Alice had run into Piccolo and skinned her elbow. Luckily, Erato came
along to help repair the damage. Beginning of log was cut off :(
Erato smiles proudly at Alice. "Marvellously done." He draws out a length
of bandage. "Now let's get you patched up."
Alice watches the bandage suspiciously, "Are you sure that's not going
to hurt?"
Erato nods. "They'll just keep it clean so we don't have to wash it again."
Piccolo hands the cloth, soap and water bowl back to Lady greene, "You
don't want it to get infected do you, Alice?"
Alice purses her lips, then slowly holds her arm out again, squeezing
her eyes shut.
Erato wraps the wound quickly and gently. with practised hands. "It's
still missing something," he says jauntily.
Piccolo nods, "indeed, a cute girl such as this needs something special
to finish up her bandages."
Alice opens her eyes in a flutter, looking at the bandage. "Oh...I didn't
even notice..." She peers at the both of you. "Special?"
Erato nods, reaching into a pocket in his pants to produce a swath of
midnight blue silk.
Piccolo eyes the cloth, smiling with approval, "That should do just splendidly."
Erato bows gallantly to Alice. "My lady..." He reaches out to cover the
bandage with the silk, tying it in a jaunty bow.
Alice preens at Erato, raising her arm slowly too look at it. She looks
at piccolo. "Does it look nice?"
Piccolo says, "Absolutly beautiful, you're going to have all the boys
lookin at you now."
Erato gives Alice a charming grin.
Alice blushes deeply, peeking at Erato for a moment, then back at Piccolo
"Do you really think so?"
Piccolo nods, exaggeratedly, "I really do, a cute thing like yourself.
Yer gonna drive em all wild."
Erato chuckles. "You, my lady, will leave a trail of broken hearts behind
you wherever you go."
Alice blushes brightly, head ducking. "I...I dunno...maybe..."
Erato places his hand over his heart, sighing dramatically. "You're fair
to breaking mine."
Piccolo chuckles heartily, "Best tell the poor chap you love him before
he breaks down to tears."
Alice's flush goes -bright- red. eyes sinking to her lap as she stammers.
"I...I do not!"
Erato sighs once more. "And voila. How easily you can say that, my lady
fair."
Piccolo clicks her tounge sadly, "Our poor brave knight, turned down after
saving the fair princess."
Alice looks helplessly at Piccolo, then the dolly, trying to think of
something. Her face is bright red as she looks up at him. "No...it's just
that dolly asked me to wait...she's" she lowers her voice. "Jealous."
Erato seems to catch his breath. "Ahh...I see." His voice lowers conspiratorially.
"Mustn't upset Dolly."
Piccolo nods agreeingly, "Aye, she'd be heartbroken" is her whispered
contribution
Alice's eyes are filled with relief, taking a deep breath and smiling
sweetly. "Yeah...she's pretty mean when she doesn't get her way..."
Erato gives the dolly a sidelong glance. "I can imagine..." he murmurs.
Piccolo picks up the dolly and looks it square in the face, "Well dolly,
you've been very brave today but I think it's time you go back to your
mommy." she holds the doll out towards Alice, "Her you go, I think she
missed having you hold her."
Alice giggles, taking the doll gratefully from Piccolo, beaming at her.
"Oh I'm not her mommy...she's just my friend."
Piccolo ooooh's, scrunching her face up as if thinking this over very
hard she finally nods, "I guess you are a bit young to be a mommy, aren't
you?"
Alice grins, nodding at Piccolo. "Yup! Mommies are much much older...tough
I'm a big girl."
Piccolo grins back, "Yes you are and I'm sure you'll make a very good
mommy one day seeing how well you treat your friends."
Erato chuckles gently.
Alice clutches her dolly close to her, smiling. "She likes me...so we
get along. She says I'll be a good mommy too."
Piccolo says, "You have a very smart friend there."
Alice grins, peering down at the dolly, then up at Piccolo. "She says
she likes you too..."
Erato leans on the counter. "And what about me?" He sounds wounded.
Piccolo smiles, "Well I'm proud to have a friend like Dolly."
Alice blinks at Erato, hiding the dolly for a second, and murmuring. "Shhh...she's
jealous of you remember? lemme talk to her..."
Alice proceedes to begin having an deep, whispered conversation with the
doll.
Piccolo waits to hear what dolly has to say about Erato, rather expecting
it to be just adorable like the girl herself.
