co-workers. Giving a little scream, her face flushed with emberassment at her lack of attention to where she was going. " Kyo! Just the person i wanted to see. I've got an important note for you from Edwin. " Handing over the note, she greets the other two employees she hadn't seen for a while, and begins to catch up with them. Yiiei Giving a wide grin as she gave Kyocho a nervous laugh, "I had some unpleasant business to take care of. Thankfully its all over and has been dealt with. Hopefully there won't be anymore of me taking off work." She followed them, "How have you guys been? Where are you two headed?" "Holy ****ing ****!" Cried Petra as the group round a corner, the cerulean haired girl had bumped into something and an ear piercing scream as she went tumbling towards the ground from the impact rather ungracefully.. She rubbed her a** as she stood, her face soured by the stinging sensation that was a sign of a possible bruise. Hoping that she didn't have a bruise, as that would make sitting fairly uncomfortable, she looked around to she who she had ran into. "Ali, a little jumpy there aren't you? You scared me." Petra ran a hand through her hair as she laughed, "Didn't think that I would actually be bumping into you when I was thinking about how nice it would be to bump into some of my old friends here." Alinedra Ali giggled a bit. "It has been awful lonely lately. This facility is so big, we never run into each other anymore! We should plan things to do together more often. I know we can't all be THAT busy" Alinedra smiled. She knew very well that they could be all that busy, but a little group get together once a week wouldn't hurt anything, and they could probably find some proactive project to accomplish in the mean time. Suddenly having a lightbulb idea, Ali spoke up. " Why not get together from now on, once a week, and do a sort of cleaning slash lunch slash hanging out thing in the biodome or somewhere that needs it. We can keep the bosses happy, and still see each other." Kyocho Kyo threw his arms over his head and ducked. Trying to block out the nervous scream of Petra. Which happened to be very close to his sensitive ears. "Is the monster gone?" Kyo's body began to shake. Not even having an idea that it was Ali just around the corner and not a monster, not until he heard her voice. "Ali?" Kyo stood back up and dusted off his clothes. "A get together huh? Hmm... I guess we could do that." The elf nodded a small nervous smile on his face. Alinedra Ali chuckles a little. " Those sensitive elven ears of yours, you should walk around with ear muffs" Turning to the others, she gets a queer look on her face. " What ARE you doing here anyway? I searched everywhere, and this is the last place i expected to see you. The new wing isn't fully opporational yet is it? So what's up with it?" Kyocho "Oh we where... urhh.. umm..." The elf scratched at one of the tips of his Elvin ears. "We're just heading over towards the new wing to get a good feel and check everything out and see what all the hype was all about. We couldn't get into too much trouble... I don't think." Scratching at his arm, Kyo pointed at Soda. "She made me do it..." Alinedra Chuckling, Ali shakes her head. "You two.... i swear...." And letting it trail off she puts her hands on her hips in an almost parental attitude. "Alright then, let's explore. I can feign still looking for Kyo, and you two i'm sure have created excuses. We all in? " Ali looks around to each of them. Alinedra The others agreed to continue their adventuring, and continued deeper into the new wing of the Vale. After passing what seemed like the millionth unmarked door, the group was suddenly started with one opening only ten feet away from them. Of all the people that could have cought them in a place they weren't sure they were supposed to be, Jennine Claret-Sinai was the very last person they would have wanted. When they had first started working here, each of them had been warned to stay away from her, and stay on her good side (if there were such a thing) while doing so. Ali was mentally shooting herself for thinking they'd get away from this unscaythed. (sp?) Noticing the employees, Jennine turned to them, throwing one hand on her hip. " And what do YOU think you're doing here? " She asked, in that know it all attitude that she's been known to ooze. The group looked at each other, not willing to take the first step, but after what seemed too long, Ali stepped forward a little. " We were attempting to get ourselves aquainted with the new wing. It wouldn't do to be sent here and get lost when it were important." Mentally sighing, thinking her idea had been a legitimate enough ruse, Alinedra stepped back into place. Jennine frowned, and changed position. She was carrying a medium sized box and it was obviously uncomfortable to stand there and look intimidating while holding it. " I can't think why the likes of you would ever need to come to these cooridor's. Its nothing to do with your jobs. Now if you will, get back to work and keep your noses out of things it doesn't belong in." Turning on her heels, she walked off the direction the party had been traveling. Almost as an afterthought however, she turned and yelled back. " I'm sure Edwin would love to hear how you spend his time. " And with that she walked off, turning a corner out of sight. --enter part where Soda screws things up because she was blind and missed about 3 pages of rp XDD;-- Sodashi-chan Sodashi watched the friends in their happy reunion, mind churning slowly fingering the idea of dragging all three of them into some trouble to stir up the building. If they were lucky, maybe even security would take a peek.
And just as she was plotting, Kyo ploped all blamed the whole thing on her. Which was entirely unfair. Sodashi hadn't done anything. Given a few speeches perhaps, but he decision was all Kyo's. The girl gave an unladylike snort. "Oh right. Sure. I see how we are Kyo. I entrust to you my secrets of trade, and you just blow it all off to the first people you see." The girl feigned injury, mocking pain. "The misery! The pain! Unbearable I tell you!" She cried anguish, threw a most hurt glance at Kyo, and stumbled forward in what might by a drunken manner, and began the most meloncholy of songs. Alinedra Dragging the group back the way they had come, Ali wiped the sweat from her forehead. "Phew, That's exactly the lady i do NOT want to run into again. If we're going to stir up trouble, can we do it elsewhere? Away from the evil lady?" Alinedra giggled. She was actually kind of fond of the woman, in her own manner. She was mostly misunderstood, Ali thought, and because of that acted the way she did. Or perhaps there were deep rooted emotional problems that had yet to be worked out. Either way, Ali didn't think Jennine was all too bad. Suddenly, Ali remembered something. "Sodashi! I completely forgot you had your own specimen now! How is it? How's the research coming along, and do you know when it'll grow? Tell me everything!" Ali smiled. She could live vicariously through the others when it came to specimens, till it was time to get one of her own. Sodashi-chan Sodashi, interrupted from her dramatics, gave a dry glare to Ali, a faint smile tugging her face.
And then the faint smile was gone, her mind spinning the fastest it could go, spinning stories of every kind and discarding one after another. Her mind was screaming. Specimen?!? SPECIMEN?! I can hardly tell a tree from an acorn and you want me to tell you about my RESEARCH? Tell you EVERYTHING? MY DEAR CHILD ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?! Have you clear forgotten who you're talking with??
The smile came back, the smile was gentle, while her fists were clinging hard to the fiddle in her hands. "Wonderfully actually. We've discovered that it's a... ah.." Her mind told her 'green' but she slapped it away. No freaking DUH it was green. Were they expecting purple? 'Watermelon' was next. Again, slapped away. Watermelons don't grow on trees, hun. "Oranges of some sort. Citrus, I believe? I left the seedling in my lab to come see the Esperanza Wing this morning. Still a seedling." She gave a gentle laugh, void of any of the turmoil in her mind. "I'm afraid to do too much extensive research on the seedling itself for fear of hurting it any... which limits the extent of well.. research. Once it's grown, hopefully, we can take a sample and see what's actually in the thing and get answers." Sound intellectual enough for you? Anyone who knew her remotely well would know it entire thing was bull, but the fact she couldn't even recall the other's name was a sign in her favor. Hopefully. For once, she wished for her sister's agile mind, spinning stories out of the blue, all in the work of an espionage-ian. Alinedra Alinedra gave Sodashi a queer sort of look, but took what she told her at face value. She thought the reply had come after too long of a pause, but who was she to delve into it? Perhaps she was frustrated with something and didn't want reminded of it. Either way, it was exciting. Ali was fond of fruit plants, and hoped that Soda's turned out to be one she equally liked. " It sounds exciting... in the fact that you have one... I suppose the growing probably isn't the most exciting part of your day but all things have to start somewhere." Ali tried to sound happy. Growing seeds weren't exactly the thrill of the day, but it was something, and it would be come an even bigger more exciting something. " So, what shall we do now? Any ideas?" Peering around at the others and throwing a stray hair out of her face. -- End Scene --
... our group never got to the Esperanza Wing... XD;
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Posted: Mon Dec 25, 2006 7:04 pm
_____________________o r a n g e ? She wandered slowly back to her lab, her mind on the Rose. Beautiful thing. If she’d been born a boy, she would have dropped on one knee and married her faster then you could say ‘me first.’ Given Kyo some work to do in that Esperanza Wing. She chuckled at the thought. One day a timid greenhouse worker, her boss the next. Sheesh. She couldn’t complain. Her own status had spontaneously jumped up 5 steps in the ladder; a lowly janitor on her third day, then suddenly Observer with her own charge the fourth. Which.. as it seems, had apparently grown an orange something out of it’s side while she was gone.
Sodashi cursed, hastily dropping everything in her hands and rushing forward, her brows snapped together and forehead in wrinkles. Some sort of disease? The girl shook her head impatiently willing her stubborn hair out of her eyes. Ever so delicately, as if exploring something that might shatter into the wind, her hands brushed softly against the orange bulb. The feeling was rough, small ridges covering the surface. Curious; the feeling briefly brushed something familiar in her mind, but in a moment it was gone, and she could no longer locate it. Sodashi reached out and snatched a stool, dragging it along the floor to the table and seated herself, her eyes never leaving her sprout. Those pretty white blossoms were still there.. and the sprout itself looked rather healthy..
They say in books that things that should be right under your nose come out and ‘hit you,’ but Sodashi had never taken that literally. That is, until her own hand came from under her nose studying the plant and slapped her on the forehead. Her hand slipped down a bit to allow vision again as the girl marveled at her own idiocy.
“It’s a frikkin’ orange.” she muttered.
She was breathless from her thundering heart, but again, it began to slow as it had 3 days ago. This stinkin’ plant would be the end of her. Death by heart attack no doubt. It was definitely time to start figuring out exactly what this plant was and what it would be doing.
What it would be doing. Researcher Uennie had explain something about specimen… and something about a child, but Sodashi had dismissed her tutor/professor to have been on crack and in need of mental facility as she had the rest of her teachers seeing as her seedling was clearly a plant and not a child. The future? Mayhaps the Researcher actually did know what she was talking about and this plant actually might turn into a child…
… wait what?!! Impossible! A child?! But her mind floated back to her encounter with yet another Researcher. Researcher Rabid. The fuchsia haired woman certainly seemed to know what she was doing. And she had a child in her arms when Sodashi had met her. It had wings. Like a plant.
