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 Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 4:17 pm
Zack sighed, allowing Osha to lead him down the stairs to the garden. Bloody garden and its bloody maze-like ways. Arm in a sling, the man really didn’t want to venture back into the hedges. He’d gotten the last time he’d taken Osha in there to play and running around like an idiot didn’t really suit his fancy at the time being. Given, the last adventure wasn’t bad; he met new people, Osha made a new friend (at least, he assumed he did…he did save poor little Elisa from the log) and it was a beautiful day…but still.
Osha, on the other hand, couldn’t wait to get outside. Sure, it was a little warm, but that didn’t bother the boy. Zack’s sleeve in one hand, a box of crayons and a notepad in the other, he pulled his guardian along to his favorite spot. There were flowers out, you see. Flowers were full of color and thus, the perfect thing for him to draw. Besides, he needed to take Zack outside for a while. He’d been rather grouchy since the whole grilled-cheese-gone-up-in-flames-and-sent-Zack-to-the-ER incident. Maybe fresh air and blue skies would do his guardian good. It always made him feel better, anyways.
Having reached his destination, Osha released Zack and looked up at him, making sure to have the man’s gaze before speaking. “I draw these.” He pointed to the flowers. “You stay here. No sleeping.” And with that, he sat himself down in front of a rosebush and plucked out some crayons, ready to go to work.
Zack sighed, nodding to his son as he spoke. God. What was he supposed to do with himself out here if he couldn’t sleep? Hell, his arm was burned as burned could get! He frowned at the thought, shuffling over to the nearest tree and plunking himself down to sulk. Bloody kitchen. Bloody sandwich. Bloody hell, he just failed at domestic skills, didn’t he?
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Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 4:37 pm
Mm...where had her ball gone again? Ina's tail twitched as she crawled through the dark bushes, searching for her lost toy. Momma had taken her to the garden today, which was fun, except...her ball sure liked to roll away! And it had gone right under some giant flower bushes. It was funny, the bushes looked a lot different when you were under them. They weren't as green and there were little brown twigs everywhere. She blinked her golden eyes, able to see quite well in the shadows and finally caught sight of her ball. "Hehe! Found you!" she cried, snatching at her ball. Which tipped her over and sent her tumbling out of the bush and into the sunlight. When she peeked her eyes open she realized that she had landed upsidedown...and only a few feet from a familiar face. "OSHA!" she cried happily, her tail wagging in the air.
Ari could usually tell when she was being stretched too far with stress. And she had felt like that the last few days. So today she had decided to get outside in the fresh air and maybe do something a little relaxing. Luckily Ina liked the outdoors, so Ari had seen no problems in bringing her along. Instead of going to their usual spot in the front of the compound Ari had taken them to the gardens with nothing but a pencil and her small sketchpad. And once Ina had seemed to find a spot she had wanted to play in she had looked for a place to settle as well. Which happened to be way up in a rather nice tree. Hearing voices, she turned her head and looked down from where she sat. She could see Osha and....Oh, there was Zack, his gaurdian. She smiled a little, looking down at her fellow gaurdian. "Well, I see who runs your family," she teased good-naturedly.
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Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 4:50 pm
Osha was deep in thought, studying and sketching, studying and sketching. Drawing so many colors took quite a lot of effort you know, so he had to focus fully on the task at hand. He hadn't heard any of the noise until someone squealing his name jarred the poor boy from his thoughts. Jolting, he practically snapped his crayon in two. Wait a second...he knew that voice! He glanced over, spotting Ina on the ground next to him. He smiled at his friend and waved a hello. Wonder why she was here today. Silly question. Why wouldn't she be here today? It was a perfect day to come out and play!
Zack started dozing off despite his child's orders. The noise blaring through his headphones was switched from head-banging rock n' roll to soothing guitar music. The man felt his eyelids start to get heavy. Maybe if he only closed them for just a wee second, yes. He could stay awake. He'd only be resting...his...
Ari's arrival was a rather fortunant turn of events, or Zack could've expected the silent treatment for the rest of the night...or, at least until dinner. Sensing the change in light, green eyes fluttered open, revealing a woman standing above him. The guardian blinked, mind working at a sluggish pace as he struggled to decipher the movements of her lips. ...running in the family? What? He wasn't actually related to Osha...she'd know that. Frowning, Zack sat up, running a hand through unruly hair. "Umm...yeah..." he muttered. When in doubt, say yes. It works a good fifty percent of the time. "So...uh...how you been, Ari?"
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Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 5:05 pm
Ari noted his uncertainty about her comment. Well, obviously her attempt at a joke and light-hearted conversation had failed. "Sorry...just a figure of speach," she answered, looking a little more distant this time. She didn't know Zack all that well and when it came to people she was unfamiliar with she was a little more on the shy and reserved side. She just couldn't help it. She moved and sat down to his left, on the other side of a rather gangly tree root, "Things have been...busy. But alright." She wasn't going to burden him with her stress, that was hardly fair, "What about you?"
Ina pushed herself over and then stood up, carrying her ball with her. "Whatchya do'n?" She asked, peering at Osha's paper curiously. Her tail stopped moving and she watched him attentively. She really did seem to want to know what the colorful boy was up to. But then...she always wanted to know what was going on.
