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 Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 11:49 am
It was early on in his youth that Paxton had decided to make things right with everyone. Let's face it, as a child...he was perhaps a tad angry, not to mention rude. Being older now, Paxton had grown up to see the error of his ways. Instead of an insecure little fledgling, he was turning into a joyous, bubbly...love happy bird brain. Yes, no longer irate he was filled with love...perhaps a little too much love. You see, the child was still struggling with the concept of what love truly meant, needless to say he didn't quite have the full picture being raised in a household of heathens.
Obscure picture or not, Paxton knew one thing, he did want people to love him. That meant everyone, especially those whom he had hurt in the past. This included Etain. So far he had made peace with everyone else, Keanu, Mr. Orpehous, Gabby...the unicorn was the only one left now to consul. But what to do?
Paxton was already standing upon the front door step of the little fellows house, and it was just now he realized...he didn't know how to apologize. He had baked a cake for Orpehous....but somehow he didn't think Etain would like cake. Keanu had been all to willing to forgive, and Gabby well...she was just Gabby, that didn't count! But what was he going to do?! The lovebird had already knocked on the door. With a panicked chirp Paxton ran back a few steps until he found a small little flower on the ground. With a fierce tug he had pulled it out and was speeding towards the front door 'Please don't open the door until I get there...please don't open the door until I get there...' he panted in his mind. Just thank god that D-corp kept address listings of all the parents...other wise he might have never rain into Etain again.
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Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 12:00 pm
"Aughkdoorknockingsomeone!" Bang. Trip. Crash.
Etain watched with a sort of impassive lack of worry as his guardian went heads of heels, crashing through a stack of books that had been left at the bottom of the stairs and immediately becoming tangled in the rug they'd been sitting precariously on. Etain picked at his fingernails and swung his feet slightly back and forth from where he sat in a ladder backed chair shoved up against the hall's right wall.
"Etain?" Tovar croaked from the floor, fingers and toes wiggling slightly. Checking to make sure he wasn't mostly dead, Etain recognized cheerfully.
"Tovar?" he mimicked, not meaning anything bad by it. He quirked his head slightly to the side and shifted in his chair in an attempt to get a better look at his guardian on the floor.
"Could you...get the door?"
"I'm in time out fer throwin' paint on Mich'l."
"Yes, but -- here, you're officially out of time out."
"Y'sure?"
"Yes."
Etain hesitated moment before, shrugging, he launched himself off the chair and floundered off to the front door. He wasn't really worried about Tovar. Tripping and falling through stuff seemed to happen alot around here - which, considering the state of the house (despite Tovar's best efforts) wasn't really surprising. By the time Etain got to the door, it had been nearly a full minute since it had been knocked on first. He fumbled with the latch for a few seconds before, hooray!, the door popped open.
"Hellooo--aughk!"
Etain slammed the door shut, hair practically standing on end and eyes wide.
From where he was untangling his limbs, Tovar glanced up. "Who was it?"
"No one."
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Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 12:17 pm
One, two...Paxton managed to scramble up the third and last step to the front door just as it swung back on his hinges. Yes! He had done it...damn, running was hard work. He just wasn't meant for it. Considering all, Paxton lacked all major muscle and bone structure for things required on land. He was built for grace, for style, for poise! ...Just in the air of coarse.
Sitting up, Paxton straitened out his hair, and pulled up his shorts which were slipping down again. Looking good was a good 80% of getting people to like you, or at least it was what he had been told, and well...after all his experiences he didn't doubt it. Changing his expression from exhausted, Paxton straitened up and put on a beaming smile. "Etain!" Came his excited voice. Good! It was the little unicorn whom had answered the door...or erm briefly opened it.
Suddenly the smile melted away as the hinges swung shut. "NO---WAI-- ETAIN!" Paxton dropped the flower he was holding, as he tried to stop the massive thing from shutting on him, yet that only succeeded on getting a trapped finger. For a moment it was simply stunned silence which held the love bird...then came the pain. "AAAH! SHI--" He brought his other hand up to his mouth. As much as this hurt he wasn't about to ruin things and scare the child on the other side of the door even more. With a heart thumping slam, Paxton's wrist hit the door, eyes watering up "Etain! Please...open the door!.." Getting closer to tears now. It didn't help at all that his mother showed up moments latter behind him, hideous necklace resting around her throat and Marigold standing at her side.
