34th Teddy Bear [Voice]

[asobouyo]

[An hour or so after bed, Elicia hears something creak. It's harmless and probably something like a tree scratching something, or a mouse finding its way. But it sparks a barrage of images within this small child's brain that would probably make a therapist shake their heads. Things like floating objects and scary figures and things under her bed oh god. Acute paranoia tonight, this one. So she speaks in a really low whisper as though she's on a secret mission, hidden up to her ears in blanket. Must be a nice windy winter night.]

Um....

Are ghosts real? They aren't, right? But—But I guess good ghosts are okay! Do those count? Are they real either?

[Her eyes dart from one side of the room to the other, and she's totally expecting something scary to happen on one side or the other. Any minute now. No, no, be brave, there's nothing going on. Nothing at aaaaall. ;~;

Gulp.]

Oh! New Feathers are here, too... huh...

I'm Elicia, and I'm six years o—

[rustle rustle]

Meep!

[...And back under the sheets. Yup.]

Comments

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[ex_affability656]

[Oh darling little princess you sound scared. BUT DO NOT WORRY because papa is listening!

He quietly opens her door and pops his head into her room.] Elicia? Sweetheart?

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[asobouyo]

[OH IT'S DAD.

Time to resume a brave stance. >:^|]

...

Yes, papa??

[sparkle sparkle]

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[ex_affability656]

[Well, at least she isn't hiding under the sheets. But she isn't sleeping, either.]

...I heard you on the journal. Are you alright? [Do you need him to vanquish those ghosts for you? 'Cause he totally will.]

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[asobouyo]

[Oh, poo. B|

She sits up, quick to reply.]

Of course I'm okay! I'm really tough, and if any ghosts try to get me I'll just hit 'em with my sword!

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[ex_affability656]

[The requires great thought.]

But a sword might go right through a ghost. What you really need to defeat a ghost is...a flashlight.

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[asobouyo]

[Look. Look at the shimmer of hope in my eyes.

Dad don't you be trollin'.]

A flashlight??

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[ex_affability656]

[How could he even dream of trollin' when she makes a face like that?]

Of course! Ghosts only like it in the dark. So when you shine a light on them, the go away right away.

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[asobouyo]

Then it's 'cause they don't like daytime!

Do we have lots of lights? I'll get 'em all and they'll never mess with our house again!

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[ex_affability656]

[This is the part where he should be trying to get her to go back to sleep, but nope. This sounds like fun.]

Well, we do have a few lamps in the living room. And there's at least one flash light in the kitchen.

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[asobouyo]

Then what're we waiting for, papa!? Let's get those lights, before the ghosts get us first!

[ADVENTURE!!!]

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[ex_affability656]

Right you are!

[THIS GONNA BE AWESOME. And you gotta travel in style right? He crouches down next to her bed so she can board for a piggy back ride.] And I'll make sure no ghosts try to get you on our way there.

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[asobouyo]

[Hoppin' on your back like a spider monkey now, okay.]

LET'S GOOOOOO!!

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[ex_affability656]

[SPIDER MONKEY DAUGHTER YEAH. He heads for the door.]

Don't worry. By the time we're through with them, those ghosts won't ever come back to our house again.

[TO THE LIVING ROOM!]

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[asobouyo]

[AWAAAAAAY!!]

They'll stay in the forest 'cause they'll be so scared of us and our lights!!

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[ex_affability656]

Exactly! Ghosts should stay in the forest, anyway. That's their home.

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[asobouyo]

Then I'll stay away from the forest, too! Unless I got a really really good flashlight!

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[ex_affability656]

...You should stay away from the forest even if you have a really good flashlight. You remember what happens to kids who go into forests in your story books, right?

[They get tempted into houses made of candy and deceived by wolves, IT IS A BAD PLACE.]

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[asobouyo]

Yeah! 'Cause there might be monsters, right? O-or... someone who hurts the animals...

[... Yeah. BET YOU DIDN'T KNOW THAT.]

I-I saw that, once... Someone hurt all the animals. It was really scary!

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[ex_affability656]

[Hoshit, what. He turns on the big light in the living room.

This doesn't sound good at all.]

...I'm sure that was scary. Are you alright, sweetheart?

[He can track down whoever did it later. This is more important.]

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[asobouyo]

[After a moment, she nods. But it's still a scary memory, even if it ended better than she thought. And while she forgave the person who did it... Well, sometimes forgiving doesn't erase things, right?

Not that her little brain process this all that well.]

I'm okay. Big bro Sanji saved me! But... he got hurt, and it was kinda scary.

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[ex_affability656]

[Yes, lamps, lamps. Let's turn on lots of lights. It makes things easier.

He looks over his shoulder at her.]

Everything's alright now, so you don't need to worry. [He'll do alllll the worrying now.] I'll make sure something scary like that doesn't happen to you again, alright? Papa will make sure you're safe.

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[asobouyo]

[She nods again, determined.]

I-I know! I know you'll make sure I'm safe! 'Cause you're really tough...!

So don't worry, papa, 'cause I'm not scared...

[Only on occasion. Like when moons fall and crazy shit.]

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[ex_affability656]

[Not worry? About you? NONSENSE.]

...Alright. [A beat.] Then we just need to make sure those ghosts stay out of the house now!

[GET ALL THE LAMPS ]

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[asobouyo]

[ALL OF THEM.

NOW WHERE ARE THE FLASHLIGHTS...!]

Yeah!! We gotta protect our house from the forest ghosts!! I bet they live in the holes in trees! Y'think, papa??

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[ex_affability656]

[This is the most intense carrying maneuver in the history of piggy back rides. He's got lamps, and a daughter, and now they need flash lights. TO THE KITCHEN THEY GO.]

You're absolutely right! [Of course you are.] That's why the trees scratch on the house at night. They want the ghosts to come back!