Sodashi’s body slumped on her stool. It was possible. If this went on, and the plant kept growing… she would have… have… oh such a horrid word with such horrid meanings and.. and.. oh it hurt just to think it. Responsibility.
Well.. First line of action… scribble some more notes in that journal. Second is to find out exactly what this orange was. And third… perhaps clean up the place… she glanced around her at her lab. A mess of papers from forgotten job applications, fast food wrappers, and an assortment of multi-colored wrapping paper was strewn all around. For a brief moment she pondered cleaning it then, but the idea too was soon strewn in the muddle of stuff in her lab. Oh common. It’s Christmas! It’s like.. illegal to work on Christmas! Or should be at least!
The girl picked up her dropped bag and headed out the door to find her siblings’ apartment and perhaps some good booze to finish off the night.
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Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2007 4:30 pm
_____________________the piano m a n Sodashi was having another one of her meloncholy days. It was gray and raining outside, and though they always said those days were perfect for snuggling in front of a fire with a good book, Sodashi wasn't really the reader type.
The girl was in her small apartment, having returned from a vicious adventure to the mall shopping for shoes with her sibling Kaira, who only bought two pairs but somehow had three when she got off the subway at her stop. Sodashi herself had treated herself to ice-cream and (wisely) decided to stay away from the obsessive Kaira.
Thunder clapped outside but her mind was on other things. The orange for one. Today, when she had checked up on it, it had fallen from its tree, a near perfect sphere, it's scent lighting her mood as only a citrus fruit could. But the mood wasn’t to stay for long. What’s the become of me? Am I to give up my life of doing whatever came to mind? Of freedom? And for what? She frowned, wary of the orange, which after a simple search, she’d discovered was specifically a Clementine. She’d come slowly to the realization of the fact she was going to become a guardian. It was not a pleasant thought.
Thunder clapped again, lighting the room for less then an eye’s blink. The apartment was in sad shape. She reached across the couch and snatched up her fiddle and swiftly tuned the instrument, abruptly shutting her mind to any further thinking and thoughts. They always said if you thought too much.. feh. Sodashi couldn’t remember the quote. But the point was that it was bad. The notes of The Piano Man, though awkward-sounding on the fiddle, soon floated through the thin walls. An audience of three mice having crawled from their homes in the walls soon sat watching her with beady eyes, enjoying the impromptu concert. Or maybe they just wanted bread crumbs. She preferred to think it was the former. Feeling loved was a good feeling.
Journal 002 Date || 2-28-07 It’s an old, familiar feeling. Feels funny. It’s been a while. The feeling of anticipation. The feeling of anxiety. And maybe, just maybe, just a tint of fear.
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Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 11:56 am
Lunchtime~ Sodashi-chan Sodashi strode through the now somewhat halls on yet another epic quest; a quest for food. Her worn out shoes were near silent as she trodded along, yet, the little silver sleigh bell she had foolishly attached to herself in light of the Christmas season tinkled with every step announcing her presence to the echoing hallways and anyone within 20 meters of her, no doubt. However, the girl sported a set of headphones, thus leaving her indifferent to the noise she made as her fingers tapped lightly to the beat against her jeans. Absentmindedly, she hummed a few bars here, then suddenly stopped as the music got a head of her, then jumped back in, making a rather non-musical tune.
Ah. Here we are. She smiled. The pearly white gates doors of the Break Room, home of caffeine and other unhealty snacks, always propped open to visitors. Kyocho A pot swayed back and forth. Held in the midst of the Elvin researcher. It was time for a good `ol lunch break and hopefully some of the more well known Observers had decided the same old thing. To this elf, it seemed with the sudden promotion and the receiving of his own vale that a lot more lunch breaks where going to be needed. Since having to research the possibility of breading between vales would most likely take some time... and a lot of dedication. Pushing gently on the doors leading into the break room with his back. Kyocho silently wandered his own way through... picking up his own lunch from the fridge on the way. The sharp eyes of this elf quickly averted to Soda. Quickly taking a seat at one of the tables, Kyocho put the pot down on the table. Who knew why he took it with him, his only reason was to keep a close eye on anything suspicious. Then he pulled out his sandwich and took a bite. Rainbow Lime A 'social butterfly' is a very odd phrase if one thinks about it. A butterfly is a mute and deaf creature the rarely comes together with another butterfly unless for mating. Yet people forget these obvious facts and instead focus on the fact it flits about from flower to flower and communicates via various gestures with its body. In retrospect the meaning of social butterfly is rather amusing if you sit to think about it. So I suppose in this aspect Ariann, otherwise known as just Ari, was indeed a social butterfly. She was quiet to most but herself. And those that did try to talk to her with their own bemusing body languages and words she hardly did hear anyway.
No, Ari was not usually a confident person who was the first to dance and get a sore thumb from replying to text messages. Of course when you use the word usually there will always be an exception unless the person you're talking to is finding the English language rather hard to deal with.
This exception for Ari was in her lunch room. Okay Maybe it wasn't exactly hers but it was a place she felt much more comfortable in. It was a place where she could just feel more relaxed than when she was out and to the beck and call of every person in the entire facility. So far she had only been working as Janitor for just over two weeks. most of the 'regulars' here were just nameless faces to her with only the foggiest of idea what their names might be.
Currently she was not thinking of such things though, instead her mind was much more interested in the crossword puzzle she had found lying on the table she now sat at half finished. A few words had already been done and filled in with a blue pen, her own black one was being tapped against the flimsy glossy paper with the lid sticking out of her mouth while her teeth grinded away at it. One would think that in a lunchroom there would be a much more appetising thing to eat besides a pen lid.
Of course there was! what kind of lunch room is complete without food? In fact a large mug of tea and a neatly cut salad sandwich was sitting just in front of the young girl. She just wasn't as interested in it as she was in the crossword. After all, what kind of competition was it when comparing a mind puzzle to just stuffing your face with a snack to keep the noises in your belly silenced? Okay so maybe there was a few more reasons for her to eat than do a crossword but she’d get to it later right?
Half way down the third column of clues her head jerked up to the sound of footsteps entering the previously hushed space. First it had just been a little tinkling sound, like that of a bell you would put on a cat or dog, though in this season it was probably something more festive.
And then there had been even more footsteps coming in, this time it was without a faint jingling sound.
Both offenders happened to be Researchers of the facility and to this Ari had to raise an eyebrow, a sudden worried thought, bigger than a eight lettered word describing a feeling of constant suspicion, entered her head. So far she had only seen researchers had enter this lunchroom. Was it possible that there were separate lunchrooms for staff? It seemed odd for such a thing to be but then where were other employers like her? For a moment the image of the boiler room flashed as a warning inside her mind. No way was she consuming her food down there! A small chill passed over her, well if they wanted anyone to eat in such a condition maybe the janitor job hadn’t been the greatest idea the blonde girl had had. Sodashi-chan The girl strode in in that with that ridiculously confident air about her in a rather waltz-like gait. The lunchroom was empty as usual save for a new girl she'd never met deepy concentrated on some crossword, which was good. Hopefully, she wouldn't notice Sodashi scrounging for food in the fridge. She dug around here, moving things aside to see what treasures might be in the back, then she searched there reading labels trying to find perhaps some forgotten food. And right as she was hitting gold, footsteps. She instantly straighted and casually shifted things around as she waited for the figure to appear in the doorway. Kyo. She turned back around against searching for food, a faint smile on her face. "Researcher Kyo. Too good for me for even a hello now?" she threw over her shoulder, mocking. She reached forward and grasped her unearthed treasure and swiftly moved to the table where the Crossword Worker sat, stealing a glance across her attempting to find a name. "No matter. I've got a new friend and it seems you do too," she nodded at the pot, grinning, daring her old friend to reply before taking a crunching bite out of her apple. Kyocho "Ahh, but I'm never too good to say hello to you. I just thought you might be a bit to busy digging through the fridge. Just thought I might as well wait till you take a seat." Kyo waved his sandwich in the air for a minute then stopped... slowly thinking. "Yeah... I guess I made a new friend, but you can never have enough friends..." Then the elf's eyes darted around the room as he bent closer to the table and silently whispered. "We are on lunch. Don't worry about formalities." The elf nodded. Never really liked being called anything other than just 'Kyocho', but sometimes they where needed. Rainbow Lime 'Third row down, two done and still going'
Ari thought to herself, smiling slightly to herself. It as hard for her to ever get into any kind of newspaper puzzle other than sodoku or 'what's this phrase?' Yet this one was indeed holding her interest rather firmly. The scritching scratching of her pen meant another word filled in and she drew a line slowly through the clue, re-reading it just in case she had made a mistake in what the answer could be, for unlike people who normally did this kind of thing, Ari was using a pen and not a pencil.
However she was finding it harder and harder to concentrate with the new people in the room, they were obviously researchers but did they have to be so loud? not that she could really blame them, they were above her and this was just as much their break roo as hers, if not more...well probably alot more. For some reason their voices broke in and out of her mind, picking up words every now and then. Was she so keen to try and actually be someone that fitted in here? This was not like her at all, not even slightly. Bile rose up in her throat merely thinking of someone eavesdropping on someone else's conversation. It was a violation of privacy really, these two people could be having a discussion on some new specimen that was dangerous to the public and she'd start to panic and admit she was a dirty little eavesdropper and quit.
Thinking this, she gave the pot on the table that had been placed there by the one which had been addressed as 'Researcher Kyo' with a slight panic. Of course it was all nonsense, plants didn't come to life! Then again wasn't that the entire point of this facility? True enough she had joined this place as an employee but did she really have to believe such theories? Then again this 'Kyocho' seemed to have elven ears..some new kind of surgery?
for a small while she thought about this. At last coming to a point in which she was happy with. she'd drop it for now and just do what one normally would in a situation like this.
With a quick gesture she pushed her own food to the side along with the puzzle and pen she had been using.
"Need more space?"
