479 ❀

[ino]

[ dictating into the journal, ino sounds happy enough. even if she still wasn't entirely okay after everything that had happened recently, people had come back, and she had her daughter again. she waits until hana is comfortably in her lap before she speaks up -- ]

So it's that time of year again, huh?

[ of course, hana's full of things she wants to say, so it's barely a second after ino starts talking that she chimes in ]

Mommy! Mommy! I wanna meet aaaall your new friends!

Well, you'll have to ask them nicely if you want them to come see you.

Come see me!

[ there's some silence where ino is definitely giving her a look, which is then followed by a more sheepish: ]

... Please?

Comments

[whichwayyoulean]

I wonder where she gets that attitude from.

It's a mystery.

[ino]

Hey now, don't be rude.

Yeah! Don't be rude, mister!

[whichwayyoulean]

Wow. I consider myself told.

[He sounds amused at least ]

[ino]

As you should.

You haven't even introduced yourself! Where's your manners at?

[whichwayyoulean]

Demanding, isn't she?

[He'll clear his throat, time for dramatics] I'm am the mysterious and powerful Once-ler. Woooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

[ino]

Hey, she just wants to be treated nicely.

Wooow, that's a really long name! Are you really mysterious and powerful and stuff??

[whichwayyoulean]

Is that what you're calling it?

You bet. I'm about as mysterious and powerful as you can get.

[ino]

That's what it is.

How come?? What kinds of powers do you have?? [ EXCITEDLY: ] Can you shoot lasers out of your eyeballs?!

[ ino is trying not to crack up in the background now ... ]

[whichwayyoulean]

If you say so, Ino.

[Welp. He considers for a moment] I could tell you, but then you'd have to be inducted into a secret society. Because what I can do can't be made public knowledge.

[ino]

I wanna do the secret society!! Mom! I wanna do it!

You'll have to ask Once-ler.

[whichwayyoulean]

Hmmm, I don't know, do you think you have what it takes, kid?

[ino]

I do! I do! Pleeeeasseeee let me! Please, Mister Once-ler!!

[whichwayyoulean]

Okay then, I'll make an exception for you.

[eat_me_beat_me]

[Nora just laughs]

Sounds like you've got your hands full.

[ino]

Something like that. [ she laughs ]

Hi Miss Nora!

[eat_me_beat_me]

Hey, kiddo!

Where are you guys? I could use a change of scenery.

[ino]

Outside.

By the duckies!

[eat_me_beat_me]

I'll meet you there!

[And off she goes to the duck pond!]

[ino]

[ yay! her and hana are just chillin' by the pond, a picnic basket on hand. they'll both be waving at nora as she comes closer ]

[eat_me_beat_me]

[With a picnic basket, even? SCORE! Nora grins as she skips over]

Hi!

[beastisbeauty]

Oh my god. Th-this happens every year?! Wh-why? Where do these kids come from?

[He pulls the journal closer and whispers.]

I don't think I'm father material!

[A bump and thud is heard in the background, then a cry that is almost a roar.]

[ino]

Um ... ? Everything okay over there?

[beastisbeauty]

He's mine. Oh my god, this kid really is mine! No, don't break that!

[He's sounding more than a little panicked.]

[ino]

You know, with you being so nervous, that kid is probably just going to get riled up even more. Don't you have a partner?

[beastisbeauty]

Lady, if you can deal with an eighteen month old who is fifty inches long, green, and strong enough to bend an iron bed-frame, without being nervous, congratulations. Me, I'm a bit freaked out there is a child with my biology!

...

And, uh, no? I can't even begin to imagine who the boy's mother is! I haven't had...um. Yeah, no.

dictated with sticky fingers

[i_got_this]

[There's a couple little smacks as Piper pats the page excitedly.]

Mamma mamma!

Whatch'ya find, honey? [South listens for a moment, recognizing Ino.]

Oh hey, you too?

[ino]

Every year.

[ she sounds amused ]

Hana could use a playmate, though.

[i_got_this]

Oh good, because I've got two two-year-olds who have some excess energy.

It's my second year. [She sounds happier than she's been for a long time.]

[ino]

That's perfect, because I've got a five year old who desperately needs to be worn out.

[ aww, south! she's glad to hear her sounding better, especially after what happened ... ]

[i_got_this]

Great! So where do you want to do this?

[She's been betrayed by so many people recently the simple love of a child is something she's clinging to.]

[ino]

Well, we were hanging out outside, but anywhere is fine by me.

[i_got_this]

I'll bring the twins out. Gimme ten.

[Which actually means twenty, because she has to do everything you'd do with a normal toddler, but in stereo. Eventually, though, she's pushing a stroller with two wiggly, excited looking two-year-olds.]

Dictated

[the_effect_she_has]

Huh. So there really are kids from all over...

[ino]

Ah ... that's right, you weren't here for last year, were you, Katniss?

Hi Miss Katniss!

[the_effect_she_has]

[Katniss shook her head, then frowned.] No, I was ... but I didn't remember I was. Peeta and I, we had a little girl.

[Her sigh is soft.] And she's here, now. [God, Peeta's eyes, staring back at her with all the innocence in the world. She put a hand on her baby's chubby arm, stroking it lightly.]

[ino]

Yeah, that's what I meant.

[ aww ... ]

She's pretty sweet, isn't she?

[the_effect_she_has]

The sweetest thing I've ever seen. I didn't see ... what did Peeta name her?

[fanstheflame]

[Gale laughs, reaching over to ruffle Hana's hair]

Atta girl. You want to remember your manners, or people will think you're rude.

[ino]

[ Hana grins ]

Yes sir! I'm always the politest girl in town!

[ Ino laughs ]

In town, huh?

[fanstheflame]

[Gale winks at Ino, then raises an eyebrow at Hana] Not in the castle, too?

Dictated

[cyan_maid]

You say that like you're used to this...

[Jane sighs. There's a breathy raspberry sound that definitely does not sound like Jane, though, and the crinkling of paper.] Oh - Jeffery, for pete's sake! Not my journal!

[ino]

That's probably because I am. This is a yearly thing, after all.

[ she sounds a bit amused ]

I take it it's not going so well over there?

[cyan_maid]

You can say that again - [There's a tearing sound.] Jeffery, NO!!!