Winter was finally turning into spring. That sort of weather could be a sort of pick-me-up whenever Danny stepped outside, but inside the store, it really didn’t make much of a difference. When torn between working hard and general laziness, Danny tended to err on the side of lazy, and so for the last few weeks, he had taken to stepping outside when the weather was agreeable and no one was inside the store. It was something he should probably try to break before it became a habit, but still, a little fresh air never hurt anyone, and even if there were technically things to do inside, it wasn’t like he was ignoring customers this way.
Enjoying a moment of sunshine, Danny took a moment to take in the square. It was fairly bright out today- the kind of day where the runeys looked sort of silly glowing and floating around there in broad daylight. To his right, Danny could hear the faint voices of children approaching. Too young to be Marco or Candy, Danny identified them instantly, and turned to greet them, a welcoming smile springing to his face, replacing the neutral expression just moments before. Erik’s kids were always a welcome sight. To Danny’s surprise, it wasn’t Erik or Bianca who was accompanying them, but another, older woman.
The initial enthusiasm of the grin died down, but the warmth was still there. Danny gave a wave at the party approached. “Hey there,” he said. “Out for a walk?”
/Hearing the knock, he heads over to the door and opens it, and he smiles broadly when he sees his friend, knowing the reason for the visit (and not just because of the presents)/ Ah, hello there! Hehe, yes, you’d be right about that, though it still feels kind of surreal to me…anyway, come in! I apologize in advance if one of my children in particular is a little more wound up than usual. We just-
/A light purple blur that vaguely resembles an elephant comes speeding toward them, screeching to a halt right before running into either one of them. It turns out to be none other than Lucia, who has decided that now would be an appropriate time to put on her new fluffy bathrobe from Grandma, because three-year-olds have the absolutely best judgment as far as clothing choices/
/Very much accustomed to his daughter’s enthusiasm, Erik laughs/ W-Well, maybe it’s best if I let her share. Ah, but… /he takes a step back and calls out down the hall/ Mason, Danny’s come to visit! /Sighs/ Hopefully he’ll realize that means he ought to put his reading to the side for now…
[Danny laughs] Yeah, I hear he’s quite the bookworm, right? Ah, if he doesn’t come right away that’s fine, let him enjoy his special day, I’ll catch him later. Wish I could spend all day doing what I wanted, hahaha.
[Danny bent down, casually hiding the presents behind his back. He doesn’t take any particular care in hiding them, since there was a good chance Lucia might have locked onto them already.]
Hey Lucia~ You seem pretty excited. What is it? You have something to tell me? There’s not really anything too special happening today, is there? [He plays dumb with a tell-tale smile on his face, although it may or may not have been able to trick Lucia into thinking he didn’t know.]
/Hearing the door open, he smiles broadly and walks out from behind his counter/ Hello, welcome! Spring crop seeds are in, and-
/Blinks/ Oh, I’m sorry, Ivan! But, ah…as you could probably surmise from the enthusiastic sales pitch, I’m not all that busy…can I help you with anything?
Oh, it’s alright. I’m surprised to hear that, actually; you’d think with spring coming so soon it wouldn’t, ah, be so lonesome.
*Tugs at his bowtie as he searches for the right words; he doesn’t want to sound like he’s upset with Erik or even upset at all, really.* Well, actually... Since you’re a very close friend of mine I was wondering, um... Can I ask you something?
Princess Erik - Erik + Family [Secret Santa drabble for Erik]
"Cookie!"
"No, Mason, not until they're all done."
The small child reached up, hoping to grab the sweet, mushy chocolate chip cookie dough set out on the parchment paper covering the cookie sheet, though his arms were far too tiny to reach at least one. It fascinated him, but Erik was not going to allow his son to eat any of it.
"Daddy! Nooooooo!" The little one whined, being picked up and carried over to his sister.
"Mason, you need to be a good boy and eat your healthy fruits with Lucia, and then we can all eat the cookies when they're done, okay?" Erik smiled, giving Mason a small kiss on the side of his forehead.
"Daddy! I wan' kisshes toooo!" Lucia waved her hands around to get her father's attention, which worked and was soon followed by a kiss of her own.
"Erik?" Bianca stepped in, carrying a gift for Tabatha she planned on delivering today. "I'm going to the mansion for tea with Tabatha. You've finished work today, right?"
