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 Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 3:51 pm
It was late, and Giulia was still not used to sleeping in a bed that wasn't her pretty bed at home. She kept waking up to being thirsty and the temperatures were wrong, and in the city everything was just a bit brighter coming in windows that weren't quite right. But there were positives to the city house and visiting Mr. Elzo. It wasn't all bad. She was closer to Lucia, and she was closer to the playgrounds, and she got to stay up later when she syated over with Mr. Elzo. He had bought her a light-up backpack that was her new second-favorite thing, and Mr. Marlo made food sometimes and it was yummy. She didn't have a bathroom in the place she slept, so she had to go walking down the hall, but everything seemed brighter here. Her mouth was dry, and so Giulia pushed off the covers, sitting up in the bed and blinking a few times. The wash room was.... yeah. Oh, but she would have to go to the kitchen. They had steps in there, so she could reach the sink and get a glass. Pressing bare feet to the floor, she toddled to the door, tugging it open and blinking into the dim lighting. The kitchen was... this way. Her teeny feet brushed against the floor as she walked, small, shuffling sounds.
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Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2017 4:21 pm
It wasn't all that often that he returned to his home powered, the risks of being associated or frequency a notion that he was aware of in fine detail. However, that night he'd had little by way of patrolling, and tomorrow he had two meetings with the international accounting firms and Marlo wanted to discuss the issue that was their father. It wasn't all that often he hosted Gulia sleeping at his place. When he did, she was usually fine and slept soundly as far as he knew. Yet as he closed the balcony door, he stood in the living room, frozen as he looked at his adoptive daughter-sister getting herself some water. Wings folded behind him and he realized he had one shot to make sure he'd not freak her out and send her screaming. The last thing he needed was his cover blown by his kid sister. "Little Girls should be in bed by this hour." He whispered, trying his best to not sound as... threatening as possible.
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iStoleYurVamps
iStoleYurVamps
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Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2017 10:48 am
Mr and Mr Xanis were very tall people, with very tall cabinets and a home that wasn't at all comfortable for little girls needing to get in cabinets. The steps they had pointed out were a bit too heavy for her, and she didn't want to wake anyone up to help her, so she did what Jada did, when she was too lazy to get the steps at the mansion. She climbed up onto the counter, tony toes clinging into crevices, and holding on to things. Giulia was a good climber. She climbed trees, and ballet was working on her flex a billy tee. Opening the cabinet was easy, and getting a glass. Bending, setting it on the counter, and peering down at the floor, she considered if she should jump, or... hmm. The cabinet closed, and she got on all fours, then dropped her legs off the side of the counter. That was when she looked up- And saw an angel. Another magic person for the Princess Giulia! A magic person like her seal prince, and Lucia, and the kitties! Her eyes went bright and excited, little legs swinging, excitement clear. "Hello Magic Person!" she waved her hand frantically. "How did you get inside, can you fly? Your wings look like you can fly. Are you an angel? Or are you magic like my seal prince and the kitties?" Her brow furrowed. "I'm not a little girl, I'm a lucky princess," she explained patiently. "Why did you come? Are there more bad kitties and y-yoh maaaa around?"
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Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2017 2:07 pm
Well, she was taking it a lot better than expected. God bless the fact kids sometimes didn't just scream.. unlike some adults. "Uh- one question at a time." Castor wasn't sure how to handle the situation. Gulia was his sister but also a child. Children talked and while it wouldn't be a big deal with say, she told Jada or Marlo... he couldn't have her talking or saying 'Castor showed up at Elzo's house' to anyone in general. "I came in because ah-" It was time to bullshit, in spectacular fashion. "I saw that someone was climbing all over the cabinets and being very unsafe." He admonished, thinking it as good a cover story as any. "But no, I can't fly, just glide. I'm not an angel, but I am magic. A magic Prince. and I am here to see that you are kept safe." He did his best to covern the alarm he felt. Bad kitties and youma- Gulia shouldn't know about those things. Not at all. "Why are you out of bed piccola principessa? Who is this seal prince you speak of? These kitties? I am a true prince and I have heard of no royal seals." Just what in god's name has Gulia been getting up to.
