New Lanshire

Where Have You Been!?

2009-08-09T01:16:00.001-04:00

I keep forgetting to update here xD it's weird but I do. New Lanshire is on a wee hiatus while I get some posts together and such but for those who are still interested in it, you can find it at http://elecy.livejournal.com/. There is a section dedicated to NL updates.

College - Freedom

2009-04-07T09:06:00.001-04:00

The college post is rather large, and can be found here -http://elecy.livejournal.com/43071.html#cutid1

Holt 2 - Marriage

2009-04-01T16:09:00.009-04:00

It had always crossed his mind to someday move out on his own but still, Owen wasn't sure he ever would. But here he was, living alone in a house. Of course, he didn't move far. He just moved down the street. There was no way he was going to leave his sisters alone. They still needed him. But he did so miss their voices, as well as the sound of Karl's footsteps. Living alone was...lonely. He often called Lorelle and Eumelia to ease his mind. Needless to say, he was shocked to learn Eumelia was an engaged woman. But he was happy for her. She deserved wedding bliss, just like him.

Yes, it wasn't before long that Marylena joined him. He was waiting for the moment where he could live with her. She came over with her belongs to inspect the house. "It's perfect, Owen! The perfect place to begin our family..." And it was. It was a small house, yes, but it left alot of room for building on.

When she moved in, Marylena seemed to be taken over by a change. She let her hair grow slightly and she began wearing make up and more girly clothing. She quit her job, though Owen said she did not have to. The second income would have been welcomed, after all. But she insisted it was her place to take care of the house.

And Owen. He was often left so tired after work. He needed her to help him relax. How he loved coming home after a long day of being in mud and having someone yell at him, just to fall into her arms and listen to her soft voice sing to him. Yeah, he could get used to this.

Their wedding was a big event. They rented out The House of Unity and invited all their friends and family. Unfortunately, the VIPs failed to arrive: Owen's family. Derek Collins said it was odd. He saw Eumelia, Lorelle and Karl outside the church when he came in but didn't see them come in for the wedding. Owen was hurt but he figured they had an emergancy and had to return home.

The honeymoon didn't last long. Money was short after the wedding, so Owen had to go back to work. The house needed alot of improvements and being the only breadwinner, he had to work long hours. He knew Marylena was lonesome but he hoped she understood. He was working this hard for her, for them.

And she did. Marylena did miss his company during the day and hated feeling him leave during the early hours but she knew he had to work hard for them. The least she could do was earn money on the side. She took up painting and writing novels as a way to make a little extra cash. It was a long process but it kept her busy.

Bates - Preperation

2009-03-30T19:33:00.008-04:00

Yes, Melitta had a plan indeed. She hadn't told anyone except Tyreek about it. She had dreams of being a successful business woman. Of course, her ultimate dream was becoming a famous athlete but she also wanted to be a resturant owner too. She wanted to bring her own healthy lifestyle to the masses. There was an empty lot currently located a few blocks away that Melitta had her eye on. It was the perfect place for a nice little resturant. But money was short. "After college," Melitta repeated to herself, "After college, I can have it."

The girls were growing up fast and it saddened Orion. So he tried to spend as much time as he could with them. He found it was easier to spend time with Melitta. She was the calmer of the two sisters and shared more in common with him. She was an old soul, as his departed wife had once said. He could spend hours just painting aside her, talking about politics and life in general.

Hersilia was too wild for him to keep up with. One minute, she was on the phone jabbering away to boys and the next, she was jumping on the couch. "Don't you ever get tired?" He asked, exhausted just by looking at her.
"Nope!" She grinned as she continued to bounce. Orion shook his head and moved on.

Melitta was becoming tired of her sister calling her a social reject so she tried her hand at making some new friends. She met a young girl who was passing by and tried to start a friendly conversation. But the girl was somehow put off by Melitta and made it clear she wanted nothing to do with her. Maybe Hersilia was right. Maybe Melitta was a social reject.

It wasn't long before the girls left the house for college. The house was incredibly empty. There was no laughter, no furious typing, nothing. Orion tried to keep himself busy by playing chess, but it only reminded him of the girls, how they'd argue over the chess table.

Orion couldn't stand the lonliness. He needed companionship. So he invited over two of the neighbors, Teresita Loyola and Lorelle Holt. Lorelle's brother had recently moved out and her sister was engaged, so she was going through similar changes. Teresita had lived alone for the longest time, so she knew how he felt. The two women helped take Orion's mind off his granddaughters by instead talking about Murder, She Wrote.

Loyola - Soledad

2009-03-29T09:36:00.009-04:00

Despite being pregnant, Teresita didn't slow down much. She still had to take care of the house, after all. There was no way she could hire a maid. Money was tight now that she could not work. So she was left doing the chores in between resting and waiting for her due date. Luckily, she rarely made a mess so there wasn't much to be cleaned. It usually just took a quick wipedown to keep the house from getting too dusty.

The bakery wasn't doing too good but Teresita didn't want to give up on her dream of running a business. So she changed direction. Instead of selling food, she sold knicknacks. The small trinkets were a hit. She got more customers coming in and some even became regulars. Before long, she was able to expand her supply and added more unique pieces.

Of course, her shop was closed on her due date. She waited for the first signs of labor before going to the hospital. She had asked Derick to drive her and when she felt her first contraction, she called him. He hurried over, finding her doubling over in pain. He whisked her down into the taxi and waited with her at the hospital.

The waiting period was over and the baby they had both been waiting for was born. Soledad Loyola caused quite a stir in the hospital. After all, alien babies are a rare sight. The nurses and doctors fawned over the baby and mother. Normally, Teresita would be resistant to such attention but this was a special occasion. She knew Soledad was something special.

Teresita had a few days off of work, so she continued to run the business. But she was caught off guard one day, as she went down the elevator. It shook and before she knew it, it was plummeting to the ground. She was shaken but thankfully, not hurt. It was a scary situation and she hoped it would never happen again.

