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 Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 7:48 pm
Paperwork.
That was the best way to distract himself, Hadrian had come to realize; don't bother to go home, just stay in the office and sleep there...his cot was finally getting some use. The last time -
He stopped himself; he didn't want to go there.
But today, he was sitting outside while he waited for the new guardian. Haki's new guardian...the mage still felt too tangled up to really contemplate that too deeply; he didn't want to think about it.
So he wasn't.
Sitting on the steps outside the labs, as he awaited the new guardian to show up, he even had a clipboard and some paperwork with him then. Even with the day as nice as it was, he wanted to keep himself distracted.
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Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 2:29 am
********. Just who did that man think he was, hiring her as a nanny? She was a body guard, she guarded bodies-- and the last she checked, some rich man's little orphan Annie wasn't on the list of bodies she had the guard. What was the most that could happen to her, a Sesame Street ******** lips curled in a sneer as she looked up and down the buildings in front of her, the cigarette balanced precariously between her lips. It was unlit, but that didn't stop the trail of smoke leaving her lips.
God, as long as she wasn't expected to clean the kid's diapers, or anything. How long did human hatchlings poop in their clothing anyways? Back where she was from, babies had the decency to stay in dragon form until well into childhood. Until they were old enough to fetch for themselves.
Crud.
Money. Yelena knew it was the money that had dragged her into all this, and as she spotted the man sitting on the steps, she shook her head. It had been such a pretty amount-- and there was more to come, as long as she kept the brat alive.
"Hi." And was this who she was supposed to meet? Unless this was the kid. Huh. That'd be quite fun.
"Are you one of the mages, or something? Or are you my new kid?"
Yeah. Well, it could happen. Maybe this group of humans aged quickly.
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Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 4:42 am
Kid?
For a moment, Hadrian was completely dumbfounded. She thought he was a kid? He didn' even know how to respond to that, and it took him a few moments to do anything except stare.
"...no. I'm Hadrian, one of the mages."
However he'd imagined this meeting going, he hadn't imagined it would start this way.
"The child is Haki - she said she'd be in the gardens," And while Haki was a child, he wasn't about to force her to wait with him. It wasn't like she could get into trouble in the gardens, anyway.
"You are Miss..Yelena, correct?"
Adjusting his monocol as he stood up, he composed himself. He took a moment to appraise Yelena then, slipping his clipboard under his arm; she'd probably be wanting to see the girl.
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Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 7:36 am
Yelena blew out a snort in response, smoke curling from her nose in an echo of amusement. "Miss? I haven't heard that one in a long time." slipping the cigarette behind one ear, she nodded her head. "Yeah, I'm the one thats supposed to make sure the kid stays on track."
Or something like that. She knew for hell that she probably didn't make the more reassuring of images. Black skirt, gray tank and a tattoo that played hide and seek over her back. "Mages, is it? Magic?"
She bared her teeth in a smile. "I like magic." Funny, how that didn't seem reassuring at all.
The kid. Right.
"Might as well get this over and done with then." she said, nodding her head. "Where is this Haki, and what is she doing in the gardens?" Don't say she'd ended up with one of those peace loving hippie styled children? Or something with a green thumb? She hated plants.
Nasty allergy to most of them.
"She know I'm coming?"
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Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 1:01 pm
Yelena was right; Hadrian definintly wasn't too reassured by her. From her comment about magic, to her general appearance...she couldn't be farther from what he had expected.
He began walking towards the gardens then, expecting Yelena to follow.
"She told me should would be in the gardens; I'm not sure what she wanted to do there."
If it was him, he'd be nervous about meeting his new guardian - he was nervous as it was, and he wasn't even the child! He still thought it was too early for this, that they should try other methods and spend more time to locate Marc, but...
Well. Simple mathematics made it pretty clear that his opinion alone couldn't win. So he'd continue his own ventures in looking for the man, while the others had located a new guardian.
Hadrian wasn't going to let one of them introduce her to Haki, though - he owed her that much. And he wasn't liking what he saw of this new guardian, so far. Where on earth did Dacian find them?!
...but then again, he hadn't liked Marc when they first met, either.
Entering the gardens (the sheer amount of foilage blocked one from being able to see the area easily), he called out.
"Haki?"
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Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 9:07 pm
"Mom, I'm over here."
For a moment, Yelena freaked out as she wondered if the brat had already decided to call her by That Name. But then seeing the blonde head peek out over the side of a plant, the green eyes missing her entirely, she realized it was the mage who was being labeled.
Mom?
Then the green eyes turned to Yelena, rather sharp, astute green eyes for a child, and they hardened.
"You're not going to be my guardian." she stated quietly. "I don't care what they say. I'm waiting for my daddy to get back, and when he does, he's going to kick your a**."
The sheer confidence and arrogance to the words had the bodyguard's lips quirk into a smile. "Listen kid, that makes two of us. I'm just as unwilling as you are." and with this she turned to look at Hadrian.
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Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2007 4:40 am
When the mage opened his mouth, the first words out were instinctive; he didn't even have to think about it, and already he was scolding. One could tell he'd been around the girl a lot.
"Language, Haki."
