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 Posted: Mon May 01, 2006 6:57 pm
-It had been a mystery at the start of it all. Simon had applied, more than willingly, to aid in rehabilitation, although he had not figured out why. He supposed he had been intrested in the mind of a criminal. He was, after all, in the field. Regardless, it seemed a drastic mystery that he would dare to take on the task of caring for anyone other than himself. Simon was a loner, not in a stereotypical fashion, but he liked to live alone. His house was his sanctuary and retreat, where he locked himself away to study and formulate his theories. Having another about the house would destroy the balance and utter silence, or so Simon found he believed. Despite it, he found he had been willing to sign, to agree for the care of another creature. Perhaps he was simply getting lonely in old age? He was thirty-two years old, and alone. Not a soul resided in his home other than he, and the only guests he ever recieved were either patients, university students, or his beloved university professor, Dr. Animar Wilkins. Their visits came in random bouts, sometimes frequently in a week, sometimes never at all. He enjoyed their visits, greatly, but they were not garenteed company. Often when they were about the only thing discussed was work, which destroyed any relaxation time he may have set aside for himself prior to their arrival on his door step in Durem. Still, he could not figure what would be different about allowing himself to shelter another person! Would he not continue to work, think about work? Would he not continue to be abnormally somewhere between contentment and utter loneliness? The truth was that Simon knew not what to expect. At least, he had no solid idea of what life would be like when everything was confirmed, settled. He imagined he would study behavior patterns, try to understand the individual he was aiding in reshaping, making better. He imagined he would try to piece together a puzzle and work out every detail of a personality. That was Simon. That was what he always seemed to do with people! He would note everything they did, take it seriously, analyze it as if it were some important detail of a person or creature. Such a habit was either a curse or a gift. At times it proved useful, and others it proved annoying. More than likely his tendency to over analyze things was his reason for having never settled down with someone. Not that he had ever wanted to settle down with anyone!
The middle aged man wrinkled his nose at the very thought of marrying, or even finding someone to call a partner in love. Matching himself with anyone in terms of romance was ridiculous! He was well aware he tended to be unromantic, always saying something that was not easy to comprehend, or dragging sociology, psychology, science into the mix. Yet another unfortunate trait, but one he hardly cared much about. Such topics were his passion, and if he never discovered someone who shared the passion he would not be scarred or hurt by fate. Yet, he was lonely? He slept in a bed, in a house with no life other than the occasional rats or bugs that managed to worm their way into his habitat. He dreamed and thought, dwelled on the silence, and always wondered what life would be like were someone with him, had he a child, a wife, a man, anything. Had he anything to connect with on a more intimate level...
A swift movement was given to knock back a few strands of dark chocolate brown hair. The widow's peak style had been something Simon had been born with. It was not bad, especially because Simon seemed to have a mop of hair on his head. However, the peak style revealed his forehead, which was beginning to crease due to age and stress. His hair was, by all means, highly neat, well taken care of and well trimmed in the back, but seemingly neglected in the front, for it draped over or under his circular glasses freely. His hair was not the only feature that seemed to be half taken care of, for his clothing was, uncharacteristically, wrinkled. Although, Simon's average attire was far too formal for one to really notice the wrinkles as opposed to the formality. A buttom up shirt, a tie, and a thin business type jacket, slacks, fine dress shoes. Everything about Simon seemed to scream that he was not the average working man, but rather one of the freakishly queer ones who dwelled too much on their job, and had likely been a sort of 'dork' throughout all of school. Such a thing was, of course, false, for Simon had been many things in school, but not a dork, nor even that intellegent. However, that was an alternate story, and one the man prefered to keep locked away. His past was his past, and it hardly mattered to him unless a topic required he mention it. His crumbled hand was reflexed as a habit of pondering. The fingers upon the right were horrid looking, but not atrocious. They were simply bent a bit, crooked, and shaky looking, highly fragile. They were not truly fragile, though. Further within his formal appearence was his general expression, which was thoughtful, somber, yet almost casual. That was another odd thing about the man! His formality was casual. His business was casual! Everything that seemed dressy, or 'work-o-holic' like, was casual, for it was what Simon always depicted. He appeared a stern man with little desire to be loose or fun. A boring individual, at least to what one might have considered the 'average' being.He was simply too... Obsessive, too intune with his occupation and intrests, too unwilling to bend for another.
