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 Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 4:34 pm
Despite the fact that the air outside still bore a chill, Aiodhan somehow found himself outside, sitting on a park bench and cursing his luck. The dragon-man wrapped his jacket more firmly about himself, effectively pinning his wings to his back. He didn't mind the cold under normal conditions, really. But after having been outside for half an hour, he was ready to curl up next to something warm, preferably a heater. But with Dageus so happily occupied a mere ten feet away, Aiodhan was loathe to get up and drag the wolverine boy home.
For his part, Dageus was completely oblivious to the cold. His thick fur kept him well-insulated, and he barely even twitched when a cool breeze blew by. He was far too interested in the sandbox he was playing in. He had formed what seemed to be a reasonably fun and interesting game: form sand into a large pile, pick up his toy car, make appropriate vrooming noises, and then crash the little car through the sandpile until it was nothing more than a mere hill. It wasn't quite as much fun as trying to tackle trees or destroying anthills, but it was amusing nonetheless.
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Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 5:00 pm
"So, why've I got to carry this thing again?" Dorian held out the mop he was carrying, under protest, and shivered. Maybe he should have worn a proper jacket, but they were too far from home to turn back, and as long as he kept moving, he would be fine. Probably.
Denes smirked and rubbed the bouncing lump on his chest. "Because I've got Miri, and I don't want her to get hurt. I hope she's warm enough. It took some doing to get her into that sweater, but I don't think she minds now.
Perched in a thick pouch that dangled from her adoptive father's neck, Miri peeked her head and both arms out of the front and looked around actively. It was definitely warm enough, and with the dreaded sweater she was even too warm. In her mind, it was time to get out for a while. And what luck! They were in a pretty place with lots of trees- and sand! Spotting the patch of dirt not too far off, the joey forced her arms over the top of the pouch and tried to vault over and out.
"Whoa there, baby." Catching Miriyan before she could tumble out, Denes took the girl and untangled her, then after considering it, carried her over to the sandbox. It looked occupied, but hopefully the other kid would play nice.
As soon as she was within distance, Miriyan wriggled out of Denes' grasp and hopped shakily over the short lip of the sandbox, landing splayed in the sand.
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Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 6:07 pm
Just having finished a complete destruction of another sandhill, Dageus was prepared to begin construction on another when he heard strangers on the approach. Putting down his car, the wolverine boy glanced up and watched them approach. His attention was focused mainly on the small energetic thing, the one that tried to launch itself out of that stupid-looking pouch.
He was surprised when it hopped over the side and into the sand. While it was a furry of a species he didn't know, he did recognize it as a baby. He knew babies. Some were totally boring, and some, like his own younger brother, were perfect playmates and co-conspirators in matters of destruction.
Leaning forward a bit, he very carefully reached out a blunt-clawed hand to touch the other kid. "Hi?" he suggested hopefully.
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Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 7:40 pm
Picking Miriyan up out of the sand and helping her stand properly, Denes grinned and answered for the girl. "Hi. This's Miriyan, but you can call her Miri. You don't mind, do you?"
Miriyan used her tail to help keep balance, and once she was stable, hopped a bit closer to the big boy, smiling. She didn't make any noise, but she pointed one hand at the car that he'd been playing with, and cocked her head.
Yawning, Dorian dropped the mop with Denes and went to sit on a nearby bench. His brother could be such a softie when it came to kids.
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Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 7:49 pm
A bit bemused by this speechless infant, Dageus shook his furry head. He didn't mind. Not... that much. "Nuh. I'm Dageus," he replied, the response directed more at Miri than the large, strange man who was assisting her. He watched as she hopped closer. Weird. Why couldn't he use his tail like that?!
When she pointed at the car, he picked it up and held it out to her. "'S a car. You drive it over stuff," he said, not entirely sure whether she understood or not. She was kind of cute, though, in a weird and babyish sort of way. "And you wreck stuff with it."
Aiodhan chuckled at the wolverine boy's obvious bewilderment. Poor kid. He needed to hang out with his baby siblings more often.
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Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 7:58 pm
Eyes widening, Miriyan poked the car as if afraid it would shock her. When it didn't, she reached forward with both hands and pulled on it, still not sure what she'd do with it if she managed to get it to herself.
"Nice to meet you, Dageus. I'm Denes." As he spoke, his tail curled behind him, and despite the cold weather he almost looked like a cat perched in front of a fire. Except he was perched on the edge of a sandbox, talking to a kid and making sure his own didn't get in trouble.
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Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 8:17 pm
Despite an initial surge of hormone-induced territorialism, Dageus reluctantly released his hold on the toy car. A bit restless now that his car was in the other child's hands, he occupied both of his own with making another sandpile. Might as well be prepared for when he repossessed the car; there was no point in wasting time.
He glanced up at Denes, back at Miri, and then back up at the parent. "What is she?" he asked curiously without the slightest bit of tact, giving Miri's odd appearance an appropriately bemused look. Miri was a furry like him and Jacosa, though she did not fit any of the many definitions of animal-people that his childishly-limited intelligence could process. She was not otter or bear or dog or wolverine.
So far as he knew, anyway.
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Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 8:24 pm
When the car was held by both of them, Miri had taken to tugging it. The sudden release made the girl tumble backwards, until her oversized legs dangled over her head. But the prize was in her posession, which made up for any momentary shock. Rolling onto her stomach, Miriyan pushed the car into the sand, puzzling over how granules worked into its wheels and gears.
