An alternative to daycare [Finished]

[Shinigami]

Maxwell walked down the streets of the capital city, well aware of the rambunctious bundle of five...kittens? fawns? kids. The bundle of kids that were following after him, more-or-less obediently. He was taking them all to one of the major parks within the city to let them romp and play for a while so that he could work on some of his...personal projects. He'd even volunteered to watch over whatever other kids of various breeds that were brought, and he was fairly sure that his boss was bringing her other children as well. So, the kids could meet their half-siblings. That would be good. And he'd get a chance to practice some. The feline had found that raising five kids - a rather unexpected number, to his mind - was far more tiring than raising a pair of younger siblings, but it was still rewarding. Even if Solo, at least, was a brat who needed a reality check before he grew up.

Said cat-deer was almost sulking along in his mother's footsteps, having been threatened with a leash on more than one occasion to keep him from straying too far away. It wasn't that he wanted to be mean to anyone, it was just that there were so many things to do and see! Who wanted to stay in one place and just obey whatever was said? However, Maxwell kept a watchful eye on all of his children, especially rambunctious, brash Solo.

Helen, on the other hand, almost seemed to be asleep as she wandered after the group as a whole. Her star-manacles didn't actually impede her pace too much, especially considering that Maxwell kept his pace fairly slow, conscious of shorter legs. Her eyes were half-closed, and only occasionally did she actually look up to see where they were going. Instead she focused mostly on the tip of one of her siblings' tails, following its direction instead of looking for her own.

It didn't take too long before they arrived at the park, and Maxwell shooed them all off to play as they would, as long as they stayed within the boundaries of the park. Solo had to stay a bit closer, always within eyesight. Then he shrugged his burden to the ground, a rough napsack that carried an abundance of various materials, and began pawing through it as best he could, lining up things, eyeing others, and generally trying to figure out the best configurations. He couldn't wait until he had hands.

[Vyn]

Prancing along gracefully behind her mother would be the ever illustrious Cecilia, a sight to behold even at such a young age. Ophelia was never sure how it'd happened, how she'd discovered sensuality like hers but she assumed it must've been a Diamond thing. She was a natural born charmer, with an inherent vanity that just made her perfect for the seductive arts. Regardless of the fact that she was what some called 'Jail Bat', Cecilia strolled along to the right of her father casting playful winks at whoever glanced her way.

The little thing was vivacious to say the least, but at least she wasn't much of a handful. So long as she could bat her big eyelashes up at her Mom then she happily obeyed all orders and requests given to her. Listening to her Father, however, that was completely different. Cecilia simply had a problem taking orders from other women!

However, Ophelia couldn't be further from her mind right now. She was here with her family and her beloved Mum, and she was being let loose in a park full of people she hadn't met yet. She just couldn't contain herself!


Pulling up in the rear of the lil five-some would be a rather delicate looking feline. His bonds were far more constrictive than the golden rings and cords which bound his sister though not at all in the same way. His head was held a bit higher than most, unable to lower it quite like some others could, but the real binding would turn out to be far more emotional than physical.

His first big meal had taught him the punishment of his bindings, especially the one around his middle, and had left the boy unable to take in more than the smallest amounts of food in each sitting. He had a painfully irrational fear of ever gaining weight that had left him not only maintaining his slender weight of when the wires were put on but to swiftly beginning to waste away. Even though the bands were slowly loosening, he simply couldn't get over that insatiable fear. All it took was one big dinner and he'd feel the bite of that metal again, pressing into his stomach... He couldn't let it happen.

Yet, despite how very scrawny he had become that didn't hold him back from being a normal kid. Within moments of arriving at the park he'd be pouncing and exploring; looking for the perfect opportunity to play a prank on an unsuspecting younger and generally just being a typical little boy.

[FlyingPanther]

[OOC: I wasn't quite sure how to enter these kids without the appearance of Ophelia >.>; So um...forgive me if this is...Un-Ophelia-esque ^^;.]

The two boys that sat at the park looking as if some sort of tragic fate had befallen them. Ophelia had sent out the four to meet Maxwell, and be under his care for the day while she tried to get some alone time and time to work on her own experiements. Something she hadn't been able to do since both batches of babies were born. Being a mother and father was tiring work, and with Severus constantly at her heals, she had to admit that sometimes in her nightmares she would here the clicking of his delicate little feet behind her, requesting even more and more of her time. Truely, she loved him just as much as any of her other children,but a break was definately in order.

Severus looked less the happy to be out in the sun, and away from the lab. Once again he felt a distinct push away from his mother, and he was not at all pleased about it. Not to mention, being a makeshift babysitter for his 3 other siblings while Maxwell got to the park was not his idea of fun times. He watched as they all sat and waited, just like him. He had dared them to even think of moving, and he assumed they all thought he was scary enough to listen to, that or they were just...extremely obiedient...or not really interested in moving anyway. Somehow obideince didn't seem to fit as an actual explination. Ophelia's children as a rule seemed to have a rather rebelious side to them all, even himself, who loved her company.

