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How'd This Happen!? [Mira x Flish]
Robert looked over the paperwork. This was the house that he'd approved. This kid didn't seem the type to take a child for psychological study, though. Oh well. He shrugged and walked to the door, holding the little girl's hand as he knocked using the hand that held his briefcase. Looking down at the girl, he took in her appearance. She didn't look like the typical child that was put into this agency. She wasn't cut up or hurt at all. She looked normal, perhaps a little chunky.
The girl's brown hair was soft, and her brown eyes were curious. Her father had given her an antique pince-nez, and she wore it pinched to her nose as she looked around. She wore too-large jeans and a t-shirt that was almost too small-- both given to her by the agency after they deemed her previous outfit not at all appropriate. Something about a hooker vest and a cut-off skirt. Robert frowned. Maybe she was crazy in that way... or due to that. He waited for the door to open. |
"Coming! Don't leave!"
After that frenzied call, there was silence for a few more minutes. The house's occupant, Julian, was busy attempting to cook himself something to eat. He was a terrible cook, and from the way things were going, it was going to be Chinese takeout once more tonight. After five minutes of struggling to get everything in place and not burn the noodles, he gave up, grumbling a string of profanities under his breath and turning the oven off. What greeted his visitors was a tall, flustered-looking man with disheveled white-blonde hair and piercing arctic blue eyes. He was attractive...but that was hindered by the distinct smell of burnt angel hair noodles radiating off of his clothing. He stared at the two strangers blankly for a moment, and then arched an eyebrow. "Uh...can I help you?" |
"I'm Robert. I was here last month to inspect your house. This is Julie. She'll be living with you indefinitely. I have some papers for you. They detail your payments and what is required for you to do. She is not to have contact with her family or any friends she might know how to contact." the man explained, pushing the three year old forward.
The child ran into the house. "Where's my room? How big is it? Why does it smell like bad stuff in here?" she asked, giggling excitedly. "Robert said that it's like a really long camping trip but it's also like a sleep-over! What does shit crap mean?" Brown eyes looked up at the man eagerly, waiting for his answer. Robert groaned a little, applying his hand to his face as he shoved the briefcase towards Julian. "Here are the papers... There's a bit of money in there for food until your pay comes in a month." |
Julian was about to protest, but shifted aside, uncertainly, to let Julie inside the house. "...Um." He sighed, scratching his head. "I have to watch her? I'm really in no position to watch her--feverish job hunting. But if I have to, and she has nowhere else to go, I guess I will..."
He fumbled with the briefcase as he glanced down at Julie. "There's a spare bedroom upstairs--it's pretty big. I'll take you up there in a minute. As for the smell, I failed at making something to eat, haha." He frowned at her last question. "I can give you a dictionary." |
"You did the paperwork, you get to watch her." the man said with a nod, walking out. It was hard enough finding someone to fill out the paperwork, they didn't need him saying no. The man walked to his black car and got in, driving away. The girl was with her new legal guardian. Things would be fine. He would go see them if reports weren't filed on her mental issues.
The girl frowned. "You're a bad cook, huh?" she asked, leaning forward and looking up. "That's ok, cuz I can cook if you read me the directions! I only know little words so far, because Father made me wait to learn." she pouted. "You'll teach me fast, right? I wanna learn to read lots of words!" She giggled, then paused and tilted her head. "So, why'd you want to look after crazies, Mister? Or should I call you Dad? What should I call you?" |
While he was walking away, Julian folded his arms across his chest and stuck his tongue out, like a small child. Once the man had left, Julian stared down at his new charge, closing the front door.
"Oh. Oh, no, I don't want to make you cook if you really don't want to," he replied, at once. He didn't have much experience with small children. He didn't have any siblings, and his extended family didn't have any small children...not the ones he associated with on a regular basis, anyway. "I can teach you, though I'm not a great teacher. I could find someone to teach you, too...buy books..." He seemed very much out of his element. For someone so tall and confident-looking, it was almost comical to see. "Julian's all right. Or Mister, if you don't want to use my name. Mister makes me feel old though, ha..." He didn't answer her other question. He didn't know... |
The girl smiled. "Ok, Julian! Your name is like mine! Actually... really a lot the same cuz it's just like my big brother's!" The girl grinned widely, nodding. "Do you like tacos? Can we go to McDonald's?" she bounced excitedly. "I really like mac and cheese with bacon, but you can't cook, so let's get McDonald's! I like the chicken nuggets, and the fries, and a shake!" She was so excited. Suddenly she gripped his pant leg. "Come oooon!" she demanded.
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Julian was inwardly glad he had some sense of inner patience, otherwise he wouldn't be able to deal with how hyper she was.
