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<div style="width:405px;text-align:center;font-family:times new roman;font-size:63px;color:5b313b;line-height:30%;font-style:italic;letter-spacing:-5px">come little children</div>
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<div style="width:405px;text-align:justify;font-family:georgia;font-style:italic;font-size:9px;color:#5b313b;text-transform:lowercase;line-height:95%">i'll take thee away, into a land of enchantment. come little children, the time's come to play, here in my garden of magic. follow sweet children, i'll show thee the way, through all the pain and the sorrows. weep not poor children, for life is this way, murdering beauty and passions. hush now dear children, it must be this way, too weary of life and deceptions. rest now my children, for soon we'll away, into the calm and the quiet. come little children, i'll take thee away, into a land of enchantment. come little children, the time's come to play, here in my garden of shadows.</div>
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<br>

"Edelweiß, Edelweiß, du grüßt mich jeden Morgen,"
<br><br>
Ingrid loved to sing. Ever since she'd had the capacity to do so, she'd loved to sing. She remembered how her Oma used to sing her to sleep when she was just a child, or when they were in the kitchen baking together. Frequently she found herself spending time at her grandmother's house. Perhaps even time than at her own. Certainly, she grew up with two languages despite that. Between both houses, German AND English were spoken frequently, and often interchangeably. It was a curious thing, really.
<br><br>
"Sehe ich dich, freue ich mich, und vergess' meine Sorgen,"Her usually dull, rather neutral voice took on a rich and emotion-filled tone, and she smiled. She remembered fondly how sometimes her father would ask her mother something in English, and she'd respond with German in turn. At the time, she'd found it eyeroll-worthy, but now it just seemed silly and wonderful. A lot of things about her family were silly and wonderful now that she looked back on it.
<br><br>
Really, at the same time, there were plenty of things that she didn't miss about living there. But now wasn't the time to be worrying over those. Today, she had decided, was to be a break from her worries. To get out of the house to relax and reflect on things. Be it things from the past, or things that had happened to her as of recent.

<br><br>
"Schmücke das Heimatland, schön und weiß, blühest wie die Sterne."

<br><br>
Ah, her grandmother would be scolding her, if she were here. "Go out and make some friends! You need to stop cooping yourself up in your room all the time, child! It's not good for you." Ingrid could practically hear it now, even as she sang. And like usual, the woman would be right. She really did need to work on that, even now. But... she really never felt much of a need to. Alone? Yes, of course. Rarely, however, did she find herself feeling lonely. Perhaps she should look into getting a cat to keep her company. Ingrid sat quietly, leaning her head against a cedar tree, watching the world as the sun started to wash over the white-frosted horizon.<br><br>
"Edelweiß, Edelweiß, ach, ich hab dich so gerne..."


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this post is 378 words, tagged for gene smith! ingrid is wearing <a href="http://www.polyvore.com/ingrid_hansen/set?id=48468940">this</a> and is feeling content. the date is Winter 7th, 10 @ 5:30am. the weather is chilly and clear.

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</div><div style="width:430px;font-family:open sans condensed;font-size:11px;text-align:right;color:black">THANKS <a href="http://z10.invisionfree.com/A_THOUSAND_FIREFLIES/index.php?showuser=11667">CHARLIE</a> &hearts;</div></center>[/dohtml]