Vertumnus looked probably the most sour out of all the children, a rather strange turn of events, but one that was understandible if they knew him. He didn't WANT to meet his halfsiblings. It was bad enough that he was the only normal one in a group of four...but in a group of NINE? He was absolutely beside himself, and he wondered what his father would do in such an uncomfortible situation. Probably more than anyone he craved Silvanus' presence in this moment so that he could bury his head in his father's chest as he was held...or...something anyway. He felt so outcasted, and by who!? A bunch of Corvistowneians and Torquehelmites. He twitched mercilessly as he searched frantically for a place to hide once his family had gotten here. Far away that he didn't have to associate with them, and close enough so that he wasn't whisked away.

[Tigeress]

Rindal trotted along behind with a michevious glint in his eyes, nipping at his mother's feet whenever he wasn't looking. He had fallen a little behind as he attempted to get used to the weights around his paws, boy were they heavy for a male his age! It was quite the workout just to keep pace with Maxwell. However, once he spotted a certain wire-covered, scrawny little sibling, he began to pounce forward, the heavy weights clanging down onto the earth as he went. He would be no sneak attacker, that was for sure, but he didn't need it.

It seemed the little one had a mischevious streak of his own, Rindal knew the look in his eyes, as he was probably mirroring it that very second. With a wide grin, he came up and reached out a paw, aiming to send the little one sprawling with the force of his not-so-playful slap. He was mean to certain siblings, only because he knew he was stronger. It could be said he was your typical bully, his own insecurities and fears about himself driving him to be bigger, better, meaner. They said survival of the fittest, didn't they? He would be like that, then.

It was no fault of his mother or father not hugging him enough or showing him enough affection, no, he tolerated their occasional doting on him, though he made it clear that in public he would retaliate in a not so pleasant way. Sneering at the smaller brother, he lifted his head up high almost mockingly. "Watch it, buttface." Sticking his tongue out (which probably looked more comical than insulting), he pranced off proudly, the weights flopping up and crashing down as he went. Perhaps he could learn to be less noisy with these darn things...

[Kari Muffin]

( OOC: I have no idea how to integrate the boys into this, so I'll do my best. )



Zane followed authority when rules were laid out for him. When they weren't he would simply do his own thing. Today it was "stray from his father's side" along with one of his brothers. Heaven only knew where the others could be, not that he cared. He simply sauntered around and tried very hard not to be stopped into a tiny powdered feathers by all the grown ups as he made his way to the park. He wasn't sure if being ignored was a good or bad thing.



Ezekiel was following his brother, all of the people were stopping to stare at him as he walked by. He wasn't that unusual was he? He didn't really know much about what was normal in society, he never really listened to what his father. He would rather be playing with someone more interesting than his siblings.

The both of them glanced at each other when they reached the park in only a few minutes, there father was still nowhere in sight--apparently he hadn't caught on. Zane had convinced his brother their dad was too busy to notice their absence, in reality he would be like a chicken without a head when he found out they had disappeared. Such a wonderful father.

Ez changed his position from the rear to the head sliding in front of Zane. He perked up as soon as he saw some other younglings running around. Ez hoped that some of them were more entertaining than Zane. He honestly didn't like his brother's apathetic view on everything, except getting away from their father. Oh, well it wasn't time to worry about that it was time to play. Or at least say hello.

[Vyn]

As Cecilia scanned the park over, she would notice her half brothers with a hint of disappointment in her big purple eyes but before long two strangers would sneak onto the scene and the lovely doe would instantly perk up. Not only were they strangers to her (which meant new friends), but they were boys and one was even bipedal! Oooo! The little fawn swished her tail before picking up a little prance, careful of her bindings with each elegant step.

She would stretch up to Ez, batting her long eyelashes fetchingly as she breathed out a cheerful greeting. "Hello! I'm Cecilia, who're you?"


Seki had been about to go wiggle up to his father's side and watch the mechanic at work before his keen ears became aware of a soft thump-thumping. The frail kitten moved to face his sibling but instead was met with a weighted blow from his fellow sibling. A gasp and an aching groan escaped Seki as he topped onto the ground, sprawling on his stomach before awkwardly lifting up.

Before he could say something in response, however, another little voice picked up in his defense. This was was almost gratingly chipper.

"Hey Rindal! What was that for? You should be nice to your brother, he's smaller than you!" Looking up, Seki would be met with Xylia's beaming features. "You all right Seki?" She paused for a moment, eyeing her little brother in concern. "I can't believe how small you've gotten!"

As the children began to swarm the park, two more forms would arrive. This, of course, being Ophelia and Mephitisia following in Xylia's eager wake. Ophelia was tired, exhausted from Severus's enthusiasm but she would take this time to simply bask in the park while the children played. Or, well...she had a feeling that her little Severus would be at her side again soon. Sitting down in the shade beside Maxwell, Ophelia grinned a little.

"This was a wonderful idea, Max."

