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 Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 10:47 am
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Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 10:53 am
Rusty was busy doing dishes, eyes closed. He'd make a game attempt at opening them every now and then, but for the most part his hands were on autopilot. He had cut back on both sleep and eating, as pennance for the dreams that came at night.
This was just another trial. He would get over it.
Hoss was busy eating carrots in the highchair behind him. Rusty had, unthinkingly, given the baby a spoon. What in the hell was he supposed to do with that, Rusty? He pushed it off the tray and frowned.
"Wut-ee!" He said angrily. Rusty jumped, eyes opening quickly, turning. The dish he'd been washing fell to the ground. He looked at it a moment, terrified, and looked up at Hoss. Okay. He'd waisted something, but punishment could come later.
"Yeah, Hoth!" He smiled, patting Hoss's arm with one shaky hand. "That'th my name!"
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Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 10:55 am
Shiloh shuffled up the walk and knocked on Rusty's front door, a rather dingy, stinky baby Opec in his arms. If anyone could help him, Rusty could.
"'Ey. This a bad time?" he asked, peering through the screen.
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Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 10:59 am
Rusty's head jerked up and he smiled.
"Not at all!" He said, shuffling to the door and opening it. Oh, Shiloh. Rusty was looking worse. He was even thinner, even more worn, and shaking slightly. But he couldn't hide how delighted he was to see you.
"C'mon in." He said, shuffling to the side. "Wath jutht doin' the ditheth."
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Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:03 am
Shiloh smiled broadly, but his eyes were sad. Oh, Rusty, what did you think you'd done now?
"I need some help," he said, coming inside. Opec flicked his ears and looked around, sending dust, debris, and fur in various directions. Hm! Nice house!
"Opec. refuses. to take. a bath." And he showed off his arm, decorated with various puncture wounds at different stages of healing.
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Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:05 am
Rusty looked at the little fuzzball and smiled. "Ith he thcared of the water?" He asked, leaning over. He never had any trouble getting Hoss to take a bath.
"Y'want me to try?"
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Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:07 am
"Apparently," Shiloh sighed, "It's kind of like trying to bathe a fleshy cat. I figure the two of us together would hold him down." Opec's eyes went wide. Bath?! HOLD DOWN?! Oh noes, why were they here?! He began to wiggle, trying to escape.
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Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:09 am
Rusty nodded, retreiving Hoss and a bowl of cheerios from the kitchen. "Bathroom'th on the thecond floor." He said, leading him up a flight of stairs. There was, apparently, another floor, but the door was firmly closed.
He put Hoss in his crib with his cheerios. It was funny how Hoss's room was so much brighter, so much more well kept than everything else. Obviously, Rusty did not extend his lifestyle to the babe.
"I'm uthed to being clawed." Rusty said, holding his hands out. "I'll hold him. Wet a wathcloth."
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Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:11 am
Shiloh nodded and handed over Opec, who immediately began to cry with a loud "YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEH" and went to wet a wash cloth. He did, wrung it out slightly, and held it above Opec's head to Rusty. Opec looked up, glaring, and gnashed his fangy gums.
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Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:13 am
Rusty took it, and then held it out for Opec to see.
"It'th nithe." Rusty said softly, just holding it. The small man was making a huge effort to keep his body still. Touch, Opec?
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Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:14 am
Opec pushed frantically at Rusty's arm and pushed his head back into he man's chest. No! It was most certainly NOT nice! It had no color! And it was so...wet!
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Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:16 am
Rusty carefully moved back, sitting in a rocking chair. Hey, Opec was a fat little sucker, and he was already tired.
"It'th okay." Rusty said softly, putting the cloth on his knee. "Not hurtin me. Won't hurt you. Maketh you clean. Feelth good."
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Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:19 am
Opec stared at the wash cloth as it sat on Rusty's knee, dripping on the floor. There was no sizzling flesh, no screaming agony. He whimpered and reached out for Shiloh. Daddy, he didn't want this!
"No, Pekky. Listen to Rusty."
Another little whine.
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Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:22 am
Rusty picked up the cloth again, holding it a little closer.
"Little touch?" He asked sweetly. "Just a little touch, Pekky. It'th nithe."
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Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:24 am
The whining got louder and Opec clung to Rusty. Only then was he able to gather the bravery to reach out with a tentative hand, poking the cloth. A drop fell and ran down his hand, down his wrist, up his arm.
"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEH!"
"Shhhh," Shiloh said softly, "It's okay. It's just water!"
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