The casual pace of Simon Grey was broken as he paused in front of a vaguly familiar door. If he was right, it was the place he was to pick up that new arrival he had thoughtlessly stated he wanted the chance to care for. Care, of course, meant study. However, no one needed to know Simon's subconcious intention was to study the individual he was to be watching. It was a secret that not even Simon knew, for his own intentions were hazy and skewed, sketchy. A sluggish motion was made. Simon nudged his glasses further up his nose, lifted his hand, and knocked on the door three times.-
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Posted: Mon May 01, 2006 7:36 pm
It was a very strange day in the Saturn household. Not only were Archie and Dixie not fighting, arguing, or purposely berating each other, they were playing a game. Together. Unprecedented.
It was a card game from Dixie's home planet, one with a name quite unpronouncable for her new lips and tongue, but that she had chosen to call 'Eat Me' for sentimental reasons. No Gaian deck had the right number of cards, but they were making do with index cards, redecorated with Sharpies. Archie even seemed to be getting the hang of it.
"EAT ME!" he screamed, jumping up from the kitchen bar stool and slamming his hand down on the counter. The loud smack coincided with a knock on the door, but thankfully the other two were heard soon after. "I'll get it," Archie continued, dropping the rest of his cards and sliding over to the door in sock feet.
Dixie leaned over and poked through the pile of discarded cards. He had actually won the hand. b*****d.
Archie opened the door a crack and stuck his head out. "Hi there. Simon, is it? We've been expecting you." He smiled.
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Posted: Mon May 01, 2006 7:54 pm
-He had waited all too patiently at the door, fidgeting only when it was cracked and someone seemed to come into his view. A flow of words entered his ears, quickly processed. However, Simon's scrutinization tendency kicked in and he found himself almost absent mindedly gazing at the door a moment. Eventually he snapped out of it, smiled sheepishly, perhaps a tad crookedly. It was a grin triggered by none other than the subconcious excitement that coursed through his multitasking brain, the unknowing knowledge of what he was getting himself into. For one, it was something similar to parenthood, and, like most knew parents, be they adoptive or anything of the sort, he was excited, although it was only dimly evident in his features. He was not tired looking, nor all that vapid. He simply seemed himself, nothing abnormal, nothing too different.- "Aye, Simon." -He repeated with his medium toned voice, simply confirming that it was infact his name. Whether it had been a greeting comment or just a statement did not matter. He always confirmed such a thing, be his name well known knowledge to someone or not, he always did if it sounded like a question.- "I'd hope so. Was a tad skeptical that I may have come early or far too late." -Far too late due to a lack of a clock in the study, far too early because of an eager nature. He doubted he were precisly on time if any time had ever been suggested.-
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Posted: Mon May 01, 2006 8:10 pm
"Oh, yeah, well," Archie stuttered. This guy was a little spacey, wasn't he? "You are a little early, but most guardians are," he said. "Would you like to come in for a second?" Carrie had done another upgrade on the computers littering the floor under the window, even though both he and Dixie had insisted they had worked fine the last time, but those flashing landing warnings hadn't started yet.
Archie opened the door wider. "This is Dixie, my daughter. I'm Archie. Nice to meet you in person."
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Posted: Mon May 01, 2006 8:31 pm
-Had he been more accustom to down-to-earth behavior Simon might have been embaressed by his own voice and way of phrasing things, acting. But, he was not. He was a quirky man, strange. Despite that, he wasn't all too annoying... Unless one simply couldn't stand proper behavior or a gentleman's code.- "O-Oh, yes, please." -The words had come out more of a statement as he was offered a step inside. He hesitated a moment, took a step forward as the door was opened wider. It was almost funny how calm he had been prior to laying eyes on Archie, who he had never met in person. It was much like a meeting with a Dean of Admissions to a school. Although, Simon did not really remember meeting a Dean. Life seemed to twist about his memories when he did not truly care about events, which was why he sometimes forgot things. But, his memory was, by no means, rotten. He remembered quite a bit! Such as dates, and things he learned. It was often nerve-racking events such as a college application that dissapered in his mind, which was rather normal when he thought about it.
He tried not to smile too widly, tried not to express all too much eagerness or excitement, or anything of the sort, for he did not wish to seem... He wasn't sure what the proper word was for what he did not want to seem. Hardly anything within the house was noted, although Simon did note Dixie, gave a slight bow he'd grown accustom to giving, and spoke.- "Pleasure to meet the both of you in person as well." -He spoke, shaking his head and rephrasing himself.- "I mean, nice to meet you both!" -pleasure. It was, in technicality, correct. Yet, Simon had fel some need to restate it. Perhaps awareness that he sounded more like an old geezer than usual.-
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Posted: Mon May 01, 2006 8:52 pm
Archie ushered Simon inside, closing the door behind him and slipping on some shoes that had been sitting by the door. Those stupid computers might start beeping at any time, after all. "Would you like something to drink?" Archie asked. "I think we have some cookies now too."
