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Post by Arden Patricks on Jan 5, 2009 18:11:32 GMT
"Well, Isobel is," I shrug. "She only learned to speak a couple months ago, actually. But Micheal, on the other hand...." Frowning faintly, I stand up to go make sure he isn't doing anything anything he shouldn't. Maybe he's just really absorbed though.
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Post by Logan Andrews on Jan 5, 2009 18:20:29 GMT
That doesn't really need an answer, so I just look after her as she gets up to check on him.
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Post by Arden Patricks on Jan 5, 2009 18:27:52 GMT
Actually, Micheal, right on cue, comes charging back into the room with a wide grin, probably leaving his mess all over the hallway.
"I'm not done playing, Arden, so I'll clean it up when I'm done," he says first, making me wonder why my mind is so easy for children to read. Then he turns to Logan.
"Are you a wizard, mister?"
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Post by Logan Andrews on Jan 5, 2009 18:31:04 GMT
"Ah...yes. Are you?"
I'm not sure if that's an appropriate tone to take with a child...but nor am I particularly sure how old he is, so I'm just going to talk to him as if he was an adult and that'll have to do.
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Post by Arden Patricks on Jan 5, 2009 18:36:52 GMT
"Of course," he says, sounding belligerent and even rolling his eyes. "I'm not s'posed to tell people that, except for Katie 'cause she is too. But she's a girl wizard."
I've decided at this point that this might be entertaining, so I sit down again on the couch while Micheal plops down on the carpet.
"But if anyone ever hurts Issy I get to turn them into toads."
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Post by Logan Andrews on Jan 5, 2009 18:42:50 GMT
I half-grin reluctantly at his reaction, but quickly force my expression neutral again.
"I see. But I doubt you know how to turn someone into a toad at your age, so I wouldn't go making threats like that to anyone until you can follow through."
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Post by Arden Patricks on Jan 5, 2009 18:50:25 GMT
"I could if I had to," he insists, belligerent again. "So don't you ever hurt Isobel, or Katie. Or my mom or Arden. 'Cause after you were a toad I would cook you and eat you."
I cough out a laugh at that while Isobel gasps, and try unsuccessfully to swallow back a grin. "Chivalry runs in the family, obviously."
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Post by Logan Andrews on Jan 5, 2009 18:54:44 GMT
"That doesn't sound very pleasant at all," I agree seriously, "I'll bear that in mind, thank you for the warning."
Glancing over at Arden, I grin very slightly in response, "Evidently, yes. Inherent at birth, apparently."
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Post by Arden Patricks on Jan 5, 2009 19:02:47 GMT
"Hm," I agree, while Micheal nods seriously. I'm still trying not to smile too much because I don't want him to think I'm making fun of him. "I think he's going to end up the sort of Gryffindor who lands himself in the hospital wing a lot, if he doesn't change much in the next half decade."
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Post by Logan Andrews on Jan 5, 2009 19:09:24 GMT
"It certainly looks that way," I agree lightly, trying not to let my distaste for the whole half-blood idiot gryffindor thing show too plainly.
Stupid stereotypes, I suppose, but I can't help it.
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Post by Arden Patricks on Jan 5, 2009 19:13:13 GMT
"Hm," I agree again, wondering if I'm imagining the... something off in Logan's voice.
But Micheal, apparently now satisfied that he's got the guy intimidated, is ready to continue his interrogation. "Do you have any kids?"
I wince faintly. Wonderfully comfortable topic there.
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Post by Logan Andrews on Jan 5, 2009 19:17:02 GMT
I pause, quite unsure about how to proceed now.
It's bad enough how I treated him, and then how I went and lost him...so I'm not sure if it would be alright to just pretend that he doesn't exist or if that would be further insult.
"Yes," I settle on eventually, shrugging slightly.
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Post by Arden Patricks on Jan 5, 2009 19:22:39 GMT
"How many and what're their names?"
"Micheal -" I start, thinking maybe I'll tell him that it's rude to interrogate people... but to be honest I'm kind of curious what he'll say, so instead I just shake my head and leave him looking at my curiously a moment before turning back to Logan.
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Post by Logan Andrews on Jan 5, 2009 19:26:48 GMT
"Just the one..." I answer cautiously, wondering if all small children are this curious, "His name is Finley."
If all small children are this curious then I wonder just how much my sister had to reign hers in when I was around, because they kept well out of my way.
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Post by Arden Patricks on Jan 5, 2009 19:32:38 GMT
"That's a weird name." He wrinkles his nose at the weirdness. "Like Fitzy. Or like a fish.
Isobel giggles, while I raise my eyebrows half-sternly. "You're one to talk, Micheal Maximus."
He shrugs, looking back at Logan with his chin propped up on his hands. "Is he little? Is he here?"
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Post by Logan Andrews on Jan 5, 2009 19:40:45 GMT
"It is," I agree with a shrug, deciding not to go into the whole naming process when I got sick of calling him it and just used my brother's name instead.