She asked, eyeing them both curiously. Sodashi-chan Sodashi snorted, a mocking frown on her face. "Oh sure, Kyo. Good save, Kyo." The girl flashed a crooked grin, and the apple halfway to her mouth before the girl beside her probably gave up on the two and cut through their so very intense conversation with something completely irrelivant and giving the pair a rather queer look. "... Eh? What'dyasay?" Kyocho "Some one looks like they haven't been working here long. No need to be nervous around us!" The Elvin man smiled. Picking up his potted plant and his lunch and moved a bit closer to the two. Sitting back down, Kyocho took a big bite out of his meal and rested his arm on the rim of experiments pot. "Now what's your name?" The elf grinned with raised eye brows. Rainbow Lime Ari raised an eyebrow at the two for a minute. while one seemed rather confused at the concept of her own speech the other was much more warm and inviting, a slight preference towards him took hold of her for but a second, then again that's what first appearances do right?
a timid smile caressed her lips sheepishly, still feeling out of place.
"Is it that obvious?' she thought silently to herself, lifting her eyes to the others to get a better looks at this researcher. his looks…they were...they were positively elvin! Hoping that her face didn't betray such surprise she took a bit out of her own sandwich, making a loud crunching sound as teeth met lettuce and carrot, tearing it away noisily.
After finishing the bite she repeated her previous words, making it a bit clearer this time.
"More space, for you're food. I don't want to take up to much space. "
A gesture towards her two new table occupants lunches and the pot were enough to say what she was referring to. with a little less enthusiasm she added "My name is Ariann, Ari for short though."
Finishing with a cough and looking much more curiously up at them.
"Yourselves?" Sodashi-chan Sodashi blinked twice at Kyo's warm invitation. He was always more of a friendly guy than she was... no wonder he rarely got in trouble. Maybe being ridiculously friendly to every being you met wasn't such a bad trait after all. Then again... the life on the streets had taught her otherwise... but what harm could it do in a research building? The girl seemed to resign herself, shrugging, a small look of puzzlement on her face. But the look was quickly replaced with another stifled laugh as she and Kyo waited for the other to finish chewing. When the girl had repeated herself, Sodashi had to stifle yet another laugh as she glanced at her single piece of baggage, a half eaten apple. "Space? I'm fine thanks for the thought.." she let out a laugh, unable to surpress her amusement a third time. A minor thought that her own demeanor was rather rude crossed her momentarily, but just as it had been so many other times, the thought was quickly brushed off, Sodashi's attention back on the girl as she gave a name. "Ari. Pretty. Sodashi. Or Soda if you like." The girl winked and took another bite out of her apple. Sodashi-chan Sodashi blinked twice at Kyo's warm invitation. He was always more of a friendly guy than she was... no wonder he rarely got in trouble. Maybe being ridiculously friendly to every being you met wasn't such a bad trait after all. Then again... the life on the streets had taught her otherwise... but what harm could it do in a research building? The girl seemed to resign herself, shrugging, a small look of puzzlement on her face. But the look was quickly replaced with another stifled laugh as she and Kyo waited for the other to finish chewing. When the girl had repeated herself, Sodashi had to stifle yet another laugh as she glanced at her single piece of baggage, a half eaten apple. "Space? I'm fine thanks for the thought.." she let out a laugh, unable to surpress her amusement a third time. A minor thought that her own demeanor was rather rude crossed her momentarily, but just as it had been so many other times, the thought was quickly brushed off, Sodashi's attention back on the girl as she gave a name. "Ari. Pretty. Sodashi. Or Soda if you like." The girl winked and took another bite out of her apple. Kyocho "They call me Kyocho or Kyo for short, which ever is ok with me!" The elf nodded in agreement, then quickly took a bite out of his sandwich. Then the room went in a some what odd silence. Except for the sounds of eating and what not. The elf adjusted his arm on the edge of his pot and rested it onto the table instead. A small yawn left his lips. Rainbow Lime Ari nodded her head in a friendly greeting to Kyo, though she had no idea what to make of this other, excpet that her he name 'Soda' made her thirsty, that sounded weird even in her own head! Despite this she asmiled at them both, blushing at sod'a laughter, true it had been a silly enough suggestion for such little items but wasn't it the thought that counted?
Still it made her irritated in the slightest of ways and as much as she wished it didn't the emotion showed itself plainly on her face. Her features were commiting mutiny against her and woking on their own, Damn it!
"Thank you, Sodashi, Soda is also...interesting."
A quick smile and a bite into her own lunch hid the majourity of her face, though the lapsing silence was killing her inside, someone needed to talk, but it wouldn't be her! her eyes darted back again quickly to the crossword scooted to the side a fair bit, hmm what was a four letter word meaning bird? Sodashi-chan With two more crunching bites, she finished off her apple leaned back in her chair and sent her core in an arching dive directly into the trash with a rustling landing. "Two points," she grinned smugly. Now this was the trouble with never bringing your own lunch. You always managed to finish before the rest. And then was the awkward waiting for the others to finish gnawing at their perfect sandwiches with the crust cut cleanly off and no mayonnaise oozing out the sides. With their lettuce pieces placed perfectly, ham and cheese and whatever else was in those goddamn sandwiches never budging an inch slipping out the sides. Yea ok. So maybe she was a little prejudice against sandwiches. So maybe the girl was a -little- jealous of those rich, fancy pansy kids she had always seen picnicking the parks while she’d be living off the streets. Whatever. Call it a pet peeve. Sodashi had a lot of those. Kyocho "So Soda, We still got some time left in our lunches. I'm pretty sure there are some unexplored reaches. We have yet had gone to in the vastness they call a facility. What do you say, you up to a little adventure?" Kyo nodded. A glare of adventure hung in his eye... or was it just a lose eyelash? Anyways. It was getting rather dull just sitting here with these two and Kyo wanted to go do something.... something to kill his curiosity. Rainbow Lime Ari's eyes jerked up at the mention of exploring this 'uncharted area', well at least some of the unknown parts of the faciltiy. Saying or thinking of it like that didn't sound nearly as glamourous though.
His attitude at the table seemed to be one of both boredom of curiosity, though why Ari couldn't put her finger on exactly. Wasn't this guy a researcher?
"I wouldn't mind looking."
she voiced, a little unsure they would be interested in taking the silent girl who didn't seem to be saying all that much. Sodashi-chan Sodashi nearly snorted for the, what, fourth time during this one lunch period? Kyo's inner adventurer shines once again. And apparently, he had managed to bring out a little inner Ari as well. An uncomfortable feeling streaked through Sodashi as she watched Ari warm up to Kyo with such ease. Not that it was jealousy, of course. Pft. What an idiot thought.
Nevertheless, it was true, adventure was always something that lit a bulb in Soda's world. She eyed the other researcher. "Shall I get my fiddle, then? Or are we content scouring the facility for hidden treasures in silence with only conversation to entertain?" Blue eyes flicked to Ari for no more than a moment. "Assuming that our friend here can speak more than four words a sentence?" Kyocho "I think a bit of music would be enjoyable, so why not bring it along with us Soda" Kyo nodded, a smile drawn upon his face. Still clinging to his pot. Then his mind began to wander... his eyes moving away from the two girls and directly to his pot. I wonder... what you'll look like...The elf shook his head and focused back on the two. "So lets get going!"
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Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 4:19 pm
_____________________mornings s t i n k A little girl wearily opened jade green eyes to find herself peering over the edge of some . Curiously, she reached out to touch it and found it the
Sodashi slept soundly under plain white sheets that smelled of laundry detergent. Sun had begun to pour into the room when an alarm clock happily began chirping the beginning of the day.
“AAAUGGH. Gggaaahhf.” Her sentences came slow and muffled, her eyes still closed. “If you… think… that I… am going to get up… go… shoot… yourself… in the face.” She was rewarded with the continuous chirping of her clock, and then a ringing phone. “AAauugGghhGAfg.”
With much effort and growling and moaning and more growling, the girl managed to roll to her side and with a quick snatch, grabbed her alarm clock and hurled it hatefully across the room. She smiled as the clock gave a satisfying crunch against the wall and the room again returned to a peaceful silence. Until the clock began its chirping again, albeit it was a weak one. And the phone was still ringing.
The girl cursed loudly, flung herself out of bed, nearly stepped on the cardboard box which held her tiny Clementine, and stopped short, her breath suddenly gone.
A pair of tiny green eyes peering over the edge of the box stared back at her curiously. What was her tiny Clementine was no more.
“What. Whatwhatwhatwhatwhat wheredidyoucomefrom?! What. Wha. What?!” The words came out rapidly, her hatred for mornings immediately forgotten.
The little… thing… broke into a friendly smile, her teeth matching her elegant mane of hair, a perfect pearly white. Sodashi dropped back onto the bed, wide eyes never leaving the little girl in her cardboard box. Reality took the chance to slap Sodashi across the face, and when she couldn’t take it anymore, she promptly stood up, swiftly moved into the kitchen to find herself a bagel and a cup of coffee.
She sat at her kitchen table, absentmindedly stirring a black cup of coffee, staring out the window at the brick wall of the neighboring apartment complex. She knew what had happened. All she had to do now was accept it. Easier said than done. Easier said than done. She gave a last whine and stalked back into her bedroom.
Ok. I can handle this. Ok. First things first.
I have got to find this girl some clothes.
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Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 6:44 pm
development of Aly/Sodashi relationship
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Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 6:45 pm
_____________________party t i m e Alinedra Alinedra nudged an orange coloured napkin back into place, taking one last survey of the room. Decorated in splashes of blacks, reds, oranges and greens, she had transformed the old gray common area into something completely different. Smiling, Ali couldn't wait for the party. Having stepped up this year, Ali hoped her first Halloween with Eden would be magical. It's why she volunteered to throw the bash. That, and laboratory life could drag on a person, but she hadn't told her boss that.
Taking one last look, Ali got up and walked over too the refreshment table. Glancing at her watch, she noticed that the minute hand had cought up to her quicker than anticipated. Grabbing the ladle to the punch, she began filling cups. The whole thing was set to start in little over a half hour, and she still had to get ready herself. The whole event was a costume extravaganza, and she still had a bunch to do. Her costume wasn't too hard to get into, but she wanted to have time to make it look just right. One of her co-workers had agreed to take care of Eden and his costume while she was working here. They had spent the last few weeks making it together. He was going to be the most adorable red headed lion, though notably the costume was more fun to make than she's sure the party will be. But this wasn't the time to sit and daydream.
Finishing up the cups, and doing a three hundered and sixty degree turn in the center of the room, Ali clapped her hands and smiled. It was all done! Rushing to the door and closing it, she took out the pen from her jacket and added a few more exclamation points to the sign on the door. It read "DO NOT ENTER TILL 6PM!!!" in bold black sharpie marker, with a little doodled pumpkin on the bottom. Not that she imagined many of the researchers were willing to walk away from their charges just to take a peak at the festivities early, but it was more for their charges, which might wander in out of curiosity.
