(no subject)
Texts and messages for Saoirse may be left here
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(no subject)
Mrs. Finch's house is a cozy enough looking house surrounded by forest not so very far from the cottage. Saoirse has run into her more times than she can count on morning walks to the bus stop, or out with Cú on a weekend. For as long as Saoirse can remember, Mrs. Finch has lived alone and never gotten Saoirse's name right.
So when she started talking about some Teddy or other in the attic that day, it'd been a surprise, but Saoirse had been too wrapped up in being aghast at being voluntold for cleaning the attic out that she hadn't really considered what that meant, who Teddy could be, or why he was in the attic instead of the rest of the house.
If she's honest, she hadn't realized Mrs. Finch's house had an attic.
She walks up to Mrs. Finch's house with a duffle bag of PPE, like John had suggested, and she brings an itemized receipt, too. Her plan is to show Mrs. Finch how much she'd paid for the equipment — out of her own pocket, mind — and request reimbursement, then tell her how much she expects to be paid in labor besides, and then see if Mrs. Finch has changed her mind about the whole thing. If she has done, then Saoirse can use the receipt to return all of her PPE and she'll be none the poorer for it.
But when she gets to Mrs. Finch's front stoop and knocks, the door swings open at the first rap of her knuckles. She hesitates and looks warily around before clearing her throat.
“Mrs. Finch? It's Saoirse! I've come to talk about the squirrels and all?”
She hikes her duffle higher on her shoulder and bites her lip. There's no answer. In a nearby tree, Muppet hoos softly. It does nothing to calm her.
“Mrs. Finch?” Saoirse calls again. She steps closer and places the toe of her sneaker just over the threshold.
A shape darts across the doorway and Saoirse shrieks, jerking back, but it's just a fat raccoon. Thank goodness.
Wait…
What's a raccoon doing in the house?
“Janey Mackerel,” she gasps. “Are you Teddy? Hello?”
The raccoon chitters and moves deeper into the house. Overhead, Muppet screeches, feathers ruffling, and Saoirse glances back at him before stepping further inside. Maybe she's mental for doing this, but it doesn't seem like Mrs. Finch to leave the door open.
“Mrs. Finch? Teddy?”
There's still no answer, and Saoirse feels her stomach drop like she's in an elevator. Okay. It's okay. Mrs. Finch is old, right? Probably she's hard of hearing. The raccoon has left a bit of poo on the runner that leads, presumably, deeper into the house, and Saoirse sidesteps it with a wrinkle in her nose.
“Mrs. Finch? Your house is dark and creepy, do you wanna talk about it?” Right, because insulting the woman is a good way to start when she's not even sure if she's home — or alive.
The thing is, Mrs. Finch's house is dark and creepy. For all that the outside looks like something out of a cozy storybook, inside, the windows are draped in heavy curtains and the lights are off. The mess from the raccoon has created a musky sort of stink right in the entryway, and the utter quiet deeper into the dark has given Saoirse the impression that she's stepped into a horror movie. The only light now is from the still-open front door. Saoirse can see dust motes fluttering through the air around her own silhouette. It should be charming in its way, but it just adds to the ominous atmosphere.
Saoirse walks by a dark and quiet room on the left and follows the runner further, until her sneakers touch linoleum on her way through a shadowed doorway. She brushes a hand along the wall just inside, finds a switch, and flicks it on.
Mrs. Finch is sitting at the kitchen table, chin to chest and unmoving. The yellowed overhead light casts her face in ghastly shadows, her cheekbones bright like an overexposed photo, and Saoirse gasps sharply.
“Mrs. Finch!” she shrieks.
Mrs. Finch's entire body jolts and she snorts loudly as she lifts her head.
“Oh, Selma!” she chirps, reaching up to wipe a strand of drool from her jowl. “Is it that time already?”
Saoirse's heart is rabbit-quick in her chest and she's frozen with her hand still on the switch.
“Were you just… sleeping?” she asks.
“Oh, I must have dozed off,” she admits. “Did I give you a fright, Dear? I've got some vim and vigor in these old bones yet, don't you worry.”
“Right,” Saoirse gasps, and barks out a slightly hysterical laugh. “Vim and vigor, sure. Erm, Mrs. Finch, I've, I've come to talk about the squi—”
“Oh! Teddy will be delighted to see you, Dear! Come along with me, I'll show you the way.”
“No, but Mrs. Finch,” Saoirse tries, but Mrs. Finch steamrolls her, as always, talking about the bloody squirrels and Teddy and, not even mentioning the racoon in her foyer.
“Now, you work on these squirrels,” she directs, “I'm going to toddle on down to the shelter and see if I can't get a safety trap for the raccoon Teddy let in.”
Saoirse sputters at her, but Mrs. Finch whisks her way down the hallway and back to the front door, and she's gone before Saoirse can say another word about it.
“What?” she says to nobody. Then she sighs and pulls out her phone so she can send out a text.
Guess we're squirrel hunting, the message reads. Could use your help after all, if you're still willing?
[ Mrs. Finch strikes again! This is backdated to March 16th, the Sunday after her EP about it. There are, in fact, squirrels bothering ‘Teddy’... but who the heck is Teddy? It's time to find out! (Or I can tell you, I guess XD) Be the person Saoirse texted, or have already come along with her and experienced the whirlwind of Mrs. Finch XD open for as long as it needs to be! ]
So when she started talking about some Teddy or other in the attic that day, it'd been a surprise, but Saoirse had been too wrapped up in being aghast at being voluntold for cleaning the attic out that she hadn't really considered what that meant, who Teddy could be, or why he was in the attic instead of the rest of the house.
