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Post by Callypso on Oct 7, 2010 15:00:30 GMT -5
The ferret visibly relaxed again once Aberforth assured her that a lab would most probably be necessary. Though it was obvious that there were going to many changes, most of them probably new and uncomfortable for them both, it would have been a bit too much to ask her to give up the one thing that had brought her to the Capital in the first place. Though come to think of it, if her brother hadn’t died none of this would have happened. She resisted the temptation to roll her eyes at herself.
Oh! Iso blinked in surprise yet again and felt a twinge of annoyed regret. If she hadn’t been so intent on keeping everything so impersonal the few times she had treated him as a patient, she might have learned about his former position and been able to have at least some of her repairs made sooner. Hindsight was positively 20/20. Having a clear head helped a lot as well. Then again, the Tulgey hadn’t been one to divulge much, either, so perhaps it might have gone unmentioned anyway. Either way, it made things a little simpler.
Then you made these pieces yourself?
She nodded toward the table before them and gave a general gesture to include the other items placed through his home. They’re very nice. Iso wasn’t an expert on crafts or ironwork, but even she could appreciate how the goat had manipulated a heavy metal into delicate works of art.
I have also made some headway into securing an electrician. The wiring is horrendous. The doctor shuddered for a moment, imagining one of the exposed wires spewing sparks on the unfinished wood that made up most of the house.
And I’m sure we can find someone to level the floors and do some finishing work. Her eyes went dark for a moment remembering the trouble she had had in finding someone capable of handling her renovations. Though it’s my personal opinion that we might best look for someone outside of the city. Mayhap from the Kahmden or Swamp. I’m not much help in construction, but if my assistant is willing to return, he and I can collect supplies. Since she was the one who had placed the suspension on Joel’s internship, she was sure he would be excited to come back under her wing.
In spite of everything, Iso found that a little bit of her old-old self, the exuberant, excited Corvie, pre-drug addiction, was making a return. It was hard not to, when it seemed that something decent might come from all of this.
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Post by Lucca on Oct 7, 2010 17:08:18 GMT -5
Aberforth's policy on even the personal information he didn't mind sharing was quite simple: if they couldn't be bothered to ask, he couldn't be bothered to tell them. He wouldn't go out of his way either way on something like that. Nine times out of ten it just wasn't worth it to keep that sort of information from others, when if they knew where to look they could certainly find it out without his help. Though he'd never brought his prior trade to the Capital, Aberforth had been all over Tulgey and Torquehelm with his business.
So, in answer to the question, he nodded shortly. His look remained neutral, but he was partially looking forward to doing ironwork with a point again. He shrugged off Iso's compliments. "Part Club ability, part years of practice." It wasn't really modesty, it was simply the truth. Besides...the Goat didn't consider himself half the master craftsman his father had been.
His ears twitched as he listened. While the thought of having all of those other Cards in and out of the house made him nervous...perhaps they'd come while he was at work anyway. Besides, the house would need to be just about perfect before it was a proper place for children. Certainly, it wasn't now. Perhaps Iso could ask someone who was familiar with a lot of the local businesses? The insight came to him in a flash and he frowned thoughtfully.
"Once, I witnessed a robbery. There was a rich Duck and his servant. He was supposedly some famous businessman." He shrugged and took a sip of his tea. He didn't care either way if Iso took him up on the offer. But he had the Duck's number...he was filthy rich, and therefore would want nothing more than even more money. If they offered to pay him for consulting the best names in construction and wiring would come to light. Aberforth probably still had his business card around somewhere.
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Post by Callypso on Oct 7, 2010 21:08:23 GMT -5
Despite Aberforth’s neutral demeanor, even she could sense that the ironwork meant a little more to him than he was letting on. Even if it was just ingrained habit, it must have taken much time and effort to create the objects that were oddly complementary to the Tulgey’s personality.
It’s more than I could do.
Iso’s own work leant itself solely to the physical body. Bodies had shape, made sense and were generally consistent, unless a Card was unfortunate enough to be the victim of some horrible mutation. Even then, you could sometimes “fix” them. She couldn’t imagine looking at a piece of wood or metal and molding it into some other shape entirely. Organic creatures could be molded, sure, but they had general frames, and beside, she was in the business of mending and healing, not disfiguring.
And beside, your skills will be actually be useful. I’ll only be needed if there’s an accident of some sort. If we hire the best, my services will hardly be needed.
