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 Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2009 9:45 pm
“I got bored.” She lied, finding a beam to lean nonchalantly against as her expression turned to Vale.
Her arms reached to the sky as she filled her silence with a stretch. What was she supposed to say? There were too many things left unspoken to go talking about them all now. Even after her talk with Quinn… While she knew she had to say something… Just what was she supposed to say?
‘Oh, and you don’t remember, but you asked if we ought to get married?’
“I think Writ invited him, by the way.” That was the only logical explanation. “Though he did run into me when I was shopping.”
And had made an a** of herself, but that could be left unsaid.
“I told him to stay away, too, damnit.”
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Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2009 10:00 pm
"It's okay," he reassured, although the tight set to his jaw said otherwise. "It's a public party, no one v'as banned from coming." He tucked his hands back into his pockets, leaning back against the supporting structure behind him.
He knew that even with the fireworks lighting the sky, soon the only thing really visible about his dark form would be his eyes, shining already in the face of the rapidly fading skyline. He kind of liked the thought of just disappearing, fading into the shadows.
"The Carnegies really outdid themselves today, eh?" he prompted, digging a heel into the dirt and dragging it to make himself a trench. A moat. No man was a castle - but Valeriu could try. "Good stuff. Sydni's really enjoying herself."
It was probably the first time she could ever remember seeing fireworks.
"I remember, last Fourth of July, she cried at the noise," he grinned. "Even the sparklers. Didn't like them at all. And the year before that, she squirmed in Mama's arms every time there v'as a bang."
The grin faded, like the light. Almost two years, now. Almost two years since he'd seen his parents. Sydni was, what? Two and a half, now?
"But she likes them now. I v'onder v'hy."
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Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2009 10:45 pm
She frowned at him once more, trying to understand how he could be so forgiving. It was impossible for her, after what Quinn had done to Vale.
The stupid man was far too self-sacrificing.
She dropped along her beam, resting her bum against the cold dirt and looking up to at the myriad of explosions that lit the night sky.
“I don’t know.” The flashes became more often as the sky darkened still. “Maybe learning to appreciate these things is just part of growing up.”
Maybe. Or maybe it was really so simple that Sydni could simply understand that the explosions were not a threat to her being. In any case, it was a relief not to have a squirming child calling for her mother.
She didn't know if Valeriu could have handled that.
“...Hey--” There was that word again. It seemed that she was using it more often than not to break the silence nowadays. “Are you okay?”
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Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2009 11:03 pm
Valeriu really was no good at lying. That one question - it made him want to tell, tell everything. Tell her exactly what a monster he was, what he'd done, what he continued to do. So she could run, now, before it was too late.
He wanted to spill, so badly, his hands were shaking from it. He dug his fingers into the dirt instead.
He couldn't lie to her, though. Not even to tell her he was fine. Not when, daily, he had to question his own sanity; not when, every week or two, he had to kill someone to survive.
Not when he was, by now, probably the most experienced murderer in the Game. Even Ciro probably hadn't killed as many as he had.
"Just a little stressed," he finally replied, and it was obvious how much of an understatement that was. "Not enough holidays in the year," he joked, even if his laugh was a bit forced. "It'll settle down soon, I think."
Thought, wished, hoped. But it probably wouldn't.
His eyes moved from fireworks to the girl at his side, and he thoughtfully inspected her. Despite it all, he found himself worrying more for Tepin than anything else. She had her fair share of stress, too; it was unfair that she had to play such a big role in Sydni's life, and he knew how demanding his sister could be. And she'd been taking on more and more responsibilities, no matter how reluctant he'd been to give them.
So he reached out and dragged her over, pulling her to sit between his legs like she had when she was smaller, setting his chin atop her head of hair and hugging his princess doll.
Completely platonic hugging, of course! Valeriu knew, he was Big Brother.
He was alright with that. Really.
He couldn't even lie in his own head.
"How've you been?"