Soledad turned into a young beauty. She had much of Teresita's attributes, including her brown hair. But her aqua-esque skin and lilac eyes made her ewven more exotic. Early on, Soledad showed her personality. She was a sweet little girl and much like her mother. Her adorable attitude made it so hard for Teresita to return to working full-time but she knew she had to if she wanted to make life comfortable for her little cosmic baby.

She was sure to be there for all the firsts, though. She helped her daughter with walking, talking and pottytraining. As befit an alien, Soledad seemed to be a natural when it came to learning new things. She still hadn't mastered the potty but she was awfully close.

Saito - Conquest

2009-03-29T07:37:00.009-04:00

Life was good for Yuzuki and Rokurou. They knew they were getting closer to the end but they never let it affect them. They were prepared for it, so why be so sullen? It was okay. They had a nice life. They had each other, of course. Their love was as strong as the day they met. Their son was happy and had a successful career. Their grandson was also well on his way to a good life. Dying now would be fine with them.

Hayate took a break from his studies to get to know some of the young ladies of New Lanshire. He made a friend when he approached a little girl walking down the street. He was sitting in the yard, doing his homework when she came by. They had some common interests but Hayate was still a bit unsure of how he felt about her. Girls were a strange breed.

They never understood why he was always painting. It was messy and boring! But Hayate didn't think so. He enjoyed it. He loved making works of art to decorate the house with. His grandmother adored his floral paintings and they did earn the family money sometimes. Girls were just too immature to understand.

Hayate knew his father didn't understand either but he never complained. It kept Hayate busy while he worked, so he didn't get too upset that his father made little to no time for him. He would hug Ryouichi when he came home and go back to painting, giving Ryouichi time to bring in one of his girlfriends.

His latest conquest was the mail woman. He had come to find her odd beauty charming. The way her uniform hugged her body was nice and her blonde hair was a refreshing oddity, given his usual view of red hair next to him in bed. He chatted her up whenever she dropped off the bills and sometimes gave her a rose while she gave him the mail. She was clearly surprised and flattered.

She was a nice woman but she stayed around too much. Most of the women he was with left right after the night of passion but Dagmar did not. She stuck around, letting herself be seen by the other members of the household. As hot as she was, Ryouichi would have to sit her down and break the rules to her.

Hayate grew up to become a money-minded young man. He wanted to be successful and have a decent life, in comparison to his father. Women were nice but not to be treated so loosely. No. He'd find himself a nice young woman to share his wealth with.

Collins - Growing Bonds

2009-03-28T15:06:00.011-04:00

He wasn't expecting her to say yes. He wasn't expecting her to even stay long enough to hear him out. But Eumelia was full of surprises. That was one of the reasons he loved her. He just knew he had to make her his. Derek invited her over one late night, taking her by surprise. He knew she had some hesitation in her eyes but ultimately, she agreed. Their wedding would be small but it would be the best day of his life. Until that day, though, Eumelia would stay with her sister and nephew.

Tyreek was happy for his father. He didn't understand why his father didn't date after his mother had passed away. It had been a long time. It was okay to move on. Tyreek had heard only good things of Eumelia and as long as she made his father happy, Tyreek would approve of their union.

Of course, this left him with something else to think about. No doubt, his father and new stepmother would have children. The house would be quite crowded when he came back from college, wouldn't it? Would he have to move out on his own instead of returning home?

But he had options. His father would give him enough money to get a bachelor pad, of course. But if he took Melitta up on her offer, he wouldn't need it. Tyreek hadn't made many friends in New Lanshire, much less ones of the female persuasion but Melitta was someone he could relate to. She was low-key and calm. The two became best friends and Melitta offered Tyreek a place to stay after college. She had dreams of owning her own resturaunt but knew she'd need help. So in exchange for helping her out, she'd give him a place to stay. It was an enticing offer.

Tyreek couldn't deny it. He had feelings for Melitta. He and her weren't offically dating just yet but the connection was clear. Living with her would be simply perfect.

The household claimed another new member when Jerald proposed to his girlfriend, Claire. Jerald loved flirting with younger girls but he wasn't as young as he was. He knew it was important to have one person to live his days out with and his first wife, unfortunately, didn't fufill that need. So Claire would be the one for him.

The new member of the Collins home was quick to get to know Tyreek and Derick. Tyreek didn't mind his new stepgrandmother. She was nice enough. But Derick was a bit more reluctant to accept her. "I know Father loves you but...I guess I just miss Mom..."
"I know it will be hard to accept me, Derick but...we can at least try, right?"
"I suppose."

Jerald was happy as could be, though. They were only engaged but it felt as though they had been married for years. Claire was perfect for him and he was glad to have met her. Claire was happy as well. She had spent many years setting up other couples. It was due time for herself to find true love.

Tyreek had used his good grades to enter the prestigious private academy in town. He had some time before college and wanted to get more scholarships. He didn't think he was working too hard. He did find time to relax, after all. Each morning before school, he played with the ants in his ant farm. That was completely relaxing, right?

Holt - Advancement

2009-03-14T18:25:00.019-04:00

Life continued normally for the Holt clan. Though their lives were often busy, they made time to at least eat together. Eumelia said eating together was enough to form deep bonds. Karl enjoyed it. He rarely got to see his uncle during the day, his aunt was constantly cleaning and his mother was often too busy with her boyfriends. It was nice, having dinner together. It was nice.

Owen loved being with his nephew but there was much work to do. What good was he to Karl if he couldn't bring in a decent paycheque? He wanted to get a promotion, so he could give the small boy all the things he had as a child. If he had to sacrifice bonding time, so be it. It was for the greater good.