Momentarily offended, Denes relaxed when he realized what Dageus was asking. "A kangaroo. I'm not sure what kind, honestly, though I've been meaning to look into it." Embarrased over his lack of knowledge, he scratched the back of his ear and thought. "I haven't had her long, so I suppose there's still time to learn."
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Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 8:30 pm
Surprised by the force with which Miri flipped back over herself, Dageus was momentarily worried he'd done something wrong. Upon seeing that the girl was, in fact, unharmed and trying to figure out why sand and cars often collided, he relaxed a little. Good. He wasn't going to get totally busted for that. While he wanted the car back, he saw no point in taking it. That car had survived much abuse from things far worse than Miri and sand. That was why he continued making his massive sandpile, unbothered by her at the moment.
'Kangaroo' did give him a moment's pause. What was that?! She didn't look very dangerous, really, but living with a harmless-looking sister who was deadly with a sword had made him cautious. "What's a kangaroo?"
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Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 8:44 pm
Asking what a kangaroo was was like asking why the sky was blue. While he probably could have offered a general scientific explanation, Denes wasn't sure that the kid would understand. "Kangaroos are marsupials," he began slowly. Great, now he'd ask what a marsupial was. "They're mammals, like you and me, but with pouches. Except Miri's too young to quite have a pouch yet... but she's warm-blooded, and furry, like us. Sort of."
Unconcerned with the scientific talk- Miri didn't expecially care that she was warm-blooded, furry, or a marsupial- the kangaroo kid pushed the toy car through the sand, emboldened by the successes she'd had. It moved sand a lot easier than her hands did. It made her want to try pushing the car into something bigger- like the tower the big kid was making. Getting back onto her feet, she leaned forward and pushed the car towards the heap of sand.
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Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 8:49 pm
Nope, Dageus didn't understand. Well, he got the part about furry and warm-blooded, but the idea of a pouch was kind of weird. Why did they need a pouch? Was it like that pouch that she had been in before? Did she stay in it all the time? Why?!
Before he could pose a question about this whole pouch concept, he noticed that the car, guided by Miri, was making a beeline toward the sandpile. Ah ha! So she did know how to play this game! "You can push it faster, y'know. You're s'posed to knock it down!" he said happily, his furry tail waving about in his excitement. It should have dawned on him that she had no idea what he was saying, but really, he didn't care. "Like this!" he added, demonstrating by taking a swipe at the pile with one hand, knocking a bit off the side.
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Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 8:56 pm
The big kid was so big, he could knock part of the big tower off with just his hand! Miriyan quickly dropped the car and took a swipe at the pile, but it barely brushed the surface. Shaking her head, she grabbed the car again and pushed it forward. The car was superior to her hand in terms of sand moving.
Chuckling briefly at Miri's behavior, Denes eyed the toy car. "You like to demolish things, I see. Someone should get you a bulldozer."
Then again, he thought to himself, that might not be the best idea.
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Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 9:03 pm
Dageus gave a growling chuckle at Miri's attempt to knock off sand with her hand. If only she were wolverine and not this strange 'kangaroo' thing, she would have it so much easier. Claws were so useful. Then again, so was size.
"She could use one. Not me. Got claws," he added to Denes, proudly displaying them for the adult to see. "And I can tackle 'bout anything! 'Cept trees," he added, minorly disappointed by that failure on his part. No matter. He'd manage it some day. In the meantime, he needed to teach Miri the fine art of destruction. "Feet?" he suggested to the infant, digging a bit at the pile with his own feet.
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Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 9:26 pm
"I'm not sure I want her to have a bulldozer," Denes remarked, thinking of all the destruction a child could wreak with even just a toy one. "But I can see that you're probably a wrecking ball yourself." Hopefully Miri wouldn't turn out quite like that. He would end up running himself ragged as it was, having to patch up the house afterwards was too much.
Successfully burying the car inside the pile of sand, Miriyan yanked her hand loose and looked over at Dageus to see if he had more. Instead, he was doing something with his feet. Cocking her head curiously, she leaned forward again and started digging with her feet. It worked! Sort of. Except her digging into the sand was making the pile bigger, but Miri failed to notice that fact, too enraptured by the fun she was having.
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Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 9:47 pm
"But she's too small to wreck stuff on 'er own!" Dageus protested, not bothering to deny the fact that he was, in fact, destruction on on four clawed paws. Well, two clawed feet accompanied by two clawed hands, would be more accurate, but who cared?? "And I only wreck stuff outside, or Mum gets reeeeeeeally mad!"
That was, perhaps, the understatement of the year.
Dageus glanced over at Miri, then, trying to gauge her progress in this lesson. She seemed to be... well, not doing it quite the right way. Hmmm. Maybe it was time for a new tactic. Time to get messier! The wolverine got up on all fours and launched himself into the sandpile, careful to stay a respectful distance away from the infant in his efforts.
Unfortunately for his dignity, his efforts yielded nothing more than him becoming the pile, with a large amount of sand across his back, beneath his belly, and in his mouth. With his head and hands sticking out on one side and his butt, legs, and feet sticking out the other, he looked nothing short of ridiculous. But he was too busy spitting out sand to notice that.
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