Morning, Aftermath of Revival/January Event.

[velesdonnersen]

[Tarvek dozes beside Ilsa, on the sofa bed in the home office. She's back, and there's little that makes him even one tenth so happy... The blankets are piled high, pillows are tucked around them, and he can lie half-dozing, watching her through the veil of half-lowered lashes.]

Mmmmmmmm.

Comments

[velesdonnersen]

[Florian looks totally bewildered, and a bit uncomfortable. Tarvek laughs.]

No, he won't get that. But this?

[He chuckles and begins stamping his feet, rhythmically.]

Dance, Florian. Dance!

[The mimmoth's eyes light up with understanding, and he squeals and begins to "dance," stamping all four feet and flapping his ears. He's almost prancing.]

Good boy!

[Tarvek squats easily, and hugs the little goof.]

There. Did that do what you need?

[He lets go of his pet so that Ilsa can check the harness.]

[ooeeooahah]

[ The harness seems to be in place, still. ]

I can't see anyplace it shifted too much, and it doesn't seem to bother him too much. It might jingle a bit once we get his tags on it, unless you think he might like a collar?

[velesdonnersen]

No. Maximimmoths aren't all that well designed for collars. Next to no neck, and the collar slips over their heads too easily. Then it either gets tangled in their tusks or gets turned into a play-toy.

So, that's good. What else do you think we should get him. I was thinking of the basket bed: it gives him someplace to go when we decide to chase him out of bed.

Any other ideas?

[ooeeooahah]

Tags, at least one to identify where he belongs, and you picked out a lead there already... and you might want to invest in a good-sized crate for him. Something he can drag his toys and blankets into? At least that's what the hounds at home liked. A place for him to den up, as it were?

[velesdonnersen]

[Ooops. That comment has him free associating into Spark Mode.]

Nnnnnnooooooo. A cave. I must *make him a cave.* He will be a Cave Maximimmoth.

[Sparking more madly...]

Stalactites. Stalagmites. Little tiny cave bears for him to beat up. Yessssssss. I can make it work....

Plaster. Lathe. Paint. I have the technology. I can build it...

[ooeeooahah]

[ She sighs, and grips his chin lightly to focus on his eyes. ]

Not. Here.

[ Her eyes flash slightly. ]

Notes for later, but not In Town.

[velesdonnersen]

[Awwww. He comes down. For now.]

All right. (sigh)

Toys? What toys should he have? Something to tug, that's for sure: he loves grabbing things with his trunk and pulling.

[ooeeooahah]

I can tell you from experience - squeaky toys are startling when you step on them at 0300.

But a ball or two would be good. One for outside, one for inside, at least. We can build some more tug toys.

[velesdonnersen]

Balls. Yes. And...

Ilsa, would there be places with safe blocks and wagons and pull toys? Mimmothy creatures like piling, and building, and dragging and pulling: it's the trunk-thing. They're bright, curious, and like to fiddle around almost as much as a spark does.

[ooeeooahah]

[ She lowers her voice, eyes darting to Catherine. ]

Toy store, if you dare it with the kids here.

[velesdonnersen]

[Even with drone kids, he's a bit of a softy.]

The toy store it is. Catherine, Perry, want to help pick *safe* toys for Florian? Remember, if they're not safe he can't have them.

That means you'll ahve to teach him not to take any of your toys that aren't safe, too.

[ooeeooahah]

[ Ilsa clips the lead to Florian's harness. ]

After we check out here, it's just a few stores down.

[ She scratches Florian behind the ears. ]

We'll wait outside for that part of the trip.

[velesdonnersen]

[He nods and soon he's back with the kids, and several LARGE bags and boxes. The kids are radiant and giggling, and Perry is zooming a toy airplane around by hand. Vrrrrrrroooooom! Tarvek loads everyone up, and slips into the front seat.]

[Sotto voce]

Bet you didn't just play with baby-dolls when you were a kid.

[ooeeooahah]

Tch, not often. I had cooking tools and throwing toys from the beginning. Nadine had the dolls, mainly as models.

[velesdonnersen]

[Slightly sad.]

One of the things I miss about Europa is the lack of many women outside the traditional home-roles here in Mayfield. We may have once thought only the man could pull the knife-switch or inherit the empire, but we always were open to female sub-sparks, minions, spies, and so on. And we've come a long way since then, in part thanks to Wulfenbach. Whose bones may burn green, but whose heart is sometimes in the right place.

[ooeeooahah]

[ She sighs. ] Part of the problem is that no matter what I do, the girl drones are just not interested in anything outside the programming.

[ She nods towards the hardware store. ]

I could use some 10d nails, 20d if they have them.

[velesdonnersen]

[He nods.]

Kids, you stay here with Mrs. Spengler and Florian. I'll be back in a little while. Then I'll drop you two at the diner for a malted while Mrs. Spengler and I pick up groceries for your Mom.

[He's gone, but soon returns accompanied by an attendant with a wagon. The proceed to load up a fair pile of lumber, tools, nails, spackle and grout, rebar, chicken wire, and similar materials.]

[He slips in, and they are on their way. Once the kids are dropped off...]

Whew. They're sweet, and very good. But having kids changes everything.

[ooeeooahah]

[ She can't help it, but bursts out laughing at the comment about the kids. ]

[velesdonnersen]

[He hasn't grown up with it as a truism: he comes from a culture with nannies.]

What? What did I say?

[ooeeooahah]

[ She slides down to giggles, waving her hand. ]

Children change everything. Good thing you found out before we got married.

[ Gigglesnicker. ]

[velesdonnersen]

[The car veers, almost crosses the line. TArvek over-corrects, and they jounce onto and off of the curb.]

Hangonhangonhangon. Eeee. Hang on a minute...

[He drives just out of town, and pulls over by the side of the road, before turning to her, eyes a bit wild.]

Would you? Marry me? If there were a way to do it, here in Mayfield? Would you *really*?

[ooeeooahah]

[ She squeaks as he has his epiphany moment IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD and is very quiet as he brings the car to a stop. ]

[ The question is at once simple, and a minefield. That doesn't mean the answer hasn't been thought out. ]

...habibi, the only thing we are missing is the paperwork, as far as I'm concerned.

[velesdonnersen]

[He slides across the station wagon seat, and slips his arms around her. Her link should be screaming with turbulence - happy, a bit frightened, amazed, surprised, giddy...and loony-in-love.]

Do you think we could at least find a way to celebrate it? Not a church wedding: Mayfield wouldn't allow that. But I want to bind it, and share it. I...

If you don't want, well..

But...

Ah, leibe, Ilsa... Mein liebe Ilsa.

[ooeeooahah]

[ She wraps into the embrace, buzzing from his joy. ]

Think you can wait until the first of spring?

[velesdonnersen]

Forever, if I had to.

{Sighs, and enjoys the cuddle for as long as he dares. But necessity drives his choices.]

Eh. We've got to do the shopping and pick up Perry and Catherine. And then I suspect you have to go home for a bit. But...later?

Your place or mine?