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Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 5:28 pm
Zack watched as the woman sat next to him. Damnit, now he felt bad. It wasn't her fault he was in such a rotten mood. He sighed, tapping the headphones covering his ears. "Sorry. Can't really hear with these on. Lip-reading." Funny. He thought they'd had this encounter before...or maybe that was Gavin's mother. Ug. She was a real treat, that one. He shrugged at her next question. "Failing anything and everything the domestic gods and goddesses hurl at me," he responded wryly, holding up his bandaged arm. "I had an unfortunate encounter with some grilled cheese the other day." Damn. He must sound like such an idiot.
Osha watched his friend, offering up his little notepad when she inquired after his activities. "Drawin'," he replied happily, more than eager to show off his artwork. He thought his rose pictures were pretty spectacular, to be honest. "Like it?" It only mattered when someone else liked it, though.
Hey, there was an idea! "Draw too?" he asked, motioning to his large box of more than enough colors. Two children could certainly be satisfied. He flipped his rose picture to the side and ripped out a blank page, handing it to Ina. And while she drew, he could draw her! It was perfect! It might be a little hard, he'd never to draw someone with so many pretty colors before, but he really wanted to try it out.
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Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 5:37 pm
"Oh I see...I didn't realize you had them on," she said apollogetically. She then wavered between wanting to laugh and offer ther condolences...and ended up doing a bit of both. She smiled, though her eyes flickered with concern, "Grilled cheese? Oh dear...you didn't hurt yourself too badly, did you...?" She knew how it was to be injured but...it was usually quite different for her. She hurt herself quite often when she attempted shifting. For one bone or muscle out of place and you could be in a sling for weeks.
"Ooooo, their so pretty!" Ina squealed happily, clapping her hands together. Osha drew such pretty pictures! Just like momma. Momma drew lots and lots of pictures, though she liked to draw animals instead. Her ears perked visably as his offer and she grinned widely, "Yes yes!" She plopped down next to him, forgetting her ball completely, and took a crayon and began to draw to the very best of her ability. Which wasn't too wonderfully. She wasn't an artist like Ari or Osha, apparently.
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Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 5:53 pm
Zack blinked as Ari apologized to him. Usually, he'd be chewed out the instant someone realized he had music on while they were speaking to him. In fact, he thought may prefer it that way...now he felt obligated to take them off. Sighing, the guardian did so. "Oh yes. Grilled cheese," he said with a sage nod, leaning against the tree. He must sound so inept. "Eh. It's not too bad. I had to go to the ER, though." He hardly recognized the sound of his own voice. Damn, it sounded so strange. "On the brightside, Osha learned the importance of emergency phone numbers," he added, smiling despite himself. It was just impossible for Zackary to sulk for too long.
Osha beamed, practically glowing with pride as Ina praised his artwork. Oh, yay. He'd have to draw a picture just for her, sometime. People seemed to really like it when he made drawings that were exclusive and what not. He settled down to draw his next picture, studying Ina silently before finally putting a purple crayon to paper. Lavender, to be exact. He'd work through Ina's shades of purple as he got there. He didn't mind working in silence either, peering over his notebook every now and again to observe his new subject.
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Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 6:06 pm
"Ohhh, the joys of the E.R.," Ari shook her head. She had a strong dislike for the place. Not because of those who worked there, just because of how painfully long the process was unless you were dying. "Did you get in quick or did they make you wait around all night...?" she asked curiously. She recalled an instance having a broken arm from a attempted bird transformation-had taken her 6 hours just to get in and see an actual doctor who and finally confirmed the obvious that yes, it was in fact, broken.
Ina hummed a little as she drew, kicking her feet back and forth in the air. She kept taking crayons and putting them back, using lots of colors. She was going to draw all her friends, yep! She took orange and drew Gavin with his softies and then put it pack for pink for Haki. Because Haki loooved pink, she'd make her pink in her drawing! This made her giggle. She didn't realize she was the subject of Osha's artwork.
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Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 6:28 pm
Zack agreed whole-heartedly. He hated anything that had to do with doctors and needles and anything of that sort. Ug. Even the smell of the ER gave him the shivers. "Well, I got sent in the afternoon, but I was home in time for dinner...not that I made it or anything." Oh hell no. "I...think poor Osha's gonna get sick of pizza and takeout sooner or later." He couldn't help but look a little ashamed. A grown man, couldn't even make his own meals unless it was pre-cooked and only required a microwave. "'fraid I might give the poor kid food poisoning, or something!"
Osha started humming to himself, flipping red bangs out of his eyes. Hmm. Time for some of the darker purples. It took Osha a while, but when he was finally satisfied with what he was drawing, he plucked a tomatoe red from his box and scribbled his signature on the bottom of the page. Just like the real artists you see. "Ina!" He offered up his sketch pad again. "Lookit!"
