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Post by dblade26 on Aug 12, 2012 17:23:22 GMT -5
"I'm fine mom. My injuries are mostly closed up by now and the bandages are really warm already." August absentmindedly ran a hand through Darwin's fur and smiled at Qiang and Zhi, though he fully expected Zhi to shrug off his affection. He noticed that Qiang brought the same book August had read to him a few years ago, and the memory made him smile even more.
"I...mostly needed help with the baby." He nodded towards the cradle "I'm not really in good enough condition to look after an infant and to be honest I don't really have any idea what to do about him."
He'd done a little bit of helping after Zhi was born, but he'd only been a year or two older than Qiang then, so it really wasn't much to go off of.
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Post by Krautman on Aug 12, 2012 20:17:30 GMT -5
Qiang smiled back, glad to see his older brother was at least doing okay. Darwin yawned, a bit of smoke leaving her mouth.
"Um... August, if you don't mind me asking... how'd this happen?"
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Post by stratofarius on Aug 12, 2012 21:21:40 GMT -5
"Oh yes! The baby!" Alicia said, standing up and walking over to the cradle. She silently picked up the baby, cradling it in her hands, and sat down on the chair near the bed. Smiling, she looked at the baby, and then at August. "You plan on taking care of him?"
Zhi continued to look at the situation with fake boredom, but once Qiang asked what happened to August, she raised her eyebrows, genuinely interested on the response.
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Post by dblade26 on Aug 12, 2012 21:48:10 GMT -5
"...Umm..." August struggled to come up with a cover story of some sort to tell his brother and sister. The actual details were too gory and sad to tell kids as young as Zhi and Qiang, and even if he thought they could handle it, his mother would probably stab him on reflex for telling them.
"Well, I fell and skidded down a cliff made of knives while wrestling a Tigrex I was going to eat for lunch and landed on my swords, and then a stork dropped that baby on my head, since babies in that world are dropped on parents by birds. So yes, I'm taking care of him. It was a great tasting Tigrex though."
Coming from August, the story seemed almost likely.
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Post by stratofarius on Aug 13, 2012 20:43:18 GMT -5
Alicia mouthed the word "good", an indication that she approved the fake story. Zhi, however, had now climbed up on the bed and sat right besides August. "Did you get the stork later?"
She noticed what she was doing, and shook her head, crossing her arms. Frowning, she muttered. "Not that I care."
Alicia chuckled, and turned back to the baby. "Well, son, guess I have to teach you how you should take care of a baby. But what will be his name? You thought about that, son?"
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Post by dblade26 on Aug 14, 2012 11:44:12 GMT -5
August put an arm around Zhi's shoulder, suppressing a slight wince during the movement.
"Well, you're not allowed to beat up the stork for giving you a baby, even if it's really not fun and hits you right on the head and makes your life harder. I got to eat the Tigrex though."
When Alicia asked her question, August rubbed the back of his head and smiled nervously
"Well, I'm...not really good at naming things. Especially not babies that just wind up on someone's doorstop. A Doorstop baby like him needs a good name."
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Post by Krautman on Aug 14, 2012 22:49:11 GMT -5
Darwin yawned and rolled onto his other side, while Spot jumped up onto the bed to begin licking August's face and wag his tail.
Qiang looked up at the baby.
"So... does this mean I have a baby brother?"
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Post by stratofarius on Aug 15, 2012 4:43:04 GMT -5
"Well, not exactly." Alicia said, caressing the baby's cheeks with her finger. "If August is willing to take him under his wing, then he'd be more of a father than a brother to this baby, which would make you this little guy's uncle."
"Heh, I'd like to see you try being a dad, big brother." Zhi said, not realizing that her "I'm bored" facade had just dropped. She also looked up at the baby, gently poking it in the forehead. "And he also doesn't look like a doorstop. He looks more like a baby doll."
"Gah!" Alicia gasped, smacking herself in the forehead. "I forgot: I have to cook breakfast for you three." She stood up, placing the baby in August's arms. "I'll be right back." And with that, she walked out of the door, taking the basket she brought in. Zhi seemed to change once her mother left the room- in fact, she began to twiddle with the edge of her loose shirt. "Uhm, big brot-- I mean, August... I... uhm..."