If she's honest, she hadn't realized Mrs. Finch's house had an attic.
She walks up to Mrs. Finch's house with a duffle bag of PPE, like John had suggested, and she brings an itemized receipt, too. Her plan is to show Mrs. Finch how much she'd paid for the equipment — out of her own pocket, mind — and request reimbursement, then tell her how much she expects to be paid in labor besides, and then see if Mrs. Finch has changed her mind about the whole thing. If she has done, then Saoirse can use the receipt to return all of her PPE and she'll be none the poorer for it.
But when she gets to Mrs. Finch's front stoop and knocks, the door swings open at the first rap of her knuckles. She hesitates and looks warily around before clearing her throat.
“Mrs. Finch? It's Saoirse! I've come to talk about the squirrels and all?”
She hikes her duffle higher on her shoulder and bites her lip. There's no answer. In a nearby tree, Muppet hoos softly. It does nothing to calm her.
“Mrs. Finch?” Saoirse calls again. She steps closer and places the toe of her sneaker just over the threshold.
A shape darts across the doorway and Saoirse shrieks, jerking back, but it's just a fat raccoon. Thank goodness.
Wait…
What's a raccoon doing in the house?
“Janey Mackerel,” she gasps. “Are you Teddy? Hello?”
The raccoon chitters and moves deeper into the house. Overhead, Muppet screeches, feathers ruffling, and Saoirse glances back at him before stepping further inside. Maybe she's mental for doing this, but it doesn't seem like Mrs. Finch to leave the door open.
“Mrs. Finch? Teddy?”
There's still no answer, and Saoirse feels her stomach drop like she's in an elevator. Okay. It's okay. Mrs. Finch is old, right? Probably she's hard of hearing. The raccoon has left a bit of poo on the runner that leads, presumably, deeper into the house, and Saoirse sidesteps it with a wrinkle in her nose.
“Mrs. Finch? Your house is dark and creepy, do you wanna talk about it?” Right, because insulting the woman is a good way to start when she's not even sure if she's home — or alive.
The thing is, Mrs. Finch's house is dark and creepy. For all that the outside looks like something out of a cozy storybook, inside, the windows are draped in heavy curtains and the lights are off. The mess from the raccoon has created a musky sort of stink right in the entryway, and the utter quiet deeper into the dark has given Saoirse the impression that she's stepped into a horror movie. The only light now is from the still-open front door. Saoirse can see dust motes fluttering through the air around her own silhouette. It should be charming in its way, but it just adds to the ominous atmosphere.
Saoirse walks by a dark and quiet room on the left and follows the runner further, until her sneakers touch linoleum on her way through a shadowed doorway. She brushes a hand along the wall just inside, finds a switch, and flicks it on.
Mrs. Finch is sitting at the kitchen table, chin to chest and unmoving. The yellowed overhead light casts her face in ghastly shadows, her cheekbones bright like an overexposed photo, and Saoirse gasps sharply.
“Mrs. Finch!” she shrieks.
Mrs. Finch's entire body jolts and she snorts loudly as she lifts her head.
“Oh, Selma!” she chirps, reaching up to wipe a strand of drool from her jowl. “Is it that time already?”
Saoirse's heart is rabbit-quick in her chest and she's frozen with her hand still on the switch.
“Were you just… sleeping?” she asks.
“Oh, I must have dozed off,” she admits. “Did I give you a fright, Dear? I've got some vim and vigor in these old bones yet, don't you worry.”
“Right,” Saoirse gasps, and barks out a slightly hysterical laugh. “Vim and vigor, sure. Erm, Mrs. Finch, I've, I've come to talk about the squi—”
“Oh! Teddy will be delighted to see you, Dear! Come along with me, I'll show you the way.”
“No, but Mrs. Finch,” Saoirse tries, but Mrs. Finch steamrolls her, as always, talking about the bloody squirrels and Teddy and, not even mentioning the racoon in her foyer.
“Now, you work on these squirrels,” she directs, “I'm going to toddle on down to the shelter and see if I can't get a safety trap for the raccoon Teddy let in.”
Saoirse sputters at her, but Mrs. Finch whisks her way down the hallway and back to the front door, and she's gone before Saoirse can say another word about it.
“What?” she says to nobody. Then she sighs and pulls out her phone so she can send out a text.
Guess we're squirrel hunting, the message reads. Could use your help after all, if you're still willing?
[ Mrs. Finch strikes again! This is backdated to March 16th, the Sunday after her EP about it. There are, in fact, squirrels bothering ‘Teddy’... but who the heck is Teddy? It's time to find out! (Or I can tell you, I guess XD) Be the person Saoirse texted, or have already come along with her and experienced the whirlwind of Mrs. Finch XD open for as long as it needs to be! ]
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(no subject)
Saoirse’s shriek echoes through the house.
Her hair. Her hair is ruined. This is all their fault. Cat, Cate, and Catee: they’d told her that she wouldn’t look good with blonde hair. She’s the wrong complexion, they’d said, and Saoirse had thought no way. So after school, she’d grabbed a box of bleach and a box of blonde dye and locked herself in the bathroom with them.
She’d never done it before, but she’d figured it would be easy enough, right? The box comes with instructions, and gloves, and she’d thought, it’ll be fine. She popped a plastic showercap on once the bleach was in and listened to music and painted her toenails while she waited.
Twenty minutes later, she’d rinsed it off, toweled it with a white towel — so she didn’t bleach the towel, see? — and looked in the mirror.
And screamed.