Eumelia understood his reasoning. But there were was to do his job and still be active in Karl's life. Wanting to get in shape herself, Eumelia worked out in the living room. Through her pants and groans, she carried on a conversation with Karl as he painted in the next room. His art was getting better and better each day, as he developed a love for it from his friend Hayate. Eumelia wanted to nuture his love for it. It would bring him happiness and wealth someday.

But his drive was less than desirable sometimes. Karl had a hard time getting up for school in the mornings. His mother was not a good example, sleeping in well until noon. Eumelia often had to shake them both awake. Both had awful tempers about it too.

Karl only enjoyed school because Hayate was there. Karl hadn't made many friends since moving to New Lanshire, aside from Hayate. The two were best friends and Hayate was always coming over. Eumelia didn't mind his visits. He was a sweet boy. But his father often came with him and she often found her tongue tied...by his own.

Eumelia hadn't made many friends either. But she too had a close friend. Teresita Loyola was a rather kind woman who Eumelia had befriended after seeing her taking a walk. Recently, Teresita had stopped coming by to visit and Eumelia grew concerned. Teresita was a naturally quiet person but she at least called or emailed Eumelia a few times a week. So Eumelia finally called her friend and asked her to come over, to make sure she was okay. She was quite surprised by what she saw.

She was shocked when Teresita told her she was pregnant. "Who is the father?" She asked curiously. Teresita hadn't mentioned any men in her life. The mother-to-be searched for her words, as Eumelia rubbed her belly happily.
"That's where it gets a bit weird..."

Eumelia was shocked, no doubt. She told Lorelle about it but she brushed it off as nonsense. What did she care about a magic baby? She had better things to do, like slowly corrupting the male species. Her sweet words and sizzling touch was enough to turn rowdy frat boys into bumbling dorks.

Sometimes, they even rewarded her art. Quite a few times, her dates left more than a letter or roses. One even left a pinball machine. She wasn't QUITE sure how he got it to her house but she didn't care. SHE HAD A PINBALL MACHINE!

Pinball machines were nice but Owen was beginning to feel the pressure of being surrounded by two women and a child. Sure, he wanted to have kids someday but the house was so suffocating and everything was on his shoulders. How long would he have to stay here?

He wanted to make a life with Marylena. He even went out with his extra cash and bought a beautiful engagement ring. He had planned on engaging to her at a beautiful resturant but Lorelle had so graciously taken all the money and blew it on a new computer. But Marylena still accepted. The marriage was far off, though. Owen told her he had to make sure the girls would be fine without him first.

Eumelia was happy for her brother. He deserved happiness. But Lorelle was less than pleased. "What do you mean I have to get a job!?"
"Owen needs to move out and build a life with Marylena. Obviously, one of us needs to make the money now. Now, we all know I'm more of the domestic one so that leaves you."
"But....but..."
"Do you want us out on the street, Lorelle?"
"...No..."

So Lorelle finally bunkered down and got a job as a golf caddy. She didn't enjoy it. She had to wake up early. Like, really early. Oh, she tried to sleep in. She never bought an alarm clock. But she assumed Eumelia made a deal with Karl, as each morning he'd come into her room and wake her up by playing on her computer.

With his sister getting a job and earning money of her own, Owen felt a bit better about leaving them behind. So he packed up his personal belongings and left the rest to be sold to help them. "I'll call you girls once I'm in my new place, alright?" He told them before getting inside the taxi.

Karl missed his uncle. He was the only male influence he had. But his mom bought him a new toy chest to keep him occupied. Aunt Eumelia had agreed to its purchase but that was before she realized what a mess he'd make by not putting the toys back.

Like she was one to talk. She was making a mess of her own. She could not decide who to love. Karl knew this. He often saw her making out with Hayate's father but on a few occasions, she was doing the same with Mr. Collins. Eumelia's heart was so confused. Derick was the type of man one married. Ryouichi was the type of man one WISHED one could marry.

Lorelle was confused as well. Eumelia had no idea, of course, that she was also seeing Ryouichi but one day, she swore she saw her kissing Derick's father. Talk about gross!

Bates - Priorities

2009-03-09T15:12:00.009-04:00

"Why does it matter if I don't get As?!" Hersilia growled as she took a peak at her report card once she stepped off the bus. Her grandfather made it clear, he was expecting exceptional grades. She didn't know why it was so important to him. Grades weren't everything. Hersilia had better things to do with her time. She couldn't constantly be studying. That was just boring. Life was supposed to be much more.

She stuffed the report card under a pile of bills. She'd worry about them later. Right now, her duties were to her friend Sophie. The poor girl was distraught over her appearance. Hersilia couldn't blame her. Her hair was styled in strange cups and it just looked weird. So Hersilia led her into her bedroom and sat her in front of the vanity. There, she worked hard to straighten Sophie's hair out until she was able to form a chic new style. "There!" She said triumphantly, "Now you look perfect! ...Well...not quite. Consider wearing something less...nausea-inducing."

She had to send Sophie home when her grandfather returned from work, though. He found her report card and needless to say, he was not happy. "Why can't you be more like your sister?" He asked, exhausted. Hersilia crossed her arms and shrugged. "No answer? Fine. Why don't you go do your homework? Better yet, do it in front of Melitta. That way, I know you are actually doing it." Hersilia was going to protest but clamped her mouth shut when she realized it was useless. Then she took her homework and wandered into her sister's room.

She really hated her sister. Melitta was the golden child. She always got good grades. Orion was so proud of her. He told everyone he could about her. "That's right, she got all As. Melitta is just like her mother, a smart little cookie!"
"How wonderful! Hayate got all As too. Perhaps we should introduce them?"
"Oh, that sounds good. Melitta would want friends of her own intelligence, right, dear?"
"Uh...sure, Grandpa."

And she would. While Melitta was the top of her class, she envied Hersilia for her ability to make friends. Since moving to New Lanshire, Melitta hadn't made any friends at all. She didn't know why. She was a nice enough person, right? Her only friends exsisted on the internet, so that's where she spent most of her time. It was a bit sad but it was all she had.