Her brows furrowed at Aberforth’s suggestion. Rich duck… Rich duck… Why did that description seem so familiar? Where would she have heard of a business man? Ah, the Bazaar.
Suddenly, images of an angry personage filled her visions. Usually, Iso didn’t take much notice of other patrons in the Bazaar or shops she visited, but if this was the same duck the Tulgey had mentioned, well, the businessman had a way of drawing attention to himself. She had actually come across his path a few times, though she’d never interacted with him herself. It was difficult, even for someone like Iso, to filter out a Highlander screaming at the top of his lungs every time something wasn’t done to his satisfaction.
Highlander? Wears a top hat and yells a lot?
The ferret mulled the idea over and wrinkled her nose. He would probably try to squeeze them for every penny. People like him had a fondness for gold that was beyond her. When it came down to it though, they didn’t really have a lot of choices. Not if they wanted the best. She sighed in defeat.
As long as he doesn’t expect payment for a poor reference, I suppose he’s our best option. She suddenly brightened. You know, I can write our renovations off through the university. It is related to my research after all, rebuilding the lab. I suppose we can arrange a meeting with him?
Iso removed a pad of paper and a writing utensil from her coin purse and began jotting down notes. They were making great headway so far. She tapped the utensil thoughtfully against her muzzle.
We probably ought to think about a physician. I, uh, haven't had any checkups yet, unfortunately... Though I have some very good references. Beyond that, there's not much we can do with the house until we meet with this Duck of yours. Perhaps we ought to try and plan out a schedule for after birth? She blinked as she realized she had no idea how Aberforth spent his days.
What is it that you do, exactly, if you're no longer a blacksmith?
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Post by Lucca on Oct 8, 2010 7:38:33 GMT -5
With a brief inclination of his head, Aberforth conceded the point to her. Yes, he had a talent that, while not precisely unique, wasn't given to everyone and could, indeed, be useful in this situation. He didn't feel the need to really add anything to what she said, one way or the other. "Your skills were useful to me," he pointed out mildly, but it was less an attempt to reassure her and more just a penny thrown to gauge her reaction. Even the Goat could tell Iso was very...different from the person she had been before. He wasn't sure exactly why, and on one level it unnerved him a bit.
At the description of the Duck...Aberforth actually raised an eyebrow. It was about as much amusement as the stoic Goat had ever really shown. "Yes, that would be the one," he confirmed, remembering quite well just how much of a temper the man had. He nodded shortly at her further comments. "He won't. I know his type. Honest, though exceedingly foolish and greedy. He has a reputation to uphold, and that and money are his main motivators." It was easy to trust someone like that as long as you were paying them. Beyond that, he wasn't going to put any stock in the Duck. Mentally, Aberforth let himself be distracted for a few moments with thoughts of how to contact the billionaire and where he may have left the Duck's card. His name, the Goat knew, was something really obvious, but he still hadn't bothered to remember it. It would be on the card.
"You're the only physician in this city I've ever seen," the Goat said, and just nodded. He wasn't sure what sort of schedule Iso was exactly talking about. Did this refer to when he'd be moving in with her? If, indeed, that's even what would be happening, but he could hardly see them working together to raise children when they lived half the city apart.
"I'm a police officer."
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Post by Callypso on Oct 9, 2010 16:47:50 GMT -5
Aberforth’s flattery only received a quiet smile from Iso, though her eyes were shining. Iso loved her work, and even if she hadn’t liked people very much (or had been telling herself she didn’t), she felt a distinct sort of satisfaction from watching her patients return to their health, watching their wounds heal and noting mended muscles or ligaments. On some level of awareness she knew that she was an excellent physician, but it didn’t do to focus on one’s successes too much lest she make a mistake. It was much better to channel that energy in noticing every microscopic detail about a patient to ensure they would recover.
She nodded absently in response to the discussion about the Duck. Business-people weren’t held highly in her regard; they were too reminiscent of the administrators and grant officers she was forced to deal with from the university. The exchanges always left a sour taste in her mouth and a sense of exasperation. Hopefully this Duck wouldn’t be as difficult.
The ferret flushed lightly as the conversation turned back to physicians. She shifted in her seat before taking up the topic of scheduling. Iso hadn’t yet told Aberforth why she hadn’t seen someone before now – and she wasn’t sure now was the best time to broach the subject. Who knew what the goat would say about her newly broken habit, and it was difficult enough earning his trust.