It isn’t that the bleach has burned her hair off like she’s seen on some suddengram videos. But it didn’t turn it the color the box said it should turn, either. No no. It’s gone and turned her hair green. Her beautiful, sleek black hair… Practically Grinch-green, and Saoirse’s going to be the laughingstock of Brynmor if she goes back looking like this!
Her hair. Her hair is ruined. This is all their fault. Cat, Cate, and Catee: they’d told her that she wouldn’t look good with blonde hair. She’s the wrong complexion, they’d said, and Saoirse had thought no way. So after school, she’d grabbed a box of bleach and a box of blonde dye and locked herself in the bathroom with them.
She’d never done it before, but she’d figured it would be easy enough, right? The box comes with instructions, and gloves, and she’d thought, it’ll be fine. She popped a plastic showercap on once the bleach was in and listened to music and painted her toenails while she waited.
Twenty minutes later, she’d rinsed it off, toweled it with a white towel — so she didn’t bleach the towel, see? — and looked in the mirror.
And screamed.
It isn’t that the bleach has burned her hair off like she’s seen on some suddengram videos. But it didn’t turn it the color the box said it should turn, either. No no. It’s gone and turned her hair green. Her beautiful, sleek black hair… Practically Grinch-green, and Saoirse’s going to be the laughingstock of Brynmor if she goes back looking like this!
happy birthday to you!
She’s twelve this year — not just a kid anymore. She’s still small for her age, but she’s growing up, and she doesn’t need a big, loud party like she used to. Well, not that she never needed one, but it’d been something that Greta had indulged all the same.
This year, it’s much quieter, not least of all because most of her friends from outside of Darrow are gone. The only kids close to her age are now Darrow residents she’d met at school, and they’re still good friends, but they aren’t close friends. So when Saoirse sends out party invitations, it’s only to her closest friends. She makes sure to give invitations to Regan, Greta, or Anne, too, even though they’re already going to be there.
She helps with the simple decorations. This year, it isn’t PUMA Squad! or another kids’ show, just colored streamers and matching balloons, and a tablecloth that says ‘BIRTHDAY GIRL’ on it. The baffles are still in place in case she gets involved in any singing — those get checked weekly, anyway, because she sings all the time, and the soilse are nosy little things — and helps set up the area where the presents and cake are going to be.
The biggest decoration in front of the cottage is also the newest addition to the family, which is Milky White. They’ve found non-toxic temporary dye, and Saoirse’s finger-painted ‘PARTY IN THE BACK’ into her astonishingly white fur. She’s staked to the lawn so she doesn’t wander off — and Regan’s recently acquired cowbell will ensure that they would know if she did, all the same — and so she doesn’t get into the presents or refreshments.
In the backyard, Regan’s set up a speaker with lights set up to go in time with the music. It keeps things interesting and colorful, just like Saoirse likes, without being too over the top. Snacks and food go along with a bowl of punch near the cake, and although it’s meant to be small and easy, it’s also not too bland or boring.
[ Saoirse's birthday! If you know her, you're invited! This is a pre-play post set for Sunday, October 30th, which is her actual birthday and that never happens lmao This is a gathering so tag in, tag each other, have fun! ]
This year, it’s much quieter, not least of all because most of her friends from outside of Darrow are gone. The only kids close to her age are now Darrow residents she’d met at school, and they’re still good friends, but they aren’t close friends. So when Saoirse sends out party invitations, it’s only to her closest friends. She makes sure to give invitations to Regan, Greta, or Anne, too, even though they’re already going to be there.
She helps with the simple decorations. This year, it isn’t PUMA Squad! or another kids’ show, just colored streamers and matching balloons, and a tablecloth that says ‘BIRTHDAY GIRL’ on it. The baffles are still in place in case she gets involved in any singing — those get checked weekly, anyway, because she sings all the time, and the soilse are nosy little things — and helps set up the area where the presents and cake are going to be.
The biggest decoration in front of the cottage is also the newest addition to the family, which is Milky White. They’ve found non-toxic temporary dye, and Saoirse’s finger-painted ‘PARTY IN THE BACK’ into her astonishingly white fur. She’s staked to the lawn so she doesn’t wander off — and Regan’s recently acquired cowbell will ensure that they would know if she did, all the same — and so she doesn’t get into the presents or refreshments.
In the backyard, Regan’s set up a speaker with lights set up to go in time with the music. It keeps things interesting and colorful, just like Saoirse likes, without being too over the top. Snacks and food go along with a bowl of punch near the cake, and although it’s meant to be small and easy, it’s also not too bland or boring.
[ Saoirse's birthday! If you know her, you're invited! This is a pre-play post set for Sunday, October 30th, which is her actual birthday and that never happens lmao This is a gathering so tag in, tag each other, have fun! ]
(no subject)
It's an unseasonably warm day, which is largely good fortune for the Baker family, as the weather forecast hadn't gone out that far when they'd been deciding when to push the party back to.
They've learned by now that Halloween is almost always a harbinger of some kind of danger, so they agree to stay close to home and do quiet activities on the day, and it makes sense for them to just go for the following weekend.
They set up some lawn games, a table for refreshments, and a smaller table for any presents that are brought along. Chairs are arranged into a wide semicircle for guests to sit in. To keep the chickens out of trouble, they're gently herded and penned into the back yard. Regan sets up a portable speaker with her laptop to play music, and prepares her drone for plenty of photo ops.
Saoirse is, as usual, the consummate hostess. She makes sure anyone that arrives easily finds the refreshments, and makes sure that if something they'd prefer isn't there, she gets it for them. Her invitations had been handmade that year, each with a tracing of her hands and cute press-on nails painted with her developing skill to read COME ALONG!