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Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2009 11:52 pm
She took a deep breath, raising her head and shoulders against his body. Truer words couldn’t be spoken. There really weren’t enough holidays-- even when she had no school or work, it seemed like everyday was exhausting in and of itself.
Between minding a toddler and trying to figure out the secrets that the attic contained (Behind Vale’s back), she was spread fairly thin. But even that was nothing compared to the strain that Valeriu was facing.
“I’m kinda glad, actually. Even if the party is too much for me-- it’ll be too late for bedtime stories by the time we get back.”
She hated bedtime stories. It was one of the only times in her new life that Tepin’s disabilities still shone through. Sydni didn’t seem to notice, but there were many times where the girl got to complex words she couldn’t read, and needed to make things up.
“Are you going to be okay-- staying up late tonight? What about that new job?”
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Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 12:01 am
He huffed out a laugh, knowing quite well how Sydni insisted on one particular tale that Tepin entirely disliked.
"You say that now, but she's been fussy about sleeping. No v'orries, I have to stay up a v'hile longer anyv'ay - I'll handle her," he reassured her, tugging on the longer parts of her hair and having the time of his life curling them around his fingers.
"I'll be fine. I still have some drafts to finish, but it shouldn't take too much longer." Until four in the morning, at least. "But I like it. It is tough, and my mentor is mean, but I am learning a lot. More than I v'ould on my own." He added, voice gone quiet with self-wonder. "She admitted that I may get to design a building by the end of this year."
A building. His own building, to actually be constructed.
The thought was mind-boggling, and thrilled him. She'd been surprised at how much he already knew, and even if it was grudging, already she was giving him more complex tasks.
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Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 5:08 pm
“You gotta go to bed-- you got somewhere to be tomorrow. I’ll take care of her. All I have to do is chill at home.” She tried to tilt up to look at him, but his chin was keeping her from this endeavor. “I get bored-- so you gotta let me do this.”
That was her lie. That she’d be bored at home on her own. That there were too many hours in the day and not enough chores to be done. He should give her more tasks, to keep her from her misery.
Slowly but surely, the girl was learning how to multitask.
“The end of this year?” That seemed too soon. He had only recently begun his internship-- and the year was almost half over. Was it really that quick of a process…?
No. Knowing Vale, he was putting in ten-times the effort that a normal person would have. That was the only explanation as to why he was progressing so quickly. It was good, though. Hopefully, he’d be able to get all that work done earlier than normal, and finally have a time to rest.
“That’s great! But don’t push yourself. You have enough going on as it is without trying to pull off something that big.”
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Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 5:17 pm
He shook his head, affectionately ruffling her hair. "You still have a bedtime, Tepin. It's not good for girls to not sleep right. Otherv'ise you v'ill v'ake up mean and cranky," he nodded wisely. He knew this well. Learned everything from his dad.
"But if you get bored, v'hy not go make friends? And you kids can, erm," he squinted thoughtfully. Truthfully, he didn't know what teenagers did for fun. "Hang out at the market?"
Yes. Yes, that sounded quite reasonable. She was a growing girl - he knew the house was stifling at times. It wasn't healthy for her to be saddled with all the jobs he did -- she should be having fun, making friends, running around.
"I'll do fine." He grinned, shifting to get to his feet and bring her with him, giving her a twirl. Because he was tall, and strong, and she was tiny and small, and he felt like it. That was the basis for it, really. He finally set her down on her feet though. "It's nothing I cannot handle. My homev'ork is a cinch compared to fighting monster-animals."
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Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 5:18 pm
She silently listened to him, wishing all the while that he would stop trying to force her to be normal when she so clearly wasn’t.
It wasn’t going to work, no matter how hard he tried. Mixcoatl wasn’t going to go away.
A small and delighted shriek (Which quickly dissolved into giggles) escaped her at the twirl. He was acting like his old self once more. He didn’t look so much like the man who was bound down with responsibilities, or running from his tormentors. He was just the man that would take her out on her every whim, and ensure no matter what that she was happy.