A police officer? That seemed an odd profession for someone who seemed to distinctly dislike other Cards and had little faith in anyone else, though it did explain the injuries she'd had to tend to. Interesting. What are your hours? Mine were fairly erratic before, well… Anyway, we should attempt to plan our schedules around each other, so one of us is always with the child. It won’t be as pertinent for as long as we have Polina, but after that…
Iso didn’t really like the idea of hiring a sitter or having her children running around unchecked. Suits knew what sort of trouble she and her brother would have been in if their mother hadn’t been such a disciplinarian.
Oh. Iso almost rolled her eyes at herself. There was so much to be done she had forgotten an obvious problem. She also wasn’t used to making plans with others, so even if she had had a schedule mapped out in her own mind, Aberforth couldn’t have been the wiser. Polina had been trying to break her of the habit of not sharing her thoughts, though it was somewhat slow going.
When do we want to… start the process? Moving and such…?
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Post by Lucca on Oct 9, 2010 18:30:28 GMT -5
He noted her reaction to the compliment. Certainly different from her demeanor before...did he detect a slight flush of color under her fur?
"My hours are very...erratic as well, especially when I'm on a case," Aberforth replied. He didn't add that he often stayed later at work than he had to or volunteered for extra duties and patrols because it gave him something to do. Lately, though, not even that had been helping...and he suspected he'd need to do a bit less of that when the kid was born. A strange, icy feeling clutched at his stomach every time he thought of himself as a father. He chugged more tea to try and displace it. "I'm sure they would allow me more time off if I needed it."
Scheduling was the very least of Aberforth's worries. There were just so many things about this that were new to him. At the next question, though it was simple...the Tulgey felt his throat try to close up. He poked at his tea cup with a hoof, but it was clearly empty. Clearing his throat, and still wearing the same expression for all the emotions raking through him, making him feel ragged and vulnerable inside, the Goat found his voice.
"We should begin renovations to your house as soon as possible. As for the rest..." He was still, and his expression got several degrees colder and more distant in an attempt to hide his sudden insecurity. Being around other Cards that much...not living alone...it was frightening. Something was sure to go horribly, horribly wrong. "...I can begin preparations for the move next week."
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Post by Callypso on Oct 16, 2010 22:36:50 GMT -5
((Ahh... sorry! Apologies for any craptastic-ness... Iso is being a butt! haha))
Iso furrowed her brows and her muzzle twitched. Adjusting their parenting with their personal –well, just professional, she supposed. Neither of them had much of a personal life, did they? Simply trying to tweak their work hours was going to be a little more difficult than she had predicted. She had assumed they would just be able to “pick” certain schedules and stick to them. That expectation, it seemed, had been a little ambitious and not at all realistic. It was quickly being hammered into her well-trained mind that not everything was cut-and-dry.
Well, I’m willing to adjust my schedule so that it’s predictable. The idea of a sitter… makes me nervous… I’d like so that once Polina decides to leave, our schedules will overlap in a way that makes it easy for both of us.
Iso scribbled on the notepad in an attempt to distract herself. It was one thing to be sitting here planning for the not-quite-so-immediate-future, but to entertain a life where Polina wasn’t there, and it was just the two of them (plus their offspring)? It was a little much to process. Luckily, Aberforth was able to pick up where she left off.
Yes, I think that would be for the best. The sooner the construction is complete, the easier it will be.
Iso resisted the urge to bite the inside of her cheek as the Tulgey’s eyes grew distant and cold. It was going to be quite the trial to work together when he kept his thoughts for her, though truth be told, she was still learning to disclose her own feelings. It was cumbersome to have to explain every idea and goal to another person. They didn’t always understand and the ferret wasn’t sure she would ever have enough words to fully express her intentions.
Next week?
The words came out rushed. She had hardly expected Aberforth to volunteer to a change so suddenly. Then it hit her- it was too soon for her. The doctor blanched at the realization and was a bit disgusted with herself. After all, she had come here to demand help and prepare for a new life- but she hadn’t expected it to be so… easy. There had to be something more she hadn’t thought of yet, something important that might’ve been missed.
I… I think that may be too soon for the both of us, unless you’re insistent that we do this right away. Let’s say a couple weeks… move a few things at a time… so we’re both adjusted?