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iStoleYurVamps
iStoleYurVamps
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Posted: Sat Mar 18, 2017 4:09 pm
One question at a time. Giulia huffed, but didn't roll her eyes. Old people were so slow. She really hoped she could handle questions properly when she got old. Giulia tilted her head, blue eyes considering the prin-gel as he thought. Her eyes narrowed at his explanation, considering the counter. He could have gotten the steps for her, or he could have gotten the cup for her. Angels weren't supposed to chide little children, they were supposed to be helpful. This strange magical person was clearly not a proper angel. But he was magic! Giulia's arms went up, and she slid off the counter, teeny feet thumping loudly to the floor. A proper magical prince! The first one she had met, though her Seal Prince was still her favorite. She came towards him with excitement, forgetting her thirst, and peered up and up and up. "You speak Italian," Giulia noted, tilting her head. "My Seal Prince protects my dreams, and picked me up out of the snow when I forgot my shoes. The kitties are special kitties who protect other magical superheroes. And there are magical knights who save me from bad kitties with really big teeth." She held up her hands, expectantly. Princes would pick her up. "I left my cup in the kitchen. You should carry me, Mr. Prince. Since you are magic, I will tell you about all the yo-ohhhhh-mahs I have met. One of them got stepped on. It was really cool. Or hot. It got stepped on by.... fire." Her brow furrowed.
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Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2017 12:27 pm
Well, Castor mused, she did get down from the counters. One hazard removed, for now anyway. Thankfully, Marlo wouldn't come out to interfere unless needed, even if the man did catch him, Castor knew he'd get an earful about being powered at home. 'Risky' and 'Potentially blowing our cover' "I do speak Italian- its a rather beautiful language isn't it?" He commented, trying to remain lighthearted as Giulia told him more and he felt a growing sense of dread. Clearly, she'd gone and met some less than normal individuals. "Does your seal prince visit you often then?" picking her up he set her on his hip, reaching to pull down a cup for her water. "I've met a few kitties myself, but I tend to protect them, not the other way around anymore- do they have names?" So he could find just who was putting Giulia in potentially harms way by association. "I'd love to hear about your stories and adventures Giulia, maybe I can tell you a few of mine."
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iStoleYurVamps
iStoleYurVamps
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Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2017 5:04 pm
A victory was a victory, and as the magical Prince lifted her up, Giulia yawned and settled comfortably on his hip, gripping onto him securely. "Italian is okay. I speak French though. It is prettier. Italy smelled weird and makes people really sad, and we went to a lot of graveyards there and saw a church and funny hat men. But there were lots of pretty buildings and good food. Speaking Italian isn't as good." He asked if she had a lot of visits from her seal prince and she peered at him cautiously, then giggled. "Yes," she said, "My Seal Prince is a good Prince. He said I am a special Princess and it is his job to protect me, so. When I am older I am gonna marry him." He had more questions, and on instinct Giulia opened her mouth to answer, but-- she was a good little girl. Good little girls kept their promises. "I can't tell you about the kitties, Mr. Prince." her voice was firm. "I have to protect the kitties. but some have black stars and some have bright stars and they are all kinds of pretty." Stories, however- she could share stories. "Once, I was walking home, and a big kitty was following me, and Kaitartartoast said 'No Princess, step away from the fowl beast' and I was just gonna feed it a sandwich, but he was like 'no princess you mustn't' and he asked really nice so I said okay and then he called on a bull and it was a red bull like in the last unicorn, so I kicked him in the shins and then the kitty tried to eat the sandwich in my hand and Asterion stepped on him." Leaning back, she said happily, "You next!"