Eden had been exceptionally irked that he wouldn't be allowed into the room early. Nearly throwing a tantrum in the lab the day before, he tried to argue that he could help. Ali knew his intentions were well, but also knew he'd cause more mess than she would have time for. All morning she had been preparing games, including filling a huge bucket full of apples for bobbing, lugging in huge pumpkins for a pumpkin carving contest, and making numerous refreshments. Some of it had taken place the day before, but most of it had started at 6am that day.
Finally reaching her lab, she grabbed her costume and made for her bathroom. It took some doing, but she finally managed to squeeze into it. Not knowing how women of the day could even breathe, she nearly didn't fit through her door when she was done. Putting final touches on her hair and make-up, she had only three minutes to go before she had to be back to the party. Grabbing a CD from the desk she'd made particularly for the party, Alinedra dashed out and ran to the door she had wanted to greet everyone by, her high heals echoing down the hall.
Good, no one is there yet, She thought outloud, when she reached the door. Throwing it open, she lunged at the cd player by the door, put in the CD, threw the volume on eight, and dimmed the lights. Flipping another switch, many random decorations lit up, and a fog machine in the corner began to dispense fog in huge rolling clouds that began to flow into the hallway at once. Perfect!
Standing by the door, She could already see people making their way toward the sound. Adjusting her high wig, and re-fitting her vampire teeth, she wondered how at all practical it was to wear a huge Elegant Satin Corset and Skirt from H&R Wesley's. Victorian era was certainly gorgeous, but it would be a miracle if she made it through the night. Casting that thought aside, and looking in her compact one last time to see if the blood was undisturbed on her face, she threw her stuff inside the door and waited for the party goers. Tonight was going to be fun.
Uennie ___Uenoh'ai walked in slowly, gaining a new appreciation for the up-and-coming Observer. The decorations were indeed extremely festive, with a morbid delight which would amuse and yet not frighten the younger Specimens. She sighed, feeling increasingly grateful that she had devoted followers to dodge in the nick of time. She hoped intensely that several Observers would join in, or at least send their Specimens for a good time. If not, well, that would disappoint her greatly. Being that it was the first real event in such a long time for the Vale, meant a great deal to her, and she looked forward to expressing her gratitude to Alinedra. ___She felt Esprit wiggle in the sling on her back, and turned her head gently to ensure the child was resting with ease. The child was severely stunted, her Researcher devoting too much time to the things around her instead of being nurturing. The guilt never left Uennie's mind, and hoped that when she did have time it wouldn't be too late. A streamer brushed her hand, and she gently picked it up, and held it. She would show Esprit the brilliantly titian decoration later, after her nap. Alinedra couldn't be far, it would be impolite to leave without seeking for her first. trishtar Trish glanced at her watch as she grabbed the hood of her cape and briskly walked through the halls of the Vale. She had been hired by the Vale a few weeks ago, but she hadn't been scheduled to start working until earlier this week. The young woman had walked into the lobby to be greeted by a cheerful young man with pumpkin orange hair. He had more than energetically informed her of her duties as a janitor and about the Halloween party. The woven basket that hung from her arm repeatedly smacked against her stomach as she quickened her pace. The girl hadn't had much time to work on a costume so she had dove into her trunk of old costumes ranging from when she was in elementary school to last Halloween. Trish had spent too much time trying to get a costume coordinated out of her old things that she hadn't realized how late it had gotten. Which was why the girl was now power walking through the Vale. She heard faint music as she took a turn which only got louder as she neared the plain doors of what she had recently discovered to be the common room. It was dim inside except the few rays of colored light dancing. The ghost fog seeped out of the common room and into the halls. Tris could feel a calm overcome her. Her feet slowed and her back straightened as she fixed her scarlet hooded cape. She hugged a wolf plushie to her body as she neared the common room. Why was she nervous? There was nothing to be nervous about, or so she told herself. Trish hadn't met any of the other employees at the Vale since she hadn't started working but a few days ago. “Well, I've got to meet them sooner or later,” she said to herself as she walked through the common room doors awkwardly. +Sephiros Immortal+ Sephiros, for his part, was being dragged along by his enthusiastic charge. The observer had gotten wind of the whole costume bit, and had finally dredged something up from the depths, when he'd been drafted into a play with the local theatre. A miracle the thing still fit. It was a mismatched outfit of questionable origin, consisting of a tan coat, blue bowtie, faded green pants and a top hat to add to the strange collection of clothing. Enter the mad hatter.
Calen, for his part, had been all too happy to don ears and a tail and a little suit of his own. Grinning happily as he led the way, scampering in front of his guardian, the child seemed to perfectly fit his role as Cheshire Cat. The fog seemed to entrance him, and he became sidetracked, going to play in it, curious as to whether or no he could get lost in the stuff.
Smiling indulgently, the guardian himself slowed to make sure he didn't lose his young charge. That would be entirely irresponsible on his part. Sodashi-chan Aly sat perched on Sodashi’s shoulders, dressed in her own costume of black ribbons and lace. Having recently learned the words "up!" and "down!" (much to Sodashi’s dismay) she now enjoyed view of the large world Sodashi's shoulders provided whenever she pleased. The girl wiggled uncomfortably in the black dress her guardian had so felt the need to dress her in, frowning as she fiddled with the ribbons Sodashi had tied in her snowy white hair.While Aly may not have been overly zealous for this party, the same could not be said for Sodashi. Halloween was by far her favorite holiday: who could anyone give up a day where they asked you to be rash, reckless, and scare the living daylights out of your neighbors? Unfortunately, going to a company party was not quite the same as running on the streets with other such adults who decided, as she had, no age was too old for Halloween. So the girl settled with a simple pirate costume; an eye patch, a leather tricorn hat, boots, rapier, ect. Pillage and Plunder. It was a character Sodashi easily slipped into… although to express it as such was probably something of an understatement..
Once arriving at the doors of the party, Sodashi made a beeline for the Observer responsible for the night, taking only a moment to glance at the new faces who had also come to celebrate possibly the best holiday ever created in the history of holidays. With broad smile on her face, she greeted the Victorian lady with a bow, or as much of one as she could manage with Aly perched on her shoulders. Little rascal.
"Well, well, lady of the hour, eh? Lovely work, Ali." Alinedra
Alinedra grinned at the sight of Sodashi. It had been a while since they'd seen each other, especially outside of their normal white lab coats, and she had to stifle the urge to giggle to death. Following suite, before saying anything, Ali dipped into a graceful curtsy that she'd practiced from watching movies. She performed it perfect and composed, but when she stood up and glanced at Sodashi, she burst into laughter.
"I wouldn't go so far as to say lady of the hour, but i do think that the whole thing is turning out alright so far. It atleast has given some of these fellow nerds a place to go other than their labs." Ali giggled, glancing at a fellow employee who looked like he had dressed up as himself, but zombie-fied. He hadn't done the best of jobs, but the attempt had been atleast sincere, unlike some others who had donned only a headband of devil ears, or the like.
" Oh! Before i forget, since these little ones don't get to go out and trick or treat like normal kids, i devised a different sort of trick or treating." Ali moved to the table a few feet away and grabbed two bags. One was a leathery brown, and obviously full of something. The other however was empty, bright orange, with the picture of a jack-o-lantern on the front. "Here, this one is for you," she said, first handing the full bag to sodashi. Then trying to get Aly's attention, attempted to give the empty bag to Aly. Failing and not wanting to continue trying, she handed it to Sodashi."The point is instead of going from house to house, they go from one adult to the other. Each bag is full of things, for example, mine is full of erasers shaped like bats. They collect the little toys and at the end, each toy has a specific treat associated with it. The more distinct one's you collect, the more treats." Alinedra hoped the method she'd picked out would work. While the children would undoubtedly get multiples of the same toy, they'd only get the treat once. It was the only way she could think of that would simulate trick or treating, but still be fair and not show favouritism.
"Trick or treating will start in half an hour, to make sure everyone has a chance to get here. I've also got fruit bobbing, with pirate coins in them, that you can trade in for toys or treats, and a bunch of other things planned. Costume contests are announced at the end of the night, and voting is over there in the corner." She pointed, signaling a table with a large plastic pumpkin and blank note cards stacked next to it.
" You dont' think i went too overboard do you? She asked, seeking Sodashi's approval. No longer the apprentice, she still had the habit of seeking approval and praise from her seniors. While not nearly as experienced and accomplished, much of her learning happens right at The Vale facility.Sodashi-chan Sodashi, frankly, was amazed at Ali's organization. Had this been her party, the larger part would have simply been illegal fireworks, a bonfire, and food. Ali had the entire night planned out here, from events and games to keep the people interested to candy/sugar to keep the kids awake for the entire night.
"You.. I.. you're crazy," was all that Sodashi could manage as she took the two bags Ali offered her, stunned with the amount of activities the Observer had planned out. "In that, I mean you're utterly amazing. Really thought this one out, huh? I'm impressed." Sodashi peeked into her own bag filled of goodies and eyed the multi-colored gummy eyeballs. Mmm.. appetizing.
Gah, that little bugger was getting heavy. With a single swift movement, obviously practiced, Aly was standing on the floor pouting up at Sodashi.
"Hey. Hey. Don't give me that face. Take this," and handed her the empty bag. "Go.. go play in the fog or something."
But as the baby took the bag and immediately started to put it in its mouth, Sodashi (again) realized that the baby was, but a baby.
"Ok, fine. Have it your way. Stay with me." Sodashi reached down and snatched the bag from the girl's hands.
Turning her attention back to Ali, she laughed nervously and muttered her apologies.
Offering her arm and another bow to the lady, Sodashi grinned.
"Shall we dance, milady? Or shall we introduce the finest Halloween Party Coordinator to those ignorant enough not to have heard of her already?" [ X_Bleeding Roses_X ] Rosa strolled up the corridor using the sound of the music to guide her to the Halloween party. As she approached she made final adjustments to her custom to make sure it was just right. She has decided to go to this gathering as a zombie bride, to ensure not to scare any kids she had resisted using any magic to really authenticate the look. Instead she had used her artistic knowledge, whatever little of it she had. Covering herself head to toe in very light powered she had turned herself a grayish white then using eyeliner she drew stitches on herself and used a dark red lipstick to fake blood coming from the stitches. That had been the easy part of her costume, finding the outfit was harder. She didn’t want to use the dress she had been married in seeing as it had been a pure white, which was way too light for this, and had instead headed out and bought the veil, corset and skirt of a new gothic fashion which had only recently been released. After that she had to remove the buckles and sequins off the items and tore a few gashes here and there, which was much to Lerato s’ protests, and then finally she had a costume. She hadn’t quite completed it as quickly as thought and then on top of that she had to curl her hair into to ringlets this had all made her run later than she thought she would be.
