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Post by stratofarius on Aug 23, 2012 15:16:56 GMT -5
"I am simply showing my concern for your well-being, August." Roy said, taking a more serious tone. "After all, even a strong minded person like you can lose to certain types of... enemies. In fact, I've been researching more and more about your Weapon abilities, and I've discovered some interesting... things. I know how much of a threat you can be to your enemies and your friends when the right strings are pulled."
He leaned forward, now smiling. "Anyway, I'm here to remind you that just because you're not working for me, it doesn't mean I don't worry about you. And, of course, when the kid is old enough, he is also welcome to join the Brotherhood."
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Post by dblade26 on Aug 23, 2012 21:49:25 GMT -5
August shrugged and laid down on the couch, staring at the ceiling. "Well, it's pretty obvious now that I can't win against everyone, isn't it?" he touched his bandages for effect, adjusting one slightly "Anyway, all that is probably pretty far off, even if it's nice to see that you care after all.
He frowned as he thought back to old times "So, I'm guessing that remark means you no longer take child soldiers in the Brotherhood?"
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Post by stratofarius on Aug 24, 2012 22:03:14 GMT -5
"Of course not." Roy said, tapping his fingers against each other. "I'm not sure why you asked, though. My experience with child soldiers hasn't been that good. Technically, we did have a few children under with us, but those were extreme conditions - no parents, found in desolate planet with dying father... we managed to find them a place to live and a family to call their own."
"And you should know what I'm talking about, August. Witches." He frowned slightly at the word. "I've been reading about them... if they ever knew about your special Weapon abilities... or worse, Toph's special Meister abilities... well, things would get really bad really fast."
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Post by dblade26 on Aug 24, 2012 22:22:45 GMT -5
"Well obviously. A Witch did this to me. But I killed her and a lot of other witches too, so I don't see what the problem is, Roy. Sure, they have really strong magical powers and they live practically forever, but if you stick enough blades in them they die like everything else."
He adjusted his bandages again and glanced over at the sleeping kids to make sure Roy hadn't woken them up. "I sort of think you're overreacting."
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Post by stratofarius on Aug 24, 2012 22:24:17 GMT -5
"I've read about their experiments, August. About the machines and beings they create. Don't you think they'd be interested to experiment on a Weapon that can control metal in his human form, and in a Meister who can control the earth?" Roy said, paying no attention to the children.
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Post by dblade26 on Aug 25, 2012 12:52:48 GMT -5
"Maybe, but all the Witches are in Soul Eater's world. As long as I stay clear of there we shouldn't have to worry about it, right?" August waved a hand dismissively, trying to relax despite Roy's apparent worries.
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Post by stratofarius on Aug 26, 2012 18:29:23 GMT -5
Roy sighed, picking up the beret and placing it on his head. "Just... be careful, August." he said, standing up. "I'd hate to see one of my past subordinates on the other side of the battlefield." Without saying another word, Roy left the house.
"What did he want to talk about?" Alicia said, walking out of the kitchen. "Did he try to recruit you again?" She asked, gently taking the baby from both Zhi and Qiang's hands, who had fallen asleep hugging him.
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Post by dblade26 on Aug 27, 2012 12:42:03 GMT -5
August shook his head in response "He just wanted to tell me to be more careful and to see if I was sure about raising the baby and needed help with anything, that's all."
At least part of that had been true, anyway. He didn't want to worry his mother with some of what Roy had said and he was too worn out for another one of those conversations, especially with someone who could be a lot scarier than Roy.
He looked over at Alicia and the baby with a worried expression "He's okay right? They didn't suffocate him with hugs or wrap him up with them too tight or elbow him in their sleep or anything like that?"
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Post by stratofarius on Aug 28, 2012 21:34:44 GMT -5
"No." she replied, smiling at the sleeping baby. "It was quite cute actually. The way they were hugging him... it was almost like they were protecting the baby."