Across the room, Dixie looked up briefly and nodded a greeting at Simon before starting to pick up the cards and stacking them neatly.
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Posted: Mon May 01, 2006 9:08 pm
-Oh the unfortunate fate that Simon sometimes froze up in a social situation! It wasn't often that he did, but, for some reason he felt clamy! More than likely it was that silent need to not dissapoint or do anything queer that might... Well, create any sort of an odd opinion if one had not already been created. Simon, the only mildly paranoid man.
He settled down after he was ushered in and the door shut, actually managing to loosen up considerably. It was almost as if a coat had been thrown off, for he had seemed more or less relieved with the door shut and his not being on the street, or even just outside. For whatever reason, the close quarters made him feel more comfortable.
The mention of cookies aroused a child like obsession with sweets that Simon had been suppressing since he didn't know when! But, the craving had come on strong, and it seemed as if he might have jumped at the idea of a sugar rush due to cookies!- "Cookies?" -Bloody voice seemed to shift about oddly for a moment, then settled. He shook his head, declined a drink, but definetly opted for the irresistable cookies.- "Afraid I can't bake, haven't had cookies in..." -his mind blanked, and a bit of the old Simon from before the scholar-turn managed to emerge.- "... A hell of a long time! At least nothing baked, just store bought." -At least, he thought the cookies on discussion were baked. He hoped they were! And oh, he secretly hoped chocolate chip!
A glance was given to Dixie simply out of habit, but his line of vision had officially been settled more on Archie, and eventually just the room. There seemed to be computers, and then he had noticed cards of some sort that Dixie had been picking up. All about, he still was too oblivious to notice anything and care all too much, although in truth he care a lot about his surroundings at that moment, and about the people there. It was that under pressure interview type feeling, although he hardly felt under pressure after he'd gotten inside, and then been distracted by the thought of cookies!-
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Posted: Mon May 01, 2006 9:24 pm
Archie gave Dixie a pointed look and flicked his head toward the kitchen in the back. The cookies were store bought, but there was no need for Simon to know that. They were the squishy kind, and a short zap in the microwave would render them even more bakery-soft. Or at least Archie hoped. Dixie seemed to catch his meaning, taking her stack of cards and heading to the back of the house.
"So, your criminal..." Archie began. "He, um, killed someone." Probably not the best thing to talk about, but there it was. Archie didn't really know why he had brought it up, actually.
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Posted: Tue May 02, 2006 2:45 pm
-What Simon did not know did not hurt him. Baked or store bought, he more than likely would not notice the difference unless someone told him they were different. In buying cookies himself he knew they were store bought, thus the debate of such a thing. However, if ever offered the same type of cookie, and not told, he would eat it contently and probably think it divine. It was a common psychological thing that worked with some individuals. They believed what they thought, what they were told, unless there was reason to suspect. Thus, Simon's thoughts on the cookies were well protected from damage... Unless someone opened their mouth to dissapoint him in that aspect.
Dreams of chocolate chips, or any cookie in general, were stomped upon by a seemingly out of the blue statement. Criminal? Ah, that was right! His subconcious tingled in ecstacy as the words filtered through it. All desire to know and understand the psychological state of a criminal swimming about and making itself vaguly known to Simon. Something kept the excitement down, though. It was the crime mentioned. Killed someone? Now, Simon was not that afraid. His mind was fairly easy, at peace. Regardless, excitement was kept to a minimum, or rather, a completly nonexsistant state. Idly, his hand seemed to twitch. That cool surface phasing just a bit as he thought of violent killing. Killing in general did not disturb him, nor did death. However... Violence was a different bucket of fish.- "Killed?" -He inquired, although it was hardly a question that needed to be answered. His head was shaken, and he told himself it was probably not as brutal as he imagined it being. It wasn't as if it were likely he be harmed anyway! What were the odds? He chose to avoid such a topic, turned to just being what calm and stable was to him. But, he could not resist asking a bit more...- "How? I mean, do you know how?" -He asked, just sounding as if he were intrested in such a detail.-
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Posted: Tue May 02, 2006 8:23 pm
"Sadly no, not really," Archie said, again wondering why he had brought it up. It just seemed like the thing to do, with this guy being so carefree and cookie-loving. The kid might try to kill his guardian in his sleep or something. "Never mind me," he continued. "We've gotten murderers before and they don't cause much of a problem." He opened and closed a mildly blue, fuzzy fist. "Small hands. Not much muscle control either." He stared at the computers, as if willing them to beep.
Dixie reentered the room, a plate strewn with a few lonely cookies gripped in her hands. "This was all that was left," she said, putting the plate down near Simon. And with the clink of the plate hitting the counter, that friendly red blinking began.