And occasionally, the soilse join the fun as she sings along to the music Regan's picked out.
[ HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY, SAOIRSE!!! She's ten years old now, officially, and her birthday is set to take place the weekend after Halloween. Will be posted for December reqs bc time just... super got away from me. If you're a friend of Saoirse's, you're invited! ]
They've learned by now that Halloween is almost always a harbinger of some kind of danger, so they agree to stay close to home and do quiet activities on the day, and it makes sense for them to just go for the following weekend.
They set up some lawn games, a table for refreshments, and a smaller table for any presents that are brought along. Chairs are arranged into a wide semicircle for guests to sit in. To keep the chickens out of trouble, they're gently herded and penned into the back yard. Regan sets up a portable speaker with her laptop to play music, and prepares her drone for plenty of photo ops.
Saoirse is, as usual, the consummate hostess. She makes sure anyone that arrives easily finds the refreshments, and makes sure that if something they'd prefer isn't there, she gets it for them. Her invitations had been handmade that year, each with a tracing of her hands and cute press-on nails painted with her developing skill to read COME ALONG!
And occasionally, the soilse join the fun as she sings along to the music Regan's picked out.
[ HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY, SAOIRSE!!! She's ten years old now, officially, and her birthday is set to take place the weekend after Halloween. Will be posted for December reqs bc time just... super got away from me. If you're a friend of Saoirse's, you're invited! ]
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(no subject)
Museums are cool. Saoirse doesn't care what most of her school friends say. They're interesting! They have all sorts of artifacts that tell stories from all over. Some of them are about pirates, which are an especially personal obsession of hers, lately, and some of them are about other things, like the first electronics, and such.
Which is why she's here, today. Regan had wanted to get some research done on the beginnings of technology and its rise, to see if it gives her any insight on her drones she's been working on. She'd given Saoirse a wristband and some cash, and told her to text if she needs anything, and they'd gone their separate ways. So Saoirse is not sitting in front of a lighthouse display, looking at all of the information on it, and wondering about her family — her outside-of-Darrow family: Dad, and Ben, and Granny. She wonders about the sea around it, and if the seals there miss her.
It's silly, but she does miss them sometimes.
She pulls out her phone and takes a picture of the display. Maybe she can save the picture, and if Ben ever comes, she can show him, and show him that she's been thinking of him.
When she pulls her phone closer again, she blinks and looks at it. There's a woman on the other side of the display, and she grins. She knows that lady! She closes her phone and runs round to the other side.
"Julia! Hullo!"
Which is why she's here, today. Regan had wanted to get some research done on the beginnings of technology and its rise, to see if it gives her any insight on her drones she's been working on. She'd given Saoirse a wristband and some cash, and told her to text if she needs anything, and they'd gone their separate ways. So Saoirse is not sitting in front of a lighthouse display, looking at all of the information on it, and wondering about her family — her outside-of-Darrow family: Dad, and Ben, and Granny. She wonders about the sea around it, and if the seals there miss her.
It's silly, but she does miss them sometimes.
She pulls out her phone and takes a picture of the display. Maybe she can save the picture, and if Ben ever comes, she can show him, and show him that she's been thinking of him.
When she pulls her phone closer again, she blinks and looks at it. There's a woman on the other side of the display, and she grins. She knows that lady! She closes her phone and runs round to the other side.
"Julia! Hullo!"
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for Luke
The rumors about the monster in the sea are, Saoirse is certain, just that: rumors. The seals aren't afraid, and she knows Daine would tell Greta not to let her go into the water too deep or for too long if there was anything to be really worried about. But Big Mona must be at least a little bit real, because there are pictures, and people keep talking about it, even when they don't find anything.
So she'd called Luke up and asked if he wanted to go with her and Regan to the beach, and see if they could find something. Regan's mostly just there so Greta doesn't fret about two kids out by themselves. Cu is there, too, of course. He's as good a nanny as any, but Regan is also using the time to test out the latest modifications to her drone, so it works out all around.
Right now, she's further up the sand, while Cu, Saoirse and Luke run around. Saoirse's found a few shells that she wants to take home and add to her carefully growing collection. For now, they're set aside with her backpack, and she's throwing a stick into the water for Cu.
"D'you think we'll see her?" she asks Luke. "That Big Mona everyone's talking about."
So she'd called Luke up and asked if he wanted to go with her and Regan to the beach, and see if they could find something. Regan's mostly just there so Greta doesn't fret about two kids out by themselves. Cu is there, too, of course. He's as good a nanny as any, but Regan is also using the time to test out the latest modifications to her drone, so it works out all around.
Right now, she's further up the sand, while Cu, Saoirse and Luke run around. Saoirse's found a few shells that she wants to take home and add to her carefully growing collection. For now, they're set aside with her backpack, and she's throwing a stick into the water for Cu.
"D'you think we'll see her?" she asks Luke. "That Big Mona everyone's talking about."
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for daine
Daine is easily one of Saoirse's favorite people in the city. Having her come back to the city had been a pleasant surprise, and she'd latched onto her every free chance she had after her return — not always easy, considering that Saoirse has school and footie practice, and Daine has her own life, too. So when Daine offers to take Saoirse to the beach, to let Greta do whatever child-free things she'd like or need to do, Saoirse jumps at the chance.
It's been getting progressively warmer, bit by bit, and Saoirse can feel the familiar pull that tells her it's time to go to the sea again. She's gone over the course of the winter and early spring, of course, but only for brief excursions. Today, she's hoping she can be out for awhile.
