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 Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 10:48 pm
Ignacio Garcia regarded the nearly empty daycare with a barely supressed sigh. He hated it when the kids were gone. It couldn't be helped, though. As spring break approached, more and more of the kids were disappearing on short vacations. Worse yet, more and more of them were growing like weeds. The moment they were old enough, they were gone. Sometimes he felt like he hardly got a chance to know them at all.
He started at the feel of a heavy hand on his shoulder and he looked up. Evan grinned at him. "Stop moping, Nacho," the young man ordered. "You'll have more kids to play with. Don't worry. The Center keeps popping 'em out." Then he tilted his head towards the door. "Anyway, I've got a project for you. There's a new kid coming in and they're kinda worried he won't fit in. Mind being his personal playmate for the day?"
Iggy lit up. "No way. I'll be glad to. It'll be cool!" Purpose for living restored, the wolf-boy headed for the door to wait. What kind of kid would the new one be?
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Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 4:59 pm
The door to the playground opened with a creak, like whomever was pushing it seemed to be hesitating a little in doing so, but it finally swung open to reveal a woman wearing a cast on her left arm. She had a bandage over half of her face and some wraps on her neck, her right arm covered in a bandage as well, giving her an overall look of someone who had not faired well. She probably had more bandages over her torso and legs, those items hidden by her clothing thankfully, but it wasn't the girl who looked fearful and hesitant about coming it.
It was the little boy behind her, his hands tied together with a rope as he was being led like a small animal to the slaughter. An angry black and blue bruise decorated his cheek and spread almost past his temple, parts of it scabbed over like he'd been wounded, and his little mouth was set in a deep frown. He had a bruise around his lips as well.
"Pardon me? Is this...the daycare center?"
Rit had never taken Vox to a place like this before - the pool being the most crowded place her conscious would let her take the man-eater, but as of late Galley and Aft had both suggested that perhaps his need to feed on others could be cured by other kids. Who would beat him into submission.
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Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 8:14 pm
A flicker of concern and worry sped over Iggy's face at their entrance but, the moment the question was asked, he lit up and grinned whitely. "Yep, it is," he answered. "I'm Ignacio Garcia. I help Evan and Xi. They're the ones who run it." He craned his neck and looked around the wounded woman to take in the child with a curious golden gaze. He noticed the rope and frowned for an instant. Then he squinted, shrugged, and straightened. His hand came out now for a shake. "Evan said there'd be a new kid comin' and I'm supposed to help him. I guess that's your guy there, huh?"
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Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 10:46 pm
Rit smiled and nodded her head at the questions, reaching out with her good arm to shake the hand that was extended. In doing so she pulled the rope that was tied to Vox, yanking the small child forward, she seemed to ignore the actions.
"Yes, my name is Rit duShepe. The kid on the rope is Vox, and I was hoping he could perhaps stay here for an afternoon while I work? The garage is in shambles and my sister is currently in the hospital and cannot watch him."
Vox looked up at this taller boy before him, his eyes taking in the sight of someone tall and other than Port. He had only seen many children or adults before, so a teenage male was a little...new to him. To say the least.
"Do I need to sign him anywhere, or can I just leave him with you?"
Rit's voice sounded wearly, like speaking simply wore her down too much, and she let out a small sigh of effort.
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Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 11:05 pm
"Um..."
Thankfully, Evan appeared at the door with a small notebook and pencil. He offered both Rit and Vox sunny smiles. "We just need names and contact information," he explained. "Standard procedure, you know. Once we know how to reach you, you can leave him in our capable hands." He tilted his head. "You've already met our best helper. Nacho here's a godsend."
As Evan gathered the necessary information, Iggy edged around to better study the new kid. He grinned again, so big that his pointed canines showed. "First time, huh?" he observed. "Don't worry. It's quiet today so you don't have to fight for toys."
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Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 11:18 pm
"Ah, thank you."
Rit smiled, her own a little timid in comparison to the bright one Evan gave, and as she went on to tell what was needed she let the rope slide from her hand and it gave Vox's wrists a slight amount of freedom. Not enough for him to move and do anything, but he could lower them down now.
When the older teenager started to talk to him, Vox frowned and turned his head to once again try and get a better look. The spirals that served as his iris and pupil seemed to spin as he took in Ignacio and the nickname as well as name he'd been given, and after a moment or two he decided to respond to the question and secondary statement.
"Oh, I'm sure there will be something for me to play with other than toys. And I don't care for other people anyway."
It was the little boy's own turn to smile, and though he did not display any sharp teeth his smile was clearly one of malice and eeriness.
"And yes, this is my first time. Rit does not trust me with others."
"For a good reason too. I just hope...he won't be too much trouble for you."
