Leah Stone (reapinghavok) wrote in immune_ic, @ 2013-03-01 23:26:00 |
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When it came to toys, Marigold Stone seemed to have an internal radar that told her when something fun was nearby. Or maybe it was just the curiosity of a child that had her sifting through her mother's woven bag. Whatever the reason, she succeeded in finding the sock puppets Kori and Leah had made the other day. Leah hadn't necessarily been keeping them hidden on purpose; she'd been waiting for the right moment to bring them out, whether it be to kill some boredom or to try and cheer someone up. Evan's room hadn't been lacking in cheer, which was odd considering Evan and Leah (especially Leah) weren't known for their cheerful demeanors. So, until Marigold brought them out, the puppets had been mostly forgotten. There was a part of Leah that had wanted to save those puppets to show to her brother first, because he, seemingly more than anyone else, seemed to need the cheering up. She was hesitant to show them to him herself, though. Her cheerful mood (wherever it had come from; she was still questioning it herself) was better saved for people whose nerves she didn't get on. Marigold had claimed Puppet Brandon, so perhaps the niece would have a better effect on the man's mood. For now, though, the little blonde had roped her mother into performing an impromptu puppet show for Evan in his room. They both sat on the bed, Marigold glued to Evan's side, as she'd been for the past several days, and Leah sitting on the end of the bed. The adult-sized sock used to make Puppet Brandon was swallowing up Marigold's tiny arm, while Puppet Evan fit snugly on Leah's. Anyone passing by the room might've been shocked to see Leah Stone in fits of giggles, attempting a poor and very exaggerated French accent for the beret-wearing puppet, but it had become a normal thing within the past year. Marigold had a lightening effect on Leah's moods. In fact, she was probably the only person in the world who could so easily effect those moods. It was near impossible to be angry around Marigold. Especially when the girl was doing a completely out-of-usual-character impression of Brandon. The puppet's voice wavered between high-pitched and attempted low-pitch, sometimes barking like a dog, other times speaking a few French words. It was a ridiculously cute interpretation of Brandon that Leah wished the man could see. “Zat is ze yellowest hair I have ever seen,” Puppet Evan said, teasing Puppet Brandon. “How do you get zat hair so curly, Uncle Bran-Bran?” Marigold had to pause to giggle before she could respond as Puppet Brandon. When she did, the puppet's voice was in a low pitch. “Because. C'est belle.” Puppet Evan opened his mouth wide in shock. “Mon dieu! You speak ze French better zhan me, and I am ze French!” Puppet Brandon responded by nomming Puppet Evan's face. “Uncle Bran-Bran, zis is very strange. My French face is not for eating. How would you like it if I did ze same to you?” Puppet Evan didn't wait for an answer, instead nomming back and making both puppet masters laugh. Marigold hopped down from the bed so that she could reach Puppet Evan better, the nomming turning into a gentle wrestling match, before the little girl became too excited and decided to run around the room a bit. Leah didn't feel up to chasing her around today, so she remained where she was on the bed. It didn't deter Marigold, though. She giggled as she skipped over to the door, which was ajar for some reason – perhaps a nurse (the annoying bimbo who always flirted with Evan, whether Leah was around or not) had checked in on them while they were playing and no one had noticed – and made like she was going to leave. “Uncle Bran-Bran, where are you going? Come back so zhat you can say nice things about my beret.” Leah sighed when it appeared that Marigold thought this was part of the game and wasn't going to listen to her. She really didn't feel like chasing down a five-year-old today, but it was only her and Evan in the room right now and he was still bedridden. If Marigold decided to run off, it would be Leah who had to go and get her. “Mari, come back over here, please.” The infirmary was bustling today. The doctors didn't need a rambunctious child getting in the way. Marigold wasn't listening, though. She was too caught up in the game and didn't want it to end. Her mother was only teasing, after all. That's what she believed. Asking her to come and sit down was part of the game. Marigold opened the door wider and dashed out into the hall. “Marigold!” Another sigh, deeper this time, and she exchanged a glance with Evan before getting up from the bed and moving to the door. There was no sign of Marigold in the hall. She couldn't have gone far, but that little twinge of panic began to rise up. The maternal panic that came with a child getting lost. Leah closed the door quietly behind her and began searching and calling for her daughter. Marigold liked playful games of chase. For the past few months, it had only been Papa and her aunts and uncle who were willing to play that particular game with her. She'd asked why Mommy didn't play games like that with her anymore, but she didn't really understand the answer. Today, though, Mommy had seemed like she was in the mood to play, and Marigold was excited to be able to get the chance again. Mommy was good at chase. The little blonde bounded down the hall, searching for hiding places and utterly oblivious to where she was going. She didn't know she was heading towards the Quarantine area. All she knew was that the particular place she was heading seemed to have a lot of good hiding places. Mommy would never find her there. |