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Post by dblade26 on Aug 15, 2012 11:21:45 GMT -5
While still cradling the baby in one arm, August put a hand on Zhi's head, smiling at her and ruffling her hair.
"Don't worry about it. I remember how that was. Mom treats you like a baby and it's annoying 'cause you're not and she won't let you do anything. She probably had to drag you here while you complained about wanting to go to the park or something."
Alicia was a good mother, but she could occasionally be a little overbearing sometimes. August had to wonder if she was still as...stabby as she had been when he was Zhi's age and decided that she must not be. His sister would definitely have a different attitude if her mother was still that way. Then again, the family didn't have a three year old to take care of, so Alicia was probably less stressed out than she was back then too.
"So, you want to try holding him? He's still pretty sleepy right now, and he doesn't seem very fussy. Oh, and he can be a brother instead of a nephew, or whatever else, too. This whole adoption thing is kind of unofficial so far anyway."
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Post by Krautman on Aug 15, 2012 20:07:26 GMT -5
Qiang looked up and tilted his head.
"Um... are you sure it's alright for us to hold him?"
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Post by dblade26 on Aug 16, 2012 14:09:28 GMT -5
August shrugged and smiled at Qiang
"If you don't want to hold him, I won't make you. But I think it's alright."
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Post by stratofarius on Aug 16, 2012 15:41:52 GMT -5
"It's not that... it's just... uhm..."
Zhi frowned, scratching her blond hair. "I read this book recently... about bending. And it said that benders discover their abilities when they're nine... and Mom said I was... the Avatar..." she said, whispering those words, almost as if the entire world couldn't know- because that was, well, the truth. "And I can't bend air, or water... just earth n' fire. I don't want to talk about it with either Mom or Dad, and Qiang can't bend... so... I don't know what to do..."
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Post by Krautman on Aug 16, 2012 22:16:00 GMT -5
Qiang gently took Dollstop, sitting on the bed. Darwin lifted her head and sniffed the baby before going back to curling up by August. Qiang was smiling.
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Post by dblade26 on Aug 16, 2012 23:11:00 GMT -5
August suddenly seemed flustered and blushed slightly as Zhi brought up the subject and said that she didn't want to talk to Alicia about it. He muttered and coughed several times, starting to talk and then clearing his throat again. When he did speak, there was a lot of awkward pausing and some nervous stuttering to his words.
"W-well Zhi...th-there comes a certain time in every bender's life...around nine or so, like you said...when they may start to notice certain changes. The wind feels stronger, water has shapes in it or everything feels hotter or brighter...it's kind of different for everyone. B-but...every bender goes through it, to some degree. Y-you...start to...form connections...with the elements. A-anyway, it's all signs that...your...b-body is ready...to begin to learn how to bend."
August cleared his throat again, then went suddenly clear and emotionless as he began explaining properly the parts more relevant to Zhi's situation
"Bending an element isn't just a series of stances and movements you need to memorize. It's also true that your way of thinking impacts your bending and vice-versa. Earthbenders are very direct...and forceful in the way they deal with life, whereas airbenders are more non-confrontational. Firebenders have to be very emotionally driven and motivated, and waterbenders on the other hand have to be more thoughtful and reactionary to their situations in order to maintain control of their bending.
Approaching bending with the right frame of mind is critical to being a successful bender, and it might be that your personality is just more suited to specific types of bending, so the others are more difficult for you to connect with and use. An Avatar has to be mentally and emotionally flexible to be successful. Also, it might be possible that you're just a late bloomer and aren't ready to learn those elements yet."
August's face went back to normal and he grinned nervously at Zhi, then hugged her.
"Really, i'm not sure i'm the best person to come to for these problems. I've only ever been a metalbender, and mine works a little differently. Anyway, you're destined to be the Avatar, so that means you'll do fine, okay?"
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Post by stratofarius on Aug 17, 2012 10:04:47 GMT -5
Zhi twiddled her fingers as she was hugged. "I guess you're right... maybe I should stop worrying about it and just let... time take care of it all. Yeah, yeah! That's what I'll do! And then, when you come back with the baby all grown up, I'll be a full-fledged Avatar!"
