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 Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2005 3:43 pm
 Group arpee!, started on page 235 Arg, not much time to write this. Raven's having a hay day with the dough; starting to make it into worms and eating them just as quickly as she did to the real one. Goodness me, I must do something about that; she swallowed yet another one yesterday afternoon.
Anyway; we visited the headquarters again t'day and, surprise, met Alexander again! Rave's always beaming whenever they get the chance to play. Constantly happy child, that.
I also got to speak with Lena-- for about a few seconds. Awfully busy, but, s'to be expected. And I spoke with DiYanni and Ul for a bit as well; Raven gave Nana to Teagan after Alex went as a... peace symbol?, and, well, I don't think she's afraid of him anymore. We'll have to see at a later date, since the both of us had a deadline to meet and were obliged to excuse ourselves.
... Oh, dear. Raven's decorated her hair with it now, the silly thing. Best be on my way.
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Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2005 7:09 pm
 Thursday, April 28th. The room was once again surveyed with a critical eye, every inch examined. Bird walked casually around the small dwelling, arms linked together behind her back in a stiff position. She had been critiqueing the place for quite some time, trying to decide if there was an area sutable for Raven.
Unfortunately, it was a rather old small house, and the search hadn't been going as planned. Bird sighed as she realized this, dropping her arms limply to the side. She'd have to remodel the place; something she wasn't particularly good at.
Raven, who had been perched on a fat pillow for the duration of the afternoon, looking at pictures in the colorful books she had requested, looked up as her mother entered the room. She tilted her head to the side inquisitively at the dismayed expression on her elder's face. "Mama?"
"Mm? Oh, hullo, Rave," Bird greeted with a small smile. At the child's somewhat concerned look, she continued, "Just... not too pleased about buying paint. 'Tisn't cheap."
Not quite understanding everything that was said-- wasn't 'cheep' a noise? --Raven nonetheless accepted the explanation with a slight nod, and continued with her eye feasting. She loved those colors!
Bird, watching with a grin as she poured herself some lemonade, decided it wasn't all too bad. She enjoyed painting, and... well, the most obvious color for her room'd be blue, right? Blinking, Bird decided to ask about trivial things later. Sipping the cool drink, she migrated over towards the contented child, joining in her eyecandy and pointing excitedly when she saw something that pleased her as well, offering the sweet liquid to her daughter who took it happily with a squeal.
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Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2005 7:30 pm
Alexander and Raven roleplay, starting on page 3 in Alex's journal Raven demanded, with a point of a finger, that she absoloutely had to have a butterfly. (She was, of course, pointing to a picture of one).
So, we went to the meadow. And met Feather and Alex. And, I'm afraid, Raven ate more worms. Bird sighed at that. What am I going t'do about her? Hoo-boy. Anyway.
They flew! They really flew! Jumping off of a rock and sort of.. floating there for a moment.. But I was impressed. Raven's got one of Alexander's feathers stuck behind her ear now-- gonna have to put it away when she sleeps so whe won't crush it, silly thing.
We also kpet one of the butterflies-- they called them flutterboos --for the night. Raven was absoloutely smitten with them.]
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Posted: Sun May 01, 2005 12:56 pm
Group arpee!, started on page 259 Bird was tidying up the kitchen counter with her lone rag, lifting up objects occassionally to scrub underneath them. It was about time she'd gotten around to doing this... Pity it was always on her weekends.
She worridly glanced up, through the open archway that showed a glimpse of the room just next to it. Raven was sitting on the floor, back against the couch, just... staring at her shoes, but not really seeing them.
The woman stopped in her methodical scrubbing, slouching in a sigh. The child had been like this all afternoon, since they had returned from the HQ, and... since Raven had spoken to that butterfly..
The child in question let out an unexpected sigh, frown tugging her lips downward so much it could've resembled a horseshoe. Bird pursed her lips, abandoning the rag and heading for her small book, where she kept the thoughts she didn't dare voice. She didn't bother trying to comfort the child; so many failed attempts taught her it was a waste of time. Raven didn't respond to anyting you would ever say.
This... worries me. Worries me to an indescribable degree. Raven's never been like this; she rarely even cries... I never thought that just one small episode would have such an effect upon her.
Raven continued to stare dully at the floor.
She can, apparently, talk to butterflies. Or, at least, they can talk to her, and she can understand them. Or-- maybe she can just understand the one... It's all so confusing. She didn't aknowledge their voices-- if they had any-- at the meadow. I... I don't understand any of it.
Bird bit her, lip, determination surfacing. She promptly slammed the book down on the chair she was seated in, grabbed Raven off the floor (who didn't give much of a reaction), and strode out the door.
Perhaps this butterfly could help her.