Turing the last corner the room came into view. She stepped inside the designated party area and she ran her hands through the fog watching how it parted and filled up before the instinct of someone not knowing enough people at a party kicked in sending her to stroll towards the nearest wall away from the others, but not to far away as to look like the loner type, and leaned against the wall, sighing. For a second she thought Lerato had been right, that she had gone over the top with her costume, seeing not to a fancy costume until she spied the woman in the Victorian style dress which looked quite stunning. If there was a costume contest she was sure this woman would win, though she looked like her corset was a bit tight which Rosa could sympathies with, she had tightened hers too much too. Raven Millner
Late. For one reason or another, the children always seemed to make Raven late. In this case she didn't especially matter, since a Halloween party didn't rank high on her list of priorities. Still, it was mildly annoying to arrive, only to find half a dozen other people already there. Raven liked to be early, and now everyone would have to see her arrive.
At least she wasn't wearing a gaudy costume, like the rest of them. While the children- and Mahou, when it came down to it- refused to let her out of the house in her normal clothing, she would not submit to something so degrading. It was what had made them late, but she felt far better in her black robes, standard dress for some of the work she did. She had refused the peaked hat and broom offered to her, but did agree to bring a wand. At least that would be somewhat realistic.
Eirinn was unaware of Raven's inner annoyance, more preocupied with her own outfit. It was something that had been chosen for her, for the clover girl would never have picked the stuffy velvet princess dress herself. It was a nice enough shade of yellow that didn't clash with her hair and eyes, and her unique physiology allowed her the look of petticoats without the itchy tulle. But for someone who preferred not wearing anything, the costume was overwhelming, and she pulled at it constantly.
"Stop that," Raven scolded as they drew closer to the crowd. It would be most appropriate to greet the hostess first. But, being one of the less social Observers, she had no idea who that was.
Alinedra Alinedra giggled and took Sodashi's arm to be dragged away to the dance area in the middle of the room. Right as she took it however, a large four year old roar echo'd in the room. Smiling brightly, a big bundle of fur and tail came zooming up to her.
" Ali, Ali, look! I have a tail!" Eden squealed with delight. Twirling in a circle to let it fly free behind him, he stumbled a little and smiled up at her, drawn on whiskers already smeared on one side. He stared at Alinedra for a moment till his curiosity got the best of him. "What are you s'posed to be?" he asked, while he continued his twirling. Laughing down at him, she grabbed him up in a big hug and pulled him up to rest on her hip. Even over the smell of the costume and face paint, she could still smell autumn apples. "Why, i'm a vampire good sir. Here to suck your blood" Throwing her voice in a thick Translavanian accent, she attempted to bite at his neck, succeeding in tickling him. Squirming free, she put him back down and straightened his lion mane hood.
"Here's your trick or treating bag. Remember to go to each adult with a bag atleast once and say what we practiced. Why don't you give it a go with Sodashi here." Standing back up, Alinedra got a little light headed. Perhaps bending over wasn't the best thing to do in a corset. Turning Eden toward her partner, he held up the empty bag with both hands and roared at the top of his lungs "Trick or Treat!!!" Trying not to giggle, Ali pretended to be fussing with her costume. Sodashi-chan Sodashi blinked at the youngster. Now why couldn't Aly be cute like that? All she ever did was order Sodashi around and get lost. Honestly. Rotten luck.
At the child's sudden outburst for candies, Sodashi snorted and placed her hands on her hips eying the little child who barely reached her knees. "Trick or treat? You think you can pull a trick on me? Think you're big and scary enough to get me?"
...
"Yea, ok I think you're a scary lion too. There ya go." She fished out a gummy eyeball and dropped it into the child's paper bag with a rustle and a wink. "Go play. Introduce yourself to Aly. Your mother and I have business to attend to." She gave a nudge to Aly with her boot. "Aly, Eden. Eden, Aly."
And with that, Sodashi dragged Ali away (of couse, keeping an eye on the two children) to the stage and snatched the microphone of its stand. It was past time to get this party started.
And before Ali could protest, Sodashi's words had amplified themselves over the speakers. "Ladies, Gentlemen~" Sodashi paused as the small crowd turns their focus to center stage. "Well, we'll keep this short. Before we get this party started, we've got to recognize a certain someone responsible for the night. Pleased to introduce, Observer Alinedra~" Sodashi backs off grinning, and shoved the microphone into her Ali's hands and joined in the scattered applause.. Uennie ___Uennie raised her eyes, obviously she wasn't going to have to seek out Alinedra. She smiled, and was pleased at the recognition this hard-working woman was earning. Esprit shifted again, but quickly fell asleep. Observers and their Specimens had arrived, one or both wrapped in festive clothing. The creativity some of the children had on their own was delightful, and the trouble they were getting into just as amusing. As she walked through the crowd to get a better look at the nervous appearance of Ali, the Researcher casually placed her hand upon Calen's head and patted it gently. Continuing through the crowd she felt a sense of pride knowing how they had come to gather, and offered a smile as she seemed to phase through. ___Dear Sodashi had just finished introducing Alinedra, and Uenoh'ai raised her hands and clapped delicately. They were so happy right now, it just wouldn't do to make her big announcement tonight. Another time, another place. Right now they just needed to be happy. Raising a cup of punch she began to slyly chant, "Speech, speech speech!" Alinedra Before Alinedra could stop her, Sodashi grabbed the mic and made the announcement. She could feel the blush starting from her toes, finally traveling up to her face to show through even her white vampire make-up. Giving Soda a look of seething amusement, she took the mic and cleared her throat.
"I'm glad we could all make it here tonight. I know we havn't had a lot of opportunity to get together and do things like this, so i wanted to make this Halloween special, perhaps even a tradition." Smiling and cringing at the same time at the thought of redecorating next year, Ali continued. "I wanted this Halloween to reflect just how much i love this place. The Vale has opened up new avenues for me to indulge my interests. It's gifted me with the wonderful Eden, whom i'm extremely proud of. I've made friends, and learned some things along the way. Through it all, i've had nothing but support, and so this celebration is for you."
After the applause died down, she continued. "Alright then! Lets get this show under way! Trick or treating is officially open, which means adults, grab a full bag of treats, and make sure the kids all have an empty bag from the table. We also have refreshments, apple bobbing, a pumpkin carving contest, and many other things to keep us all occupied. Also, the costume contest vote box is in the corner, please make your way there and vote sometime tonight. Erm... I think that's it! "
Grabbing the remote from the table next to her, she turned on the music to her favourite song for the season. The Monster Mash began to play in high volume, and the lights dimmed and flashed to go with the music, a little trick she'd learned when she was younger. Sodashi-chan Sodashi stifled a laugh as she backed off, pondering ways she might be able to protect herself from Ali’s wrath when the Observer finished her speech.
All that aside, there was actually a rather good view of the room from the stage. Though there weren’t that many participants in the party, there were a good number of new faces she hadn’t seen before. Nice to know the barren Vale halls might actually be populated one of these days. Then again, the search for living souls through the labyrinth of the building was always an adventure as well. One couldn’t complain.
From her perch, she spotted Aly and Eden where she and Aly had left the pair. Aly was suspiciously eyeing the speaker a few feet from her where her guardian’s voice had blared through just moments before. Ugh, now THAT would be a nightmare. Imagine two Sodashi’s. What terror. Aly grabbed Eden's arm and pointed at the speaker gurgling. "Guuuurraaaagwa~" The little girl frowned at the black speaker box.
Smirking at her little bugger, Sodashi was brought back to the stage as the scattered applause sounded again signifying the end of Ali’s speech. Stepping forward to take Ali’s arm and lead her off stage, Sodashi grinned the grin of a child who had gotten away with a well-schemed practical joke, obviously very pleased with herself. “Come then, Lady Ali. Time to meet your subjects.” And with that, Sodashi was dragging Ali around again. Alinedra Alinedra allowed herself to be dragged around, chatting with people, dancing on and off and having a relatively good time. Not wanting to mess up her costume she passed on bobbing for apples and pumpkin carving, but made sure Eden knew exactly what he was doing for them.
Excusing herself from Sodashi's company for a moment, Ali found herself a hidden comfy chair tucked away in the corner. It gave her an excellent view of the party, and allowed her to sit comfortably yet still breathe. Taking her fan out of her tiny purse she sat and fanned her face, taking the moment to catch her breath. How these women EVER went their whole lives wearing corsets she'll never know. It might do wonders to her figure, but she couldn't run laps around the party like this, atleast not for long periods of time. So with her fan, and her refreshment, Ali took a breather in the corner, entertaining herself watching the others go on with each other. Sodashi-chan The night was young, but unfortunately, Aly seemed to disagree. After having discovered the greatest hide-and-seek invention ever created by human hands (aka, the fog machine), Aly had crawled onto the table of refreshments, curled into a ball, and promptly fell asleep. Right there. On the table.
It was another party-goer that had found the happily chatting Sodashi and informed her of the whereabouts of her specimen. Oohh the embarrassment. Those around her had given her an amused eyebrow raise and Sodashi had muttered her apologies and rushed off to retreive Aly.
The little girl really was a thing of beauty sleeping. Nothing like the bothersome irritation when she was awake. Holding Aly in her arms, Sodashi and her pirate costume bid Ali goodnight, thanking her for the party, and headed back home.
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Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 6:47 pm
_____________________a breif o v e r v i e w Sodashi snorted a little as she watched Aly pick up a paperclip and shove it uselessly into the keyhole of a small chest she’d put in front of the baby. Cruel, it was true, but it wasn’t Sodashi’s fault. But honestly. The little bugger was pretty much a genius. At 19 months, the baby had already figured out the use of a lock and key, developed a certain liking for shinies, and had made full use of the word ‘Bleeaggh,’ which generally meant ‘what the hell is this, it is not, in any way shape or form, edible, you are a terrible cook.’ Although on occasion it could be used to inform her guardian she had to go potty. As a girl of 19 months, Aly was surprisingly quiet and never cried out. This also led to various hide-and-seek “games” where Sodashi was sent into a panic trying to find the girl. This also led to the attachment of a small silver bell to Aly’s wrist. Aly was a very curious creature. Sodashi disliked this trait of her personality to a very vast degree.