Alice turns back from the dolly, looking rather pleased with herself.
"I convinced her that you weren't so bad...she says she'll like you if
you'll hold her and show her your nice." Her eyes have a rather wicked
glint about them.
Erato steps forward, holding out his hands for the dolly. "I'd be honoured
if you'd condescend to speak with me..."
Piccolo can hardly hold in her laughter, passing off one chocked laugh
as a cough, "Dolly's smarter then I thought.."
Alice giggles softly, holding out the dolly to Erato, giving Piccolo one
of those womanly looks, like she's thinking the same thing. "Here...hold
her close, it's the only way she'll really know."
Erato takes the dolly, looking mildly curious but doing as he's told.
Piccolo smiles wickedly, "Snuggle her close to show how you care, Erato."
Alice's smile is bright, suppressing another giggle. She nods at Piccolo.
"Closer...and she says she needs a kiss...to be sure."
Erato gives Alice and Piccolo an amused look, snuggling the dolly and
kissing her forehead gently.
Piccolo chuckles in amusement at the site of this grown man holding and
cuddling the baby doll, "What a lucky Dolly, I can't imagine her hating
you now."
Erato doesn't seem in the least embarrassed, murmuring something to the
dolly for her ears alone.
Alice giggles. "Can't you see her smiling! She'll love you forever now!"
She seems increadibly pleased with herself.
Piccolo steps up beside Alice and whispers quietly to her so that Dolly
can't hear, "Tis enough to make me jelous as well, what about you, little
lass?"
Alice grins at Piccolo, nodding. "Mmm hmmm....Dolly always get's all the
boys."
Erato smiles widely at Alice, and then turns that same charming, sincere
grin on the dolly. "Perfect."
Piccolo grins, "Dolly is quite the catch."
You say, "A lady unlike any other."
Alice giggles, "Just remember, she's my friend...so treat her right."
Erato bows. "But of course, Lady Alice."
Alice grins, tilting her head at the doll. "What? I dunno...he might...but
I'd miss you..."
Piccolo raises and eyebrow at ALice, "What did Dolly say?"
Alice giggles uncontrolably as someone actaully asks her. "She want's
to marry him."
Piccolo gaps, turning to Erato with a huge grin, "Imagine that..."
::'s emerald eyes widen. "My lady...I'm honoured, but I don't feel we've
known each other long enough." He addresses the dolly.
Erato's emerald eyes widen. "My lady...I'm honoured, but I don't feel
we've known each other long enough." He addresses the dolly.
Alice giggles even harder. "She says that doesn't matter....she says you're
-cuuute-"
Erato blushes slightly. "I'm flattered..."
Piccolo giggles herself now, "Well we couldn't argue with that, now could
we.."
Alice grins at Piccolo, nodding. "Nope..." then looking at Erato. "She
says she's small...but you'll get used to it..."
Erato gives the dolly a truly regretful look. "I couldn't possibly marry
you without a proper courtship and engagement..."
Piccolo can hardly contain her laughter. o 0(I wonder what dear Dolly's
bedside mannor would be?) she grips the counter tightly with one hand
to keep her laughter from bubbling forth, "And here we thought ALice was
to be the heartbreaker."
Alice tilts her head, as if listening to the doll, then suddenly goes
into another fit of giggles. "The kiss...she says that was the courship...and
you can propose right now if you want to."
Erato shakes his head. "There are so many things one must do. Flowers,
chocolates...walks in the park. It simply wouldn't be right to deprive
her like that."
Piccolo says, "He has a point you know. Perhaps Dolly should just be good
friends with dear Erato, here."
Alice giggles some more, then sobers a little. "She's sad...since you
don't want her..." Another wicked grin. "Maybe a kiss...a better one would
make her happy again?"
Erato looks at the three females. "Don't you think it's rude to stare
when people are having a personal conversation?" he admonishes gently.
Piccolo chuckles, "A thousand pardons" she raises a hand over her eyes
and makes a quarter turn, "Please, continue"
Alice giggles like mad, sticking her tongue out at Erato. "She's -my-
friend!"
Erato shakes his head sadly, turning his back to Alice, murmuring to the
dolly and finally planting a gentle kiss on the painted lips.
Piccolo lifts her other hand to cover Alice's eyes, "Now now, let them
have their privacy."
Alice squeels girlisly as she bats halfheartedly at Piccolo's hand. "What
if he try's to take advantage of her..."