----
We went back tot he HQ... spoke to Ul and DiYanni whilst we visited. The butterfly came back, the same one that had-- spoken to her, and apologized. I think. But... when Raven tried to pat it, it must have said something frightening again, because she's acting the same as she was. Not as bad... just... not Raven.
Bird sighed, unhappy. She glanced over at the snoozing child on her pillow, sucking her thumb and squeezing Nana close. ... At least she's sleeping. I guess I'll just have to be thankful for that.
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Posted: Tue May 03, 2005 3:58 am
 I was... really tired today. It was difficult to lift my head this morning, when Mama ushered me to the kitchen for some breakfast.
I know Mama's worried. I still act funny... she thinks it's the flutterboo's fault.
But it's not! I'm a horrible person for locking him up; how could it be his fault? It's my fault. And... and it makes me feel something terrible.
Oh... Mama's calling me. I better go.
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Posted: Sat May 07, 2005 5:33 am
Group arpee!, started on page 362 Alexander and I tried to fly today again. He did it, too! But... I'm afraid I didn't...
Mama's stuck this itchy fabric all over my arm, 'cause I fell on it. She says I'm not s'poesd to take it off. But it's annoying, and I wanna try and smooth my feathers out... they're all ruffled and crinkled and.. But Mama says I might've... spwayned... it, and it's best to be safe than sorry. Whatever than means.
I hope Awex's okay; I didn't want to upset him. But... I think I'll stay away from fwying anytime soon; too scary.
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Posted: Sat May 07, 2005 10:43 am
Kashimi flits into view, a whole hoarde of little scrolls attached to him in various places. He dives down, hovering a moment, then dropping one of the letters down for Bird and Raven. The letter reads... Hey, it's Jadaria. I've been rather busy, lately - not quite able to get around to the main building, you know? I feel back for Kaji, though, so I'm sending Kashimi around with these notes for everyone. Feel free to drop by my house if you'd like to have tea sometime. I'm sure Kaji would love it! The kids could play in his playroom, and we could chat a time. ((This is an invitation to roleplay in my journal. I'm not always around in the main thread, but I'd like to play. If you'd like to, drop by and post. :3))
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Posted: Sat May 07, 2005 6:49 pm
The house was quiet, save for the small background music of the harp. The sound soothed and calmed Raven down quite a bit, and goodness knew she needed some quiet at the moment.
Bird, finished reading the scroll with many pinpricks (Kashimi's claws, she had supposed) littering its surface, plopped the paper onto the kitchen counter, drinking a mug of tea, as she needed to go grocery shopping soon and had nothing else to drink in her fridge but water.
Raven was lying on an enourmous red pillow, nugging Nana close. Her other plushies were scattered around her legs, and Alexander's feather was stuck behind her ear once again. She wasn't sucking her thumb.
Bird entered the room, softly padding over to the small figure and sitting down, to which Raven responded with held out arms. Her mother pulled her into a hug, rocking the toddler back and forth.
"Does it still hurt?" she asked softly.
"... No.." Raven responded, nuzzling her face deeper into Bird's soft and warm stomach. "Not as muwch..."
"That's good to hear. You ready for bed?"
Raven didn't answer. She released a deep sigh, grip loosening on her teddy. The woman took that as an answer, picked up her charge, and set her into her bed, tucking in the covers.
It looked like her wing would be just fine. Raven just best be avoiding flying without the wind until her feathers grew out a bit more.
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Posted: Wed May 11, 2005 10:48 am
The ink rolled smoothy over the crisp paper, curving and twirling and looping and rising and then beginning the whole process again.
Such a lovely thing ballpoint pens were. Bird paused for but a moment, pondering who had invented such a delightful contraption, before shrugging it off and continuing to wet the paper with her pen, smudging it in a few places.
Raven watched her, getting over her thumb sucking stage; it was placed firmly on the tabletop, supporting her leaning figure. The toddler was very curious how her mother was doing that. It was just a rolled up piece of plastic, with a very dark color... she thought it was identified as 'black,' looped around the top.
She looked around for a moment, seeing another one that had similar shape to the one moving in Bird's grip. She picked it up, observing her mother for a moment, before putting it in the same position. Raven grimaced at the feel; it was uncomfortable. Manipulating her fingers around the contraption, she found a much more comfortable position to put her fingers.
Bird looked up as she saw the toddler making large loops on her spare piece of paper, pen pausing in a loop for her
"L" in surprise. Raven scribbled on the outside, making a crude wing. She had been delighted to find out that this plastic spouted off the color blue instead of black. Snatching another pen with a different color stripe, Raven made another wing on the other side of her circle, filling it in with scribbles.