Sodashi definitely deserved the expression frustration on Aly’s face. She smiled.
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Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 6:48 pm
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Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 4:37 pm
_____________________R e m i n i s c i n g Sodashi-chan Sodashi ambled through the enormous bio-dome of the Vale building clutching her pot and seedling within sweaty palms. It was summer again, and Sodashi thoroughly disliked it. With a passion. It was probably time to stop wearing the dark colors and furry jackets that kept her warm during the winter. She wiped her hands on her long pants then pulled open a door of a greenhouse. A brilliant array of colors hit her as she entered the greenhouse. Literally. A huge ceramic pot with a plant of many shades and colors toppled from its shelf and dropped onto the girl's head.
"UAHCK!" She dropped the pot already in her hands as pain shot through her head, then fumbling blindly trying to catch the pot which had hit her with wet sweaty hands.
Sodashi's vision went dark and she vaguely remembered a solid thump as she hit the floor.
"Oyyeee. That one hurt just a little bit.. oye... my god, pain beyond belief." She stood up dizzily and rubbed the side of her head. Once Sodashi regained vision of the building, she saw one shattered pot with dirt spewed everywhere and a lone seedling sticking out of the mass of dirt, and one unharmed pot with the plant of many colors sitting safely inside.
"Lovely," she scowled. She certainly had just fulfilled the role Petra and Kyo had told her. "Just take real good care of the plant"was the first thing they'd told her when she'd asked about it. And she'd done just that. Shattering the darn thing a day after she had received the thing. Maybe it'll be defective when it grew up... could plants grow up defective? And then again, didn't the adults always say it was ok to drop a baby when it was young? Did that apply to plants, too? Hopefully.
Once the white spots speckling her vision had faded, her eyes swept the room looking for a broom. A broom lay conveniently in an open shed beside her and so she swiftly took up the broom and began sweeping up the mess she'd made, rubbing her head and cursing all the while. Uennie ___Uenoh'ai tapped her finger on her desk, spinning slightly in her chair to move to her file cabinets. She pulled on a handle and felt it resist. Jiggling it harder she kicked the cabinet under it and pounded the ones above it with her other fist. When she heard the loose cabinet fall back into its lock, the tumblers opened and she pulled the metal drawer out easily. She understood the concept behind the locks, but it did annoy her slightly. The laidback music filtered in through her speakers and she tapped the heel of her foot slowly. Her shoes rested across the room, where she'd kicked them off before. Kicking up her bare feet she rested them on her desk, moving her toes every now and then to the beat of the whimsical music. Her eyes skimmed the file and she tossed folders she figured she'd go through later on the desk extension. ___"When the whole world fits inside of your arms, do we really need to pay attention to the alarm ..." She murmured and closed the file, reaching for one of the discarded manila's she flipped it open. The zoom of cars far below her office drifted into her Laboratory with a soft breeze. She popped her lips and removed a Specimen photo from the paper clip and attached it to her refrigerator with a magnet for future reference. Half of the large refrigerator was for petri dishes and test tubes, the other half housed her many snacks and drinks, including but not limited to, Guava Juice and One-Ton Chips (not to be confused with Won-Ton). ___The Researcher figured she owed her laid-back attitude to her lack of appreciation for confrontation (though it did give her a rise sometimes), and most of her life spent in Kalihi. Unlike many people, she was able to analyze herself from a non-biased point of view and target several things that could have been complicated by previous events and encounters. However, there was the whole idea of once you distinguish a problem, you actually do something about it. She wrote it all off as being too trivial to deal with (and when run by a liscenced psychiatrist were indeed trivial). A quality not unlike "Sloth" but not enough to actually conclude to being apart of her natural personality aforementioned. She ran her fingers through her hair and tapped her fingernails on her keyboard, contemplating what to type. ___Procrastinating, she stuck her head in her fridge and reached for some tea. Hearing a crash she rammed her head into the back of the icebox and cussed loudly. Noticing that she had spilled some of her iced drink, she bit her lip and resisted the urge to rip the insides apart. Pulling her jammed torso out of the cold rectangle she flicked her hand to the side, spraying the wet of her spilled drink all over her plants. Running her hand under some water she dragged a napkin over with the pinky of the hand gripping the can and set the perspiring container upon it. Drying her hand off by waving it and wiping it on her coat, she scooted over to her shoes and slipped them on. Stretching her legs Uennie stood up, the heels of her slingbacks clicking on the ground. Her music player switched records and she nodded her head to the music. ___Low Rider followed her out the door and halfway down the hall as she searched for the source of the noise. She tapped her foot and moved her shoulders to the music as she thought slowly about where it could have come from. By process of elimination she decided to simply use the intercom at her desk. Almost grooving her way back to her Laboratory, she spun and hit the button on her phone and picked it up. ___"Whomever was the source of that crash, please report to Laboratory Three immediately." She said into the mouthpiece before setting it down, the broadcasted War cut short. Sodashi-chan Sodashi was rummaging around the shed for a dustpan making quite a lot of noise as it seemed no one had cleaned the darn thing for years. Ok, so maybe not years. But months didn't sound quite as impressive... so Sodashi went with years. As shovels, pots, bags of dirt, watering cans, and other random things that made loud clinking noises were shoved aside by a careless hand, a muffled announcement came through the closed door of the greenhouse. Sodashi barely caught the words in time before a beep sounded ending the announcement. Sodashi swore the word 'report' was emphasized. Just so it could bring back memories. Just to spite her.
Crap. Crapcrapcrapcrapcrap. (Sodashi was actually muttering a synonym of 'crap' but for these purposes, we'll just pretend she was muttering 'crap.')
Someone had heard the crash. And now she was in trouble. Sodashi was back in college. Again.
'Will Sodashi Kimasaki please report to the principal's office immediately?'
's**t-I-KNEW-I-SHOULDN'T-HAVE-GOTTEN-DRUNK-LAST-NIGHT.'
'Drunk...? Miss Kimasaki, were you out at a party getting drunk last night??'
'What? What are you talking about? Drunk? With beer? Vile stuff. Can't stand the taste of it.'
'... right. Now regarding your application...'
'I-JUST-PUT-THAT-I-WAS-CAPIBLE-OF-TAKING-18-SHOTS-IN-30-SECONDS-FLAT-IN-FOR-KICKS. I-NEVER-DID-IT-I-SWEAR.'
'What?! What is this?! Where did you do this?!'
It seemed her college years would never leave her. Not that she regretted discovering the fact she could take 18 shots in 30 second flat. Facts like that always made life interesting. Like the time that kid decided he�d take her on and try to break her record.
The word 'report' passed her thoughts and her wandering mind instantly snapped back into the greenhouse. The dustpan was still nowhere to be found and her pile of dirt and broken ceramic pot was still left on the floor as it had been 5 minutes ago. Under the tables, she decided. So, much like a child would hastily brush dirt and trash under a bed and shove the remainder in a closet, Sodashi swiftly swept the soil under various tables and stuck the ceramic pot pieces in a corner of the now even messier shed where it blended away perfectly with all the other random pieces of junk in there. Snatching an identical pot, she filled it halfway with soil, gingerly plopped her precious seedling in, and filled the pot to the rim with soil (Just like that time she'd done that botany project in Biology and somehow, the plant knew that this project would be worth 20% of her grade and refused to grow. Period.). There. Good as new. The understatement of the day, but the mind believes what it wants to, right?
Hurriedly, she scurried away seeking out this 'Laboratory Three.' Where the Laboratories were, she had no idea. Scampering into an elevator, she prayed there would be a small directory of floors. Yes. Lady Luck was finally on her side for the day after a lifetime of ignoring Sodashi's existence. 3rd floor. Laboratories. The button beside the three lit up as Sodashi's finger poked it. The elevator dinged and smoothly came to a stop. Sodashi dashed out and looked down the hallway. ... Which Laboratory did she say? Started with a T... Two. That was it. She spied the Laboratory with a black two beside the door and quickly thought up her sob story before she tentatively knocked. Authorities. Can't live with'em, can't live without'em. Hopefully these authorities would be kinder on the soul than the policemen that found her the miraculous night she'd set the record for inhaling shots with her fellow drunkies. Uennie ___The Researcher sat on her desk and spun her chair with her feet. She heard a gurgle and turned around, the small baby in the makeshift crib crying softly. She walked over and cooed softly, picking the child up in her arms and bouncing her gently. The baby cried louder, and louder. Kissing her forehead Uennie picked up the diaper bag and set the baby on the table gently. The baby relaxed slightly, knowing that whatever the problem was, with the presence of the diaper bag, it would be remedied soon. Grasping the woman's hair in her little hands she pulled, giggling as she caused Uenoh'ai to wince slightly. Tugging the hair from the infant's grip Uennie smiled and blew loud raspberries on Esprit's stomach. The baby wiggled, and extended a hand out for the faerie who danced just slightly out of the baby's reach. ___"Babies are such trouble." Ixchel clucked. Daintily picking up her cloth wings to sidestep the child's arms, she walked reluctantly to the baby's midsection. Taking a sniff as Uennie rummaged through the bag, she raised an eyebrow. "She's not wet." The vibrant thumbelina reported. Changing pockets the botanist pulled out the burp rag and some formulae. ___"Thank you, Ixchel." She smiled gently. Uennie gently poured the liquid into a saucepan which laid upon one of her many hotplates. ___"Should you be doing that? Isn't it dirty with those horrible science things you do?" The little woman inquired. ___"I keep it washed, besides, what possible experiment would I need a saucepan for?" Uenoh'ai watched it begin to heat and bubble ever slightly. The faerie grunted and watched the digital clock change its lines. ___"It's about three-sixteen. You need to go home. You and the baby practically live at this awful laboratory. Isn't it a waste of the room you renovated for her?" She watched the human test the formulae before siphoning it into a bottle. Ixchel held the cloth in her hand as she flew up to Uennie's shoulder and set it there gently for future use. ___"Thank you." The woman grinned and picked up the baby once more. Gently cradling it she offered the teat, and waited for Esprit to pick up on it. As the infant suckled gently Uennie sat down again, watching her little face scrunch up as she swallowed and emptied the bottle slowly. Ixchel sighed and lowered herself back onto the desk slowly, crossing her legs underneath herself as she sat, and watching quietly. Sodashi-chan Sodashi tapped her foot nervously as she waited for the closed door of Lab Two to open. Authorities always made her nervous. Near the only thing that did.