"Cheer up!" Hersilia would tell Melitta when she got too depressed, "You'll make friends! We just moved here. Don't worry so much." Despite having differences, the sisters really did love each other. Hersilia didn't enjoy seeing her sister so down in the dumps. So she promised to help her find friends.

Of course, most of the potential friends didn't work out. She introduced guys to Melitta, only to have them making the moves on her. She was a young girl who was just beginning to explore, so she didn't resist it. So this one guy wasn't into Melitta. Big deal. Hersilia would still find her someone...after her date.

Orion wanted to help Melitta as well. But he had other priorities. His job often had him out late. He worked very hard, though Melitta's part time job as a waterperson helped out greatly. He still had to bring in the money to pay the bills. But he missed his granddaughters. He wasn't sure they were ready to be left on their own.

They felt differently. Hersilia and Melitta proved themselves worthy by inviting the headmaster of the private school over for dinner, in hopes of entering his prestigious school. They couldn't afford the tuition but they heard that if the headmaster grew to like a family, he made exceptions. Melitta prepared a salmon dinner while Hersilia put her charismatic ability to good use. Despite their humble home, the headmaster was impressed and accepted the girls. From today on, their lives would change. They just knew it.

Loyola - Other Worldly

2009-03-07T19:19:00.012-05:00

Life went as it always did. Despite being quite ill, Loyola continued to work. She had to, after all. It was just her and she had bills to pay. Though she was urged to take some time off to rest up, she couldn't. She didn't want to fall too behind and she was so close to a promotion. Soon, these bills would be no problem and she would be able to take off work. But for now, she had to grit her teeth and bare through it.

But her illness was very draining. She always felt so tired. She would be forced to crawl into bed early into the night. Still, sleep was the best medicine for her. A few days later, she felt normal. She supposed all the sleep helped nurse her body back to health. For that, she was grateful.

She began taking up stargazing again. It was a calm, peaceful activity. She'd spend hours on the roof, finding constellations and looking at planets. While she was watching the stars, someone was watching her. She hadn't seen them until they struck. Suddenly, she was covered in a blue light. She looked up, blinded by the brightness. In moments, she was being lifted off her feet and then everything got dark.

Next thing she knew, she was being hurled to the ground. She landed surprisingly safely. She just skid her knees. She rose to her feet and rubbed her lower back in pain. Then she looked around. There, hovering behind her...was it? No, it couldn't be. ...Right?

She thought nothing of it until the signs came. So it was! Aliens! Aliens had abducted her and impregnated her! At first, she was happy. She had always had a fascination with aliens. She also wanted children someday but knew that it was unlikely, due to her inability to attract the opposite sex. But then reality set in. Would anyone actually believe her if she told them what happened?

She was sure, though, when she was carrying a green baby that they would. The proof was in the pudding, after all. Teresita felt a change come over her. She used her saved earnings to renovate the flat, adding a nursery to accommodate the future baby. She couldn't wait to be a mother.

Derick was one of the first people she told about it. He believed her, of course. He knew there were aliens out there and he was as excited as she was. "An alien child?! How glorious!" He exclaimed and insisted upon taking Teresita out to dinner to celebrate. She knew she could trust him with this information. Derick was a kind man, he truly was.

She wondered, how would he react if she asked him to be the father to her otherworldly offspring? Teresita wasn't sure if she could be a single mother. Derick had experience raising children. Surely, he could help her. She kept her thoughts to herself, though. As sweet as he was to her, she knew his heart belonged to Eumelia Holt. That woman didn't deserve him though.

Derick was too good a man to be wasted on someone who didn't even want him.

Saito - Approval

2009-03-07T07:42:00.010-05:00

The Holt sisters were Ryouichi's current favorite playmates. The two of them were both gorgeous but different. Lorelle was the type of girl he could take out on the town and she'd make him dance well into the morning. Eumelia was the girl he could bring home and slink into bed with. He was driven mad by their red hair and dark blue eyes. And he knew for a fact that he drove them mad as well.

Yuzuki wished her son had a bit more respect for women. She really did, despite her silence on the subject. Didn't he want a long-lasting love like the one she shared with her husband? She couldn't bare the thought of waking up next to anyone else. Rokurou had been by her side for eternity, it had seemed. Her son's amorous ways just didn't leave way for true romance. How could he be happy with that?

Hayate didn't really mind what his father did. Or rather, he didn't have much time to. He was a very focused boy and blocked out most of what went on in the house, in an effort to keep to his studies, His mother always preached about working hard to become someone worthy of respect and he wanted to make her proud, wherever she was.

He made his grandparents proud, he knew that. He was a quiet boy who kept to himself mostly, painting or reading. But he always helped out with the chores, taking out the trash and loading the dishwasher. His grandmother boasted of his helpful deeds to her husband and to any neighbors who listened.

Hayate often wished his dad was as proud. After receiving his report card and showing it to his happy grandparents, he rushed into his father's room for his approval. But his father was preoccupied with Karl's mother. "That's nice, Hayate, now go away. Daddy is busy with Miss Holt." Hayate sighed and walked out, his tiny fingers clinging to his A+.

Yuzuki didn't need her son's approval for anything and soon, Hayate would learn that too. Yuzuki entered a cooking contest of her own desire and she won. She was proud and shared her winnings with her husband and Hayate. But Ryouichi would get none of it. He wouldn't even get a piece of the turkey that won.

While at the contest, Yuzuki met up with many of people. One of the people she met ran the art school in town and they got into a conversation about Hayate. The woman agreed to meet with him and see if he had what it took to be a true artist. She observed him for several hours before rising from her seat and giving him a membership to her school. "You'll fit in quite nicely."

Meanwhile, Yuzuki got to know her neighbors a bit more. "Did you hear? The girl in the red house is looking for aliens! Aliens!"