Bird blinked again, setting down her pen to look over her very pleased daughter's shoulder. "Flutterboo," she announced, pointing a finger at the paper. Raven looked up with eyes begging for approval.
The woman grinned, kissing Raven's forehead and smoothing back a few locks of hair. "Very pretty," she said, nodding.
Raven beamed.
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Posted: Fri May 13, 2005 12:41 pm
"Ah, don't worry, Madeline! I think it's not very far now," DiYanni said encouragingly to the form huddled in the enlarged basket of the woman's bicycle.
Pausing before a particular house, DiYanni squinted at the door number. She smiled triumphantly as she helped her little girl out of the bicycle basket and walked to the doorstep. There, they placed a parcel wrapped in thick, blue paper.
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Posted: Fri May 13, 2005 5:43 pm
Water fell from the sky in torrents, sloshing everything that was unfortunate enough to be underneath its pathway. It slammed against the concrete, poured out from the gutters, dripped onto people's hunched forms as they hurried under the false impression of safety under an umbrella, and slithered over the windows in an imitation of a serpent.
This dismal outlook was owned by Raven, who sat with an arm supporting a heavy head, the other clutching Nana, staring blankly out the window.
It was too late and too wet to leave their dwelling now, Bird had said. Especially when they didn't own an umbrella. The toddler made a face. Who needed a 'brella? What was the stupid thing in the first place?
She had devoured every book that contained pictures throughout the entire house over the course of the month, much to the astonishment of Bird. The woman promised to save up some extra cash and purchase whatever book Raven desired, but, it would take a couple of day until her pay check came through, and, thus, it left the Eden with absoloutely nothing to do.
"Rave? Hey; look what I rescued from the rain."
Raven slowly turned her gaze over to her momma, and blinked when she saw what was held in her hands.
"I figure now's a better time than any to teach you," Bird informed, plopping down on the chair seated next to the closed window and turning on the floor lamp conveniently placed nearby. "So..."
Raven slid into the seat as well, cuddling close to her mother, squashing her teddy closer, and grinning up at her.
Bird smiled, scratching her head since the toddler's arms were still too short to reach the annoying itch that often formed there. "You should thank Madeline and Miss DiYanni when we see them next time, okay?" She handed Raven the collection of books they had sent, Raven's eyes brightening in glee. "Anyway. Want to learn how to read?"
At Raven's excited nod, Bird squirmed further into the cushion before taking the first book Raven pointed to-- she liked the look of the plant --and began to pass on the knowledge of books.
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Posted: Sat May 14, 2005 1:13 pm
Ugh! I don't understand this at all!
Momma said DiYanni and Maddie gave these book to me-- the last three are really cool! --and suggested that I mayeb should start reading them instead of just looking at the pictures. I said, "Why?" and she said, "Because it'll help you understand them better."
What's not to understand? Here-- let me tell you the pretty white book's story, prove a point. Once 'pon a time, there was a Waven, only with white wings, and on her back like Alexander, and she liked to hold gold things with really really skinny strings, all... strung around it... Because it was her Nana. And, and she... and she flew away to help all the little childs 'cause she's a white Waven and she's good like that. End!
See? See? I don't see what reading's got to do with anything. Momma laughed when I told her my story. She said, "Well, what about the rest of the book?" and I said, "That's just one story, Momma." Momma didn't say anything after that, giggling as she left the room in defeat (I think, anyway).
It's kinda obvious, don't you think?
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Posted: Mon May 16, 2005 1:57 pm
The weight was beginning to take a toll on her. Bird's shoulders sagged, bags lolling in front of her like a see-through, overgrown belly that had detatched itself from someone's unfortunate self.
She grunted, hauling the luggage over her shoulder instead, upper back relieved for the temporary lapse of strain.
Raven, the stubborn kid, had refused to leave the house to go shopping. Bird had done it once before-- large mistake. The toddler had refused to cooperate further, so, she had been forced to estimate ("Guestimate!" Raven declared) her size and went off hunting on her own.
The woman increased her pace when the familar large trees that lined her street began to loom in her vision.
Why was she walking? you might ask. Well, on the previous day, she had run over a large and unfortunately placed scattering of broken glass, effectively shoving her tires out of order for awhile until she could afford a replacement.
Stupid, stupid job. She would have to snoop for a better one.
Stuffing the metallic key into its specifically designed hole, Bird shoved open the door with her shoulder, which sang in pain on contact. "Ow... I'm back, munchkin!"
Raven popped into view, Nana tucked under one shoulder. "Mama!" she stood and ran into Bird's waiting arms-- packadges falling every which way as she was scooped up.