Piccolo drops both her hands back to her side, staring at the little girl
in astonishment, "Such a mature thought for such a small girl."
Erato lifts his hand to shield the dolly from view.
Alice eyes Erato for a moment, the peers at Piccolo, looking at her closely
for the first time. "Your not from around here are you?"
Erato lowers his hand after a moment. "I think that'll suffice as an apology."
Piccolo shakes her head, "Just arrived..." which is true, although from
where she came is still a mystery to her.
Alice glances back over to Erato, peering at Dolly...who -seems- to be
alright. Her voice is directed at Piccolo, even though she's still looking
at Erato. "Some boys aren't as nice as he is."
Erato murmurs something to Dolly. "I would never seek to injure such a
marvellous woman."
Piccolo nods solomnly, "I believe that's the way of things in most places.
Though I doubt we need worry bout this one."
Alice shoots another peek over at Erato, then smiles, turning to Piccolo
again. "No...your right...he's nice."
Piccolo looks Erato over once more herself and nods, "Aye, tis a pity
there aren't more kind gentleman such as our friend here in the world."
Erato smiles, that faint blush deepening slightly. "You are too kind,
miladies."
Alice giggles. "Mmm...to bad..." She holds out her hands toward the dolly.
"Lemme talk to her...it'll help."
Erato hands the dolly solemnly back to Alice.
Alice takes the dolly, stroking her hair back and snuggling her close
for a moment, before whispering again for a minute, then giggling for
another. She looks up at Erato. "She says you kiss very well..."
Erato blushes deeply. "Thank you."
Piccolo grins, "I dare say he's even cuter when he blushes" she whispers
to Alice and Dolly, though her voice is still loud enough that Erato could
hear with ease.
Erato's blush deepens, if that's possible. "Miladies..."
Piccolo winks an emerald eye at Erato, taking incredible pleasure from
watching him blush. There's just something so entertaining about it.
Alice smiles conspiriatorily at Piccolo "You know...I think your right."
Erato shakes his head, obviously trying to -stop- blushing. "You flatter
me..."
Piccolo presses onward, curious to see just how red a human can become,
"No, tis only the truth, it can hardly be expressed in words how handsome
you are."
Alice grins, nodding in agreement. "Mmm hmm...cuter than any boy I've
met."
Erato shakes his head, composure tenuous at best, reddening further. "Mi-ladies-...please..."
Piccolo chuckles coyley, "Not much for compliments though, a pity since
he so readily deserves them." oddly she thinks nothing wrong of holding
such a conversation with such a young girl.
Erato shakes his head, laughing embarrassedly.
Alice sighs forlornly, stroking the dolls hair again. "Yeah...poor dolly...he's
the heartbreaker here."
Piccolo nods sadly, "A classic tale of kiss and run."
Erato sighs, a hint of his composure returning. "She was so charming...I
couldn't resist..."
Piccolo says, "Mmhmm, I bet that's what he tells -all- the ladies."
Alice grins. "Mmm...he's right though...dolly is a big flirt."
Erato gives Alice an exaggeratedly grateful look.
Piccolo grins playfully, "Well then I suppose we can excuse him...but
just this once."
Alice grins, whispering to the doll, then chuckling. "She says she'll
still marry you...you just need time to come to your senses."
Erato chuckles softly. "We'll have to start with flowers...then we'll
see."
Piccolo sighs out whistfully, it's hard to tel if she's still joking or
not from her voice, "ah, young love..so sweet."
Alice giggles, cuddling the dolly. "She's patient...she says whenever
your ready."
Erato bows. "I am grateful for your patience, milady Dolly...but it is
time for me to take my leave..."
Piccolo glances at Alice, "We have been here awhile, havn't we? Your mother
must be worried sick by now over you."
Alice blinks at Piccolo, the shrugs. "Nah...she's not...don't worry."
Erato blows a kiss to the dolly, and bows to Alice and Piccolo. "Shall
I see you again?"
Piccolo nods a bit unsuredly to Alice, "Alright then.." she replies then
turns again to Erato and taking up a bit of skirt gives the smallest of
curtsies, "I should hope so, though next we meet I hope it under less
trying circumstances." she grins at Alice, eyeing the silken cloth around
her elbow.
Erato smiles charmingly. "As do I."
Alice preens at Erato. "Of course we will...you have to bring dolly flowers."
Erato smiles at Alice, "But of course."
Alice claps her hands happily, "Oh good! See you soon then!"
You say, "Of course..."