She then smiled back at August, and looked at Qiang and the baby, slowly caressing Darwin's head. "At least one thing won't change: Qi-Qi won't defeat me in a duel." she said with a smug grin.
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Post by Krautman on Aug 17, 2012 10:50:47 GMT -5
"And I'll still be smarter and more awesome." Qiang said, stroking the baby's head.
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Post by dblade26 on Aug 17, 2012 15:59:52 GMT -5
August grinned at his two younger siblings.
"Hey, don't count me out just yet, pretty sure I'm still more awesome than both of you!."
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Post by stratofarius on Aug 17, 2012 22:27:09 GMT -5
"No you won't!" Zhi said as she proceeded to poke both Qiang and August's shoulders. "You two are both dummies. Big big dummies. My dummy brothers!"
And then, she literally glomped August for the first time in the day, revealing a bit of her more childish side. "I'm so glad you're not hurt, Big Bro! When Mom told me what happened to you, I got really scared... but I didn't cry, or anything like that. I knew you would be OK in the end. I think Qi-Qi cried, though..." she said with a teasing smirk.
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Post by dblade26 on Aug 18, 2012 18:32:24 GMT -5
August hugged Zhi and kissed the top of her head, smiling at both of his siblings.
"Obviously YOU didn't cry. You're a big strong almost grown up future Avatar and Qi-Qi's just a seven-year-old little boy. You don't cry about anything ever." August winked at Qiang as he spoke to Zhi and mouthed 'So not true' at his brother.
"You're doing a pretty good job with the baby....even if I don't know what his name should be yet."He tilted his head in thought, trying his best to come up with names.
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Post by stratofarius on Aug 18, 2012 22:17:34 GMT -5
"What about Doll?" Zhi said, looking at the baby. "I mean, he looks like one. And you called him Doorstop Baby earlier, and that's a horrible name. Doorstop Baby! So stupid."
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Post by dblade26 on Aug 19, 2012 10:16:34 GMT -5
"Hmm....I don't know. I guess Doll can work for now since we don't have anything else to call him. I guess when he's old enough we can figure out a better name for him....Not that i'm any good at naming things."
August wasn't sure what to call him, but Zhi was right that it would be really mean to call him Doorstop Baby just because that's what he was. Hopefully his skills at naming children weren't the same as his parenting skills.
"Any other ideas?"
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Post by Krautman on Aug 19, 2012 10:39:24 GMT -5
"I'm seven, why are you asking me?" Qiang asked, turning so Zhi could get a better look at the baby.
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Post by dblade26 on Aug 19, 2012 11:00:57 GMT -5
August shrugged and laid back, trying to adjust his bandages. "Good point. I'm probably still confused from pain and blood loss."
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Post by stratofarius on Aug 19, 2012 17:59:48 GMT -5
"Kids!" came Alicia's voice from downstairs. "Breakfast's ready! Come down to eat!"
Zhi jumped from her bed, but stopped midway. "Oh yeah! How are you going to go down, Big Brother?"
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Post by Krautman on Aug 19, 2012 21:23:00 GMT -5
"Um... I'll take... Doll... downstairs real quick and come back and help you down if you need it, bro..."
Qiang shifted Dollstop in his arms a bit to make sure the baby was still comfortable.
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Post by dblade26 on Aug 20, 2012 12:45:38 GMT -5
August quickly jumped up off the bed and into a standing position."Oh, don't worry about me. Something as small as multiple life threatening injuries isn't about to stop your big bro! Especially not with food involved! ahhaha!-"
August turned suddenly pale as his eyes bulged out of his head, his body swaying back and forth and his face turning blue as he gasped for breath. Luckily Achilles was able to shut off the pain and sustain his body after the first few seconds of struggling, and the oldest Noelle grinned and stuck his tongue out at his siblings to try and pass it off as a practical joke.
" Gotcha! I'll be downstairs in a minute, just give me a second to find a cane or something while you three go ahead, okay?"
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Post by stratofarius on Aug 21, 2012 15:45:28 GMT -5
Zhi nodded, turning to guide Qiang out of the room. "Come on! Let's give the baby his first breakfast!"