"We can go to McDonald's if you'd like. But we have to get you settled in, first...I have to show you where your room is," he reminded her, temptingly. The guest room was a plain one, with creamy white walls and blue carpeting. It had good potential, and was certainly big enough for her. |
"I like it!" she cried with a giggle. "Robert said that the agency will pay for my clothes every few months. He's gonna bring more clothes for me, too... I wonder if he'll help me get my stuff moved in... I dunno if it's allowed, acshully." she giggled, then ran to the bed and jumped onto it, flopping onto her back, then sitting and standing. It wasn't long after that point that she began to jump. "Wee!"
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Julian didn't mind. He watched her, with a smile on his face. As long as he didn't lose his patience, they would get along just fine. He scratched his head. "Do you want to go to McDonald's? I can order something and have it delivered, too."
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"McDonald's!" she cried, eyes bright at the suggestion. The girl bounced, then ran to the bedroom door. "Let's go! Does it have a play place?" she asked, gripping his hand and bouncing, her chubby fingers wrapped around the comparatively large hand.
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Julian held her hand, and led her out of the room to fetch his wallet and coat. He would clean the mess in the kitchen later--he didn't want to deal with it right now. "I believe it does. I don't go there very often, haha. I usually have things delivered."
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"Father always said delivery food is the sign of laziness... Are you lazy? Lazy is bad, it makes people fat." She giggled innocently, pulling the jeans up as she walked with him, eager to get going. "I wanna play in a play place!" Again, she bounced with eagerness.
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"I have the right to be lazy with my food...I can't cook, for one. And during the day, I'm usually out trying to scrounge up a good job..." Upon saying this, Julian's spirits sank again. The last thing he wanted to do was work some terrible minimum-wage job...but he was starting to get so desperate that soon, he wouldn't have a choice.
He quickly shook that momentary depression out of his mind. Once he had his wallet and coat, he started heading outside, to his old car. It was a nice, reliable car...just old. |
The girl bounced over to the passenger-side door. "Well, the goviement will be sending you money now, so that might help!" she suggested, testing the door to see if it was open. She wanted to go and she wanted to go now.
A neighbor called out to Julian suddenly. "Julian! I have some work if you'd like a little extra money!" came the sound of an elderly neighbor as the woman waddled over. Since Julian had moved in, this woman had taken him in almost and offered him little jobs around her house that she couldn't do anymore. Of course, she did pay him, usually more than the job was worth. |
Julian paused at the driver's side door, glancing over at his neighbor and smiling. "Really?" He was ready to leave, but he wanted to hear her out, first. He needed money...desperately. He was almost on the verge of losing his home, and being homeless was something that terrified him to no end.
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"Yes. It's getting to that point that my gutters are getting clogged with leaves. Could you clean them? I'll pay a hundred... you can wait until after you finish taking that cute little girl out for dinner." she said with a smile. "I didn't know you signed up to be a foster parent."
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"I kind of didn't," Julian replied, confusion once again dotting his expression. He was still unsure of what exactly had happened, but at this point, he didn't quite feel like questioning it. He sighed, and then nodded. "I'll clean them for you."
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"You didn't?" the woman looked confused, then nodded. "Alright. I'll leave the ladder out for you." she said with a smile and another nod. "You have fun with that sweet little girl."
The little girl bounced from foot to foot. "Let's go, I'm hungry!" |
Julian didn't attempt to explain. In fact, he really didn't know how to explain. Instead, he nodded and smiled. "Thanks. I will." Once she was gone, he turned back to Julie, leaning down a bit and patting her head affectionately. "Be patient. The food'll taste better if you're patient." He hopped into his car, starting it up.
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"Baw..." she huffed. "I want food!" She began jumping around and stamping one of her feet. She yanked the door open and climbed in, flopping onto the seat unceremoniously. "Food!" she cried excitedly, bouncing on the seat. She didn't buckle before looking at him expectantly.
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"You'll get it, but you have to wait for it. It's not like I have a magical teleporting car." Julian paused, then grinned. "Though that'd be pretty sweet." He patted her shoulder, affectionately. "Buckle up, and then we can go. I don't want you flyin' through the windshield if I have an accident."
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The girl huffed and buckled up, pushing the shoulder strap behind herself. It otherwise would press against her neck unconfortably. "Hurry up!" she whined, showing signs of crankiness kicking in, kicking her feet against the seat. She would need a booster seat.
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"Be patient. There's a speed limit, after all. I can't afford to get a ticket," Julian muttered, a hint of fading patience in his voice. He was hungry, he had a big mess to clean up when he got home...usually he would have more patience, but he had too much on his mind.
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Julie pouted, holding her breath in puffed up cheeks. Her stomach grumbled unhappily under her shirt. "Hungry..." she pouted, lower lip jutting out comically. She looked almost like a little piggy with a human face.
[[ Sorry it's so short. XD; ]] |
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