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Posted: Sat Apr 29, 2017 2:52 am
Castor's brow creased with Giulia's assertions that French was better, and that Italy brought sadness. He'd have to ask Jada if he could take her and Aidan sometime. "Pincipessa," he sighed, shaking his head at her as if she had said something terribly untrue, (she had). Though, less about Italy and more- "Have you asked the seal prince to marry you? Has he courted you? Many a prince already has his princess, besides," He almost said 'As your brother, I simply cannot allow it' because for one Giulia was certainly never going to date until she was at least 16. She was a Xanis and they were terribly emotionally demanding youths. "Besides, he needs to court you. To marry without- It just isn't done!" The denial of giving him the names of the cats was a small comfort and concern. Marlo would probably have to look into it given his own fondness for them. Castor would rather avoid them, barring if they had been Astraea. "Your story is a good one." Handing her her cup, Castor walked them to the couch. There would be no harm in talking with his sibling, at least until she started to fall back to sleep. "I will tell you one of my stories. A long, long, time ago, I met a very strong warrior who later became one of my guards. At first, I though her to be simply powerful. Brave and fearless. She was also kind, tending to her allies and friends, caring for them deeply. One day, she asked me if I loved my people. 'Of course' I told her, 'They are all dear to me, as are you'. Now, she was not from my homeland. She had come many years before, exiled from her own. She joined us and gave her life to serve the crown. I found her questions strange you see. So for her to ask me such a question was perplexing. When I asked her why it mattered?" Castor smiled. "She told me she was destined to lead her people. She was like a princess in hiding." Castor set Giulia down, leaning back on the sofa and trying to find the right way to spin the story. "She had been sent away, for her brother, the evil king, did not wish for her to come and take her rightful place upon the throne. For years, she had protected me, fought for me and my people. She had devoted herself to a home that was not her own and I? Well, I found myself in love with her." It was strange, it felt almost easier to talk of the past like this. "She was a warrior princess, right under my very nose." Blue eyes looked down at the child. "Is my story a good one so far?"
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iStoleYurVamps
iStoleYurVamps
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Posted: Sat Apr 29, 2017 3:04 pm
Giulia blinked up at the prince as he sighed at her. "Of course I haven't asked him to marry me yet! I'm only 6, though I'll be 7 very soon. Still, it would be really rude to ask him to marry me now, I can only kiss his nose. I'm not a full grown Princess yet." Giulia was very sad about the fact, and she sighed, staring down at the floor. "If he has his princess when I'm 18 I won't make him marry me, but unless he is gonna marry Jada and become my da-" she paused, and there was a flicker of something calculating in her eyes. Just for a moment. Tilting her head, her next blink wiped all the naughtiness away, and the prince received a bright smile. "I don't know what courting is, but I'm sure it isn't really that important. Cinderella and her prince only met a few times and they lived happily ever after, and Snow White? And Rapunzel and Flynn? Well, they had a journey." Giulia considered, humming. "Maybe I should go on a trip before I get married, to see if we can beat a bad witch together. That is how I know the happy ever after will last, you know. Like Giselle and Robert- they didn't know each other long either, but they lived Happily Ever After too, I bet." She took a drink out of the cup, rainbow fingernails tapping happily. "I am glad you liked my story," she told the prince with a shy smile. "It was a fun adventure. I can't wait to see what more I learn. Magic people are good people, not like the newspapers say. There are bad monsters out there, but we're all gonna be safe. I know it." Settling into the couch as he set her down, Giulia listened to the big Prince's tale with wide-eyed interest as he spoke. It was a fairy tale, but it was real! A very strong warrior- a girl! A knight to the prince, like- like a magical Mulan! Girls could be powerful magical knights too?! Maybe she- maybe she could become a magic knight and protect Ara! But that would be a thought for later. Mulan was- Mulan was a Princess! Giulia leaned in towards him with a wide-eyed sigh. "You loved her?" she asked dreamily, "Did you get married? Did you go beat up the evil king and give the Princess her throne? Did she stay with you fore- Oh no, you said a long time ago." she bit into her lip with tiny teeth (a gesture Elzo might find very familiar) and furrowed her brow. "Was this in your last life? When you were another Prince? Or are you very old? Your hair is whi-" she stopped, catching herself. "It is a very good story!" she cried, and her blue eyes were wide. "Tell me more! Please?"