-------------------------------------
A few hours later, and well into the afternoon, Alicia finished cooking the meal that August would eat later that night. It was rudimentary, yes- it was just meat with a couple of sauces- but the real chef of the family, John, was too busy going on multiple meetings with Falkon. As she walked back to the living room, she smiled as she saw August sitting on one end of the sofa, already wearing his clothes and with a cane by his side, while the other end was occupied by Zhi, Qiang and the baby, who were all sleeping under a blanket.
"Reading a story, I suppose?" Alicia said, approaching her son. "I've finished cooking the meal for you and placed it on the stove. I don't know how Toph uses a stove, but she has one, so--"
She was interrupted by the sound of the bell ringing. With an eyebrow raised, she walked over to the door, and opened it to reveal a familiar figure, although one she hadn't seen for a while. "Hello, Alicia." Roy said, removing his blue beret and doing his best to smile at her. "It's been a while. How have you been?"
"... F-fine." Alicia said, shaking out of her surprise. "What are you doing, Roy? Don't tell me there's another Multiversal menace? I can't help you, I have to--"
"No, no, everything's fine." he saidn. "We're having a tiny amount of trouble with this group called World Buster Xtraordinaire, but we'll take care of it before they can do anything dangerous. I'm actually here to talk to August."
Alicia took a step back to allow him entrance, and he stepped forward, smiling once he spotted August. He didn't look much different, only a bit older, and he immediately sat on a nearby chair. "How did you know he was here?" Alicia asked, closing the door.
"Your... husband informed me of August's current situation." he said, removing his gloves and putting them on his pocket. "Also, I haven't visited you two in a while, and I needed to see how the kids were doing."
"They're doing fine, thank you very much." Alicia replied, glaring at her former "boss".
"Relax, Alicia. I'm not here to recruit them. The Multiverse is at peace."
"Good." she said, walking back to the kitchen. "I'm going to check on the meat, since I can see you obviously need to talk to him, and not to me."
"Of course." Roy said, nodding and placing his beret on the table. "Ah, August. Long time no see. How are the wounds?"
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Post by dblade26 on Aug 22, 2012 9:21:23 GMT -5
August shrugged, but winced a little at the movement "Not that great, but at least they're healing up right?" He wondered if Roy had some sort of alternative for showing up here, that maybe the soldier was going to use this as an opportunity to try and recruit him. If that was the case, it was best to refuse right away.
"Look Roy, if your visit is about the Brotherhood I'm really not in any condition to go back, even if I wanted to. Besides," He nodded towards the other end of the couch "I'm responsible for a kid now and I speak from experience when I say the Brotherhood isn't exactly the best place for a child to grow up." He suddenly smirked and continued on in a much lighter tone "Unless you're going to suggest raising him with me or something. Then we could probably work something out..."
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Post by stratofarius on Aug 22, 2012 22:12:03 GMT -5
Roy rolled his eyes, resting his chin on his hand. "Please, August, I am well aware of your little jokes regarding me. I simply came here to talk about the child you seem to have "adopted". Do you have any plans for him, August? Do you think you can take care of him?"
He began to tap his fingers on the armchair. "I'm not here to try to recruit you for what seems like the fiftieth time. I just want to make sure that what happened with you and..." he sighed, emitting the word Kios. "... won't happen again."
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Post by dblade26 on Aug 23, 2012 12:00:25 GMT -5
Rather than getting angry outright, August just leaned back on the couch and closed his eyes in irritation "So, you mean to say you think I'll get possessed and eaten by some world traveling psychopathic monster with a god complex? Or are you trying to suggest I'll abandon a child to seek after and consume ancient artifacts of power that I already know will destroy me?" He made sure to emphasize how bizarre both ideas seemed as he spoke.
"Kios was a deeply flawed person even if he thought he cared about me, and we parted ways when we agreed I'd found a better family. I'm not his son anymore and I won't make his mistakes. Even if I did, this kid wouldn't be alone. He has my family to take care of him, and even the Brotherhood to fall back on if it becomes necessary. Now, is that all you wanted?"
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