Collins - Hot N' Cold

2009-03-06T11:29:00.014-05:00

Derick was happy for his son. He was getting his life where he wanted it to be. He had recieved some scholarships to college and was preparing for the big move. It was some time off, but Derick was still worried. The college was located on the mountain and he was worried. Tyreek wasn't a very good driver. Would he be able to make it up safetly?

Tyreek didn't care how he got there. He just wanted to get there. He worked hard on all his studies to ensure his place. His father and grandfather never got the chance to attend a college. He'd be the first in his family to get a higher education. He wasn't going to let this opportunity pass him by.

While he stayed home to work on homework, his father and grandfather went to South Lanshire for a little fun. They met up with a friend of Jerald's, Orion Bates, and held a little poker match. The game was made even better when Eumelia Holt took to the karaoke machine, providing a sweet soundtrack.

Derick was never a good gambling man. So he eventually folded and left the game. He approached Emuelia and listened to her sing. She paused in the middle of a song and asked him if he'd like to join her. He was never the best singer but she seemed hopeful, so he accepted. He had to admit, he had a bit of a crush on Eumelia...

After their song, he felt bold. He tried to be as subtle as possible but his motives were easily detected. "Oh...Derick, I'm not..." She tried to explain as carefully as she could. He lowered his head.
"No, it's fine. I should have known."
"I like you as a friend, a good friend. Okay?"
"Of course."

Jerald was a bit more skilled in the art of romance. He had phoned up the match maker, hoping she'd help him find the perfect woman. But after he saw her, he realized he didn't need her services. He needed her. She was surprised but flattered and the two began seeing each other casually.

Derick had been pushed by both his son and father to invite Eumelia over and talk about the previous night. He did so, reluctantly. He prepared what he was going to say. But in a moment, it was all gone from his mind. He wasn't expecting what Eumelia did. When she pulled away, he just stared and she blushed. "I...sorta just felt like it needed to be done..." She whispered as she went into the house. Derick followed loyally, not questioning it.

His life was just full of surprises. Perhaps his mind was too focused on Eumelia and their kiss. In any case, it wasn't focused on his work. As a result, he was fired. It was a devestating blow to him. He was the only source of income for the family, after all.

He was able to get his job back but he needed severe cheering up. So he called Eumelia and invited her out for a date in South Lanshire. She accepted and he treated her to dinner at the bowling alley. Seeing her gentle face made him feel so much better.

But once again, she was sending him mixed signals. It was as if she didn't even recall the kiss happening. Why was she acting like this? One minute, she was saying they were only friends and that she didn't feel that way. The next, she was sliding her tongue down his throat. Women were so difficult. It had been a long time since his wife passed away. Had he really forgotten how easily a woman's mind changed?

Jerald had seen it all. He had come to the bowling alley as well and he overheard the discussion. He had a good idea as to why she was so resistant. Talk on the street was she was seeing someone else. He had heard she was seeing one of their neighbors, a man named Ryouichi. He wasn't sure what to tell Derick. For now, he'd say nothing.

But he was still very worried about his son. Very worried indeed.

Holt - Connections

2009-02-27T22:48:00.022-05:00

It was almost Karl's birthday. He was just growing so fast. It wasn't in their budget to throw a huge party, but Lorelle still wanted to give him something nice. She opted for clothes. No son of hers was going to be caught in hideous rags. So she wandered down to the local salon. She was pleased to find it was a male-owned shop. All the stylists were single men who were giving her the eye. After flirting with the cashier to lower her price down, she made sure to get all their numbers.

Karl grew up well and was an active child. He would run from room to room, despite his aunt's warnings. He'd wait for her to turn her back, then he'd continue on his way. He loved his aunt dearly but really, she was so prim and proper sometimes. She wasn't like Mama at all.

But she was helpful. Whenever Karl had homework, he always went to his aunt. His mother was often too busy on the internet and even when she wasn't, she wasn't much help. She couldn't answer his questions at all, and was amazed when he answered them.

Uncle Owen was nice too. Karl loved reading with him. The two made time every evening to just relax and read. It was the only time they had together. Owen worked long hours and Karl, of course, had school. Owen tried to be in Karl's life as much as he could. The boy needed a postivie male role model.

He knew for a fact that none of Lorelle's boyfriends fit that mold. They were all the same: shallow dogs. Yet she kept falling for them, one after the other. But it wasn't nothing serious for her, Owen knew that. Men were a game to her, a game she loved to play.

But sometimes, they played her. She had been talking to this one guy for a while and thought it was ready to advance the relationship. However, the man was merely fooling her and left her in a puddle of embarressment.

To make things worse, he rubbed it in. He sent her letters that reaked of a mix between deer urine and rotten radishes. It was horrible, reaching into the mailbox and never knowing if you'd grab the bills or a stink bomb.

Lorelle really needed a night out to get herself back into the groove. She figured Eumelia would enjoy it as well, so the two girls got dressed in their best gowns and went to South Lanshire to check out the clubs and bars.

Eumelia immediately gravitated towards the piano. She had taken lessons in her youth but she knew she was rusty. Still, she sat down and started playing a few keys. To her surprise, a bar patron came by and left her a tip. "I really enjoy that sort of music...keep playing!" She urged. And Eumelia did, with a wide grin on her face.

She eventually did stop when her fingers began to hurt, though. So she joined her sister at a poker table. Lorelle had hooked two men into playing with them. The men thought, "What beautiful women...probably dumb, though." But they were taken for a loop when Eumelia walked away with most of their cash.

Owen was glad his sisters had a nice time. But he wasn't happy when they returned and left him with a difficult task: fixing the computer. Eumelia went straight to bed but Lorelle decided to surf the net a bit and somehow, with her wonderful luck, managed to send the modem into a flury of smoke. "Can you handle that for me, Owie? Thaaanks!" Lorelle called girlishly as she went off to take a bath. Owen grumbled but pulled out his screw driver and began to work.