A soft wail from the adjacent room caught her attention and she peeked over her shoulder toward what the sign beside the door informed her was Lab Three. Kids. Feh. Bothersome little buggers.
Unfortunately, but not unusually, her curiosity overrode her better judgment and she peeked through the door. She’d play it off as if she wanted to help. Yea. That was it. Besides, whoever had called her to Lab Two for the crash she had caused could easily go on with their day not knowing it was the newbie Janitor who'd broken it. What they didn't know wouldn’t hurt them any. No harm done. Easy.
Sodashi knocked on the open door and gave a warm smile. One of those you gave authorities to convince them whatever they were here for... it wasn’t you. "Heard a little wail back here. Did you guys need any help?" Sodashi-chan Sodashi tapped her foot nervously as she waited for the closed door of Lab Two to open. Authorities always made her nervous. Near the only thing that did.
A soft wail from the adjacent room caught her attention and she peeked over her shoulder toward what the sign beside the door informed her was Lab Three. Kids. Feh. Bothersome little buggers.
Unfortunately, but not unusually, her curiosity overrode her better judgment and she peeked through the door. She’d play it off as if she wanted to help. Yea. That was it. Besides, whoever had called her to Lab Two for the crash she had caused could easily go on with their day not knowing it was the newbie Janitor who'd broken it. What they didn't know wouldn’t hurt them any. No harm done. Easy.
Sodashi knocked on the open door and gave a warm smile. One of those you gave authorities to convince them whatever they were here for... it wasn’t you. "Heard a little wail back here. Did you guys need any help?" Uennie ___Uenoh'ai lifted her head from cooing at the baby, to the young girl walking through her door. Nodding she walked out from behind the desk to offer a short bow from the midsection up. Raising an eyebrow she gestured that the girl sit down, and Uennie settled herself on the corner of the desk. Esprit burped slightly, milk bubbles popping on her nose. The Researcher sighed, slightly irritated at the smell of formula her clothes had begun to pick up. Offering the bottle to Esprit once more, she turned her head to look at her notepad. ___"Ah, yes. The source of the crash which possibly provided endless distraction for the residents still here." She looked at the girl and gave her a look halfway between playful and stern. Esprit continued to suckle but looked at the person on trial with wide magenta eyes. ___"Would you mind educating me on how exactly you caused that loud noise which graced my ears not moments ago?" She said, her eyes flickering to the small screens near her desk, letting the girl know that Uennie had her own private security camera line from the main office. Don't lie to me ... Uenoh'ai thought to herself with a wry smile. I'm going to check the video later on anyway.___"Also, would you mind telling me who exactly you are-ah-ah-ah!" Uennie flinched as Esprit emptied the bottle and began grabbing at her hair again. She shifted the infant and freed her hair, before gently placing Esprit on her shoulder and patting her on the lower back. Sodashi-chan s**t.
Sodashi cleared her throat. "Crash? Well.. uh." Her eyes darted from the woman’s (clearly Authority) face, for a quick glance at the room/jailcell she’d suddenly found herself in, then back to her face, weighing the chances she’d get away with a quick lie. "Oh, you mean back in the greenhouse?" The girl’s eyes flitted from the woman’s face again. She winced at the sight of the security camera feed. As of now her chances were looking rather bleak. "Well. You see.." (Not obviously stalling at all) How did she get in this situation anyway? What happened to the 'no harm done part?' Wasn’t this supposed to be fool proof? She’d never really taken the saying curiosity killed the cat literally, but apparently she’d been mistaken. "I'm, uh, a janitor you recently hired on. Sodashi." Uennie ___"Well-uh, you see-uh." Uenoh'ai narrowed her eyes and mocked the girl with a grin that could either be laughing or vengeful. "I appreciate the straight-up, if you have any left." She offered a manicured finger to Esprit and the baby gripped it with determination and began to gum on it. Her face softened and she made soft noises at the infant in her arms. Giving her a tender kiss upon the forehead, Uennie considered the girl's statement. ___"That I hired, you say?" She placed extra emphasis upon the I. "Well I need to admit that I do not remember hiring you, I suppose I just go through so many. None seem to hang around here long." Uenoh'ai raised both her eyebrows at the janitor in front of her, as if trying to dig around in her mind with just mere sight. "A name, if that's not too much trouble, and please elaborate on what happened in Greenhouse Number-" she squinted at the cameras searching for the one with debris remnants. "-Seven." ___As she waited for an answer, she snapped her fingers behind her, and motioned to a mound of pink. Ixchel snapped up and flew the baby garment to Uenoh'ai's open and waiting hand. "Thank you, Ixchel." Uennie muttered, while the faerie cussed about her humiliation as a go-fer before disappearing into the plants. Sodashi-chan The girl winced again at the woman's tone, a child caught with her hand halfway in the cookie jar. She cleared her throat again. "Yes, well, um, I just started a few days ago. And I never had a chance to come in for an interview. But, um, I got a letter saying that Vale had hired me." Why the hell couldn't she get the um's out of her system? They never happened unless she was faced with authorities she'd never encountered before. Which really, was the only time when you really didn't want them. The way the world works out is always such a pain, she thought with distaste. Whatever. Let's just get this over with. The worst that could happen was getting fired. And it wasn't like it'd be the first job that had ended 3 days after it's start. "Well, anyway, I'm Sodashi." "I was just cleaning up the greenhouse and a plant fell," she shrugged indifferently. "Nothing to do with me. Cleaning it up when you called."
The girl was so preoccupied with the Authority before her, she nearly jumped at the sudden movement of faerie that flitted to the woman's hand and back into the various plants in the office. Whaatt..? Seeing the garment the little thing had brought Sodashi recalled the reason she was here. Cursed curiousitybaby. Uennie ___The Researcher froze, and eyed Sodashi carefully. She finished the last button on Esprit's dress and shushed her gently, holding a finger to her mouth. Uennie stood, and walked to the small basinette, gently and carefully lowering her into the soft cushions. After delivering the small parcel of brown and pink, Uenoh'ai drew herself up and placed both hands behind her back firmly, bending the elbows to push the forearms into the small of her back. She walked back over to Sodashi and stood in front of her, projecting her figure menacingly. She was tempted to be snide and do a mock of that shrug, but fought the urge. ___"Nothing to do with you." Her jaw tightened with the attitude she felt had been slapped in her face. " Nothing." She said it again while pacing slightly. Turning quickly on her heel to face Sodashi her mouth disappeared into an unhappy expression. "If you had been in the Nursery, the damage you had caused could have cost a life." Uennie hissed the word. "Plants here are as alive as you and me, and in fact have a more important role in this world besides just existing. You do not take this casually, or did Edwin not make that clear?" ___Uenoh'ai pointed a shaking finger at the door, smothering any other outbursts. "Wait out there, NOW." She punched a button on the intercom furiously and almost bellowed into it, "Edwin, my office, NOW." She spat out the last word with the same intensity she had in the earlier sentence. Oh boy ... Ixchel shook her head and hid in the cradle. Sodashi-chan Sheesh. Feisty, this one. Sodashi blinked and nearly raised an eyebrow in skepticism before remembering that she was the one in trouble. Apparently deeper trouble than just dropping a plant on the ground. A plant's a plant. And what would potted plants on shelves be doing in a Nursery anway? What the heck was wrong with her? And who was this Edwin person? Maybe she was drunk. But this woman didn't quite fit the description of town drunk. At all. If she did, Sodashi probably would have felt some mutual connection between town drunks. Which, she didn't. Her being Authority and all. Maybe she was on drugs. The janitor didn't have much experience with drugs.. she she couldn't really judge. Jeez, Sodashi was seriously beginning to regret her decision to peek in to the room. Curiousity really had some serious consequences. She'd rely on her survival instincts next time she was around this woman. (Of which there hopefully wouldn't BE a next time.) Lesson learned. Lesson very learned.
"Um.. ok?" The girl followed the pointed finger out the doorframe she hadn't taken two step through and waited outside. She'd never really understood the point of going out of a room. Why did authoritative figures always want to you leave the room and talk to you out in a hallway? Was the two foot difference in location really that different? I mean, honestly, the point of a stern talking to was the talking to, not the location of the talking to, right? She sighed and rolled her eyes once had gotten out of that wretched room. It was starting to smell like baby anway. Whatever. Authorities are crazy. Uennie ___Uenoh'ai glared as she looked up at Edwin coming in through the door. He winced at the look and made sure not to get too close to the desk she was behind. This could not be good. He wiped his hands off on his pant as best he could, and offered a nervous smile. She returned it with venom. ___"Before I begin so delicately ripping into you, dear Edwin. Please tell me why the hell a Janitor was in one of the Greenhouses?" She tapped sat herself down professionally and folded her hands in her lap. Seeing that she was in a position in which she couldn't react as quickly as usual, he reached out and pulled a chair to himself, before sitting down in it. He avoided her gaze. ___"Well you see, Miss. Uennie, she's not a Janitor anymore." He forced out through a tight smile. Uenoh'ai gave him a deadly yet questioning look, and he cleared his throat. "She tested very highly, and she was one of those you decided to sign off as an Observer." He swallowed, "She's very new! It really wasn't her fault." Edwin added softly. The Researcher leaned back and considered this statement carefully, Ixchel watched from afar with amusement. ___"Well if I made her an Observer, she must be worth some amount of salt." She looked at the doorway out of the corner of her eyes. "After all, I'm never wrong, am I?" Edwin looked at her and gave her a crooked smile. ___"No ma'am, infallible, omnipotent - Big Kahuna." He teased her. She gave him a look, and tapped her fingers on the desk. "Miss, if you don't mind me saying so, being my superior and all ... You need to stop hanging around Jennine, you don't wear her well." Edwin said playfully. Uenoh'ai let out a low chuckle and nodded at him. ___"Well I suppose that's resolved then." She sighed, and Ixchel grunted at the anti-climactic end to her personal drama. Edwin rubbed the back of his neck and scooted back in the chair a bit. ___"Actually ..." He started, and then cut off, gauging the woman's reaction. She looked at him severely, and the rest of the sentence flowed out of him like air from a balloon. "... The pot she broke was hers, her ... Specimen's ..." He shrank back and tensed his legs to dodge a swing. Uenoh'ai's face drained, and she swung her head back to the screens and clicked a button to bring up a closer view of the Greenhouse. ___"Where is it? Where is it now?" Her face was panicked as she searched the image for a sign of the plant that was once inside the small pot. He shrugged and stood up, barely avoiding her knocking him over, as she rushed out into the hall and grabbed Sodashi by the shoulders. ___"Where is it?!" Sodashi-chan The girl stood outside of the room looking rather awkward. Maybe she could make a quick getaway before the woman had a chance to turn her attention back to her.
