Babysitting

[Arden Patricks]

"First time anyone's decided I should be co-parent of their kid," I mutter, then decide that sounds a little too resentful. "Do you suppose anybody would notice if I conjured up a stroller somehow? Katie's dad is on the Muggle-Worthy Excuse Committee anyway, so that should help."

[Ian Hunt]

I'm not sure how exactly I'm supposed to respond to her first comment, so I just shift my weight from one foot to the other uncomfortably so I don't have to be too obvious about this and clear my throat or something.
"I shouldn't think anyone would. They're all too wrapped up in themselves," I shrug, "But yes, I should think that should help if you did get noticed."

[Arden Patricks]

I bite my lip slightly, then shake my head, too much of an ingrained rule-follower to think about it with any seriousness. "Probably would only manage to squish someone with it anyway. I've never really bothered to use magic much."

[Ian Hunt]

I nod slightly at that, even though I can hardly empathise. I use magic more than I did in school now that I'm out of it.
"Sorry, maybe I shouldn't be keeping you here if you need to get her home and put her down or something," I shrug slightly.

[Arden Patricks]

"Mm... probably not," I agree, glancing down at the small one just as she yawns and blinks her eyes open. "She's not that heavy though or anything," I shrug, somewhat reluctant to cut this meeting short now when we haven't really talked much in a while and I don't remember why I was annoyed with him. I mean, I do remember why, but not why it was so important. On the other hand I probably shouldn't kidnap all these children for so long.

[Ian Hunt]

"Which way are you heading?" I ask.
I'm not quite willing to say goodbye to her yet, because I really have no idea when the next time I see her will be and I don't like that thought very much, but standing on a street corner with so many kids probably isn't the best idea and is quite inhibiting to the general public trying to get past, I'm sure.
But seeing as I don't actually know what I'm doing or where I'm going, I can walk with her a little way, hopefully. Then maybe I'll remember by the time I actually get round to saying goodbye to her.

[Arden Patricks]

"That way, I think," I say, nodding off to my right. I really should be getting them all back there. "What about you two?" I ask, glancing down at Abby and Isobel again, pretty sure I've asked this already but I think I got districted.

[Ian Hunt]

"We're not entirely sure," I shrug slightly as if this is a completely normal thing that any person could manage to pull off, "Mind if we accompany you a little way?"

[Arden Patricks]

"Not at all." I shake my head, half-smiling bemusedly, and turn to Micheal and Katie. "Hey, munchkins. We're going back home now, so you can clear a path for us, all right?"

Katie nods smartly, but Micheal looks at Ian and wrinkles his noise. "Who's that?" he asks, apparently just noticing his presence and pointing an accusing finger. "That's not your boyfriend, is it?"

[Ian Hunt]

"Thanks," I grin slightly, turning my head and half-holding a hand out in Abby's direction so she'll get the picture that she needs to get up now even if she doesn't end up taking my hand.

I can't help but laugh slightly at that, "Definitely not. Give your Aunt a little credit there, Micheal."
I hope that this is the right name, but I'm pretty sure that it is.

[Arden Patricks]

"What he said," I agree, nodding at Ian. "Boys are icky anyway, Micheal."
Katie laughs at that, and he scowls very briefly before grinning, apparently in agreement, while I turn to find Isobel already standing solemnly and holding out a hand for me to take once I've shifted the still-blinking Melody into my left arm. It's creepy sometimes how quietly polite that girl is.

[Ian Hunt]

"I'm afraid it's true," I nod, "Sucks for us," I add to Michael with a small shrug, taking hold of Abby's hand once she's nodded at Isobel and seems satisfied that the gesture is enough to end the silent conversation.

[Arden Patricks]

"Nah," he shrugs, still grinning cheerfully. "We're superheroes!" And he spreads his arms out, pretending to fly down the sidewalk in front of us, Katie almost immediately copying him.
I shake my head again, and shift Isobel around to my other side once I realize that otherwise she can't be beside Abby if I stay on the right side of the sidewalk like I always have to.

[Ian Hunt]

I laugh slightly, watching them in a half-amused and half-weirded out sort of way, before shaking my head and deciding that there's really nothing to say about that at all.
Abby holds out her other hand wordlessly to Isobel, in that strangely intense 'you're my friend and now just must stay that way' sort of manner that she has. I'm sure the next time Abby has a talkative spell, everybody will be hearing about her new friend.

[Arden Patricks]

I glance down at Isobel and Abby again as Issy smiles faintly and grasps the offered hand.
I shake my head again. "You suppose they're peaking telepathically?"

[Ian Hunt]

I glance down at Abby and Isobel and shudder slightly, "I hope not. That'd be quite creepy."

[Arden Patricks]

I laugh slightly. "Creepier than if they're just not speaking and friends anyway?" I ask. "Or are you just worried they're plotting against you?"

[Ian Hunt]

"They really do plot," I laugh slightly, "You still don't believe me on that count?"

[Arden Patricks]

"'Course not." I laugh slightly, shaking my head, then raise my voice slightly to address the two in front of us. "Hey, you two - do you plot against your parents?"

Katie turns back briefly and shakes her head solemnly, then ruins the effect with a mischievous grin, while Micheal turns around, somehow managing to skip while walking backwards and shrug, shaking his head. "Only all the time."

[Ian Hunt]

"You see?" I nod, grinning slightly, "What more proof do you need?"

[Arden Patricks]

I laugh slightly, shaking my head. "He thinks he's a superhero and dinosaur. Do you consider that proof?"

[Ian Hunt]

"I think that if he wants to be a superhero and a dinosaur who are we to judge?" I laugh slightly, "I still consider it proof."

[Arden Patricks]

"Openminded of you," I say approvingly, tilting my head. "But fine, maybe they plot. I don't think Isobel or Abby do."

[Ian Hunt]

"Thank you," I nod, "Aha. I knew you'd admit it sooner or later. But no, not Isobel or Abby. Not yet anyway."

[Arden Patricks]

"I said maybe," I shrug. "That was always a possibility but I'm still not sure I buy it." I glance down at the two small girls again. "Yes... definitely not yet. Even if they are telepathic."

[Ian Hunt]

"Maybe is the closest I've ever got to you agreeing with me on this, so I'll take it, thanks," I grin slightly, "You know they could be. My nephew is telepathic."

[Arden Patricks]

I frown slightly, wondering if he's in one of his weirder, more random moods at the moment or actually serious. "Is he now...."

[Ian Hunt]

I laugh slightly, "He is, really. My sister's a reader and he is too."

[Arden Patricks]

"Oh, right." I close my eyes briefly, shaking my head, because I think maybe somewhere along the line I knew that. "Mm... that must be entertaining."

[Ian Hunt]

I shake my head, "It's disturbing. They only speak out loud for the benefit of visitors, otherwise they could just think at each other. Creepy."