"Are you gonna come into the water with me?" she asks as they make their way down the sand. "Nobody else really can. Not when it's cold, anyway. When it's warmer, it'll be easier, 'cause then they can just do a little paddle with me."
She's wearing a bathing suit, mostly out of habit, since her clothes seem to go with her when she becomes a seal. She shucks her shorts and trainers, and drops her bag onto the sand next to them — inside, she has a jumper in case she gets cold, and some sunscreen that Greta insists she wear, just to be extra safe.
It's been getting progressively warmer, bit by bit, and Saoirse can feel the familiar pull that tells her it's time to go to the sea again. She's gone over the course of the winter and early spring, of course, but only for brief excursions. Today, she's hoping she can be out for awhile.
"Are you gonna come into the water with me?" she asks as they make their way down the sand. "Nobody else really can. Not when it's cold, anyway. When it's warmer, it'll be easier, 'cause then they can just do a little paddle with me."
She's wearing a bathing suit, mostly out of habit, since her clothes seem to go with her when she becomes a seal. She shucks her shorts and trainers, and drops her bag onto the sand next to them — inside, she has a jumper in case she gets cold, and some sunscreen that Greta insists she wear, just to be extra safe.
(no subject)
Her birthday doesn't sneak up on them, but for a moment, it sort of feels like it had. It's on a Wednesday, this year, and Halloween is the very next day, and some keen foresight on Greta's part ensured that Saoirse's birthday party fell on Saturday, which meant the first weekend of November.
It's chilly outside, so the bulk of the fun happens in the house. She has a few kids from school over, and has invited Luke, Daine, Rapunzel, Magnus, and a few other teens and adults that she's especially close to. She doesn't tell them to bring her presents. Just having them around her will be enough for her. She loves her friends so much, after all, that her hand-written invitations tell them to bring whatever and whoever they want, because she just wants them to be happy and have fun.
Cu and Sadie are wearing fun Halloween themed bows on their collars, and Saoirse is wearing a Halloween themed skirt over striped leggings and a PUMA Squad! top with conveniently matching colors — though her socks and headband in shocks of magenta and blue indicate that she doesn't much care about matching.
The house has some few decorations left up. Streamers, a banner, and flowers interrupt the baffles hanging from doorways. The house smells fresh with cake and cupcakes, and there's a small banquet table set up with a bowl of punch and some snacks.
It's simple, but perfect.
[ Birthday gathering! Tag in, tag around, have fun! If you know Regan, Greta or Saoirse, assume your pup has been invited. If you know one of the above-mentioned, assume you've been invited. If you hear tell of a kid's birthday party, assume you've been invited! Timed to November 2nd, pretty much all day, at their cottage in the countryside. Bring a present or don't! Saoirse means it when she says she just wants you there. Open for forever! ]
It's chilly outside, so the bulk of the fun happens in the house. She has a few kids from school over, and has invited Luke, Daine, Rapunzel, Magnus, and a few other teens and adults that she's especially close to. She doesn't tell them to bring her presents. Just having them around her will be enough for her. She loves her friends so much, after all, that her hand-written invitations tell them to bring whatever and whoever they want, because she just wants them to be happy and have fun.
Cu and Sadie are wearing fun Halloween themed bows on their collars, and Saoirse is wearing a Halloween themed skirt over striped leggings and a PUMA Squad! top with conveniently matching colors — though her socks and headband in shocks of magenta and blue indicate that she doesn't much care about matching.
The house has some few decorations left up. Streamers, a banner, and flowers interrupt the baffles hanging from doorways. The house smells fresh with cake and cupcakes, and there's a small banquet table set up with a bowl of punch and some snacks.
It's simple, but perfect.
[ Birthday gathering! Tag in, tag around, have fun! If you know Regan, Greta or Saoirse, assume your pup has been invited. If you know one of the above-mentioned, assume you've been invited. If you hear tell of a kid's birthday party, assume you've been invited! Timed to November 2nd, pretty much all day, at their cottage in the countryside. Bring a present or don't! Saoirse means it when she says she just wants you there. Open for forever! ]
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(no subject)
The beach is the perfect place to go as a teenager. There are lots of cute boys playing frisbee and volleyball, and the sun and sand are perfect. She's got one of Regan's bathing suits on, because naturally she wouldn't fit into any of hers, and her hair is in a braid down her back. She'd invited Luke, to get him out and about and hopefully break the weird funk that learning he's supposed to be much younger had put him in.
The pull of the sea is dull, today, probably since she's so close to it. There are seals on the rocks off to the far end of the beach, watching her, and she's certain she'll end up over there before long. For now, she's at the surf, a straight shot from their towels and the bag of beach things she'd brought along. Cu is with them, trying to entice play, and she laughs when a wave splashes up against his thick fur, making him shake hard.
Wet sand and saltwater sprays everywhere.
The pull of the sea is dull, today, probably since she's so close to it. There are seals on the rocks off to the far end of the beach, watching her, and she's certain she'll end up over there before long. For now, she's at the surf, a straight shot from their towels and the bag of beach things she'd brought along. Cu is with them, trying to entice play, and she laughs when a wave splashes up against his thick fur, making him shake hard.
Wet sand and saltwater sprays everywhere.
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Aug 11th, 2019
Saoirse's not allowed to go anywhere alone for awhile, and Cu doesn't count as a babysitter. Greta has to work, and Regan has prior engagements (and anyway, it's not her job to watch Saoirse just because she lives with them), so Greta had contact Martin, and asked if he'd like to sit for a bit with her.
