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 Posted: Tue Aug 20, 2024 1:57 pm
Azeria 4
Well, they were really in for it now. Azeria bit her bottom lip so hard that she nearly tasted blood as the whining started. They would have been fine if not for the arguments on the stairs! Duke probably was stressed over all the noise, at least that was her reasoning as she looked between her family members and the hallway leading towards her shared bedroom with Audra. At this point it would take a miracle or disaster to save them and as tempted as Azeria was to break one of the glass orbs holding a candle, a fire wouldn't solve the actual problem and it could endanger everyone. So instead her gaze simply started burning with tears, water trailing down her cheeks as she moved around the steps and looked towards her parents.
"There was an injured puppy and he needed a safe place, okay?" She blurted out, her voice wobbly as she stared at her parents trying to stay strong despite the tears pouring down her face. "Please don't kick him out, he's already been abandoned once! And it was my idea, so don't be upset at Audra either! If...if anyone needs kicked out them kick me out, but not Duke." This was her mess and she would take the blame, even if she looked weak in the moment for caving into the pressure at least she could handle any punishment! As long as they didn't kick out Duke, that was.
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Posted: Tue Aug 20, 2024 3:26 pm
Aurick ll 5
Aurick exchanged a look with his wife and let out a tired sigh. Parenting wasn't all evening hugs and games by the lake; sometimes it involved harder conversations. While he wasn't looking forward to that bit it could be made easier if they would just be honest instead of hiding. It broke his heart to the tears welling in Azeria's eyes, but at least she was talking now.
"Oh, love," Aurick reached behind him to put a hand on Audra's head before closing the distance between him and Azeria. He crouched on the lowest step, and reached out for her. One hand cupped the side of her face, his thumb smoothing away some tears while the other wrapped around her shoulder to bring her closer. "Take a moment to breathe for me, okay?"
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Posted: Tue Aug 20, 2024 3:31 pm
Audra ll 5
She may not have been as glossy eyed as her sister, but Audra's face was just as torn. Once everything was out she didn't know what to do. Her hands started wringing themselves in her skirt and all of a sudden she felt incredibly small. "Please don't be mad at Azeria. It was my fault too; I helped cover for her and I helped wash him and take care of him and I-" Audra slowly made her way closer to her parents and she leaned over, trying to get a look at her sister around their father.
"Squash just needed some help and we did what we could."
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Posted: Wed Aug 21, 2024 7:05 am
Harika 5
Harika's expression softened at her daughters' reactions. While she was thankful they were starting to be honest now, and even more thankful it wasn't something that seemed terribly dangerous, the hybrid hadn't wanted to make them cry. Moments like these though made her even more thankful for Aurick, Harika's gaze grateful as she watched him comfort the girls.
And instead of climbing up the steps more, Harika simply settled down on the top one as she listened to the pair. "Sweetie, no one is getting kicked out." Harika let out a soft sigh and shook her head. "You know better than that." She was getting too much for the theatrics, wasn't she? A little actor in the making indeed. Harika took a breath though as she pondered the tidbits of information that they were getting in between their daughters' distress. "If you found an injured puppy then you didn't have to hide him from us. Why didn't you say anything? I'm not mad because you two helped an injured animal, I'm just hurt that you didn't tell us and lied about it."
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Posted: Wed Aug 21, 2024 7:17 am
Azeria 5
Azeria sniffed, the girl trying her best to control her tears as her father comforted her. "W-we didn't me-mean to hu-hurt anyone." She managed, trying to take in little breaths between words that wavered and nearly turned into hiccups with her crying. She leaned against her father and swallowed as she tried to regain her breath, her crying only coming back when Audra also moved to protect her. Audra! She had the best sister, truly. "We were afraid that you wouldn't let us keep..." The youngling looked towards her sister, her words trailing off as she registered the name. Really? Though Audra was intent upon Squash just as Azeria was intent upon Duke and so the mesh somehow came together in something that she had not expected which she blurted now. "Duke Squashington....needs a home. We were going to bring him up, but we wanted to warm you up to the idea first." All the hints about puppies as playmates, durufs being helpful to families and just adorable in general, there had been so many hints dropped over the last couple of days since they found the puppy. Had nothing stuck with her parents or was there some hope now?
"He's doing better now and he's really cute...we're really sorry for lying." Azeria added after a moment, her violet gaze pleading with her parents as she snuggled closer to her father and looked towards her mother. "Is...is there anyway we could give him a home here?"
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Posted: Wed Aug 21, 2024 2:42 pm
Aurick ll 6
"I know, I know." Aurick rubbed his hand in little circles across her back, his voice a soft murmur as he looked at his daughter. "Your mother's right. You didn't have to hide...Duke Squashington, especially if he's hurt. We could have helped." What a name. Of course the stray had a name; they'd probably come up with it the moment it started getting friendly with them. This was just going to make it harder...And it put he and Harika in a tough position. Keep it and deal with raising a puppy or find it another home and deal with two upset daughters.