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Posted: Sat Apr 29, 2017 3:59 pm
He laughed at her enthusiasm, running a hand affectionately down her hair. Yes, Elzo would definitely need to talk to his little Pincipessa about boys. "Jada is more likely to marry Marlo than a prince really." He muttered, thinking about it for a second. He and Jada? Not even as a fling. "Er- never you mind that. But, my story. Alright." A breath taken to calm his nerves, he winked at Giulia before resuming his tale. "All your questions will be answered soon Giulia. But- I loved her. I loved her spirit and her will. She made me smile and feel less a prince and more a man. When I was with her i didn't feel I had to be a perfect Prince, I was okay to be Galenos, the man I was before I became the prince. She was my light." His voice was rich with emotion, the affection thick in how he spoke of his unnamed love. "Yet her world, her people, needed her. She had protected me, given me happiness- So I would do the same for her. My men, we gathered our spears and shields. We marched across the stars until we stepped onto the land of her birth. She took up her blade- and we went to war. It lasted so long, yet had I known what would follow, I would have wished it to last forever. For when her brother fell, and my love became their new king- She could no longer be by my side. I could not be her prince. With the war's end, so did our time together. I was forced to leave her their among her people. I loved her so much yet I knew if I remained by her side, she would suffer. We said goodbye." It was not the happily ever after Giulia had wanted very likely. "It was so long ago, yet I love her still. She has forgotten me. I lost her you see, she walks a different path than I and even if our love was so long ago- I have not forgotten her. But she is alive. She still fights, full of fire and might. She is not the same woman sure; Saga is gone but-" Why was he spilling his secrets to his baby sister? The girl who he, even after less than a week, he saw as a daughter he'd never have? "Happy endings are not always a princess and prince living happily ever after. Sometimes they are not completely happy. But I know she lives still. That she is free to make her own choices. To love again and live again. That is my happiness, and hopefully her's as well." Castor sighed. "Jada's happiness is you and your brother. Marlo's happiness is Jada's happiness." A stare at the child. "Why else do you think he spoils you so much?"
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iStoleYurVamps
iStoleYurVamps
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Posted: Sat Apr 29, 2017 4:31 pm
He ran a hand over her hair and Giulia sighed happily. She liked it when she had adults nearby to dote on her. And she liked the magical princes and princesses too, especially the really big ones. They made her feel very good and safe, and their big hands made her remember when she was staying with Mr. Michael, who was Jada's daddy. he knew how to be a daddy, and had read them books. She wrinkled her nose. "Jada could marry a prince if I wanted. Then I could be a real princess and not just a half-princess. Mr. Marlo isn't a prince." and why would he and Jada get married anyways? That was silly. Even if he did make good cookies. "That would be weird." he might have muttered it, but she was 6. " Yes. Lets go back to your story." she leaned back in happily, letting his tale take her away. She giggled at his wink, cheeks going pink at a prince! Winking! At Giulia! "Gal-e-nos," she repeated the name, nodding. So he must have been Galenos a long time ago. Spears and shields were weapons fought with only in stories, like in myths and legends! Oh! And he so clearly loved his princess, that Giulia leaned in closer and closer, wriggling her butt forward on the couch as she listened, eyes getting wider and wider as she sank into his tale. "No!" she cried out as he said he had left his Saga behind, "That's awful! Prince, why didn't you- why would staying together be bad?! Love fixes everything, it says so in the movies! All the movies! Even in old books- two people in love can make all the bad things go away!" She shook her head, blonde curls flying. Happy endings are so much better than bad endings!" she cried, and her voice was thickening with unhappy tears. "I mean, it is happy that she can- that she can fall in love again, but what about you?! You deserve to be happy. Everyone needs to be happy!" Her face trembling, despairing, she said, "Marlo likes me cause I'm cute. Not because of her." her rosebud mouth was turned down. "He doesn't even come over on macaroni dinner night. And how do you know Mister Marlo anyways, Mr. Prince? Why are you in Mr. Elzo's house?" Marlo totally made cookies with her because she was cute. He liked her a lot. Right? It wasn't because of Jada. Was it? No, it had to be Giulia. Had to be!