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<div style="width: 375px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: justify; text-shadow: #ffffff 1px 0px 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 8px; line-height: 90%; color: #888;">AND I WILL HOLD ON HOPE; AND I WON'T LET YOU CHOKE; ON THE NOOSE AROUND YOUR NECK; <br>AND I'LL FIND STRENGTH IN PAIN; AND I WILL CHANGE MY WAYS; I'LL KNOW MY NAME AS IT CALLED AGAIN;;<br>----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div style="width:375px; font-family: georgia; font-size: 31px; letter-spacing: -1px; text-align:center; color: #888; line-height: 40%; text-shadow: #ffffff 2px 0px 2px;">I need to know how to live my life as it's meant to be</div>
<div style="width: 375px; padding-top: 10px; text-align:center; letter-spacing: 3px; text-shadow: #ffffff 1px 0px 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 8px; line-height: 90%; color: #777;">Winter 7rd, Year 10 | 5:35 am | Tag: Ingrid</div>
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<br>Yawning loudly and then shivering, Gene tucked his chin under the edge of his jacket. He shouldn't have to be up this early, it was not his natural state. Staying awake until the sun started rising? Sure! He could do that just about everyday, granted he was given several hours for napping. But some how asking him to wake up with the sun was nearly impossible. Not to mention it was freezing. Pulling his jacket over his nose, he hoped his boss appreciated him going to check out the daycare this early. I don't even work weekends...
<br><br>Sighing, he kicked a patch of snow. Then, the sound of someone singing drifted into his ears. It was good singing too. Slowing down, he squinted his eyes in the dim lighting to see who else was crazy enough to be up this early. Not to far ahead of him was a girl, he couldn't guess her age, singing away in a foreign language. German maybe?...Russian? Something European. It was pleasant, and warmed him up some. 'She must really love this song...'
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Smiling, his mood lifted, he continued to follow slowly behind the girl, enjoying the music. It made waking up this early and being out in freezing weather worth while.
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<div style="width:405px;text-align:center;font-family:times new roman;font-size:63px;color:5b313b;line-height:30%;font-style:italic;letter-spacing:-5px">come little children</div>
<center><table><tr><td><div style="width:370px;text-align:justify;font-family:open sans condensed;text-transform:uppercase;color: #3f3a39;line-height:90%;letter-spacing:4px;font-size:16px">.</div></td><td><font style="width:5px;"></font></td><td><div style="width:5px;text-align:justify;font-family:open sans condensed;text-transform:uppercase;color:grey;line-height:90%;font-size:20px"></DIV></td></tr></table></center>
<div style="width:405px;text-align:justify;font-family:georgia;font-style:italic;font-size:9px;color:#5b313b;text-transform:lowercase;line-height:95%">i'll take thee away, into a land of enchantment. come little children, the time's come to play, here in my garden of magic. follow sweet children, i'll show thee the way, through all the pain and the sorrows. weep not poor children, for life is this way, murdering beauty and passions. hush now dear children, it must be this way, too weary of life and deceptions. rest now my children, for soon we'll away, into the calm and the quiet. come little children, i'll take thee away, into a land of enchantment. come little children, the time's come to play, here in my garden of shadows.</div>
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Drawing out the last note of the song, Ingrid stood up and plodded on through the snow toward Lazuli Hill. The cover didn't seem that deep. Not yet, at least. But whatever this island could would probably be nothing. She was used to getting far, far more back in Duluth. Nearly 200 centimetres every year was the norm, there. Yeah, she could deal with this.
<br><br>
Maybe she'd refrain from buying a place of her own until the winter season was over. It may have been mild there compared to where she used to live, but she absolutely loathed shoveling steps. Ingrid had twisted, fractured, and sprained ankles far too many times while doing that for her liking, she decided. Her ears perked from beneath her hat when she thought she heard another pair of muffled footsteps. They weren't hers- they couldn't be. They were out of time with the rhythm in which she was walking.
<br><br>
Ingrid almost stopped and turned to see who it was, but ultimately decided against it. Partly because she wasn't sure if she wanted to talk to anyone, and partly because she wasn't sure that the person would want to chat with her. Not that she was good at it, anyway. They probably came out to hike up to Lazuli Hill in some peace and quiet, too. And she'd afford that same privilege to them, as well.
<br><br>
So, instead of continuing to the next verse of her song, Ingrid hummed it quietly to herself, only stopping here and there to tap the snow that had built up on the toes of her boots.