Erik nodded, though keeping his eye on the twins, which was understandable as that very moment was when Mason's banana slices fell victim to Lucia's little hands taking them and pressing them onto Mason's left cheek with a big muuuush!
"Lucia, we don't mush banana into other people's faces." He frowned, wiping off Mason's banana-covered face. "Please behave while mommy's out, okay?" He let out a sigh, hoping the day wouldn't be too difficult.
"Okay..."
"Good!" Erik smiled before giving Bianca a kiss goodbye, sending her off for a safe trip.
With a big "Oomf!" and a "Gosh, you're getting big," Erik picked up each of the twins (one at a time, of course) out of their seats and led them to their room to play. It was easier to keep an eye on them there, now with their curiosity in full gear, which made them easy to lose sight of. It was still a precious time, though, and Erik was going to enjoy it while he could.
"Is there anything you two would like to play with daddy?"
"Story!"
"Pwinceshes!"
"Hmm..." Erik put a hand on his chin. "How about we read a story first, then play princesses?"
"Pwincesh story!" Lucia added, despite there not being that many princess picture books around the house.
"Lucia, how about we read a story Mason would like too?" Erik suggested.
As if on cue, Mason pulled out a picture book, filled to the brim with pictures of monsters and animals from around the world along with the sounds they make.
"'Dis one!" The small child lifted it up above his head, not exactly letting go at first when his father tried to take it gently. "Me."
"Oh you'd like to read i--?"
"Masey, me tooooo!" Lucia was quick to interrupt, scooting as close as she could to her brother so she could see.
Erik sighed. At least the two had come to a compromise, he thought, but it was new to now be the audience for story time. He just hoped no pages would be ripped. Luckily, Mason was gentle with turning the first page, revealing an illustration of a bird.
"Tweet." Mason pointed at the picture, not so much reading the words as he was looking at the pictures, but it was a very good inference.
"Tweet tweet!" Lucia repeated, her hands in the air briefly before the two were on the next page: a dog!
"Woof." Mason announced proudly, but Lucia had another idea.
"Noooo! Masey, meow!"
"Woof."
"Meeeeooowww!"
"Woof."
"Moo!" Lucia changed her mind on the meowing; 'Moo' seemed close enough.
The three continued looking at the pictures, the twins adding in their imitations of animal and monster sounds until the book had reached its end. Reaching the last page of the book meant what Lucia had been waiting for the whole day... or at least what felt like the whole day, since it wasn't even quite noon yet.
"Pwinceshes!" Lucia toddled over to a box containing various plastic crowns and wands, taking one of each and placing the crown on Erik's head. She waved the wand around and bopped it on her father's nose. "Bippy Boppy Boo!" She giggled. "Pwincesh daddy!"
"Daddy's a princess now?" Erik chuckled. If only Bianca were home, she could have taken a picture to keep the moment safe in an album. The crown was a bit uncomfortable, though, digging into his hair. "Can daddy be a princess without a crown, maybe?"
"Noooo!" Lucia insisted on him keeping the crown on, even Mason helped adjust the crown on Erik's head.
"Better?" Mason asked.
"Um... Much, thank you, Mason." It wasn't exactly better, but it was the thought that counted.
"One more thing!" Lucia put her hands on Erik's face, lightly rubbing up and down. "Cwose your eyes!"
Erik nodded, doing as he was told, which allowed Lucia to go on her way to the bathroom, only for her to come back shortly after.
"Masey! Come with me." She whispered, giggling as the two were now able to make their trip.
The twins, though Mason hesitated a little, had come up with a plan. Lucia would climb up on the toilet seat to reach and push off some of Bianca's makeup for Mason to either pick up if they were to fall or grab from the surface. This, however did not quite work, and after a few near-falls, the two, while making it out safely, only managed to grab some lipstick. This wasn't a problem for them, though. Lipstick was one of the few items of makeup they had seen being applied enough times to give them some sort of idea of how it worked, so the two were content with this and went on their merry way with whispered giggles.
"Shhh!"
They both looked at each other, one index finger in front of both mouths. Now it was time to give Erik his "makeover." The two stared at Erik for a while, making sure he wasn't going to open his eyes, and once they were certain, they started to work, swapping the lipstick so each would have a turn to "beautify the princess." Lucia rubbed some on his forehead and Mason drew something looking similar to a tree on his chin; only near the end did they put some on his lips.