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Posted: Sat Apr 29, 2017 5:02 pm
There was a softness in his touch as Castor worked his fingers through the few tangles in her hair. "Shhh, shh... Your brother is still asleep. But no Pincipessa, if I had stayed, her people would have rebelled. Sometimes, love means giving someone up, even if you do not want to. Letting go is hard but- I couldn't keep her to myself. She was needed by her people. We had to put our people first. That is what it means to be a ruler." It was the sad truth. Even if Saga had only been a leader, not a royal senshi, she was not Saga alone. Mjolnir belonged to her people. Not to Castor. Not to Galenos. "Love cannot fix everything little one, it does not always win or defeat the evils in the world. Love is what is meant to give us hope, our strength. When people do not love, when they refuse to love, that is when we have a bad ending. As long as you love someone, then there is something good in a story." Even if, his story ending in heartbreak. "There are many people I love in my life Pincipessa, but I must be alone. There are people who would hurt the ones I love just to see me suffer. So I can only love them from afar. I keep them safe, I watch them be happy and that is enough for me." It wasn't, but she didn't need to know that. But, his sister had caught on to some more pressing questions. "I'm here because-" Dare he risk it? "I am here because it is a Prince's duty to watch over princesses. Usually I go to your window, to make sure you are safe. But when I saw you missing, I grew worried so I came in to look for you." That was a good story wasn't it? "I know Marlo because he helped me a long time ago. A different story for another night but- He loves you and does think you cute, but he loved Jada long before he ever met you. Love like that is hard to forget. He lost her and they broke each other's hearts. So when they see each other- it hurts. That's why he won't come on macaroni night. Adults are complicated like that." Very complicated.
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iStoleYurVamps
iStoleYurVamps
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Posted: Sat Apr 29, 2017 5:40 pm
Her lips were trembling furiously with emotion as she blinked wetness back out of his eyes as the Prince pet her hair, and she crawled over to him and into his lap. "That's not fair though, Prince. You and Saga should have been together like you wanted to be. Why is- being a ruler is different than being a princess." her mouth was quivering, but her words were said without tremble. "Love is- love is powerful. And it can make everything better, otherwise, what is the point? When- when people cry-" she didn't name who people were, she didn't think that mattered- "Cry because they are so sad, and all they have is love- if love just makes them sad, then-" She was 6, and as she stared up at the prince, her entire face full of sheer confusion and sadness and despair, she didn't understand. he tried to explain- Love gave hope, and strength, but why would someone awant love if they were still going to be sad? Sadness was terrible. "You shouldn't make people go away when you love them. You hold them close, Prince. Like- like memories. Like graves. We don't have those because we want the people we love to go away. Mama and Kayley and-" and the whisper of a memory, of names cried at night when Giulia and Aidan were supposed to be asleep. She sniffed, long and wet and rubbed her arm over her nose. "I guess you do have wings," she allowed grudgingly in reply to his excuse. "But you shouldn't look in little girls windows. That's weird." As he explained that Mr. Marlo had loved Jada once, she made a face. She couldn't see it. "That doesn't sound like love, then." she told him, and then paused, brow furrowing, trying to think- "If they's why he doesn't come to dinner, they're stupid." her voice was flat, angry, hurt from things he had said before. "Love isn't supposed to hurt." Even though she knew in some ways it did, like when she thought of the mama and sister she didn't get to know. "At least not love love, like mommies and daddies have for each other." She swallowed, and for a long moment, she thought of what he had told her. "Do- do you think my real mommy and daddy loved each other? The way you loved Saga, and like.... actual love, like real love, like in the movies love? Do you think one day I'll have a second daddy to love me the way I got a second mommy when mine went to heaven? Even if he isn't a prince. Though he should be a prince." Wrapping your mind around serious topics was hard, when you were six.
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Posted: Sat Apr 29, 2017 6:19 pm
This was what Marlo would have called a '******** absolute disaster'. He'd been trying to be soft but- Giulia was young and so hopeful and innocent and he just... wasn't. That part of him had died long ago.