With Owen at work and free from his complaining, the girls arranged for a little tea time with their neighbor, Teresita Loyola. Lorelle found her pretty but utterly plain, but Eumelia made sure to keep Lorelle in line. Eumelia didn't have many friends and she wasn't going to let her sister ruin her chances.

Unfortunately, as nice as Teresita was, she had a few problems. She was sick. Eumelia was usually good at fighting off illness but this particular flu was strong and in no time, she was coughing and sneezing. Needless to say, she was not happy whatsoever. She hated having to sit in bed and do nothing.

She refused to be a victim to her illness and through her adamant requests, the family took a trip to the local culinary club. Eumelia had been wanting to enter the cooking contest. Owen and Lorelle just joined out of spite. They were expecting Eumelia to win but to all their surprise, it was Lorelle's dish of grilled cheese that impressed the judges. Eumelia was horrified.

Karl was tired of the adults. He wanted to have friends his own age. Luckily, the male friend of his mother and aunt had a son. His name was Hayate and though he was more low matienence, he and Karl got along.

They got along quite well, in fact. They were fast friends. Hayate really balanced Karl out. He kept him on track in school and began rubbing off on him. Eumelia was glad. Hayate was a polite little boy. Karl could really benefit from him.

Eumelia had to applaud Ryouichi's parenting. And she did, just without her hands. Ryouichi was such an amazing man. The way he touched her and spoke to her was irresistable. No man made her feel this way before. He was like a romance novel, come to life. And he was all hers.

And Lorelle's. It was just a fling, the two knew. Eumelia wouldn't understand. Lorelle knew that Ryouichi wasn't the type of guy who settled down, despite his role as a father. That had been a mere fluke. She knew what he wanted and she was sure to give it to him, as long as he kept wanting it.

Bates - A Girl Thing

2009-02-17T18:16:00.012-05:00

Orion dreamed of relaxing on a beach somewhere, reading contently as he waited for his days to come to an end. He was done raising his children and could finally attend to himself. But unfortunately, his beloved daughter Aurelia passed away suddenly and now, he is left with her two teenage daughters. Melitta, the eldest, looked much like Orion and her mother. She was a money-minded girl, who wanted to someday be a famous athlete. Her little sister, Hersilia, was more of a fun-loving girl who wanted to have fun and meet boys. Of course, she too had dreams. She wanted to be a famous chef. Together, this family came to New Lanshire to forget their loss.

The girls kept each other occupied while their grandfather helped the movers with arranging what little furniture they owned. Hersilia proposed a game of janken. Her sister agreed. The two of them played for a bit. They mostly ended in ties. But Hersilia still held the most wins, which made Melitta a bit mad.

So she let her sister know how she was feeling. She grabbed her tightly and proceeded to mess up her hair, something Hersilia had spent hours perfecting. Hersilia finally squirmed free and was about to give Melitta a piece of her mind when their grandfather called out, "It's ready!"

The family went inside to inspect their new home, not even noticing their new neighbors coming to greet them. Finally, Orion noticed them and happily went out to greet them. The girls stayed back, laughing at one of their neighbors. Yuzuki Saito was hunched on all fours, smelling their flowers. This was something the girls found strange but amusing, especially since she rose and threw her knee out of joint.

Melitta liked cooking but her grandfather urged her to try other activites as well. So, she took up painting. It wasn't that boring. She actually liked it. It was nice to learn about different styles. She knew she could apply them to her cuisine. That would really help her win the upcoming cook-off.

Hersilia spent her free time on the phone, talking to the cute paperboy. She was making plans for later that night, plans her grandfather knew nothing about. Melitta overheard and threaten to tell but in the end, it was all too much effort. Besides, Hersilia was more than capable of getting herself in trouble.

Hersilia stayed up late, waiting for her ride into the downtown district. She was so exhausted, though. Every few seconds, she caught herself nodding off. She fixed herself a salad to keep herself occupied but she only ended up falling asleep in it, waking up fully when she felt the creamy ranch dressing on her cheeks.

Finally, he arrived and she snuck out quietly. Both Melitta and Orion were asleep when she left. She giggled, "I hope we don't get caught..." Derek looked at her with a grin and sped off once she was secure in the passenger seat.

Orion knew nothing about his granddaughter's night, only that she was surprisingly very tired going off to school the next morning. She was a bit of a sloth anyways. Melitta was a more active girl and very intelligent. He had no problems with her and never worried about her. Hersilia, on the other hand...

Secure in the knowledge that his girls could take care of themselves for a few hours, Orion got to know some of his neighbors a bit more. He was a lonely man and craved female companionship. It had been some years since his wife passed away. It took much to finally get up the courage to date again. So he hoped the ladies of New Lanshire were gentle with his heart.

Unlike Hersilia. She only hoped that the boys were rough with their hands.

Loyola - The Sky's The Limit

2009-02-14T15:17:00.008-05:00

Teresita had come to New Lanshire alone, unlike the rest of the residents here. She had no family among her. But it was better that way. Teresita valued her solitude. She valued the tranquility it presented her, the ability to come and go as she pleased, the pleasure of living for herself. She enjoyed it. But she had to admit, she did envy her neighbors, what with their large clans. They seemed so happy in their large homes, though bare in furnishings. She couldn't help but observe them. That was what a woman of knowledge did, after all: observe.

Teresita had several dreams and now, she was able to fufill them. She had always wanted to work for the SCIA but she also wanted to own her own business. So using her extra funds, she made both dreams come true. She had her home custom built for her, the bottom floor acting as a bakery while she lived in a small loft above it. It was all fascinating. She just wished they hadn't used such horrid elevator music.