That had been extremely difficult to say, and Iso was certain that her suggestion had lacked the eloquence to address the situation delicately. Then again, she had never been one for flowery turns-of-phrase. Always, she was blunt. Hopefully, her new….partner… at least, in this venture, wouldn’t be offended by her words…
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Post by Lucca on Oct 17, 2010 15:25:34 GMT -5
Aberforth nodded in agreement. The idea of a stranger with his child was almost more than he could think about right then. Even this "Polina" he was a little wary of. What if she was some sort of extremist that would highly favor a Corvistowne but, on the odd chance their child was born half or full Tulgey, would reject him or her? The Goat would certainly insist on meeting this woman before letting his child within ten feet of her. "Yes." He was pretty sure he'd already agreed to that. But if the worst he was going to have to suffer through this conversation was agreeing to the same thing multiple times, he'd count himself lucky.
At her rushed words and wide-eyed expression, Aberforth flinched. So he'd tried and managed to say the same thing after all. Of course, if he'd known Iso had thought any part of this was -easy-, he would have been very miffed. All of this, from when she'd come knocking on his door to the present moment of having his weak attempt at an offer shot down, was one of the hardest things he'd ever had to do. As the Ferret went on, he looked at her again, cold and distant, but relief glimmered deep in his eyes and showed in the set of his posture.
Really, he wasn't ready either. But then, he wasn't sure he could ever be ready. "Very well. I shall be ready when you are, then." More time meant more time to plan, more time to arrange everything, more time to...think. Yes, far be it from his life to be busy enough to grant him the luxury of not having hours upon hours to turn a situation over in his mind, finding all the cracks and every little potential thing that could go wrong with it. To have time to go over this very conversation later, word by word, obsessing over every tiny detail and seeing the potential for betrayal, regret, and rampant dishonesty.
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Post by Callypso on Nov 4, 2010 12:29:49 GMT -5
((Back!! My muses left me for a bit!))
Iso let out a breath, feeling deflated and exhausted after their lengthy conversation. There was so much to accomplish and very little time in which to do so and yet she had still pushed off their move for at least a week. It could hardly be helped. She was attempting to be honest with herself and others and admitting her feelings was part of that process. The obvious problem, however, was that Aberforth was clearly not going to make that process easier, considering how incredibly closed off he seemed. Iso certainly didn’t want him to give him any reason to further distrust her or her intentions, but it meant precariously balancing her needs and thoughts with Aberforth’s paranoia and non-disclosure.
She felt she was locked in a horrible chess match, but now losing a King meant so much more. There was too much on the line and she was in unfamiliar territory. Still, this ordeal had gone a lot better than expected, which eased her burden, even if the result was exchanging old challenges for new ones. Suits…
I suppose the next step would be for you to meet Polina? It had occurred to the doctor that Aberforth would never consent to letting a stranger care for his potential children, never mind let them live in his house, even if that “stranger” was a relation of sorts. Iso was a little nervous that Aberforth would take a dislike to her badger Aunt. Polina could certainly take care of herself, and probably the goat for that matter. Still, this had to be done sooner or later, and the more time the Tulgey could spend with her half Corvie, half Morganberry relative, the better.
It needn’t be today, though she made it clear she would be available this afternoon should you wish to see her. Otherwise, if your schedule permits, perhaps it would be best to fix a time for an introduction soon?
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Post by Lucca on Nov 4, 2010 12:51:06 GMT -5
Aberforth blinked. That was all the reaction he dared to show to the statement, and even if he had allowed more, there was no way he could have adequately expressed the upsurge of emotion he felt at that simple not-question. He was used to detaching himself from everything and everyone, to numbing his own feelings and never having to deal with them...ever. Lately that hadn't been possible. It wasn't just Iso, either. Since taking the job as a police officer, the Goat had been forced to confront his past and the old fear that still tried to take him every time he tasted battle and strange magic. It was hardly pleasant, and it was hardly what he wanted.
But then, what did he want, really? He didn't know. He'd never known. He didn't want death, though he cared nothing for his life. But this was something else entirely...something new and more frightening, in its own way, than fire spells. At least Iso seemed to understand him, still, even if she was no longer the same Card he'd sought treatment from before. Knew he'd never agree to let a stranger near his children.
"My schedule for today is blank," he said in answer. "Whatever is best for you and your aunt." The cold neutrality was all he could afford right now. Another rejection, even a small one, would break what little control he felt he still had over this situation to a million pieces. Part of him was hoping she'd just leave, that she'd delay any more of this difficult vulnerability until another time. The rest of him knew it wouldn't make a difference, either way. It would be as difficult today as it would a week from now.
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