"No...he's not little...and no, he's...away. Quite far away. So..." End of topic.
I probably deserve it, of course, but I don't really want to talk about this because it is quite uncomfortable and I really do feel quite...bad, I guess, guilty even.
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Post by Arden Patricks on Jan 5, 2009 19:45:16 GMT
"Oh."
Thankfully, Micheal seems to sag just a little, apparently finding the answers less interesting now and deciding to just give up, at least for a while.
"Sorry about that," I shrug at Logan, once Micheal has wandered over to whisper something to Issy where she's still playing with her doll. I wonder, idly, if it's weird that she has such a longer attention span he does.
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Post by Logan Andrews on Jan 5, 2009 19:47:42 GMT
Yeah...oh.
"That's alright," I shrug in response, not looking at her, "Nosy, isn't he?"
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Post by Arden Patricks on Jan 5, 2009 19:50:06 GMT
"Bit," I shrug. "Kind of matches the fact he doesn't know when to shut up himself, but maybe that runs in the family as well." I pause. "So you still don't know where Finley is, do you?" Not that there'd be any reason he would.
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Post by Logan Andrews on Jan 5, 2009 19:52:28 GMT
"Lovely selection of family traits," I acknowledge, then shrug, "No idea, no."
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Post by Arden Patricks on Jan 6, 2009 4:19:01 GMT
I raise my eyebrows at that, but admit he has a point. Aggressively chivalrous and nosy mixed with an inability to ever shut up when it would be a good idea to do so really is not the best grouping.
"And does that bother you?" I ask next after a moment, genuinely curious.
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Post by Logan Andrews on Jan 6, 2009 9:59:27 GMT
My first response is 'of course it does' but that sounds a little bit weird, because...well, it doesn't sound right.
"I guess," I shrug again, perhaps overly indifferent to make it very clear that it doesn't bother me that much.
I would quite like to know where he is. Just out of interest. Just so I know he's not dead or something, not that I'm entirely sure how I would react if he was.
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Post by Arden Patricks on Jan 7, 2009 4:20:36 GMT
"Hm." I eye him thoughtfully a minute, a bit surprised.
"I could try and find out from the Ministry or something, maybe. I mean, maybe they'd have some sort of record where he is." I shrug slightly.
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Post by Logan Andrews on Jan 7, 2009 10:23:30 GMT
I nod slightly, having to glance in the other direction as I do just to make it very clear that I really am indifferent, even though I'm sort of not.
It's hard...to explain, I mean. I sort of got used to him being around, and I don't like him particularly or care about him in the proper paternal way, but I still don't want it to be my fault if he's lost somewhere or lying in some ditch or...I don't know.
"That'd be good," I say after a brief pause, "Thank you."
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Post by Arden Patricks on Jan 7, 2009 15:54:28 GMT
I nod in acknowledgment even though he can't see me, deciding for once to keep quiet about what I'm thinking. Which is that this is quite a good sign. Good proof that he's really not the old him anymore.
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Post by Logan Andrews on Jan 7, 2009 15:58:15 GMT
I actually feel quite ridiculous now because it probably would have been better to just leave it, let Madeline find him, adamantly maintain that it's not my business.
Fuck it all. I don't care.
So I just shrug again, although this is more in agreement of the mental 'I don't care' sort of thing rather than at her or in response to anything in the conversation.
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Post by Arden Patricks on Jan 7, 2009 16:06:09 GMT
And this is where we'd probably drift off into mildly awkward silence, except for the presence of the small ones. They're not being very helpful though, either, as Micheal just looks up to confirm that we're no longer talking, then goes back to his whispering to Isobel. Which, I suddenly realize, has gone on for a little too long to not inspire paranoia.
"Ah, so... have you two eaten today?" I ask finally to break the silence.
Micheal nods. "We had waffles, before daddy opened the box of things that tried to eat him." Looking worried for the first time, he turns for some reason to Logan rather than me. "Do you think he'll get ate completely or will there be some left?"
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Post by Logan Andrews on Jan 7, 2009 16:10:50 GMT
I have no idea why he's talking to me instead of Arden. I don't know the answer, for one thing, and I don't think I've so far done much to inspire any sort of vibe which would mean I'm some friendly, responsible adult that he's allowed to talk to. Sort of the opposite actually.
But he looks sort of worried, so I just nod, "I'm sure there'll be some left, yeah."
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Post by Arden Patricks on Jan 7, 2009 16:13:17 GMT
"Okay," he nods, smiling and then whispering to Issy again. I stare at him a moment, frowning faintly, and then shake my head.
"I think I might be insulted."
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Post by Logan Andrews on Jan 7, 2009 16:18:00 GMT
"Insulted?" I stop looking over at the small ones in a vaguely mystified way and turn to look at her instead.
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