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 Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2010 10:53 am
It had taken Nathan a good long time to decide to go back to the little curio shop. He had no intentions of attempting to return a child (as, from the store's policy, it seemed had happened in the past), but he figured he might as well make a trip in for shits and giggles anyway. He had promised to come back and buy something, after all. The question was if a child was going to come from this too.
He arrived in the early afternoon, holding Harley's hand in his. He'd told the boy about how he'd been born, and he'd asked to see it a few times. As they entered, he sneaked a look at the shop owner and arched a brow.
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Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2010 7:10 pm
Switch was sitting at her large Oak desk when the door opened, her feet propped up and ankles crossed on the wooden surface. Resting on her thighs was a rather mish mashed infant, apparently asleep after being harassed by his Mother. She assessed him for a moment; of course she recognized him instantly; it was his demeanor she was trying to assess. When she figured he wasn't going to start screaming at her right away, she smiled.
"Welcome back! Ooh, what a cutey." She said happily, lifting a hand to wave her fingers at the floppy eared boy. "How're you two doing today?"
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Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2010 7:16 pm
Harley smiled and waved, wondering if (in some weird way) this blue-haired woman was technically his mother. That'd be weird. He was released from Daddy's hand and went to inspect a toy robot.
"I said I'd come back to buy something," Nathan said, leaning on the desk like he knew the woman. He gave her The Look, a bit accusatory. He loved his son, though, he did!
"His name's Harley," he continued, voice going soft and looking toward the boy, who was now poking a stuffed weasel.
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Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2010 9:39 pm
"You did." A wide smile twitched its way onto her lips, especially at that accusing stare. She obviously didn't mind the leaning, at least he wasn't yelling at her. "Harley, huh? That's an adorable name, I think it suits him." Chuckling, she slipped her finger back into the tot's chubby little hand, barely stirring him. "I'm sure it was a surprise; I'm kinda...unable...to tell someone if the item is coming to life until it's...well, come to life." She explained, hoping it would ease some of the thoughts he wasn't sharing.
Then, leaning over, she looked at the little boy. "Hello Harley, How're you today?"
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Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2010 9:45 pm
"Aaaah, alright," Nathan nodded. He had heard much, much stranger things in the past. It explained, at least, why she had acted so strange the first time, "Thanks fer not makin' me pay for him."
"Hi!" Harley chirped from somewhere within the store. Something clinked and there was a shuffle.
"Oops."
At least nothing had broken, right?
"Ah'm...ah'm guh'," he said finally. Ooh, look! Old Hotwheels!
"Huh. That's the most he's talked to any stranger, I think."
"'ADDY! CAW!"
"He's got a thing for cars."
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Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2010 9:55 pm
"Notta problem; I figure you'd have enough on your hands as it is, it's the least I'm allowed to do." Though she would have loved to warn him, it was impossible, the shop always silenced her. She heard the little crash and just chuckled; that was normal, no harm done!
"Oh? I'm honored, then!" She chuckled, positively melting at the way the boy talked. Just too precious! "Dear lord I'm surprised your teeth haven't rotten out of your head; he's way too sweet." The female couldn't help but fawn, playing with her chubby baby's hands. "Likes cars, eh? I hope for your sake that doesn't continue as he grows..." Imagining a whole bunch of cars in the driveway, speeding down the streets...ugh that made her nervous, and Harley wasn't even hers!
"Well, take a look around, don't let me keep you!" Because she didn't know how busy his day was. He shouldn't have to pay for her boredom!
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Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2010 10:01 pm
"I'm a confectioner, ma'am," Nathan laughed, shrugging, "and anyway, I'm a little scared t'go back there myself. With how it happened with Harley, yenno. Not that another kid would be a bad thing, it's just this seems what this place is like."
Harley chirped again from within the store.
"ADDY! CAWS!"
"...seems like I'm being called. I'll be right back." It was on his way back to the 'caws' that he saw it. It was sitting there benignly. He had seen hundreds of them in the Marketplace. Was this it? Was this what happened?
"Addy," Harley said, approaching and holding three antique toy cars up, "I hab?"
"Sure, hon," Nathan nodded, giving a little smile. He poked a finger into the open bit of the box and was met with black cardboard. ...hm. He plucked the box up after a long mental deliberation and took Harley's hand again, heading to the counter.
One more time, he gave Switch The Look.
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Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2010 10:13 pm
Confectioner. Of course. "Perfect then, you're immune." Laughing happily, she conveniently overlooked his fears and just nodded to when he excused himself. The blue haired woman wasn't watching him, but she certainly felt the bond form between the man and one of the objects, once more laughing under her breath. Poor guy, Poor, Poor guy.
Switch was smiling apologetically when she was given The Look for a second time, shifting the baby to instead hold him against her, leaning over the desk a bit to look down at Harley. "Because you're so cute, you can choose one of those cars to take home for free, but the other two Daddy would have to pay for." She informed the little boy, before looking back up at the pointy eared Guardian. "The car I'm giving for free for the trouble...nothing will happen. Yours is also free." Well, now that he knew what it meant...hopefully he would catch on and, hopefully, he wouldn't hate her.
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Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2010 10:15 pm
Nathan looked down at the objects. So it was either the car or the box, was it? ...well, what harm could another kid do, really? Harley was always so lonely while he worked...
"Don't worry, Harl. Daddy promised to pay the lady."
"Oh. Otay," Harley replied, having been frowning in concentration, trying to pick. Nathan easily shelled out the gold required and then hefted Harley up on his hip.
"I have a feeling we'll be seeing each other again, Miss...?"
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Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2010 10:20 pm
Switch accepted the payment, giving any necessary change and putting the money box away. It was nice to deal with someone so...calm about this. Sure there were plenty of people who were calm about it, but thus far nobody had made a trip to the shop that resulted in a second Curio child! He was taking it very well, she could tell she was going to like this one a lot.
"Switch. My name is Switch Gear. Nice to meet you, Mr...?" She trailed off, extending a hand to offer a handshake.
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Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2010 10:22 pm
"Nathan," came the reply with an accompanying hand-shake, "Nathan LaTure. Too French for most tongues, so Nathan is fine." He released his grip and shifted slightly, waving and smiling as he backed into the door to open it.
"G'bye, then. I'll be sure to bring him in. Or her, I guess. Good luck with the little ones. Wings, those can get dangerous."
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