She caressed the baby's cheeks and shook her head. "I'm sorry- rambling on and on again. It's just that... there's a weird feeling whenever you first hold them. It's like suddenly, your objective in life is to see them grow up and live a happy life, filled with positive auras... well, that bit's from Ty Lee." She walked over to August, placing the baby in his arms. "There. Don't you feel it?"
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Post by dblade26 on Aug 31, 2012 7:40:33 GMT -5
August took the baby and cradled him close to his chest, smiling at the warm feeling he got just from that.
"Yeah, I think I know what you mean. Ever since I picked this little guy up that day it felt like keeping him safe and seeing him turn into someone great someday was my whole world. I don't know about positive auras though. Ty Lee's kind of odd sometimes, but their kids seem pretty happy I guess." It was really starting to sink in that this was more or less his kid now.
"You sure you're ready to be a grandmother yet?" The Demon Sword said in a mocking tone "Zhi seemed pretty excited to be an auntie for some reason but..."
Even though he was just teasing, August got ready to dodge and dull inevitable knives.
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Post by stratofarius on Aug 31, 2012 22:47:04 GMT -5
"Hey!" Alicia said, sitting besides August on the sofa. "I don't mind being a grandmother, and I'm not that old, you understand?"
She chuckled, and stared at August and the baby. And then... Alicia started to cry. But they weren't tears of sadness, of despair, of anything like that, but tears of happiness. It seemed like the act of just seeing August holding the baby made something click in her heart.
"I'm s-sorry." she said, chuckling and wiping away the tears. "It's just... seeing you like that... made me realize you're all grown up now. And that soon, the same will happen to your brother and your sister... and all of you will have your own families... and... it's just... I-I never expected this. From the moment I started to travel across the Multiverse... I never thought I would be able to a-achieve such... h-h-happiness..."
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Post by dblade26 on Sept 1, 2012 10:16:47 GMT -5
Not sure what the right thing to say was in a situation like this or even if he should say anything at all, August rocked the baby with one arm and used his free arm to wrap his mother into a hug.
He looked down at the baby he was holding, and it sunk in for the first time that this child was his son as much as he was Alicia and John's son. He hoped he could be even a fraction as good a parent to this baby as they were to him.
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Post by stratofarius on Sept 3, 2012 19:35:16 GMT -5
"I-I'm sorry." Alicia said, still sobbing, but smiling. "You probably don't think I'm the... "awesome mother" I was back then. Of course, lots of things changed..."
She retracted from the hug, caressing August's cheeks. "You grew up so fast, son... I wish... I wish you could spend more time with us. M-maybe live with us. I could see you and your son grow up. And then maybe you would find a woman, someone you could love, and then... oh, look at me, I'm sounding like an old woman again."
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Post by dblade26 on Sept 4, 2012 21:10:27 GMT -5
August smiled at his mother "Oh please, you're not old. If anything I'm way too young to have a kid yet. I mean Toph doesn't even have one and she's like six years older than me!" August laughed nervously, still a little overwhelmed by the whole situation even if he accepted it now.
"You're definitely still an awesome mother too! You handled this whole situation way better than I did and didn't even hesitate for a second about taking him into the family even though I don't know the first thing about parenting and you're already taking care of Zhi and Qiang. No mother could've done a better job with me either."
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Post by stratofarius on Sept 4, 2012 22:30:01 GMT -5
"... Thanks, son." she replied, calming down. "I'm such an emotional wreck these days. It's just that right before you appeared... well..."
She gave Zhi and Qiang a glance, to make sure they were sleeping. "Me and your father were thinking about having another child. A fourth Noelle. Maybe a brother Qiang can take care of, or a sister that can look up to Zhi. I-I just don't know, though, what with you now having to take care of a child too..."
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Post by dblade26 on Sept 5, 2012 18:13:49 GMT -5
August was surprised at Alicia's news but he supposed his parents wanting another child somewhat made sense. Alicia and John had both been really young when they adopted him and had Zhi, so they certainly weren't too old for it.