ATMO
ATMO
ATMO
A pod was coming.
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Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 12:42 pm
-He could not say he wasn't a tad uneasy suddenly. Had he known methods he might have felt more at ease. Yet, he was not so shaken, nor so unnerved that he would suddenly flip and change his mind, or even voice any of the minor uneasiness. It was a thing of the past, and he was sure there would not be an issue. Even if there were, Simon was not as much of a push over as he seemed to be. He was clutzy, a bit weird, and certainly racking up age numbers, but he was not amazingly weak, and he could defend himself.
A slight nod was given in response to Archie's comments. It seemed as if he might have been about to say something when Dixie reentered the room and set the plate down. He took one, his mind being momentarily distracted from any ideas within it. He did not think about caution he might want to take, or about the 'what if' questions. There were hardly any that he had, for his brain was only producing so many mixed with the 'What happened?' and 'How did they do it?' questions. Naive, and a bit too obsessive. Were he a more normal person he might have been more unsure about his original desicion at the sound of the word 'killed', and 'murderers'.- "Thank you." -He had stated out of politeness, refering mostly to her having got the cookies in the first place.
The cookie was held in Simon's left hand, not really up to his face. He'd taken one bite before the red blinking had started, and had finished the solo cookie hardly a few moments after it had been going on.-
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Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 6:18 pm
What had Archie been saying to this guy? Now was not the time to start messing with the Gaians. Dixie might have said something, but then the blinking started and her mind was preoccupied. "We should go," she said.
"Yeah, soon." Archie sat down near Simon. "The baby will be here in a few minutes," he said more cheerily, picking up a cookie and taking a bite.
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Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 8:34 am
-Addiction: A particular habit that an individual has difficulty quitting. Irrestible cravings, most commonly associated with drugs and alcohol.
Simon, of course, was not addicted to anything particular, or horrid. But, cookies! Had one been in contact with him since his younger years it would have left them in awe at how he always had to have cookies! At least three a day. Breakfast, lunch, dinner. The optional snackings of the day also took place, but, it was more common for cookie eating to have occured with a meal rather than simply as a snack. However, in the more recent years his hunger for cookies had diminished and replaced with a much less desire to eat anything sweet at all... Until such a thing were mentioned and set in front of him.
The man took one more cookie, against his will, for he had truly only wanted one, and sat back. It was at that time his bloody hair became a tedious issue. A crew of deviant strands had made up their minds to drift. Rather than brushing it, Simon had shaken his head a little, which had served to get a few of the crude things out of his face. But, a few pesky dark brown hairs had remained, lodging themselves behind his glasses.- "A few minutes, eh?" -He spoke it as more of a statement than even a question. All sorts of emotions were jumbled within him, yet he could still only pick a few out of himself. He straightened himself, took one bite of the cookie, two, finished. He did not dare reach for another, for he was telling himself no, despite the mind and taste senses arguing against him.- "I'd say the sooner we go the better, I don't want to miss." -He'd smiled, for, perhaps, the first time that very evening since he set foot in the foreign household.-
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Posted: Tue May 16, 2006 10:25 pm
Dixie led the way, opening the door and propping it open with a foot.
"After you," Archie said, more a question than a statement or suggestion. "It'll land around the corner, on the bullseye."
Dixie leaned around the side of the house, curious to see the pod that housed this newest child. The picture of the criminal was very interesting indeed. Frankly, it made her glad she only had two legs.
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Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2006 1:38 pm
-For a moment, Simon seemed much less tense or casual, a bit like his old self. He'd lost any sort of posture he'd had as he walked out the door, listening to what Archie said, and only giving a faint nod to show he were listening. He seemed a bit less professional in the fact that his stature had altered itself. Whether or not it was good was for anyone to guess. More likely than not it was for the better...
His footsteps had slowed as he rounded the corner, squinting a little, as if skeptical at the idea of seeing a bullseye. The statement had reminded him of an old cartoon, which almost made him think he was adopting Marvin the Martian. Marvin the Martian wouldn't intrest him... Then again, was he really there to be intrested? Yes. He'd told himself it was a chance to look into criminals, how they think, whether or not they could change. In the case of the moment it was a murderer, which made things even greater for observations. However, Simon could not deny one thing... Standing there and looking about he realized it wasn't his only true motive, and he realzied it had been a motive before. The chance to learn was large, but even larger was the chance to fill that empty house of his. What was he to expect? His face twisted a little with things coming to light. He shifted, loosened up, and gave a glance behind him.- "Bullseye?" -He asked while berating himself a bit for being unable to spot it on his own.-
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