Saoirse likes Martin. He's pretty, in the way that boys can be pretty and handsome at the same time, and his voice is small and reminds her of the mice that live in the little wooden homes that Thomas had made before last winter. She feels like he could be her little brother, if he weren't a grownup.
She wonders if Darrow will make him small, the way it made Regan big for a time.
When Martin comes along, she opens the door. It works two ways, because Greta is just reaching the door to leave. She greets him on her way out, tells Saoirse to behave, and heads off to work with Saoirse's 'love you!' still trailing behind her. By that point, Cu and Sadie are both nosing at him, and she giggles at the way they're crowding them against the door.
"Cu! Sadie, stop it!" She's laughing, but Cu knows better than to disobey, so he woofs and leads Sadie aside. "Can we go to the beach?" she asks immediately after. She's wearing beach attire already, a swimsuit with pink denim shorts, flip flops, and a sunhat, even though she's still inside.
She'd prepared for this.
Saoirse's not allowed to go anywhere alone for awhile, and Cu doesn't count as a babysitter. Greta has to work, and Regan has prior engagements (and anyway, it's not her job to watch Saoirse just because she lives with them), so Greta had contact Martin, and asked if he'd like to sit for a bit with her.
Saoirse likes Martin. He's pretty, in the way that boys can be pretty and handsome at the same time, and his voice is small and reminds her of the mice that live in the little wooden homes that Thomas had made before last winter. She feels like he could be her little brother, if he weren't a grownup.
She wonders if Darrow will make him small, the way it made Regan big for a time.
When Martin comes along, she opens the door. It works two ways, because Greta is just reaching the door to leave. She greets him on her way out, tells Saoirse to behave, and heads off to work with Saoirse's 'love you!' still trailing behind her. By that point, Cu and Sadie are both nosing at him, and she giggles at the way they're crowding them against the door.
"Cu! Sadie, stop it!" She's laughing, but Cu knows better than to disobey, so he woofs and leads Sadie aside. "Can we go to the beach?" she asks immediately after. She's wearing beach attire already, a swimsuit with pink denim shorts, flip flops, and a sunhat, even though she's still inside.
She'd prepared for this.
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Saoirse wakes with a long stretch and a quiet groan. Then she wrinkles her nose. Her underwear is too tight. She reaches down to try to adjust it, but it rips a little from the strain. Her eyes shoot wide at the sound. She sits bolt upright and looks down at herself. Her night gown is short and tight on her body. Her underwear is digging into her skin. Her ankles are hanging partly off the bed.
"Mum!"
She rolls out of bed and grabs a blanket to wrap around herself.
"Mum!" she calls again, more urgently. She stomps through the house, her hair a wild mane. Cu groans curiously at her, then wines, and she makes her way downstairs.
"Mum! Someone's magicked all my stuff smaller!"
At sixteen, she's no stranger to magic, and all the various ways it can bugger with someone's life. She's lucky to have someone like Greta here, actually, who has a healthy respect — nay, fear — of most things magic.
She stops in front of her now, righteous indignation in her lanky limbs and expressive eyebrows, demanding some sort of recompense.
"Mum!"
She rolls out of bed and grabs a blanket to wrap around herself.
"Mum!" she calls again, more urgently. She stomps through the house, her hair a wild mane. Cu groans curiously at her, then wines, and she makes her way downstairs.
"Mum! Someone's magicked all my stuff smaller!"
At sixteen, she's no stranger to magic, and all the various ways it can bugger with someone's life. She's lucky to have someone like Greta here, actually, who has a healthy respect — nay, fear — of most things magic.
She stops in front of her now, righteous indignation in her lanky limbs and expressive eyebrows, demanding some sort of recompense.
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It's so cold outside that Brynmor actually closes for the day. Saoirse doesn't know if any other schools have done the same, but Brynmor is smaller, and probably the teachers all wanted to be home and warm in bed instead of having to drive in it.
The upshot is that Saoirse gets to play outside a bit. When she dares, at least.
There's been a family of mice that lives close to the woodpile. Back before winter, Thomas and she had made a cute little house for them, out of pieces of firewood and dried coconut shells from one of Greta's more adventurous Bake-Off practice runs. Saoirse likes to visit them before and after school, and she makes sure the dogs leave them alone. Sometimes, she talks to them, and she'll bring out fresh lint clumps from the dryer for them to snuggle into.
But it's too cold right now. What if they die?
So she grabs a shoebox from her closet, and she lines it with an old nightgown she can't fit into anymore. Then she puts some birdseed into it, and small bits of cheese, and she carries it outside to the mouse family.
It's surprisingly easy to coax them into the box. Maybe that's Daine's doing, or maybe they're just used to her, now, and not afraid. She doesn't really know. But she's sliding the cover on and carrying them all into the house within a few minutes — which is good, because her ears are starting to hurt with the cold, so she can only imagine how the mice must feel!
She brings the shoebox into the house, then up into her room. She has to shut the door, because Cu and Sadie won't stop trying to sniff at it. She shushes them when Cu digs at the space between the door and the floor, and she brings the box to her bed to sit with them for a bit. The outside of the box is cold, so she makes a nest in her blankets and nestles it inside.
"There," she tells them in a soft voice. "This should be better."
The upshot is that Saoirse gets to play outside a bit. When she dares, at least.
There's been a family of mice that lives close to the woodpile. Back before winter, Thomas and she had made a cute little house for them, out of pieces of firewood and dried coconut shells from one of Greta's more adventurous Bake-Off practice runs. Saoirse likes to visit them before and after school, and she makes sure the dogs leave them alone. Sometimes, she talks to them, and she'll bring out fresh lint clumps from the dryer for them to snuggle into.