"I missed 'chu," the toddler admitted, feet firmly on the ground at this point and Bird hauling the bags onto the kitchen table. The woman cast an amused glance down, popping oranges in the basket that hung over the small counter. "I've only been gone a couple hours."
"Too long," Raven said, hugging both her teddy and Bird's leg.
The woman smiled and, after bending down and kissing the child on the forehead, picked up the remaining bags and headed for their room.
"One of these days, Ima' move you into the spare room." They had been prolonging it because of Raven's blatent refusal.
"... Okay," she grudgingly agreed. Her attention was snagged by the bags still in Momma's hand. Hadn't see unpacked them all?
Mamma, what're--?"
"Clothes! I already told you I was going out to specifically look for them."
"... Wha's 'spiciflly'?"
"Uh.." she thought for a moment, entering her room. "Looking for exactly just one thing, I s'pose."
Bird discarded the bags onto the twin-sized bed with a flourish, gleeful to be rid of them. She helped Raven climb onto the bed as well, sitting and pulling out several different colored shirts.
"Whatever you don't want I can return, okay?"
Raven looked dubious. She pulled at her clothes, querying what was so wrong with them to be replaced. Bird smiled and patted the toddler on the shoulder. "You can keep them-- it's just... kinda nice for a variety, y'know?"
Raven blinked, but didn't question the word. She obediently lifted her arms and allowed her momma to dress her in the new clothes. She mainly picked the ones that shone, or, were blue. Sometimes the occassional black and white. Raven hadn't liked any of the shoes; lately she had just been trodding around in clad-less feet. Finally, after the last red shirt had been selected, Bird stuffed the rest of the clothes in the shopping bags and pulled off the tags that were attatched annoyingly to the fabric.
Raven clutched Nana close, blinking azure eyes upward in a slight beg. Bird gave her a quick hug and peck on the cheek, sending away a very pleased Raven.
Least I got her some clothes, she thought, folding aforementioned cloth up neatly. She's beginning to start refusing.
... Hoo boy.
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Posted: Tue May 17, 2005 3:51 pm
"Go on! This is YOUR idea!" Feather stood at the curb of the street, gazing at the sidewalk which led up to Bird's house. Alex nodded warily, swiveling on his small feet and facing in the direction of his destination. He took several steps forward, a piece of rolled up paper clutched in his right hand. The boy hung back for a second, looking to his mother for encouragement. "Almost there!" She cheered, nodding happily. Alex smiled, and continued going. He was soon on the porch of the house, seconds from knocking on the door. The falcon Eden winced, and instead, rang the doorbell and placed the scroll down on the welcome mat, and scrambled away. His face was flushed as he stumbled into Feather's arms, and she smiled gently, slowly going back down the street. "Maybe we can try that again...later..." Upon unrolling the piece of paper, one would find this drawing, one obviously done in watercolor:  Scrawled at the bottom is "To Waven, fwom Awex. Flutterboo!"
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Posted: Tue May 17, 2005 4:08 pm
Bird watched, head crumpled onto a waiting hand, with a slow blink or two on the occassion when a particularly exciting squeal woke her.
Raven had discovered Alexander's painting. After goggling over it, grabbing the chicken plushie with haste, and hugging it so much she herself became quite wet, the toddler had demanded for marking tools to draw with herself.
This left Bird in a slight dilemma. Whenever Raven had used her writing utencils in the past week, they had snapped from some strange action caused by the Eden. Hence, she was hiding her last two good pens from her in the hopes of keeping them safe.
Raven had been forced to wait as Bird dashed out of the house, gunned the car (with a full tank of gas!), and made her way speedily to the closest store that carried washable paints.
Bird was interrupted from her thoughts as a large glob of paint sailed through the air and landed smack on her nose. Raven giggled madly, rolling on the floor (much more drenched in the thick liquid than her mother). "Sorry, Mum!" she chirped, having the grace to look apologetic for a moment before completey ignoring the event in favor of her paints.
The woman rolled her eyes heavenward, wiping off the splotch of paint with a finger-- not really noticing she onl managed to smear it --and headed for the couch in the other room. Perhaps a nap would do her some good.
Raven kept jamming the brush onto the paper, putting generous amounts of paint onto it and twisting it around in strange patterns. Here was grass... oh! And there was the rock... where was the sun on that day? Oh well, doesn't eally matter... Ah! Can't forget those...
Bird found her several hours later, snoozing, curled protectively around her drying painting. It pictured a very prominent blue and orange blob (How'd she get orange? I only gave her the three basic colors... Bird thought), standing on a large rock, overlooking a green field. Several butterflies were scattered around-- Raven knew their shape best.
She smiled fondly, gently picking up the toddler-- she was getting heavier -- and headed to the bedroom.
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