"Don't worry about that. I'll be able to get more help than just you guys for looking after the baby, so if having another kid is something you really want to do you shouldn't not do it just because of something like this."
the Demon Sword was sure that at least one of his friends in the multiverse would be willing to help him out at least a bit...or maybe even provide a stable environment to raise a baby in until August could sort things out.
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Post by stratofarius on Sept 6, 2012 23:14:33 GMT -5
"Thank you, son. You don't know how much those words mean to me... it's actually kinda funny. Ten years ago, I would be the one giving you this speech. And now... here we are."
She looked at the window, and frowned as she saw the sun setting. "Well, I think I should be going. Toph told me Sokka would come by with Katara for another healing session..." she leaned forward, kissing August's forehead and caressing his cheek. "You take care of yourself, son."
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Post by dblade26 on Sept 7, 2012 19:40:57 GMT -5
"I will mom, don't worry." August smiled at her, then down at the tiny life he was holding. If Alicia was even half as good of a grandmother as she was a mother, neither of them would have anything to worry about.
Alicia was, after all, one of the small group of people who had gotten him to trust others again and had raised him as her own son along with John when they were already expecting a baby, and there was no question in August's mind that she was the best mother he could possibly have.
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Post by stratofarius on Sept 9, 2012 12:14:56 GMT -5
Three weeks later...
"There." Katara said, standing up and bending the water back into the bowl. "That should be the last one."
For the past three weeks, every night, August had to sit through a hour-long healing session. Not that there was any problem with that- sometimes, he had the company of his family and some of Toph's friends- but the healing sessions always had that moment right at the end where it felt like his wounds were being submerged in cold water. But thankfully, it looked like that was about to end, as the last session wrapped up.
"So he can remove the bandages now?" Toph asked, cradling the baby and observing the procedure at the same time. She wasn't the only one in the room: Alicia, John and their kids were also there, although Zhi looked like she was half-asleep on the couch.
"Yes. The wounds should be gone by now, but he still needs to rest for one or two days before he can go back to travelling."
"That's good, that's good." Alicia said. "No problem with staying a bit more here, is there? And besides, I think the baby likes the company." She casually pointed towards Toph. The baby was grabbing her finger, which prompted an awkward stare from the Police Chief, almost as if she didn't know what to do.
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Post by dblade26 on Sept 9, 2012 22:38:55 GMT -5
"I guess I can stay for a few more days, sure!" August winced as the feeling of his wounds being immersed in cold water washed over him, but he worked through it.
"It's...not like I have a real plan for all this once i'm back on my feet, and you're all that baby's family as much as you are mine, so it'll be nice to have you guys keeping us company."
He leaned back and tried to catch his breath for a while, content with the situation.
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Post by Krautman on Sept 10, 2012 20:12:28 GMT -5
John smiled as he watched the baby. But August had recovered and the Noelles were headed back to Gaoling very soon.
"Hey, works for me... we'll get you back to Gaoling, set you up in your old room for a while. Everything's like you left it- it's even still got that painting you bought with your allowance on Ember Island, you remember that?"
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Post by dblade26 on Sept 11, 2012 9:29:16 GMT -5
"Ehehehe, you guys really kept an old thing like that? I mean, it's kind of nice to have something sentimental and nostalgic around, but i'm just kind of surprised is all."
Since he couldn't travel, it would be nice to have a familiar place to stay, and he had to admit he couldn't crash on his big sister's couch forever either. Plus, this would mean being closer to his family for a while, which was always nice.
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Post by stratofarius on Sept 11, 2012 22:09:07 GMT -5
"We don't really change the house that much. Plus, Zhi likes it for some reason. When there's a thunderstorm outside, she always goes up there and sleeps in your bed." Alicia said, shrugging.
"Moooom!" Zhi said, standing up and blushing. "That's not true! Tell him it's not true!"
