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 Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2006 12:05 am
René had no idea quite what drew him to that particular building on the way home that day. It was the first of two days off - two days while Levon worked instead of himself, and as much as he valued his job, he was looking forward to the break. Since Trio had gotten pregnant, his hours had increased, to the point where he could pretty much be guaranteed at least a few hours overtime each week. The extra money had been helpful. He'd squirreled it away, putting it into a savings account to grow. He was good at that, and at living with almost nothing. But every once in a while, his feet took him by a shop that he couldn't quite resist ducking into. And today was one of those days.
It was quiet, the door open, and no one immediately visible in the front room. René stepped inside, peering around the waiting room. There were toys and books strewn about in a rather chaotic attempt at organization that seemed so much a part of waiting rooms where children were expected. He smiled faintly, wondering at what the place was. Not a doctor's. He would've smelled the chemicals and cleansers. But there was the sense that children came through often, at least. A feel to the place, perhaps, or a certain smell left behind by all those bodies. Though... come to think of it, the smell he was left with reminded him more of the Pixapets shop than a doctor's. Fur here... an animal musk still clinging faintly to the air.
Then again, he could just be severely overworked.
But as he stepped in a bit farther, looking for some literature on the place, he heard it. A faint squall of a child somewhere in the back, and no answering adult call. He frowned. Could the parent have stepped outside for a moment? Could he or she have left the child behind for some reason? Without conscious thought, René's feet led him to the back, through doors to find a child resting on a large nest of pillows and cushions. But it was... the strangest child he'd seen, and he'd seen some strange children during his stay in Gaia. He knelt down, and the child quieted, peering up at him through dark brown eyes. "Who are you?" René whispered, a finger stretching out to pet the feathers atop the gryphlet's head. The sound the child made couldn't quite be called a coo, but nor could it be called a purr. It was somewhere in between, a little sound as mixed up as the boy himself. He stretched out his arms to René, and René picked him up slowly, gathering him into his arms with some small awkwardness and cradling him.
He really couldn't quite understand why his heart was swelling at the sight of this tiny child, but it was.
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Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 12:31 pm
 29 August 2006
Dear Mrs. Maxwell-Chang,
I'm writing to follow up what we spoke of over the phone a few days ago. As expected, I will need several days vacation from work yet. I've had no luck in finding a babysitter for Aubri, but I shall keep trying. I do believe that bringing him to the shop would not be in anyone's best interest, as he has shown a distinct interest in small prey, for lack of a better term.
You expressed some interest in knowing more about what type of child he was, and how I came to adopt him. At the time, I'm afraid I was caught in the middle of ensuring he was comfortable and happy, and could not talk, but I'd like to take the time now to tell you about him.
Aubri is, as best Karma and I can tell, a gryphon. He's still an infant, unable to speak yet, and I came across him completely by accident on the way home from the shop a few days ago. I passed by a shop I'd heard you mention many times, Fourth Wall, and could not resist taking a look inside. It seemed a bit like... well, for lack of a more elegant way of putting it, a bit like a veterinarian's waiting room. There was a scent there that I could just faintly smell that gave the sense of it, and although I at first believed I was simply a little overworked, I now know better. (The last sentence should in no way be construed as complaint.)
As I looked around the empty waiting room, I heard the faint sound of a baby's cry. I couldn't quite help myself from going in search of the child, as from the sound no one else was helping him. I found him in a small nest of pillows and cushions, squalling loudly and clutching a pendant hanging from a leather thong around his neck. It was only my familiarity with your children - particularly Makana - that enabled me to do more than stare in shock at the child. (Are all people here so strange? I realize that I've been in Gaia for several months now, but it almost seems that there is a completely new standard of normalcy here.)
Eventually, I gathered him up. It was a surprisingly comfortable feeling, holding the light weight of him in my arms. I expected to help a bawling baby, but I didn't really expect him to grip my heart as he did. As I was holding him, the shopowner, one Karma, came in to see what was going on. We talked for nearly half an hour before I found myself asking precisely what it would take to adopt a child from the place. (It seems a bit odd, calling it a shop when it's really an adoption agency.) That led to a much longer, more in-depth discussion, at the end of which found me signing the necessary papers and purchasing a blanket from her in which to wrap Aubri.
She gave me a quickly-written list of the barest necessities to see him through the first days of his new life, and I made the stops on the way home. A large drawer from my dresser served as his bed for the first night, though I now have a proper crib for him. I've picked up a few outfits for him, but when I'm able to work and recieve another paycheck, I'm quite certain I'll need to purchase more. And I've learned that he is most definitely a predator, and his talons are sharper than I ever expected. It would seem I cannot bathe or diaper him without gaining a puncture or two in return.
Still... I find myself loving him all the more with each day. Thank you for your patience with my absence at work, and your continued understanding of my situation. I look forward to perhaps introducing you to Aubri properly in the future, and learning more of how you came to adopt Makana in return.
Yours Sincerely,
René d'Aubigne
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