But it's too cold right now. What if they die?
So she grabs a shoebox from her closet, and she lines it with an old nightgown she can't fit into anymore. Then she puts some birdseed into it, and small bits of cheese, and she carries it outside to the mouse family.
It's surprisingly easy to coax them into the box. Maybe that's Daine's doing, or maybe they're just used to her, now, and not afraid. She doesn't really know. But she's sliding the cover on and carrying them all into the house within a few minutes — which is good, because her ears are starting to hurt with the cold, so she can only imagine how the mice must feel!
She brings the shoebox into the house, then up into her room. She has to shut the door, because Cu and Sadie won't stop trying to sniff at it. She shushes them when Cu digs at the space between the door and the floor, and she brings the box to her bed to sit with them for a bit. The outside of the box is cold, so she makes a nest in her blankets and nestles it inside.
"There," she tells them in a soft voice. "This should be better."
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Greta leaves out offerings for Sweeney all the time, and Saoirse has never actually seen him accept them. She's started to wonder if maybe he takes them at all, or if perhaps any of the wild animals end up eating them overnight.
So she resolves to find out. She sets an alarm on her phone for well after Greta and Thomas are meant to be asleep. When it goes off beneath her pillow, she almost forgets why it's set, and fusses a little.
Then she gasps and rolls out of bed. She'd nearly forgotten about the offering!
She pads down to the kitchen and peeks at the window. It's still there, good.
Carefully, Saoirse drags a kitchen table chair to the counter closest to the window, and she climbs up onto it. She sits on the counter beside the window, sort of hiding from view. If Sweeney really is taking it, she wants to see it in action. She wants to know if he does it by magic, or if he just walks up and eats it. She wants to know how it works: does he leave magic behind that gives them luck, or does that come later?
She wants to know so much!
So she sits and waits.
So she resolves to find out. She sets an alarm on her phone for well after Greta and Thomas are meant to be asleep. When it goes off beneath her pillow, she almost forgets why it's set, and fusses a little.
Then she gasps and rolls out of bed. She'd nearly forgotten about the offering!
She pads down to the kitchen and peeks at the window. It's still there, good.
Carefully, Saoirse drags a kitchen table chair to the counter closest to the window, and she climbs up onto it. She sits on the counter beside the window, sort of hiding from view. If Sweeney really is taking it, she wants to see it in action. She wants to know if he does it by magic, or if he just walks up and eats it. She wants to know how it works: does he leave magic behind that gives them luck, or does that come later?
She wants to know so much!
So she sits and waits.
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They're in the kitchen, because they're always in the kitchen, now, unless it's bedtime. Greta is getting ready for that show she's in, which is exciting! But it also means that cuddles on the couch are seriously reduced.
But it does mean that Saoirse is learning a lot about baking, which she doesn't mind. She likes that she has something to talk to her about.
But now, Saoirse has something different to discuss. Something very important.
"Mum? Would you ever get married?" She's trying to be subtle, but she's not very good at it.
But it does mean that Saoirse is learning a lot about baking, which she doesn't mind. She likes that she has something to talk to her about.
But now, Saoirse has something different to discuss. Something very important.
"Mum? Would you ever get married?" She's trying to be subtle, but she's not very good at it.
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dated: October 14, 2018
Saoirse has grown very fond of Thomas, now that he's around much more. She'd already liked him, but for reasons that didn't directly relate to herself: she liked the smile he put on Greta's face, and the way he looked at Greta when he thought no one was looking. She liked the way he talked, and how he never seemed to be cross about anything. She even sort of liked the sadness hiding deep in his eyes, because it reminded her of her dad.
But now that he's living with them, she likes him in new ways. She likes the way his hair gets extra curly after he's slept on it, and the quiet padding of his feet when he walks through the house. She likes how he doesn't treat her like a child. Just like Greta, he talks to her like she understands the deeper meaning behind his words. She also likes the way Cu and Sadie like him, because dogs know about these sorts of things, in ways that even a selkie can't.
But most of all, she likes how his being there makes her feel like she has a dad again. Greta is a great mum, but she can't be both a mum and a dad, just like Dad hadn't been able to be a dad and a mum. Thomas brings something into the house that Saoirse hadn't fully realized was missing until it's suddenly there.
Saoirse is sitting in the shop with him one day, while Greta is at work and her usual sitter is busy. She likes watching him work, she decides. She likes so very much about him.
"Thomas," she says, a bit tentatively, like she doesn't want to upset him. "When you and Mum get married—" because, surely, it was a matter of when, at this point, "—can I start calling you 'Dad'?"
Saoirse has grown very fond of Thomas, now that he's around much more. She'd already liked him, but for reasons that didn't directly relate to herself: she liked the smile he put on Greta's face, and the way he looked at Greta when he thought no one was looking. She liked the way he talked, and how he never seemed to be cross about anything. She even sort of liked the sadness hiding deep in his eyes, because it reminded her of her dad.
But now that he's living with them, she likes him in new ways. She likes the way his hair gets extra curly after he's slept on it, and the quiet padding of his feet when he walks through the house. She likes how he doesn't treat her like a child. Just like Greta, he talks to her like she understands the deeper meaning behind his words. She also likes the way Cu and Sadie like him, because dogs know about these sorts of things, in ways that even a selkie can't.
But most of all, she likes how his being there makes her feel like she has a dad again. Greta is a great mum, but she can't be both a mum and a dad, just like Dad hadn't been able to be a dad and a mum. Thomas brings something into the house that Saoirse hadn't fully realized was missing until it's suddenly there.
