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 Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2023 5:39 pm
Layn knew that he was pretty small for his age. He knew that there were lots of grownups who did all kinds of secret things for fun, and a lot of them never got caught. He knew he would also never get caught if he stayed where he was, on the bottom shelf between the big bag of rice and the umbrella they used on hot days at the beach. But when he was outside, under the blazing midday sun, he stuck out like a zore after a glitter fight. How was he supposed to do secret things when everyone was looking at him? From the darkened shelf, an exaggerated sigh whooshed through the silence of the kitchen.
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Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2023 6:12 pm
Xariy had known where her son was the whole time of course. While she was not out causing havoc and thieving like she used to, Xariy was still incredibly skilled at hiding when she didn't want to be found and noticing the signs of when someone else hid. She reached her hand down, brushing a reassuring hand over the top of Layn's head as she hummed softly. "What is it, my love? What can mama do to help you today?" Xariy asked softly, not wanting to push the boy if he didn't wish to confide in his mother.
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Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2023 7:44 pm
If he was surprised that Xariy knew where he was, the feeling didn't last long. Here was the one person who sneaked better than he did! Mama would definitely know how to solve his problem. The boy popped his head out past the edge of the shelf and smiled up at his mother, dramatic sighs halted for now. "How do you sneak? I can do it in here, but when I try outside, Nea always finds me." Everyone found him, but Linnea was the only one that mattered. If he was being honest, she was probably the real number two sneaker, just because of how quiet she was, but he wasn't being honest today and he was clearly the second best sneaker in the house.
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Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2023 8:00 pm
Xariy chuckled and sat down next to the boy in his hiding spot, running a hand over the back of her neck as she considered the question. Part of her method of sneaking definitely involved being fast, especially when it had come to snatching things from people, dear Kauff included. But she figured another aspect of it was blending in, really. "Well, love, blending in is a large part of it. And being able to move quicker than your targets," Xariy started, patting Layn on the shoulder. "Have you asked Nea how she's able to find you?"
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Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2023 11:42 am
"I haven't," Layn admitted. "But I thought it was 'cause I'm bright. It's hard to blend when you're red." He glanced at his mother's equally crimson hair. "I could get a hood! But what do you mean about being quick? Like, faster than people's eyes?" He imagined zipping from corner to corner, invisible until the moment he wanted to be seen. "That would be really cool."
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Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2023 1:24 pm
"Depends on where you are, love. Sometimes being red will help you blend in more, but for the times it doesn't help a hood is good. You want mama to get you one?" Xariy smiled, considering where she would obtain a hood for him. It would be relatively easy to obtain, and if she got one that tied off it could adjust to the quickly growing boy. "In a way, yes. Being faster than people's eyes. But not by having super speed. Just knowing where someone is focused or where there line of vision is, and dancing out of that line. Take your father for instance. When we were first meeting that's something that annoyed him. I was always moving around him to keep myself not fully in his sight. Makes taking things easier that way."Thieving 101 with Xariy and Layn wasn't something she'd expected to teach today, but she was still tickled by the questions he asked.
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Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2023 5:11 pm
"Yes, please!" He was reminded of the many times he had gathered one of his bedsheets over his head and run around wearing a surprise cloak. An official, mysterious one would be so much better, even if it was only the hood part. Layn took a second to ponder how his parents moved and Mama's words soon made sense. Zipping around Papa wasn't hard, but if you let him get close enough to grab you, you weren't ever getting free. He nodded. "I get it. You can be anywhere you want to be if people aren't looking at you the right way." He'd have to try it out sometime. With the problem of sneakiness put on hold until he could practice, he almost ran off to do just that before something she'd said stuck a hook in his thoughts. "You took things from Papa?" There was a smile in the boy's eyes, like he had uncovered a jewel in the yard.
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Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2023 7:34 pm
Uh oh she'd let that slip. She hoped Kauff wouldn't be too mad at the admission, Xariy thinking it was always better to be open and honest with the kids than to lie to them about anything. Besides, it didn't hurt anyone to be honest to them when lying in the long run would hurt them. "I've done many things to him. I took something from him, beat him up, all sorts," she laughed, looking over at Layn. Of the two kids he was most like her, his curious nature and need to sneak a reminder of how she was when she was little.
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Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2023 9:25 pm
Layn leaned closer, his full attention on his mother's reply. Stealing was one thing, but getting beaten up? He didn't think he'd want to hang out with someone who punched him. "So he liked being annoyed? Papa's weird." He shifted his weight, bringing his legs out straight in front of him and alternately flexing his toes. Left, right, left, right. "I guess I'm glad he did." Wait. "Do you still beat him up now?" Layn laughed, a soft punch of glee.
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Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2023 8:12 am
"Among other things. Your papa liked trouble, and I was a lot of that when we met," Xariy explained, reaching over and petting the top of his head. Trying to explain things to a child without being too vulgar was definitely a learned skill she was still trying to master. "I only beat him up now if he asks really nicely for it," she laughed, tapping him on the nose. "You'll learn about it more as you get older."
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Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2023 6:58 pm
"I guess so!" Layn didn't really get it, but that was okay. Sometimes it bugged him when adults said he'd see things differently when he grew up or understand something that didn't make any sense, but he wasn't bothered at the moment. This particular topic seemed way too confusing to analyze when all he wanted to do was play. He scrunched his nose where she tapped, rubbing at it a second later. "So when you're being faster than other people's eyes, how do you know where they're gonna look?"
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Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2023 4:46 am
"Well....it's a bit of a judgement game. People tend to favor spots they look, so watching their patterns before approaching is good. On top of that most avoid direct eye contact so if you can spook them by making eye contact with them most willingly look away from you," Xariy said as she watched Layn's movements. "For you it'd be easier on grown ups since you're still so cute and small," Xariy laughed, doting on her son more. "No one would expect you to be fast if they don't notice you to begin with."
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 6:00 am
He was quiet for a solid twenty seconds, going over the times he could remember being overlooked by distracted people and being surprised when he was snuck up on himself. Layn didn't know what that looked like on the outside, being far more familiar with the faces people made when they were delighted to see him. "Okay. I think I can do that." It would be hard, but he would try. After a few more seconds he added, "I bet I could even distract them with being cute." Of course, then he wouldn't be the one sneaking, but maybe that was okay sometimes. "I'd need a sneaky friend to sneak while I was distracting!"
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 4:59 pm
"Oh yes you're very cute it would make for a very good distraction," Xariy agreed, wrapping an arm around his tiny frame and squeezing him against her side in an affectionate hug. She liked talking to him like this, getting to teach him things in a way that used her old skills was fun. "You would need a sneaky friend! Maybe you'll meet one soon enough! Someone who can go and wander behind a target while you charm them with your amazing personality!" she said as she tickled his side.
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 6:43 pm
Layn could almost feel what was coming when he saw his mother's arm looming over him and he started giggling in anticipation of her hug a moment before it happened. When the actual tickles began he shrieked once, leaning away from her hands like a little worm as his laughter continued. "Maybe I will! We'll be the best sneakers in Oba!"He wasn't sure how he felt about the stealing, but maybe he would try it if this new friend could guarantee they wouldn't get caught.
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