But just as Sodashi was creeping toward the elevator, she heard a muffled male voice through the door. Obviously there was another way to get into the woman's office and the Edwin person had gotten in, and they were probably discussing how to dispose of her what to do with her.
Sodashi, being the little angel she was, would never, ever, think of evesdropping on a conversation between others. She simply, you know, overheard the conversation. Couldn't be helped afterall. One couldn't just turn off one's ears
Which, in all honesty, was pretty useful. For one thing, she finally got the spawn of Satan's name, Miss Uennie. The name sounded like something the devil would name someone. Second, apparently she wasn't in as much trouble as spawnofSatan had made her out to be. This Edwin person was obviously on her side, which was good. Third, she wasn't a Janitor anymore (???), hopefully that meant her salary was going up too. Fourth, that test that they had her take when she was hired on apparently counted for something.
Out of the five things she learned, the fifth was not something she could have lived without learning. Or rather, what Uennie could have lived without.
The girl swallowed. "Um.." she cleared her throat, playing the innocent. "Where's what?" Uennie ___"Where is your Specimen, the plant! Where is it!" Uenoh'ai began to shake her. "The pot you were given, where is the plant inside it! Tell me!" Uenoh'ai heard shrieks come from inside the room, and knew that her frantic yelling had woken the baby. A flutter sounded in the background, which meant that Ixchel was tending to her. Uennie felt panicked, a world was exploding and a Specimen was dying, and if not was already dead! Edwin rushed over and pried the woman off Sodashi, standing between them defensively. Uenoh'ai raised her arm, almost like she wanted to slap him but recoiled, and balled the hand into a fist. This day had been going so damned well! She thought for once there would be no trouble, for once she could have peace. ___"Researcher, she doesn't know what you're talking about, she only just received her pot. She doesn't know." He lowered his voice with the last sentence and looked at Uennie meaningfully. She looked back and forth between him and the girl, before speaking in a dead tone. ___"Where is it." Sodashi-chan Holynuts. The woman really lost it this time. Of course Sodashi had already known it was the stupid pot she was asking for, but answering directly would have gotten her in trouble for evesdropping. And obviously the SpawnofSatan, Uennie was getting tired of her half-answers. The woman was crazy. Far beyond the benefit of the doubt. Not to mention all this screaming about a stinkin' plant. Honestly, we were basically in a huge BUILDING full of plants, plants, and more plants. What's one stupid seedling? This place was a loony bin. Sodashi was getting pretty frustrated with this place. But she needed the money. So she stood there and fought the urge to yell back and flat out ask the "Researcher" if she needed mental therapy. At least Edwin had something of a brain.
"It's right there." Sodashi pointed at the messily replotted plant on the ground next to Lab Two where she had originally thought she'd been called to. Uennie ___Uenoh'ai scooped up the pot and pressed it into Edwin's arms. He ran off with it, not saying a word, and she drew Sodashi into her office quickly. Uennie motioned to a chair for her to sit in, and walked over to the cradle. The air seemed tense with words that could set it on fire. She bent, and picked up Esprit, who was still crying. Ixchel desperately fluttered around her head trying to calm the baby down. Uenoh'ai strode to Sodashi, and to Ixchel's enormous shock, placed Esprit in her arms. Having delivered the bundle, the woman picked up a mister and began to spray her plants again. Ixchel chittered in her ear, making a fuss over letting this girl hold the baby. Uennie waved her away and the offended faerie flew off in an angry huff. ___"Tell me." Uenoh'ai said as she finished the last leaf. "What do you notice about that infant?" Sodashi-chan "Hey wait! That's... .... mine?" Sodashi blinked, one hand still reaching out toward Edwin's figure. Then suddenly she nearly got her arm pulled out of it's socket as Uennie threw her into her office and shoved the stupid baby that had gotten her INTO this stupid mess right into her arms. As soon as Uennie had turned around to focus on her plants, Sodashi glowered darkly, pouring as much of her hatred into it as humanly possible, at the innocently cooing baby. Sodashi was seriously considering "accidentally" dropping the child onto the floor. Or better yet, maybe she'd just toss the stupid bundle out of the stinkin' window.
Uennie pulled her back to the present. Infant? You mean besides the fact it had gotten her into a world of trouble? "She's... got a hugebutt flower on her head?" Well... that was pretty weird. I mean, who puts a huge flower on their baby's head? But.. considering Uennie's past outbursts, maybe it wasn't that weird. Uennie ___Ixchel whipped her head around and zoomed dangerously at Sodashi. She did not like the way this adolescent was acting towards the baby. Sensing the distress the faerie was feeling, Esprit began whimpering, scrunching her face up and crying loudly, bellowing at everyone in the room about the pain she was feeling. Why was everyone so unhappy? Why? Ixchel began to tug furiously on the dress clothing the baby, obviously not strong enough to try and carry it away. Uenoh'ai cleared her throat and the faerie paused, but then quickly returned to the frantic pulling. The Researcher cleared her throat again, louder, and the faerie grumpily flitted off to await the next move. Uennie placed the mister down near a plant and returned to Sodashi's location. Reaching down she gently took Esprit back and bounced the baby in the crook of her arm. Her face became tender, and the infant quickly went from crying with abandonment, to contented gumming. Slipping a pacifier into Esprit's mouth, Uennie cradled her gently. ___"Please try to be as eloquent as possible around me." Uennie cautioned softly. "This small baby is one of the first of its kind, she is a botanical humanoid." Esprit gurgled around the pacifier and her eyelids began to droop. "Your plant will one day, become a baby as well. This is why you must be so diligent in protecting it." She motioned to the crib, diaper bag, and other amenities. "Edwin is repotting your plant right now - hopefully it hasn't retained any damage. If you feel this experiment is too much for you, you may feel free to withdraw from the Vale altogether." Uenoh'ai lowered her eyes, issuing an ultimatum. Choose to be an Observer, or keep your trap shut and find a job elsewhere. Sodashi-chan Glad to get the thing out of her arms, Sodashi sighed inwardly. Obviously Uennie had gotten tired of Sodashi's flat retorts. Enough excitement for one day. "Yes, ma'am," was all the girl muttered.
Sodashi had never been quite the listener, especially toward Authorities, but what Uennie was feeding her was clearly something big. She didn't understand half the words that were coming at her (botanical humanoid?!), but she definitetly got the part about her plant being.. what.. a BABY??! This.. this was too big for her. She'd come here thinking she'd be a janitor. I mean, a janitor does virtually nothing. A janitor sweeps, mops, and lounges around for the rest of the day, unless someone screwed up and she was called on to clean it up. Which, considering the prestige of the place, didn't happen all that often. The pay wasn't that high, but the job suited Sodashi's personality to a T.
The girl felt something rush through her veins -- her limbs went numb and her arms hung limply at her sides. It was something she hadn't felt in quite a few years. She refused to name it. Something that feeling when reality slaps you in the face after a good long vacation. Not quite disappointment, yet not quite frustration either. More along the lines.. of..
fear.
Her lips suddenly were dry, and she couldn't meet Uennie's eyes as she had done so defiantly just moments before.
She wanted to make a joke. Stand back at the ridiculous situation and take a good long laugh. Anything to get the feeling out of her. But she couldn't do it. She couldn't muster the energy. Besides. Uennie didn't seem the best person to share a laugh with. Usually an energetic youngster, it was a strange feeling to have all the happy balls of fun within her suddenly sucked out in one blow.
"Yes ma'am. I'll take care of it," were the only words that slipped through her lips, her eyes still refusing to meet Uennie's. Her voice had the bitter taste of humbleness in it. Again, something she didn't experienced often. "Sorry for the inconveinence today. If you'll.. excuse me."
She turned and left the room without another word, her untied shoelaces tapping against the tiled floor the only sound that followed her. Uennie ___She watched Sodashi begin to leave the room. With a small smile, she remembered the first time Esprit had appeared, or been born. How shocked she was, dismayed, but in the end delighted. Being a single parent is hard to explain to a family, but she had come to love this little child very much. Her voice trailed after the Janitor, gentle and steady, ___"We are fighters for a great cause, trust in that you were chosen because you would be an impressive ally. In the meantime, Edwin will place your re-potted Specimen in your Laboratory, if you choose to be apart of this. In the morning, report to Laboratory Seven." ___Esprit scrunched her face and shifted in her sleep, delicate eyelids fluttering in the midst of a dream. Uennie leaned down and kissed her gently on the nose, and issued a butterfly kiss. Slowly maneuvering the baby into the basinette, she straightened papers and motioned to Ixchel to find her keys. As the faerie lowered the metal pieces into the open palm, Uenoh'ai turned off the lights with basket in arm. She slid her Identification Card through the slot and initiated the Laboratory lockdown, and began walking to the stairs. ___"Come Ixchel, we'll take the metro home." Uenoh'ai smiled as she shifted the dozing infant. Sodashi-chan Sodashi swiped furiously at her eyes. It had been years since she'd cried. Years. She was furious with Uennie for having broken her streak. She was furious with Uennie for crushing her perfect carefree world with that stupid plant. She was furious with that stupid "botanical humanoid" for getting her into such a huge mass of trouble. She was furious with... she refused to admit who she was furious with. For everything. She resented being brought back to reality. Especially by authorities. There was a reason why she left home at the age she did. And all that stupid crap Uennie called after her about "fighers for a cause." What did she know about fighting for a cause? From the looks of it, she had everything handed to her on a silver platter. Sodashi had had everthing handed to her on the tin lid of a trash can.
Back in her apartment, she furiously grabbed the bundled blanket and threw herself into the makeshift-bed/couch, her angry tears still hot on her face.
The girl finally dozed off getting a grand total of 27 minutes of sleep before the sun announced the arrival of the new day.
... and as a result, she didn’t make it to Laboratory Seven until 3 in the afternoon. Whatever. It was the thought that counted.
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