"Ta daaaa!"
"We did it."
"Can I open my eyes now?"
"Yesh, daddy!" Lucia giggled, holding up a toy mirror for her daddy to see. "Daddy pwetty!"
Erik's eyes widened at the sight. He knew exactly where they had gotten what was used to decorate his face and it was probably all out now. What was he going to tell Bianca?
"Sho' yun man!" The twins pointed to Raguna who was just passing by outside the window.
"Pwincesh daddy sho' yun man you pwetty!" Lucia insisted, trying to tug Erik by the arm with her tiny hands.
"Eek!" Erik froze, taking a while to calm down and explain why he couldn't possibly show the young man how... pretty he was. "Maybe after lunch, Lu--"
"Erik? Lucia? Mason? I'm home. Where are you?" Oh no. Already? It couldn't be... Not with him looking like such a mess. "Oh! there you are!"
"Mommy! Mommy!" Mason and Lucia ran to give Bianca a big hug, happily welcoming her home while Erik was busy burying his head in his knees.
"Erik...? Why do you have your head like that?" Bianca blinked, putting a hand on her husband's shoulder.
Erik did not say a word, but he at least lifted up his head, giving her a face similar to one of a puppy denied a treat. He knew he'd be in trouble for not paying better attention to what the kids were doing, he just knew it.
But instead of a scolding, Bianca couldn't hold in a fit of laughter.
"Erik!" She tried catching her breath before laughing some more. "Erik... Honey." She chuckled. "Okay, okay, I'm done, but... That is not your color, sweetie. Let's get you cleaned up."
"An' then can we make daddy pwetty again with you, mommy?" Lucia asked, her face bright and hopeful.
"Of course, Lucia." Bianca smiled. "The..." She tried not to laugh, looking at the messy-faced 'princess.' "The princess needs to be extra pretty, after all."
~End~
--
((Happy Holidays, erik-licious! I hope you feel better too since I know you're a bit under the weather. I hope you like this Erik + Family drabble :3 Sorry I couldn't post it on Christmas, I wanted to make sure this was extra special for you so I took some more time to edit and whatnot c:
Anyways, I hope you had a great Christmas, hon <3))
During the entire carriage ride to the rural village of Trampoli, Electra was absolutely captivated about Bianca and her gorgeous children -- or rather, her second cousins. Small toes, soft cheeks, precious smiles -- the entire bundle waiting patiently for her impassioned arrival. Of course, conversation between the two consisted of little as of late, but because of her sentimental epiphany, things were bound to change. Besides, she attempted to envision the sight of her husband whom, considering the lavish expectations of the young woman, must maintain an elegant appearance.
Before she was aware, the spacious carriage halted, and directly outside laid the elaborate mansion where the sprouting family resided. "Thank you," she stepped onto the trailing path, and walked apprehensively closer to the ornate front porch. The purplette sighed nervously, and swallowed her courage in order to knock firmly on the front door.
When Jamie saw the sign up sheet, she had expected there to be some sort of contest going on at this masquerade, but all she got instead was disappointment. She had no desire to dance at this foolish gathering. She looked around for this so called, "Erik." If she had to be paired up with him, she was just going to stand next to him; he had to not expect more than that.
/Once again wandering in Selphia, and he realizes he's never really taken the time to just go sightseeing. He thinks about where he might go or what to do, but his outward appearance looks like that of someone who's a bit lost and very spaced out./
No — No I don’t believe so … [Mutters to himself incoherently, brow furrowed and walking as a simple stride.] There’s the general store and the flower shop … but I don’t believe — ?
[Perks up upon noticing the seemingly lost brunet - letting a polite smile spread on his lips as he waved to the man whom was only several feet away.] Sir! ♪ Are you alright Sir?
((Just as a refresher, what are the criteria for judging again? I can’t remember off the top of my head, and some of our newer judges might not know at all. Thanks~))
The criteria was all placed in the first post which was posted on Friday.
"Once again for anyone new coming onto the scene of crop festivals, each judge will reblog each submission and judge it on a scale of one to ten for the crop’s size, color, and freshness Then with the combined scores of all three judges we’ll have our winner!"