It could be a bit lonely, she had to admit. But at least she could do what she pleased. Her mother would get on her case if she just lounged about, drinking out of a can. She could belch in peace and even got to use her telescope without people bothering her or calling her a pervert. She couldn't help it if the lens landed on a window and she saw something.

Of course, as much as she enjoyed her solitude, she wasn't going to turn down visitors. Her new neighbors had all come to visit her and she was quite pleased with it. They all seemed nice. Lorelle was a hoot and very wild. Ryouichi was very dashing and smooth. But it was with Derick that Teresita found most in common. He was a man of science and sweet as buttons.

He even helped her find a career. He had found out where the offices for the SCIA were and gave her their number. In days, she was working as a detective's assistant. Sure, she was mostly running to get coffee or filing papers but it was a start.

She had such exciting news to tell her mother when she called. The older woman was worried about Teresita and her calls were frequent. Teresita took it in stride. She knew her mother was trying to cope with it all. Teresita was an only child, so it was hard on the older Loyola to let go.

But if only her mom could see her. She was really living the dream. She lived in a beautiful home and the sky was the limit. Teresita was hoping, though, to make the limit pass that. She took every opportunity to go up to the roof at night and stargaze. She even managed to discover a star.

But all those cold nights caught up with her, mixed in with hanging around sick people seeking her boss' services. It wasn't long before she caught herself a cold. It was awful. She felt so drained. She wondered if she should take off a few days of work but that'd only slow her down. She was determined to not let some virus keep her from fufilling her dreams.

Saito - The Small Things

2009-02-13T17:52:00.017-05:00

Not many men would be happy about living with their parents, but Ryouichi was. His parents weren't like most. They weren't overbearing or stuck up. They accepted him and his "flaws". They understood that he was to be a free bird, unable to be held down...unlike his ex-wife. No, she thought she could change him. She thought she could turn him into a loyal, loving husband and father. She was wrong and after having enough, she left Ryouichi to take care of their son, Hayate. Luckily, the moment she left, Rokurou and Yuzuki were planning on moving to a new town and invited their son and grandson to live with them. With Hayate being watched over by his parents, Ryouichi now has time to do what he loves: flirt.

Ryouichi had always gotten along well with his parents. He'd been able to talk to them about anything. So it was no trouble striking up a conversation with his father once they had moved in. His son, however, was less social. Yuzuki tried to cuddle Hayate, wanting to soothe him since he seemed so against the move but he just shoved her. He didn't like physical connection, much.

But Yuzuki knew this, so she tried a different approach. She was more subtle, sitting beside Hayate and asking him about his book. He was less threatened in that way, but still quite shy. He would mumble his answers. Still, at least he was answering at all.

Hayate loved reading but painting was also a love of his. He was only able to draw stick figures and strange looking unicorns but it was a relaxing activity. Still, he wondered if there was something else he was good at. He wondered if there was an activity that was made for him...

While Ryouichi bunkered down and found himself a job as a dishwasher, his father was wasting what little money they had. His father had some sort of midlife crisis and felt the need to befriend as many people as he could, right down to the paper girl. She was a bit scared by this strange old man giving her money but hey...money is money.

Ryouichi distracted himself from his father's frivolous ways in the best way he knew how. He chatted up one of his next door neighbor, Eumelia Holt, when she came by to welcome the family to the neighborhood. She was a beautiful woman. He could just imagine her long red hair entangled in his fingers, sprawled out against the dark outline of his pillows...

Of course, she wasn't the only woman he was interested in. Quite the contrary, actually. Ryouichi had gotten in touch with many of the ladies in New Lanshire. He had quite the selection. He kept in touch with all of them, of course. The internet was a lothario's best friend.

Ryouichi hadn't thought about having another live-in girlfriend ever again. But it wouldn't hurt. His housekeeping skills left much to be desired. The poor boy couldn't even make a bowl of ramen without almost setting the microwave on fire. His mother was beginning to get tired of cooking for him. Perhaps he'd have to find himself a girlfriend who was handy with a stove?

Yuzuki was beginning to tire of cooking for her son. He needed to learn how to fend for himself. She wasn't going to live forever. So, she tended to make foods that didn't require more than one serving, so he would be forced to cook something himself.

Hayate was beginning to branch out and make friends. They were older than him, however but his wise attitude made it okay. He often spoke as if he were ten years older than he was, which really attractive the teenage girls. He also had a keen eye for style, helping them update their looks. One such girl, Meadow Thayer, was pleased with the new hairstyle he'd given her.

Hayate enjoyed school. He enjoyed it more than most children did. He loved learning and wasn't very disappointed when his first report card was less than great. He didn't care. He knew he was still learning, still growing and that was what was important. His cheerfulness impressed everyone, including the bus driver.

With Hayate at school and Ryouichi at work, the older Saito had little to do. Rokurou would sit down on the couch and read, Yuzuki coming soon after to cuddle up to him. She had been quite tired as of late.

Ryouichi's job kept him away most of the day but he was still an excellent father, in Hayate's eyes. Ryouichi helped him with his homework and read to him when he did have free time. It was the small things that counted, after all.

He didn't at all mind when his father wandered off to call Eumelia. She was a nice, pretty woman, after all. His father really seemed to like her. Hayate wasn't that selfish to interrupt him like that.

It was rude to interrupt, anyways.

Collins - Us Men

2009-02-09T08:31:00.015-05:00

Tyreek never once complained about only having one parent. His mother died when he was still young, so he wasn't affected. It also helped that his father, Derick, shared many of his interests. Both were men of science. Both longed to read long books by a roaring fire, stargaze and play chess. No, what Tyreek did complain about was the fact he had to live with his grandfather as well. Grandpa Jerald never acted his age, not even when his arthritis acted up. He loved partying, jumping on couches and inappropiately groping young women. Tyreek could only hope there was a lack of females in this new town. He didn't need some scantily clad woman in his face while trying to read, garsh darnit!