"Pets are a lot of hard work, and they take a lot of time. Are you sure you're ready for that? If it pees on the floor you'd have to clean it up and it might chew up something precious." With that he looked at Audra, knowing full well how particular the girl could be.
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Posted: Wed Aug 21, 2024 2:45 pm
Audra ll 6
"He's a really, really good boy, papa." She still didn't like it when he got too close to her bed or drooled on the rug next to her dresser, but there were some things Audra was willing to over look. Especially if it meant making Azeria happy.
She looked between her parents, pensive and on edge, fingers still twisted in her skirt. "We'll do all the hard work; you won't have to worry about anything. We've already taken care of him and made sure he had food and water - So maybe he can stay here?"
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Posted: Wed Aug 21, 2024 3:36 pm
Harika 6
What a name indeed. Despite the situation it was hard for Harika to not let out a soft laugh, the hybrid having to cover her mouth with a hand to stop it from escaping more. "It will be a lot of hard work and if you commit to this then you can't back out later. Pets become family and we can't just give him up if he becomes too much." She warned, looking between the girls and then back towards Aurick with a slight shrug. They were in a better position now and the girls were older, possibly old enough to share the responsibility of a pet as long as they were careful. Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad thing?
"Let's try this out." Harika smiled after Audra insisted upon doing the hard work. "If you're father is alright with it then we can give Duke Squashington a trial week. If you both can prove capable of taking care of him then we'll take him in." She would just have to make certain her study full of materials and designs stayed locked when she wasn't home, just in case.
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Posted: Wed Aug 21, 2024 3:38 pm
Azeria 6
"We can handle it!" Azeria managed, her gaze brightening at the fact that their parents seemed to be truly considering the option. Audra appeared confident and so she had to follow along as well! "He is a really good puppy. He hasn't bitten us or done anything bad." Maybe chewed up some of the toys she had tried making for him over the past couple of days and what not, but he could be worse! She was determined to keep an eye on him as well, if anything.
"We...we could introduce you then." Azeria added after a moment, resting against her father for a moment longer before finally moving away from him so that she could go up the stairs. "Would that be okay?"
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Posted: Wed Aug 21, 2024 3:45 pm
Aurick ll 7
After exchanging a glance with his wife, Aurick sighed and nodded his head. It wasn't as if they had toddlers to chase down or infants who might get their fingers snapped. The girls were old enough now to take on some responsibility and maybe this would be a good place to start?
"Go on, then. Let's meet the noble young duke." He only hoped the older children were as on board with the ideas their younger sisters. The baker gingerly picked himself up off the steps, his joints cracking a little with the movement until he got himself lined up.
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Posted: Wed Aug 21, 2024 3:48 pm
Audra ll 7
"Duke Squashington." Audra emphasized. It seemed silly now to push for the full name, but if they were really going to do this then she wanted her parents to acknowledge it. He wasn't what she'd imagined for her first pet, but as her father started up the stairs she went after him, pausing just long enough to reach for her mother's hand and tug her along.
Her eyes went over to Azeria and a bright smile sprouted. We did it!
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Posted: Wed Aug 21, 2024 3:58 pm
Harika 7
"Duke Squashington." Harika didn't even want to ask how the name happened or how long the girls had hidden a puppy here for them to be that familiar with such a name. At least it was resolved for now and they knew what was happening, as much as she was wary of adopting a puppy. But surely the girls could handle it, especially if the duruf hadn't completely rampaged through their home yet. "We'll check in on him and see what needs done. We should get a proper bed set up and some toys along with more food options. What have you been feeding him?" Hopefully not pastries, right? Harika frowned at the thought as she continued upstairs after Azeria and Audra, curious to see how this would all play out in the end. In a way she had also always wanted a pet, but never had been in a good position to get one until now. So strange how her life had changed from roaming about jobs, living in small cramped spaces or hiding in the bakery until she could sort her things out, to having a home and family of her own where she could relax and enjoy things together. The very thought made a smile cross her lips as she reached over to run her fingers along Aurick's hand, giving it a light squeeze as they continued forward.
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Posted: Wed Aug 21, 2024 4:03 pm
Azeria 7
"Duke works too." Murmured Azeria, slipping in some protest despite her happiness. It did look like they had managed a victory, after all! All of her earlier fears were fading away as she grinned back at her sister, the youngling eager to take on the challenge of raising the duruf puppy together. While she hadn't expected to get a pet in such a way the girl was delighted by it. Who knew that a small duruf puppy would just stumble into their lives like this? "Oh, a little bit of this and that. Leftover eggs and chicken from meals, mostly." She started, beginning to give an overview of how they had taken care of Duke Squashington so far. And then when the door opened to their bedroom and revealed a puppy in a mess of feathers, Azeria didn't even hesitate as she scooped him up to show to her parents. What was one old pillow? It would be fine! Her smile didn't even break as she even prepared to show off his ribbon that Audra had tied and the one trick that she had taught him so far.
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