"Paxton! What are you doing? You said five minutes...FIVE! I WANT TO GO SHOPPING!" The dragon too seemed annoyed.
"Y-yes..m'am.." Whimpered Paxton. Oooh, it was becoming tingly now.
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Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 12:29 pm
Tovar was almost entirely untangled by then, clearly suspicious. "Are you sure it was no one?" Considering the muffled screeching happening on the other side of the door... "Etain," he said slowly. "I think you've shut no one's fingers in the door."
Etain, still holding onto the doorknob firmly and looking utterly panicked, glanced so quickly to the doorjam it was a wonder he didn't give himself whiplash. He didn't see any fingers, but...well, the door had been a little hard to close all the way for some reason. This really didn't help matters, he decided. That boy already hated him - poked him with a stick! -, and shutting his fingers in the door definitely wasn't going to help.
"Tovar, I dun wanna--" he began. If it wasn't for the fact that Etain's face was naturally white as a sheet, Tovar would have remarked along those lines. Instead, the young man just moved to the door and carefully pulled Etain's hands away from the doorknob.
"You should apologize, Etain," he said, lips pursed. He clicked the latch and easer the door open, nudging the little boy into the opening.
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Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 12:51 pm
The first thing Paxton did when the door opened was remove his hand. "Aaaah...." with that stupefied but horror filled twinge, Paxton examined his poor fingers. Fragile bones...yes, he had fragile bones. Placing the pain to the back of his mind best he could he now looked at the little Unicorn whom stumbled before him. "Etaiiin---" the lovebird flinched and side stepped hiding his hand behind him.
He couldn't tell if he was hurt more from his fingers getting caught, or more at the idea that Etain was terrified of him. Cause the little fellow was, it was plain enough to see. So now where to begin? The brown eyes of the wary adolescent filkered from Etain's golden hair to the ground, and then back again. "I um--" a direct approach, don't doddle. "Came to say sorry." Paxton looked over hopefully, "I even brought you a flower but..." his voice drifted as he looked down to the squashed thing at his feet.
"Paxton!" The sharp female voice made the young teen flinch. "How many time--Eeee!" The blonde girl squealed as she caught sight of Etain. So it was this house they were visiting.
"Hey cutie!" She wasted no time in leaning down to pet at his soft head. "Have you gotten even more adorable since I last saw you?" She smiled sweetly and with that left Paxton standing uncomfortably in silence. Defeated.
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Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 1:21 pm
Etain's eyes remained settled on the ground, even if he was halfway on the doorstep with Tovar lurking in the shadows behind him, waiting for him to apologize. The blonde was clearly nervous: biting at his lip and fidgeting nervously, picking at his hands in a compulsive, uneasy fashion. B-but wait, was...was Paxton apologizing? Etain's ears twitched slightly, large brown eyes flickering up briefly to, for the first time, look the other boy in the face.
He recoiled immediately, heart leaping up into his throat, tail thrashing. He was so startled by the sudden, keen awareness of...of that, that he very nearly turned and pushed right past Tovar in an attempt to get back inside and away from the feeling. Far, far away. Come to think of it, he should have realized before hand. Something had felt wrong about the whole situation - or at least, keenly different - and now that he'd actually looked Paxton in the eye it was swiftly obvious just what it was.
Luckily (or unluckily), Etain's attention was caught by a familiar female voice and, oh, that felt nice. It didn't take much for him to forget, momentarily, about the discomfort the other boy's presence was causing in light of a nice pet. "H-hi," he managed, the stiffness sliding out of his shoulders and eyes going immediately half-hooded, much like a rather content puppy.
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Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 2:58 pm
Was that...was that a look of forgiveness Paxton had seen flutter across Etain's face? The boys feathers ruffled hopefully...oh wait, no, that was just disgust. His mistake, he should have known this wouldn't be easy. Etain was still as mad as ever at him.
Wings dropped slightly as Paxton began to see how hopeless this was going to all be. It wouldn't be so hard to take the disappointment except for the fact that here was mom in front of him succeeding where he was failing. A ripple of sour resentment pricked at Paxton. What was she doing here? All Ma' was doing was complicating things!
Paxton may have grown up into a sweetie, but the lovebird still had an angry streak. Things should be a certain way. He had made plans to make up with Etain and now they were going aerie. Pushing Naito to the side, he leaned down to rub behind one of the little boys ears. "I think your right Ma'...he has gotten cutter." The ebb of hostility rose in his voice as jostled his mother for the position of who would get to pet Etain.