"Anyway, after your two-day rest, you can go back to travelling. But whatever it was that caused those injuries..." Katara said, taking the bowl back to the kitchen. "I suggest you don't do it again."
Alicia gave August a worried glance, while Zhi was now busy repeating to herself "it's not true, it's not true, it's not true" while trying to look grumpy.
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Post by dblade26 on Sept 11, 2012 22:33:10 GMT -5
"Eh? Little Sis here is still scared of storms? Well, you're still young, so I guess it's okay anyway." August said with a grin.
"I still remember how cute you always are when big thunderstorms come, sneaking up to my room so you won't have to be alone and listening to me tell you stories to try and forget the storm outside" He mentioned, half-teasingly and half with sincere nostalgia "It's okay though, i'm sure that now it's just that you just don't want the wind and stuff from the storm to mess up my room while i'm gone."
He wasn't sure how well his attempt to be reassuring went.
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Post by stratofarius on Sept 14, 2012 22:47:27 GMT -5
"Y-yeah!" Zhi said, nodding her head, but still blushing. "Yeah, I don't want it to mess up your room. I'm not scared."
"Right, right." Alicia said, caressing her daughter's hair. "August, you should go and get your things, get ready to leave? I'd like to get back to Gaoling as soon as possible, don't want the kids to miss a day of school."
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Post by Krautman on Sept 15, 2012 22:23:05 GMT -5
John smiled and patted Zhi's shoulder. "Hey, I was still afraid of thunder when I was twenty. It's a perfectly normal thing."
Qiang had gotten the baby from Toph and was now sitting on the couch with him. "Mom and dad even kept the same crib me and Zhi used. You can use that for him, right August?"
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Post by dblade26 on Sept 16, 2012 19:44:37 GMT -5
"Sure, that should work fine Qiang." August was glad that his parents still had things like that around considering otherwise he'd have no idea what to do. Although considering Alicia had told him that she and John were planning on having another baby soon it certainly made a lot more sense that they had a crib.
"Um...I mean, if Mom and Dad don't mind, obviously. This'll only be for a little while, until I figure things out in terms of what to do with this little guy to set up a safe home for him. He's a little too young for adventuring after all. But i'm sure I can work something out on my own."
August still remembered that Alicia had been worried about having another child when he was struggling to raise one of his own and was trying his best to reassure them without giving anything away to his younger siblings.
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Post by stratofarius on Sept 16, 2012 23:37:09 GMT -5
"We don't mind!" Alicia said, patting August in the head. "Now go get your stuff, young man. We should be leaving soon, even if we don't really have to worry about time, since, you know, we have the train."
"Leaving already?" Toph asked.
"Well, yes. I really need to get back home, it should be quite dusty by now. Also, the kids have school tomorrow, and we need to get August set up, and you need to get back to work and--"
"Hey, Mrs. Stabby, don't worry about it." Toph said, giving Alicia a comforting pat in the back. "Just make sure Blabberbrother doesn't trip and open his wounds, alright?"
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Post by dblade26 on Sept 18, 2012 20:02:40 GMT -5
"Tch, as if I'd really do that." August waved the comment off derisively as he ran up the stairs two at a time, almost tripping at the very top and barely catching himself. He stabilized himself at the top of the stairs before going on to get the rest of his things and bring them downstairs.
"Right, so that's everything and i'm all ready to go!" He hugged Toph as he finished speaking, regardless of whether she wanted him to or not. "Thanks for helping me out, Big Sis. I'll be sure to visit soon and hopefully even have a name for the little guy all worked out. You're gonna make an awesome aunt!"
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Post by stratofarius on Sept 18, 2012 22:13:01 GMT -5
"Hey!" Toph said, shrugging off the hug with a glare. Her glare soon turned into a smile as she slung her arm around August's neck and messed his hair. "You don't need to say thanks! Just don't do anything stupid again, alright?!"
"Honey, could you go get the train?" Alicia asked, placing August's things in a backpack.
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