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this post is 267 words, tagged for gene smith! ingrid is wearing <a href="http://www.polyvore.com/ingrid_hansen/set?id=48468940">this</a> and is feeling vaguely curious. the date is Winter 7th, 10 @ 5:30am. the weather is chilly and clear.

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</div><div style="width:430px;font-family:open sans condensed;font-size:11px;text-align:right;color:black">THANKS <a href="http://z10.invisionfree.com/A_THOUSAND_FIREFLIES/index.php?showuser=11667">CHARLIE</a> &hearts;</div></center>[/dohtml]

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<div style="width: 375px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: justify; text-shadow: #ffffff 1px 0px 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 8px; line-height: 90%; color: #888;">AND I WILL HOLD ON HOPE; AND I WON'T LET YOU CHOKE; ON THE NOOSE AROUND YOUR NECK; <br>AND I'LL FIND STRENGTH IN PAIN; AND I WILL CHANGE MY WAYS; I'LL KNOW MY NAME AS IT CALLED AGAIN;;<br>----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div style="width:375px; font-family: georgia; font-size: 31px; letter-spacing: -1px; text-align:center; color: #888; line-height: 40%; text-shadow: #ffffff 2px 0px 2px;">I need to know how to live my life as it's meant to be</div>
<div style="width: 375px; padding-top: 10px; text-align:center; letter-spacing: 3px; text-shadow: #ffffff 1px 0px 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 8px; line-height: 90%; color: #777;">Winter 7th, Year 10 | 5:35 am | Tag: Ray</div>
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<br>As the two continued walking through the snow, Gene slowly came to the realization that he was actually walking away from town, and away from his work. Even the girl's song had stopped to become just humming, which, though pleasant, wasn't quite as entrancing as singing. Stopping and looking behind him, he groaned. This was more proof that it was too early to be awake. Or alive in general.
<br><br>Turning, he figured he should at least say something to her; a guy randomly following a girl then leaving without a word was...creepy. Actually, now that he thought about it, the fact that he had followed her at all was creepy. Adjusting the hood on his green jacket, he called out in a voice that cracked, "HEeey.." coughing into his hand he tried again.
<br><br>"Hey! Uh, this is gonna be weird...buuut thanks for letting me listen to your singing! It was really great!" Grinning, he gave her a thumbs up, "It warmed me up!" Dropping his hand, he glanced back at the town. "So...uh...sorry for being creepy! Have a good rest of the day!" He opened his mouth to attempt some German, but thought better of it. Flashing her another grin instead, he turned to start back into town. The long, cold walk back. 'Ugh, why'd it have to be this earlllyyy...'
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<div style="width: 385px; text-align: right; font-family: arial; font-size: 7px; text-transform: uppercase; line-height: 95%; color: #000; ">THANKS ♥</div></CENTER>[/DOHTML]