Not to be outdone as always, Naito pushed her son back. "Yes...I'm always right---ops! Sorry little fella." The blonde had accidentally bumped her overly large heart-shaped necklace into Etain's nose. With a quick pat she then let go, relinquishing the role of touch over to Paxton. How embarrassing. "An how are you, daddy?" Noting Tovar now standing a few feet away from the door she smiled at her fellow parent. That was Etain's parent...right?
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Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 12:18 am
With a sort of horrified panic, Etain reached out sharply as Naito pulled away, trying in vain to catch her hand or something before she, she -- oh no. Getting brushed on the ear was bad enough, but this... With something akin to 'deer in the headlights' or 'watching a train wreck,' Etain stared up at Paxton with an expression so utterly cut out of fear, anxiety and utter discomfort, that it was totally clue the unicorn boy had absolutely no idea what to do with himself other than to stand there, staring, going progressively redder in the face (which looked mild interesting, considering his usual pale features).
Tovar started slightly at being addressed, gaze snapping sharply away from Etain -- so quickly, in fact, that he didn't have time to really register any difference in the way the boy was acting. Despite himself, his attention was momentarily drawn to the clunky heart shaped necklace hanging around the woman's neck. It was sort of hard not to notice...
It looks like you're staring at her chest, his brain pointing out merrily.
Making a strangled sound in the back of his throat, Tovar relocated the direction of his gaze to Naito's face. "Er, ah - fine, thank you. I-it's Tovar. And yourself? - How're you doing, I mean. Er."
Crash and burn? Quite. Still, he couldn't help cast a last glance to the necklace. It reminded him oddly of the sillouette pendant he'd found earlier in the week. In fact, he'd taken to wearing it (though, stuffed down the front of his shirt to avoid questions from Michael).
And then there was suddenly significantly less time for awkward small talk. Etain, with all the speed panic could breed, lashed out suddenly with both hands, shoving Paxton as hard as he could manage. The boy was bigger than him, but adrenaline and fear bred interesting behavior. Interesting enough that, immediately following that, Etain swung his head around and aimed. That long silver horn was quickly turned into an effective weapon -- or would have been had Tovar not caught the little boy and shoved him thoughtlessly back into the door. Etain's back thumped against the brightly painted wood, but if it had hurt he definitely didn't seem to notice.
"WHAT THE HELL?!"
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Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 9:07 pm
Far from Tovar's immediate angry, confused and paranoid reaction, Naito simply turned to her son now splayed out on the ground. "Paxton, what did you do now?" She sighed and folded her arms across her chest, cocking out her hip. It was a classic annoyed teenage look, except the child giving it to their parent, it was her the parent giving it to her child.
Paxton was with Tovar on this one. What the hell! What the hell indeed! The lovebird was panting as he tried to regain his bearings. One minute he had been lovingly stroking Etain and then---it was such a sudden shift. He couldn't remember the last time he had felt such an agressive and hate filled attack. It brought back memories of Laial, except that was just...well, now that he was older recalling the thing had just been gross. Oh, not to get the lovebird wrong, he had been told that tentacles could be highly...erotic things, but getting strangled by them had not been pleasant.
"I--" he faltered, "--I didn't do anything, Ma'" rubbing his butt where he had promptly fallen (Etain may have looked small but he was pretty strong, strong enough to catch Paxton off balance) the lovebird looked over to the small unicorn. Why? Why Etain, why? He knew Etain didn't like him but...an overwhelming feeling of failure and sadness filled the boy. It had been ages since Paxton had cried, but the tears badly wanted to come now.
Naito rolled her eyes. "Yeah right..." sweetly the blonde reached out a hand and squeezed caressed the trembling unicorns cheek, "...poor thing. You probably scared him with the way you dress. " Paxton gave a look that could shoot daggers, "...Take a look at yourself Ma', if anything he should be running from you." It was true...if Etain hadn't liked the way Paxton looked with all his skin showing off, well then he should have been terrified of Naito. Like her son, the Naito had a passion for clothing, or lack there of. Any passerby on the street could have easily mistook her for a hooker, with her short skirt knee high black lace up boots...visible mid-drift. "Besides I'm not the one with someone starring at my chest..." ironically enough it was the lovebird who had mistook Tovar’s staring, not Naito.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means pull down your skirt Ma'!"