Despite how he felt towards his grandfather, he didn't ignore him entirely. Sometimes, he did give in and would listen to one his grandfather's awful jokes. It was a small price to pay. If he did chose to ignore the old man, he'd get a long winded lecture and no one needs that.

Derick stayed to himself, as he always had. He mostly hung out in his room, browsing the web. That's when he came across a job advertisement that really interested him. Sure, for now it was just working at the local aquarium as a fish chummer but it was something he enjoyed. Oceanography really interested him.

Of course, there was always time for reading. Derick loved reading, especially when he did it with his son. They were usually silent but when they did speak, it was deep and full of meaning. His son was wise beyond his years, Derick knew. He was growing up to be a fine young lad.

Jerald didn't care for books. He was more interested in getting to know his neighbors. He invited one of the closer families nearby, after hearing about a particularly saucy redhead with a pechant for flirting. Sadly, Lorelle did not show up but Jerald was fine with Eumelia. She was attractive as well.

Owen was the type of son Jerald wish he had. An active boy, Owen jumped at the chance to play catch. Derick never liked sports. Jerald tried to get him to try out for sports in school but the timid boy refused. He was still that timid boy and he'd never change.

Tyreek knew he was smart. He felt he didn't deserve to be in such low-level classes. He dreamt of being in a prestigious private school. But his grades, for whatever reason, didn't show the private school level. He was rather frustrated. "How can I get a B?!"

Jerald just laughed at Tyreek's horror. The boy fussed over such little things. A B was nothing to be upset about. Why, Jerald remembered his parents praising him for at least getting a D+. No, the boy needed to learn to relax. Painting was a good way to relax. Ever since Derick bought the easel, Jerald couldn't tear himself away from it. Well, except to go to the bathroom.

And to sing a rousing folk song, of course. Derick was beginning to stress about his job and Tyreek about his grades, Jerald had to find a way to cheer them up. So he dragged them downstairs and made them listen to his song. The words were strange, "Did he just say toenail stew?" but the tune was catchy. It wasn't long before they were all dancing and singing.

Of course, when the singing was over, the boys went their seperate ways. Tyreek worked on his homework and Jerald jumped on the couch. Finally alone, Derick got the chance to use his telescope to get a better look at a single woman who just moved down the street...

Holt - Nothing Changes

2009-02-04T07:22:00.016-05:00

New Lanshire promised change and Eumelia hoped it wasn't simply a lie. Things needed to change for the better. She was a young woman who simply wanted to settle down and have a family but her aspirations were put on hold when her younger sibling came to her in need. Lorelle suddenly found herself alone with her son Karl, the result of a drunken escapade and has no want to change her wild lifestyle. Luckily, brother Owen is along for the ride as well and shares Eumelia's hope for a family of his own. Between them, hopefully little Karl can grow to be a well-adjusted child.

Eumelia had always gotten along with Owen more than she had Lorelle. Both of them had similar goals in life and he understood why she was sometimes hostile towards their wild little sister. Owen made sure that Eumelia didn't suffer a mental breakdown during the move. She was so worried, due to the family's lack of funds but he assured her that this was the beginning a new life for them and everything would be fine.

He decided to be the one to get a job and support the family. It was clear Lorelle didn't want to work and Eumelia wanted to be home in order to care for Karl. There wasn't much thought into what Owen wanted to do, as far as his career was concerned. But the military did seem to be the best option. It paid well and the honor that came with it was something that the ladies enjoyed.

While she would have much rather been checking out her new neighbors, Lorelle did find time to care for her son. She did love him, despite her hands-off approach to parenting. It's just that he put a bit of a damper on her usual routine of going out and partying. It was hard to adjust. Still, he was the most adorable little thing when he waddled happily towards her.

Of course, Karl had a mind of his own and Lorelle was glad for that. When he wandered off to play with his toys, she focused on finding new playmates of her own. The local matchmaker soon became a good friend, despite Lorelle's lack of funds for a good match.

Owen knew that to find a good match, one shouldn't have to have a third party involved. No, a simple meeting between two strangers on complete accident was enough. A nice group of women came to greet the Holt to the neighborhood some time after they moved in. One particular woman, Marylena, was very friendly.

She was also quite beautiful. Owen was immediately smitten. He tried to flirt subtly, not wanting to frighten her away. But she wasn't scared one bit. In fact, she was flattered by his romanticism.

Owen's job had him leaving well before the sun rose. Despite trying to leave quietly, he always seemed to wake everyone up as he left. Eumelia grudgingly began making breakfast while Lorelle played with Karl. At least she was keeping the little one away from the stove.

Of course, Lorelle was easily distracted. She'd get random urges, plopping her son down on the ground just to juggle a bunch of water bottles. Eumelia had to admit, she was good.

Eumelia had little time to unwind like Lorelle did. Karl was growing and still didn't know the basics of life, such as talking or using the big boy toilet. She tried to keep his attention, reciting the alphabet to him but he would get frustrated and throw a tantrum.

The boy had anger issues. When left alone, he'd thrash about in his room. He'd slam down his talking rabbit toy, nearly breaking it in two. Eumelia had a pretty good idea where he got that attitude from.

Lorelle liked to break things when she was mad too. Unfortunately, a toy rabbit was easier to fix than a computer. Eumelia had been reading when she heard a scream and a loud bang. She ran to Lorelle's room and saw her beating the smoking computer furiously. After pulling her sister away, she made sure to give her a long firm lecture.

Her siblings were like children sometimes. She always found something to fuss over. Whether it be Lorelle's inability to be responsible or Owen's lack of hygiene, Eumelia was always doing something. For once, she'd just like to relax.

Owen didn't know why she didn't, though. Life was going good. Karl was growing up well, they lived in a relatively nice house and Owen was knee-deep in romance. Eumelia really needed to lighten up. Didn't she know guys don't like uptight girls?