[dohtml]<link href='http://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Open+Sans+Condensed:300' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css'><center><div style="border-right: #5b313b 18px solid;background: #cdcfcc; padding-top: 16px; padding-right: 16px; padding-left: 16px; padding-bottom: 12px; -moz-border-radius: 10px; width: 400px;"><div style="width:405px;height:276px;background-image:url(http://i1132.photobucket.com/albums/m576/x_despicable/Ocean%20of%20Stars%20Stuff/643184.jpg)"></div>
<div style="width:405px;text-align:center;font-family:times new roman;font-size:63px;color:5b313b;line-height:30%;font-style:italic;letter-spacing:-5px">come little children</div>
<center><table><tr><td><div style="width:370px;text-align:justify;font-family:open sans condensed;text-transform:uppercase;color: #3f3a39;line-height:90%;letter-spacing:4px;font-size:16px">.</div></td><td><font style="width:5px;"></font></td><td><div style="width:5px;text-align:justify;font-family:open sans condensed;text-transform:uppercase;color:grey;line-height:90%;font-size:20px"></DIV></td></tr></table></center>
<div style="width:405px;text-align:justify;font-family:georgia;font-style:italic;font-size:9px;color:#5b313b;text-transform:lowercase;line-height:95%">i'll take thee away, into a land of enchantment. come little children, the time's come to play, here in my garden of magic. follow sweet children, i'll show thee the way, through all the pain and the sorrows. weep not poor children, for life is this way, murdering beauty and passions. hush now dear children, it must be this way, too weary of life and deceptions. rest now my children, for soon we'll away, into the calm and the quiet. come little children, i'll take thee away, into a land of enchantment. come little children, the time's come to play, here in my garden of shadows.</div>
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Ingrid could have laughed.
<br><br>
And she almost did, too. She wasn't usually one to laugh in responce to a stranger, but what the voice said and the way it was said were just... totally fabulous. Ingrid didn't think she'd ever heard quite a reaction like that to her singing, before. She wasn't even able to recall a time that she'd sang in the presence of someone else, barring the times when she used to sing with her grandmother, or sing her little baby sister to sleep at night. But that was so long ago!
<br><br>
She turned around just in time to see a young man grinning at her and flashing her a thumbs up. Perhaps it was contagious... or it was just the Minnesota-nice in her, but she couldn't resist returning the gesture with a small half smile, nodding to him in acknowledgment.
<br><br>
"Na, it's not dat veird! I yust didn't realise dat you vere behind me," Ingrid stated, matter of factly as she adjusted her ushanka. When he turned around and started back toward the village, she looked a bit perturbed. Jer brow crinkled slightly as she deadpanned, sounding a bit suspicious, "Vait a sekunt... vere you following me?"


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this post is 200 words, tagged for gene smith! ingrid is wearing <a href="http://www.polyvore.com/ingrid_hansen/set?id=48468940">this</a> and is feeling amused and slightly suspicious. the date is Winter 7th, 10 @ 5:30am. the weather is chilly and clear.

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</div><div style="width:430px;font-family:open sans condensed;font-size:11px;text-align:right;color:black">THANKS <a href="http://z10.invisionfree.com/A_THOUSAND_FIREFLIES/index.php?showuser=11667">CHARLIE</a> &hearts;</div></center>[/dohtml]

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<div style="width: 375px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: justify; text-shadow: #ffffff 1px 0px 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 8px; line-height: 90%; color: #888;">AND I WILL HOLD ON HOPE; AND I WON'T LET YOU CHOKE; ON THE NOOSE AROUND YOUR NECK; <br>AND I'LL FIND STRENGTH IN PAIN; AND I WILL CHANGE MY WAYS; I'LL KNOW MY NAME AS IT CALLED AGAIN;;<br>----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div style="width:375px; font-family: georgia; font-size: 31px; letter-spacing: -1px; text-align:center; color: #888; line-height: 40%; text-shadow: #ffffff 2px 0px 2px;">I need to know how to live my life as it's meant to be</div>
<div style="width: 375px; padding-top: 10px; text-align:center; letter-spacing: 3px; text-shadow: #ffffff 1px 0px 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 8px; line-height: 90%; color: #777;">Winter 7th, Year 10 | 5:35 am | Tag: Ingrid</div>
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<br>The girl even had an accent! Oh it was too much, too great. There was something amazing about someone with an accent, something that reminded Gene that there were other places out there. That the world was so much bigger than the little village he had been in nearly his whole life. He was also equally glad she didn't seem weirded out by him. Well, she didn't, until he turned around.
<br><br>Freezing, his stomach tightened, and tried to think of how to be honest but still not sound like a stalker. Turning around, he grinned nervously,
<br>"Well...sort of? I'm not used to being up this early, so instead of heading to work like I was supposed to, I ended up over here, and just happened to hear you singing and THEN started following you because it was so nice and uh...uh, I promise I'm not a creepy weirdo stalker most of the time, honest!" Laughing some, he hoped she wouldn't be upset. Or weirded out. Or taze him. Or pepper spray him. Or all of the things he knew women did when they felt threatened by men.
<br><br>Shit.
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