"Pull up your shorts!"
"Besides," Naito huffed and brightly smiled at the man who by now was either thoroughly confused or perplexed, "He was just admiring my necklace. Who wouldn't?!" She grinned cheekily, "It's so cute!"
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Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2006 12:34 pm
Etain immediately took refuge against Tovar's hip, pressing his face against the scratchy material of the man's t-shirt. Within a few seconds the little boy's sniffle nose and watery eyes had gotten the best of him, and he was turning Tovar's shirt hem into a soggy mess - despite the comforting little pat from the woman (though - that did make him sniffle a bit less, and fill a bit better). Tovar, meanwhile, gawped like a trout, clearly at a loss as to what to say or do. At the time being, he was running Etain and Paxton's back over in his brain in an attempt to puzzle out what the hell had just gone on. He'd seen Etain's nervous around certain people before - didn't like them touching him, didn't look at them, didn't want to talk to them - but he'd never seen Etain attack anyone.
"Ah, er - I'm sorry about this," he managed finally, peeling Etain away from his shirt a few inches. The boy writhed, fingers finding purchase on the soggy fabric and clinging to it, clearly not wanting to be pulled away. "He's never done anything like that before. --Etain?"
The little boy wheezed emphatically, brown eyes focused stubbornly on his hands.
"Etain, you need to apologize. --And explain why you got angry."
The little boy squirmed. He didn't look at either Naito or Paxton when he spoke. "I'm sorry," he said at his hands. "H-he...was touching me. I don't like it when they do that." Something about the boy's tone seemed to indicate he wasn't talking about Paxton and Naito, but rather Paxton and the General Populous of People Who Made Him Nervous.
Tovar glanced briefly to Naito and then Paxton in turn. "Uh." Maybe...maybe a topic shift was in order, eh? "Would you two...like to come inside for lemonade. Or. Something? Maybe, er, we can get a better apology or explination figured out or something..." Besides, whether he wanted to admit it or not, Tovar was curious about that necklace.
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Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2006 11:21 pm
It? Just who was Etain talking about? Paxton wasn't an it he wasn't even in the populous of it! (As far as he knew.) Even though Etain was looking away while he mumbled out a half hearted apology, Paxton turned his head to the side in utter defiance. Etain had wounded the lovebird to the quick. Paxton sure was growing up fast, but when it came to many things he still acted like a child. He couldn't see that Etain was scared and hurt, all he could imagine was that the little boy was being a complete jerk. If he had been a bit more mature he would have realized that something...didn't quite add up.
"Oh please don't worry." Naito waved her hand, "You don't have to make him apologize, it was probably Paxton's fault. "
"I didn't do anything!" The lovebird hastily turned around a few tears splashing from his cheek. He wiped those up quickly and then returned to scowling. "All I did was say I was sorry for something that--well it happened along time ago. Then he suddenly gets up and tries to shank me like a sis kabob, I--" Paxton stopped and buried his head into his lap. What was the point of trying to argue?
The mother sighed, ears perking up at the mention of Tovar's offer. Shifting, Naito looked over at her watch, "Welll~ I was planning on going shopping. Shoe sale going on in Durem and all, but lemonade does sound lovely! Doesn't it Paxton? " Not really waiting for a reply she grabbed her son by the back of his shirt and began to promptly invite herself into Tovar's home. "Oh my, I really love what you've done with the place--"
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Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2006 11:29 pm
"Erk," said Tovar as he recalled the state of the house. Too late now though. "It uh. A little messy."
Messy was an understatement. The two, Tovar and Etain, navigated the piles of junk (and books - books were never] considered junk in this household, thankyouverymuch) like expert seamen in shallow water. "The kitchen's back this way," Tovar motioned down the hall, nudging Etain in that direction as he self consciously snapped up a few things off the floor, muttering under his breath about 'damned houses,' and 'always moving things.'
The kitchen was, surprisingly enough, fairly clean. At least, all the knick knacks were stuffed into one corner rather than overflowing into the whole room. Etain, eager to get away from Paxton, scrambled up into a chair at the far side of the table and hoped explicitely that the other boy would sit as far away as possible. There was a large, ugly looking - HUGE - painting hanging on the wall opposite of the stove, but otherwise the room was fairly pleasant in comparison to the utter clutter of the rest of the house.