Waving at Severus and Vertumnus, Ophelia shifted back to her animal form and settled down to watch the kids as Mephitisia took a seat beside Maxwell. Mephit didn't play with other kids and while most parents had reason to be worried, Ophelia had learned the hard way that it was simply safer to keep Mephit away from those who could not as readily defend themselves against her.

"Hello Maxwell." It was Mephit's typical greeting, spoken in a cold and uncaring tone more akin to the feeling of ice running down the nape of one's neck rather than actual speech. "What are you working on?"

[Kari Muffin]

Ezekiel was taken completely off guard. He nearly leapt a foot in the sky when Cecilia introduced herself. He was surprised to see the girl--she was quite pretty? Was that the term he was looking for, he didn't know. His brother nudged him to respond. Right! She wasn't standing their to be cute!

"H-hi! I'm Ezekiel! And this is--" Zane was already wondering off. How nice of him.
"The one who's going over there to lurk or something is Zane, my brother." He could feel a blush developing under his feathers.

She was a diamond too--that's probably why his brother had wandered off. Besides their father and him, Zane really didn't like to bother with other diamonds. It was probably because of their sister... he didn't want to think about that.

"You probably know this all ready, but you're really pretty," Ez said finally. He might as well get it over with, stating the obvious that was.

He heard a snort from behind him, apparently Zane was still within hearing distance. Jerk. "Real smooth!" he called back.

"I'm sorry I'm so awkward to the whole charm thing. Haven't gotten that down yet, even though most diamonds have it naturally--like you." And he would never have it down as far as he was concerned. This whole socializing like a normal member of society baffled him.

[Shinigami]

[ooc: Whee! So many bebes! ^_^]

Helen had wandered toward one of her many brothers - many brothers - or maybe a half-brother, when she saw Vertumnus doing his best to get far, far away from the others that had gathered for the day. This, of course, meant that she was promptly on her way to go bother him, because - like a cat, though she was a deer - she liked to sort of be around people who didn't want her around at all. She wasn't going to be mean about it, or shove her presence in his face, but she was going to go bother him. Or something. Her idea of "bothering" someone apparently involved going over to him and flopping down beside him, star-manacle jangling brightly, and promptly leaning on him. Her tricoloring wasn't all that out of place in this unusual group, and she felt even calmer than usual.

"Hello. What are you doing?" her tone was blank and almost disinterested, glassy eyes staring up at her half-brother.

Solo, meanwhile, glared rightiously at Rindal, trotting over toward him to do his best to stand over him imperiously. While he didn't have Rindal's weights, and thus wouldn't gain nearly as much bulk when they grew up, he was still a fair match for his brother right then as he came to their smaller brother's defense as well. "Mom said no fighting, Rindal. He's busy working, okay? So listen to Xylia!" If he wasn't going to have any fun making trouble, then no one else could, either. He'd make sure of that. Then he glanced over at Seki as well, before looking and grinning at Xylia. If anyone was looking at him, they'd recognize it as an exact copy of his mother's. "You okay? And hey Xylia. How's tricks?"

Maxwell sighed at his children, reaching over and gently gathering Seki up to his side. Solo seemed to have them well in hand at the moment, so he let things slide, making sure that his smallest son was okay. He'd gotten so fragile since the time he'd accidently over-eaten, to the point where he could feel his ribs through the fur. It worried him greatly, but he wasn't sure what to do. Maybe he could talk to Ophelia about making some sort of nutrition drink for him, which would help him stay healthy without gaining extra weight...? Speaking of Ophelia, he gladly turned his head to greet her, smiling warmly.

"Hey there, m'lady-love. Glad we could arrange this. It feels nice to get out of the labs once in a while, ye ken? Get into the fresh air and let the kiddies romp for a while or somethin'," he said cheerfully, stretching a bit before turning to the unnerving little Corvistowne/Avington mix. Despite how creepy she seemed at times, he rather liked her. Then again, he liked Ophelia's insane friend, so maybe it was just a little quirk of his.

"I'm makin' a doll of sorts, pet. I want to get somethin' like the Slithey Toves and the Mome Raths, but out o' mechanics, ye ken? Maybe not as much magic, but somethin' here an' there." He carefully placed his current project on the grass in front of her, smiling proudly at it. It was bloody difficult to make things like this with no hands, but he'd managed through the use of a number of things, including making a few less elegant tools that could serve as substitute fingers for him at times. With an equal care, he pressed down on the level in its back and the doll - crafted from an old rag doll he'd found a long time ago and filled with the various mechanics it needed - began to shuffle forward on its own power. So far it couldn't do much else, but he'd gotten the movement to be steady now instead of jerking wildly like before. And now it could maintain the motion for a while, before needing to be wound up once more.

"What d'you think?" he said proudly to Mephit, Seki, and Ophelia.

[petzisme]

(do you think there is still room for Aroha x Haret babies to show up "fashionably late"?)

[Shinigami]

[ooc: Of course! =D]