Rit turned away from Evan as Vox spoke, and she looked over at the Kelpie toddler with an expression of hate mixed with worry.
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Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2009 8:58 pm
Iggy remained unfazed. "Oh, then it's a good thing we're kinda empty today. If your mom is worried about you gettin' scared or scarin' others, it's best that you came today. It'll be cool. Don't worry." He turned his smile back up to Rit. "He'll be fine," he reassured her. "We can handle him. Promise!"
Evan, on the other hand, looked a bit unsure suddenly.
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Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2009 12:43 pm
Rit's expression was a clear mirror of Evan's, though she nodded her head in hopes that everything would turn out all right in the end. Maybe dealing with someone who could put Vox into his place would do the prideful Kelpie toddler some good - maybe even mellow him out a little. Also, if they could actually back him down and possibly hurt him . . .
No no, it was no good for the woman to think this way! After all, he was hers to watch over. . .no matter what.
"I'll be back by later to pick him up. Is there a good time, or will five this afternoon be too late? I can't really leave until the garage is finished, and then I need to go visit my sister. . . "
"You can go, and if I wind up on your doorstep then you'll know it was time to come and get me. Or that I simply grow tired of all this and wanted to return to where you are. Don't worry."
Vox looked away from Iggy and towards Rit, his eyes staring straight and unblinking. The expression caused the twenty-something woman to wince and make her way to the door, leaving the child smile and let out a small chuckle of victory. He loved...loved...watching Rit look so much in pain. For now.
"Oh, and you? She's not worried about me at all, she wishes I was dead. So."
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Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2009 7:18 pm
Iggy merely regarded the little boy with a solemn look and a shake of his head. He missed the ill, green look growing on Evan's face as the empath felt the brush of emotions between mother and child. "Y'know, that's a really nasty way to talk. Seriously." He glanced at Evan, noticed the look, and his frown deepened. "Okay. Well, then. You can't be any worse'n Merroth."
Turning on his heel, Iggy indicated that Vox was supposed to follow him. "C'mon, Vox. I'm so not carryin' you."
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Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2009 7:30 pm
Vox followed the teenager, his hands still bound together so the rope dragged behind him, but he took careful steps so as to not trip and fall as he went along. He moved rather slowly for his normal stride, which was long despite his childish and stubby legs, but perhaps this was because he was thinking.
There had to be a way for this stupid creature to take his ropes off, and perhaps removed the crosses that Rit had shoved into his clothing while he was being dressed earlier that day. He wasn't in any pain, not at the moment anyway, but he knew he would start to feel repulsed once his anger wore off.
"So...you are called Iggy? Why? What does it mean?"
Engage in idle chatter for now.
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Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 9:11 pm
"Iggy?" The older boy looked over his shoulder and shrugged. "It's short for my full name. Ignacio. It's just easier for most people to say. Not so, y'know, I dunno... Spanish." He led the boy towards the larger play area with its shelves and bins of toys. "Anyway, 'nough about me. What do you wanna do today? Outside, inside? What d'ya like?"
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Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 11:55 am
"Oh. My name is Vox, Rit says she named it for Latin 'voice'. I don't know why, she seemed content to just call me 'you' or 'it' before. Perhaps it was a feeling of guilt."
Vox stopped when Iggy asked him what he wanted to do, and in all honestly the little toddler had no idea. Interactions with others for him were limited at best, perhaps a few times in the pool and whenever he would see others at the park. Rit and Galley never took him anywhere, and now that he'd done what he had . . . he was surprised to even be here.
"I don't care what we do, but you will have to untie my hands first. I can't do anything bound the way I am."
The Kelpie raised his arms up, showing the rope that kept him held back.
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Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 9:18 pm
Stopping at the toddler's words, Iggy turned back to face him and crouched down easily onto his haunches to inspect the rope's around Vox's wrists. Then he peered into the younger boy's face. There was no revulsion or fear, just simple thoughtfulness. "Why're you tied up, anyway?" he asked.
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Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 8:42 am
For once in his little life, Vox actually had to tactfully think about what he wanted to say. There were several ways to explain to Iggy what had happened at the garage that had ended up leading to him being bound like this wherever they went.
Should he say it was because he tried to kill his owner? Should he say it's because he was so aggressive and just always attacked everyone that was smaller then him (and male)? Of course not.
"I...tend to wander off, so she tied me like this keep me nearby. It works but it's a bother since it chaffs my wrists. They hurt."
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Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 9:05 pm
"Ah." That seemed to satisfy Iggy, making perfect sense to the teenager. After all, he had worked in the daycare enough to be very familiar with the range of methods parents used to reign in wayward toddlers. It wasn't so different than those leash things, he supposed. Still... He frowned a bit. "Why not just tie up one hand?" he asked. "It's enough to keep you around."
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