Even if that hardworking side of him was part of why she fell in love with him.
“Just don’t try to do both.” That would be overkill, “Or you’ll collapse.”
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Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 5:35 pm
Sharp as his smile was, it was filled with nothing but genuine warmth at her laughter, hemming and hawing thoughtfully as if seriously considering the idea.
"You think I can fight off a jaguar v'ith a number two pencil?" he wondered. "But then the papers might get all crinkly, and Ms. Creed v'ould smack me v'ith her ruler."
Her ruler was no joke. Sure, most people were content with the normal, wooden, twelve inch, standard piece of equipment - but not Veronica Creed. Veronica Creed was someone who demanded above and beyond the norm. Her ruler was a meter long, made of a flexible metal and soft backing for the most precise of measurements.
It could also flash through the air like a whiplash and leave cuts on the back of his hands if used correctly. One little mistake - and bam! Another bandaid sacrificed to her cruel ways.
He shuddered, shook his head, and then hefted her into his arms again as if he was devoted to carrying her all the way home.
"Once upon a time," he made a show of staggering under her weight as he hitched her up, laughing all the way, "you v'ere a little girl, and I could carry you on my hip like a bag of groceries. And now?" He tutted, as if it were her fault completely that she grew too big for him to toss around like a little doll anymore.
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Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 6:06 pm
“Blame my mom and Mixcoatl, not me.” She looked up defensively, offended by the comments on her weight, “It’s her genes which made me this way, and his magic-- And your cooking!”
In fact, Mixcoatl had once mentioned offhand that he had actually restrained her from having as much body fat as her genetics would have accounted for. Which meant he had decreased her bust and hip size. The b*****d.
“Should we go home early tonight?” A serious question, as her head rotated to look out over the crowd. Quinn’s group was still--disappointingly-- present, Murphy was still halfway to six-feet-under, and Sydni was still under the care of the darling office ladies.
If they left sooner, they could accomplish more before bedtime, anyway. Though they might miss some fun at the hands of the Carnegie brothers.
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Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 6:15 pm
He grinned to show he was just teasing, tilting his head in consideration. He was careful not to look at the group of other godlings, though it didn't show on his face.
"I v'ould not v'ant to cut the fun short," he finally decided, setting her down. "There is still plenty planned. Games and such. Plus, there are a few other kids here. I'd like Sydni to find some playmates," he chuckled, "so that she stops beating up on me."
No, it was not the noblest of reasons. Of course he wanted her to have friends! But...she could take her aggressions out on them rather than on him and his chair.
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Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 7:44 pm
“Hmmm--” She listened intently, still watching over the group. Sure, the night was still young, but with the flood lights, it apparently didn’t stop them from partying until late. And, being a construction site and all, people had already come to expect noise from the location. Their planning was flawless, as far as Tepin could tell. The twin’s had done good in getting the bare bones set up, so that the rest of the crew could take care of the minor details.
“Yea, but if she stops, the universe will be unbalanced.” It made perfectly logical sense, really. There always had to be something harassing Valeriu, “So I’d have to start beating on you.”
Her eyes flicked back teasingly, before her hands clenched into a mock-boxing pose.
“And my punches hurt a lot more than hers do.”
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Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 7:54 pm
He scoffed, waving a hand dismissively.
"You? You are tiny. They may hurt v'orse, but it does not mean they hurt," he teased, reaching out to ruffle her hair and playfully bat at her head.
Bat. Batbatbat. It was like knocking at a stuffed animal with all that hair providing padding.
"You shouldn't beat on me, and should be nice, instead," he decided, still treating her hair like a toy mouse. "Like petting my ears. That is nice. Pulling on them is not. Very not."
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Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 8:28 pm
She would have socked him then and there, if she could have reached his face. She could hurt people! She was a Godling too, damnit!
“I’ll stop tugging your ears if you stop batting my hair.” Permanently.
Her look was one of a challenge: she was more than certain that she could go longer without the dismissive ear tug when she wasn’t ready to wake up.
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