Hadrian winced at his 'title', remembering when Marc had first convinced Haki to start calling him that; at least it wasn't as embaressing now. Maybe he was getting used to it?
"Regardless, Haki...you need someone to watch you while we search."
More like while Hadrian searched; the other two had already decided to simply pick a new guardian. to Hadrian, Yelena was merely temporary; because he was going to find Marc.
He didn't know where the man was, but he had some suspicions and worries about the reason for leaving without a word, and that was enough to give him a starting place.
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Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2007 6:37 am
Haki wrinkled her nose at Hadrian's words, but seemed to behave. The words placated her, and she nodded her head. "Alright. But I'm not calling her mom."
The girl had backbone, that much Yelena could see-- and it was going to be trouble. Admirable? Maybe in a comrade, but not in a brat she was supposed to take care of. Sensing that there probably would be a lot of clashes, Yelena looked straight at the mage.
"Search?"
All she understood was that the last guardian was gone, the kid too young to be left alone and she was needed to play mother hen for a decade. So this, regardless, was news to her.
Search?
That was an interesting word to use. And one that didn't fit to what she understood. "Is this girl in trouble then?"
"Haki." Haki stepped closer to Hadrian. "You call me Haki."
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Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2007 1:18 pm
"No, I believe Haki will be fine.."
Haki should be fine, if Hadrian's suspicions were correct...at least, he thought she should be fine. For all he knew, he could be completely off track - but the one thing he did know, was that Marc would never just abandon Haki and run off without warning. Something had to have happened.
Now if only he could convince the others of this, they wouldn't be dealing with Haki getting a new guardian.
Who seemed to be wondering about his 'search' comment. So he turned to the woman, and explained.
"I...have reason to believe that Marc didn't simply leave; I'm looking into it."
A simple explanation, because he was not going to go into it with a stranger. Even if this woman was Haki's guardian for the meantime; in his mind, it was just temporary.
He offered a slight smile to Haki then, and a good natured warning.
"Don't give her trouble, Haki."
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Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 5:16 am
Yelena's expression eased and she nodded. She didn't want to get into too messy, because then it would have been more than she had bargained for. "If that's it then." she said easily enough.
If the father had just upped and left, it wasn't her business. And if there was more drama behind it than the norm... well, it was less her business. What did she care anyways? As long as it didn't interfere with her raising the kid.
Raising. Kid. Right.
Her expression shifted as she turned a cautious expression down towards the brat. Don't give her trouble? Trouble? As if sensing the more or less malevolent expression turned her way, Haki looked up and smiled. Beamed, like a child in a candy store.
Yelena didn't like this. At all.
"Make trouble?" she giggled, turning silky eyes words the mage. "Mommy, you know I'd never do such a thing."
Hah. Right. So Yelena had ended up with one of these?
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Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 3:12 pm
Feeling the corners of his mouth twitching, Hadrian simply shook his head. Haki...she was a sweet child, but he had noticed that she had difficulty accepting some things. He had worries that she would make it harder on Yelena that neccessary, since she didn't want a new guardian.
His thoughts turned to something else then, and he hesitated.
"...will you be wanting to live on the compound? We don't require guardians to pay rent for the apartments."
There were four buildings to choose from - but he wasn't sure where she'd want. Or...would she want Marc's apartment? That was Haki's home, after all, so it made sense.
But that felt - off, somehow; someone else moving in would make it seem like Marc was never going to return.
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Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 3:01 am
Move in, here? Right. Give up her own place? "What do the apartments look like?" she asked somewhat suspiciously. If they were bigger, better-- well, no harm in investing in the future! And free rent sounded terrific. Not that Yelena had money worries.
Well. Not really.
"Move?" Haki seemed mildly alarmed at the idea of giving up her home. Or leaving in face. "Hadrian." she said, exasperated in the way only children grasped. "Then when daddy comes, and the house is empty what are we going to do?"
Silly mom, really. Didn't the man understand that her daddy just had some important emergency he had to take care of, but that he'd be back really quickly with presents and apologies? Sure this had never happened before, but she just knew this had to be the explanation.
Yelena's expression grew wary at the thought of some man barging into her new home claiming it as his own, and shook her head. No.
"She'll be staying with me, not on the compound." Yelena responded firmly, and frowned. "Besides Haki, you can leave a message, or something. I'm sure your father will understand."
Hah. What father?
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Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 8:58 am
"If that happens, Haki, I'll take care of it."
As much as he wanted to believe like her, Hadrian had a gut feeling that Marc wasn't goin to come home just like that. But at least Yelena solved the housing issue for him.
Although, the apartment above him being devoid of people would be hard to get used to, it would have been even harder to get used to a stranger being there.
"Alright...I believe that takes care of everything of great importance. Did you have any questions?"
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Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2007 12:34 am
Yelena shook her head, and frowned. "No,not yet." she answered, and looked over at Haki. "If I have any, I'll give you a call."
And stopped. Yeah. Phone number.
"I'll call you...." she started again, and Haki smirked.
Stupid new guardian.
"I have it, Yelena." she answered pertly, and nodding her head, snickered. "I'll give you a call if I have questions, Mom."
And Yelena scowled. Right. This was going to be fuuuuun.
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