Saoirse is sitting in the shop with him one day, while Greta is at work and her usual sitter is busy. She likes watching him work, she decides. She likes so very much about him.
"Thomas," she says, a bit tentatively, like she doesn't want to upset him. "When you and Mum get married—" because, surely, it was a matter of when, at this point, "—can I start calling you 'Dad'?"
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May 26th
It's a beautiful day, and the beach is windy, but not cold. Saoirse's been feeling a strange pull, stronger than usual, and daily, she's been bugging Greta to bring her to the beach to try to sate it.
It's finally paid off, possibly because even Cu and Sadie are being affected by Saoirse's ceaseless, impatient energy. But here they are, and Saoirse is wearing a swim suit under her clothes, and she's running around barefoot in the sun-warmed sand.
It's a beautiful day, and the beach is windy, but not cold. Saoirse's been feeling a strange pull, stronger than usual, and daily, she's been bugging Greta to bring her to the beach to try to sate it.
It's finally paid off, possibly because even Cu and Sadie are being affected by Saoirse's ceaseless, impatient energy. But here they are, and Saoirse is wearing a swim suit under her clothes, and she's running around barefoot in the sun-warmed sand.
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There's a toy store in the mall that has a play center in it. It's something that Saoirse loves to visit, and since winter doesn't want to let go, it's especially good to visit. It isn't very large, but it's certainly big enough. There's a slide, and a climbing gym with tunnels in it that reminds her of a big plastic anthill.
The flooring in this corner is rubberized, so it doesn't hurt as much to land on, and painted green — to look like grass, she thinks, although it doesn't, really.
Saoirse had managed to convey to Gabriel that she wanted to go there today. She has a little money to buy a toy or book with, but she mostly just wants to play in the climbing gym. She giggles her silent giggle when she notices her hair starting to stand out in every direction, from the static electricity. She probably looks very funny!
She runs up to Gabriel, careful not to shock him, and points at her hair. They should take a picture for Greta!
The flooring in this corner is rubberized, so it doesn't hurt as much to land on, and painted green — to look like grass, she thinks, although it doesn't, really.
Saoirse had managed to convey to Gabriel that she wanted to go there today. She has a little money to buy a toy or book with, but she mostly just wants to play in the climbing gym. She giggles her silent giggle when she notices her hair starting to stand out in every direction, from the static electricity. She probably looks very funny!
She runs up to Gabriel, careful not to shock him, and points at her hair. They should take a picture for Greta!
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Power swap plot
Saoirse had gone to school that morning feeling unstoppable. She'd wished Greta a good day, and said she'd miss her.
She'd said. She'd spoken. It's still such fun that Saoirse can speak without her coat. It feels like Darrow is treating her for being well-behaved, or something. It must be! She's been a good girl, so here's her voice, no coat necessary.
Until she'd gone to school. Some of the children accused her of lying about not being able to speak. They'd been very mean about it, and very soon, most of the children had started in, until she'd had to go sit in the nurse's room for the rest of the day because she'd been deemed 'too disruptive' by the teacher.
When she comes home that afternoon, her feet are heavy, her head and shoulders drooped. Cu rushes to greet her, but slows to a stop and licks her tear-stained face. Saoirse just gently pushes his snout away.
Saoirse had gone to school that morning feeling unstoppable. She'd wished Greta a good day, and said she'd miss her.
She'd said. She'd spoken. It's still such fun that Saoirse can speak without her coat. It feels like Darrow is treating her for being well-behaved, or something. It must be! She's been a good girl, so here's her voice, no coat necessary.
Until she'd gone to school. Some of the children accused her of lying about not being able to speak. They'd been very mean about it, and very soon, most of the children had started in, until she'd had to go sit in the nurse's room for the rest of the day because she'd been deemed 'too disruptive' by the teacher.
When she comes home that afternoon, her feet are heavy, her head and shoulders drooped. Cu rushes to greet her, but slows to a stop and licks her tear-stained face. Saoirse just gently pushes his snout away.
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Saoirse's first day of school as a speaking child hadn't been as easy or exciting as she'd hoped. Her classmates had accused her of faking her muteness all along, and she hadn't been sure how to prove them wrong, since she could speak. She'd been a little weepy when she'd gotten home that day.
The next few days had been easier, at least. She misses playing her shell. She can't make the beautiful notes come out anymore. A bit dejectedly, she'd asked Greta if they could go to the sea after school. It might help her feel better.
She would be lying if she said she didn't wish it were just her and Cu, though. She feels bad that Greta can't make her feel better. Perhaps, if she were to see even one seal, she might perk up.
She sees more than one. But they're not coming to see her like they always did. Instead, they're curiously watching a lady further down the beach. She's pretty, Saoirse recognizes that about her right away. But it's the fact that the seals are lingering near her that really has her attention.
"Greta! Look!"
She's still getting used to the loudness of her own voice.
The next few days had been easier, at least. She misses playing her shell. She can't make the beautiful notes come out anymore. A bit dejectedly, she'd asked Greta if they could go to the sea after school. It might help her feel better.
She would be lying if she said she didn't wish it were just her and Cu, though. She feels bad that Greta can't make her feel better. Perhaps, if she were to see even one seal, she might perk up.
She sees more than one. But they're not coming to see her like they always did. Instead, they're curiously watching a lady further down the beach. She's pretty, Saoirse recognizes that about her right away. But it's the fact that the seals are lingering near her that really has her attention.
"Greta! Look!"
She's still getting used to the loudness of her own voice.