Tovar was already elbow deep in the small refridgerator box as Etain seated himself, looking at the top of the table and chewing his lower lip nervously. Ugh. The unicorn shuddered, rubbing his goosefleshed arms anxiously.
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Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2006 11:53 pm
Naito had been dead serious when she said she loved the place. Unlike most woman who craved the clean, Naito craved the clutter. Unfortunately her house most of the time was spick and span due to the several other members whom lived there. Ugh. So sterile...so clean...so lifeless...but not this place.
Oh--Ah! Oh gods! Paxton side stepped a pile of books that seemingly appeared out of thin air. This place was a death trap waiting to happen. Brown eyes darted side to side looking for all the exists, cause truth be told, he didn't think he would be able to make it to the front door in time if there were a fire. Gah, fack! The lovebird side tripped over a big mound of stuff and...omg, did something just move in the corner? He shuffled quickening his pace.
In the kitchen it was a bit better. On the way over Paxton had hoped that the unicorn might have calmed down a bit, but with the way he distanced himself Paxton just decided a seat at the end of the table would be best.
Ebbing her way along Naito found a comfortable spot somewhere in-between the two and sat her self down. "Aaah, so nice, " she closed her eyes smiling happily. "I love my shoes...but they kill me sometimes, yaknow? " Leaning over the table she rested her elbows on top and cradled her chin in her hands. Then with a small smile on her face she passed the time by watching Tovar busy himself.
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Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 5:37 pm
The start of Tovar's reply was muffled by the refridgerator, only becoming apparent when he straightened up bearing a chilled pitcher of lemonade in one hand. "--unfortunately, not so much. I'm afraid my experience with heels hasn't exactly been extensive. Etain," he said, glancing to the little boy. "Where'd you put your cup from earlier?"
The little boy's answer was little more than a mumble, but in the way of most parents Tovar seemed the decipher it reasonably well, fishing into the sink and pulling out the brightly decorated plastic cup. He snagged a towel off the rack, cleaning it out absently before setting it on the counter and moving to dig through the cabinets in search of another round of glasses.
Etain, meanwhile, kicked his feet absently back and forth: head down and fingers picking uneasily at the surface of the rough wooden table. Clearly, he wasn't too keen on conversing, with either Tovar (who he seemed to have made angry) or Paxton (for obvious reasons). He did after a stretch of silence - filled only by the clink of glass and the 'bwoopbwoop' of pouring Lemonade - glance to Naito though, examing her necklace shyly.
"I like your necklace," he said shyly, tinkering with the charm bracelet he wore on his wrist. It too had a pink heart pendant, though it was alot smaller. "Tovar got a new necklace when he was walking. It's got a deer on it."
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Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 6:58 pm
Lovely pink lips turned down slightly, it was sad that men couldn't share in the joys of shoe shopping. It was times like these she wished she had magical shoe shopping fairy powers. You know, use a little magic--BAM! Put a nice pair of stilettos on Tovar's feet, then he would see how cute his toes looked in the fetching pair of sandals. ...Sigh.
If Paxton had known what was going through his mothers mind, he probably would have blurted out, 'See! This is why you aren't married yet.' The boy probably wouldn't have been pushy about this issue either except for the fact that he really wanted a father. Still a little wish from childhood of his. He had Yahto, but--but, it wasn't the same.
Yet, the lovebird was too gloomy to care or pay attention to anything at the moment. Sitting at the table was giving him time to think about the previous events. He kept running the situation over and over again in his head, but he couldn't figure it out. Why had Etain tried to stab him? Ah--Paxton sighed and flopped his head against the table dropping his arms. So stupid, he would probably be brooding over this for days.
In the meantime, Naito had perked right up with the compliment. "Thanks!" She waved one hand while placing the other on her cheek in a 'Oh really, this old thing?' gesture. "The lady I got it from said it was really special or something, spouting off nonsence about dreams and changes--but I don't really believe all that." Silly woman, she had just liked it so she bought it. When it came to magical artifacts, Naito was not a beliver. Yes, she knew magic existed, and she knew that Paxton someday would be learning it. But really now, how did a necklace change into a child?
" You wanna try it on?" She smiled as she undid the clasp and handed to Etain. "I bet it would look cute on you--and really your dad has a necklace? " Naito turned her beaming gaze to Tovar. "Really now Tovar, I didn't take you as the type of guy to find an interest in jewelry, may I see? "
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