he takes responsibility seriously, croakay? | Quirk #9

Remember, if you will, how I said I had Ideas for this Quirk prompt but wouldn't say in case I went a different direction? 

Yeah. I went a completely different direction. I was surprised too but seeing as the other directions gave me nothing I wasn't unhappy about it.

 

I woke up again.

I didn’t expect that, not really. I mean, I thought I’d eventually wake up—I always do—but I thought after all this time it might be for a new reason. Perhaps a different house would call me. That could be nice.

But no. Even though last time I was awake my house looked as though one good thump against its side would let it shiver into a heap of debris, it is, somehow, occupied again. Not that I can see anyone from my vantage point, but there’s some kind of music coming from inside, too deliberate to be anything but human.

Better check what my responsibilities are this time.

I lever myself out of my watering can—excellently placed beneath a frequent morning dripping, I hope my new charges feel no urge to either use the watering can or fix the gutter—and head for the back door. The gap underneath is tighter than I remember, and I have to squirm.

Residents would get so much more help if they’d just install a little toad-shaped door. Even a tiny cat flap would do, although it’s less dignified. “Yes, I want to come in, let me just hit this door with my head!” A lot of cats’ spite comes from their inability to grasp with those paws, just saying.

Finally inside, and the tiles are surprisingly free of dust. Now I’m in the house I can feel that my new charges have been here several days already.

…The house woke me up, yes, but I may have overslept a tad.

I plop across the kitchen and into the hall. There aren’t many rooms, which is possibly why the new residents are settled at the end of the hallway, their piano edging into the doorway of what was—last time I was awake—a study.

I blink twice.

These two are tadpoles.

Well, only one is tiny. Her face is smooth and round. The other is large, shoulders curled around her. He has little lines between his eyes and around his mouth, but they’re at odds with his young face. The pair match in their eyes and the shape of their ears and the curve of their fingers stretching on the piano.

The male plays sounds like birdsong. The female plays plink-plonk-plop noises. His face stretches wide in a smile at her playing, but not as wide as mine. I rather like her playing. It sounds friendly.

I’ve never had unsupervised tadpoles. But I suppose I’ve had worse charges.

There will be challenges. Either my guidance and luck will swim them safely through, or I will try harder. There will be no choking on air for these tadpoles. I refuse. Either they will stay, or they will leave for a more favourable home. Sooner or later, of course, their time here will be complete, and I will sleep again, waiting for the next. I always do. But I’ll survive.

 magically-appointed house guardian amphibians, amiright

Also sorry if there are any silly mistakes, I normally do several more read-through edits but this time the thing didn't get written until Sunday evening after the post was supposed to go up. My ideas weren't coming to anything and so the terrifying Procrastination turned  up, disguised as novels and cleaning my room Duolingo.

• • • • •

Some people, however, defeated the terrifying Procrastination, and sweet-talked the Muse, and gave up on the Muse and headed for the twins of Dedication and Hard Work (having, however, "borrowed" the Muse's pet plot bunnies), and they have written a Quirk!

•  Samantha
• The Temperamental Writer
• Sarah Seele
• The Story Sponge
• Elisha
  

And it's so very nice to see all the regulars here again <3 (Thank you all for sharing your very munchable crunchable delicious story snacks, my hungry little heart is very happy.)

• • • • •

I haven't. read any blog posts in forever, up to and including before and after my last post, so I feel immensely guilty whenever I think about it? and of course, because I am Fully Functional TM, I get the corresponding urge to just. Never open my blog. Which isn't helpful so I'm going to have to work on that and possibly also my time management (but what else is new, eyyy). Don't tune your set, folks, we're just going through some character development.

Also I mayyy have not written this Quirk until Sunday night. But I am loving Sarah Seele's very kind description of me as a Gandalf whose hobbit friends are pleased to see him even if he's a little... unpredictable in his schedules (and may disappear for years at a time). It's such a nice thought and I'm fully anticipating living up to the Powerful But Likes To Not Explain Things (And Use Being Old As An Excuse For Doing What You Want) character type, just as soon as I can figure out how to be powerful. 

Also, according to the comments on the last post, it seems that the majority of us are, at heart, an old lady from a fairytale. Some of us would be kind and sweetly supportive and some of us (*cough* me) would be there to tell the hero why he's making the wrong choices and what he should be doing and did he even comb his hair, is he rescuing a princess or a stray dog, honestly.

What's been happening that I definitely should know about? Do you deal with responsibilities by ignoring the feelings of guilt? (Procrastination! it's a powerful drug.) Have you read all of these Quirks yet? (No? why not?? clickity click yourself away! ...comment here first, then clickity click yourself away xD) Where would you fall on the Old Lady scale of sweet to crotchety? Do you ever amuse yourself by thoroughly cleaning your room, and do you think it's possible to procrastinate by writing Quirks (because I think I need this)? 

Oh also! have you seen Shang-Chi, please scream with me about how fun it is.