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Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 6:37 pm
Ari didn't seem to think it was so odd. Nicki couldn't cook to save his life either. It was just something some people needed to practice more then others. Doing her own laundry? When she had first done it she had messed up so many times much of her clothing had been ruined. It had taken her a while to finally remember all the steps and make sure she got her cloths out intact. "Well, you probably just need some practice. I could help sometime, if you like? I'm no expert, but I can cook a decent meal," she offered in a friendly fashion.
One of Ina's ears twitched in his direction and then she turned her head, blinking her yellow eyes. Her tail began to wag bag and forth suddenly her eyes twinkling as she smiled, "Ooooooo~! Osha, that's so pretty!" She wiggled where she lay on her stomach, looking thrilled, "It me, it me?!"
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Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 12:26 pm
Zack's whole face lit up as she offered a cooking lesson. "Really? You would do that?" That would be so entirely awesome. He shifted to a more attentive position, ignoring the twinge in his bandaged arm. "That would be...would be...that would be awesome!" Yes Zack. Sentences are good. The man was positively gleeful at the preposition. Even Killian never offered to teach him how to cook...she just made him a meal and sent him on his way. Not that he ever complained, at the time, he hadn't realized cooking was a 'life skill'. "I have to warn you though, they consider me a hazard to myself and others..." She needed to know what she was getting herself into.
Osha beamed again, nodding vigorously as she inquired to its subject. He tore the page out and handed it to her. Now this was the kind of reaction he's always wanted. "For you!" he informed her happily. "You're pretty. So I draw you too!" Well, maybe pretty wasn't the right word. She was very colorful. Very purple. Like lilacs during sundown. Yes, like that. That was Ina.
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Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 12:43 pm
Ari laughed, flattered that he was so excited. She thought maybe he'd be pleased at best since...well she didn't find the offer that big of a deal. But aparently it was to Zack. That only made her more happy to do it. "Sure, I'd be more then happy to," she nodded, smiling fully, shyness seeming gone for the present. "And you can't be all that bad...accidents to happen." And she was sure she'd have seen worse problems before. She recalled Nicki burning water one time. She wasn't exactly sure how in the world that was possible but he had done it. She had told him to keep his skills working out in the stables instead.
Ina hugged the picture to her chest gently, her tail trashing back and forth with pure joy. Her face flushed with excitement. Osha was so amazing! "I love you Osha!" she gushed, remembering the first thing that momma usually phrased her with. She then jumped to her feet, running over to the two adults holding her picture proudly, "Momma look! Osha drew me! Me!" She left her own drawing on the ground, forgotten.
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Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 4:02 pm
Excellent. This was excellent. He beamed. "Thanks so much," he murmured, still in a bit of awe someone was actually willing to risk life and limb to teach him how to prepare food...without accidently poisoning himself or guests. He needed to think of some way to thank her for this! "Hey, why don't we do dinner tonight? We can go out." Because honestly now, Zack didn't think he could face the kitchen so soon after his near fatal accident. Okay. So not near fatal. But it sure has hell felt like it. "My treat, of course." Though he may be incapable in the kitchen, he could also be a gentleman when the need arose.
Osha watched his friend, tucking a strand of red hair behind an ear, nodding as she spoke. ...wait...what did she just sat? He blinked, sitting stunned as she padded off to show her mother her new prize. What...was he supposed to say to something like that, exactly? Huh. He glanced down, scooping up the forgotten picture and carrying it over to Ina. "Dropped this."
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Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 4:17 pm
That sounded really nice. Ari needed a night out, after all the stress she'd be under lately. Besides, Ina would love going out to eat with her friend. "Sure, that sounds wonderful," Ari said cheerfully, "Though I'm not so old fashioned that I can't pay for my own meal and Ina's if you like." Hearing "momma", which was obviously refering to her, she turned her head and saw what Ina was carrying. She looked rather surprised. That was pretty good for a toddler. "Wow, Osha drew that?" she said sweetly in a far warmer voice that was for the benefit of both toddlers, "That's really good Osha! You're quite an artist."
Ina was giggling happily and was so distracted for a moment that it took her a bit to notice Osha was bringing her picture. "Oh!" She chimed, blinking her golden eyes and smiling, "Yes! You want? It me, you, Haki, and Gavin!" The four of them, friends! After all, she couldn't forget how they had all played together that one day. And how she had played with all of them separately after that too.
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Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 4:33 pm
Zack chuckled a little, running a hand through black hair. "Yeah, yeah, I'm sure. But since you're doing me a favor with the cooking thing and all, I figure paying for dinner is the least I can do." He followed Ari's gaze over to the children, watching quietly. Osha drew that? Zack glanced over at the boy in disbelief. Boy. He didn't realize the six-year-old was that artistically talented. Sure, he was drawing all the time and any sort of coloring object overjoyed him...but damn. He turned to look at the redhead. "You did that? Wow."
Osha glanced down at the picture, really looking at it for the first time. He glanced back up and Ina and nodded vigorously. He knew just where he could put it in his room. "Thank you!" he replied, finally remembering his manners. He looked up at Zack expectantly, pleasantly surprised to see that his guardian's foul mood had vanished. Well, a trip outside really did the trick, didn't it? He glanced over at Ina's mom before looking at Zack again. "We draw for you too, if you want."
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