"If I were just a prince, I could have stayed with Saga. But I was not, am not. I lead my people. I have to put their needs ahead of my own. A ruler, a leader puts the needs of others above themselves. It is not hard to be a prince." Power was power, and if he were honest, he didn't owe earth of it's people anything. "If I am to be a ruler, a leader, I cannot be selfish. My love of Saga was just that, selfishness in wanting to keep her when so many others needed her. When so many needed me."
Giulia was innocent. She hadn't suffered yet. He never wanted her to yet here he was. Telling her a truth he'd found over years of his own grief and longing.
"If we never knew sadness, then would love be so precious? If I had never lost Saga, I would have never have known how precious my time with her was. I wouldn't cherish what memories I have with her. Love hurts and causes sadness. But think how happy it also makes people. You cannot know Sadness without knowing love. Just the same, you can't love without having never known sadness. That's just a part of what love is."
Hair ruffled, Castor leaned back, looking at the sister he never though he'd have.
"I don't look in girl's windows. Just princess's. I mean I can't just walk in all the time you know. And- If you think Marlo and Jada do not love each other, not the love like your books? Look in a few photo albums. I'm sure you'll notice a few things. If you REALLY want him at macaroni night."
Castor grinned.
"Tell him he cooks terrible and your cook is better."
He wasn't sure how to answer her other question though.
"Isn't Elzo your father?" Did she know the truth?
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iStoleYurVamps
iStoleYurVamps
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Posted: Sat Apr 29, 2017 6:47 pm
"Was her brother mean to the people?" Giulia asked after a minute, wiping her nose again. "You said he was a bad brother, but you didn't say why he was bad. If love can hurt, then bad can be good." Another thing which ran counter to some of her firmly-held beliefs. Giulia had heard the phrase 'bad things for good reasons' but didn't understand, because she always got punished when she was bad and got caught. but if one thing was topsy-turvy than another might be too. Still, being a ruler sounded very hard, and she shook her head. "I don't want to be a ruler." she grumbled. "I just want to be a princess and find true love and have a happily ever after." He had a point about love, though. Every princess had a trial and trouble before she got to her prince. "Cinderella had her stepmother and stepsisters who were bad, and she wound up happy. Rapunzel and Flynn had Mother Gothel. Snow White had the evil Queen, and Aurora had Maleficent. Belle had Gaston, and Jasmine had Jafar. But they all wound up happy. Because of love and teamwork." she swallowed. "They all knew love and sadness. So it can happen. It can happen for anybody. And it's gonna happen for me." She would accept nothing less. "I'll fight if I have to. I'll be selfish. But I'm not losing my prince because someone else is dumb or bad. My prince will be the best prince." Telling Marlo her cook was better sounded an awful lot like manipulation. Even if it might be true. Then again, she'd never had Mr. Marlo's brownies. "If Mr. Marlo is dumb, I don't want him at macaroni night," she declared, sulking. "Maybe I will look at some photo books. You might be- you might be telling me more stories." She wasn't sure she liked that story as much as she had at first. "Before I make any decisions." She paused, huffing out air. "He might be?" she asked at last, and shrugged. "When I was little, mam- Jada said that we couldn't know our daddy because he needed a very big spanking. Like such a big spanking, that he would cry a lot. She said if he was good, that she might consider it, but I don't want a daddy that needed a spanking. But then Mr. Elzo got invited to macaroni night, and that's on Tuesdays, and Tuesday nights are family night and we play games and watch movies and stuff, so... he isn't family on my first mother's side, so he has to be from my daddy's. But he isn't old like Mr. Michael, and I haven't been told to call him daddy, so...." After a moment, she said, "If he's my daddy, then he might try and give me another mommy. A third mommy? And I guess that would be okay. But then I would have a daddy and a mommy, and he might try and make me live here all the time, instead of at home." But she would have a daddy and a mommy, and that.... she would like that. But her home had her comfy bed, and her sister, and home had her Seal, and at Christmas had her family, and...
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