video @L.Mills

[thestoriesarereal]

[The video turns on with Lucy smiling and then giving the camera a wave.]

I know it's a bit late, but I wanted to wish everyone a Happy Valentine's Day.

Also, all the Valentine's Day chocolate should be marked down, perfect time to get a lot of chocolate and candy.

[The video feed ends there, but she is a clever girl and thought this would be a better way to address those she left a valentine's day card and various candies for.]

For Emma

For Victor

For Nico

For Jefferson

For Older Loki

For Stan

For Younger Loki

For Laura

[And for Ivar for when he comes back.]

Comments

[thestoriesarereal]

For...me?

[There's shock in her eyes as she looks up at him, like she's been given keys to the kingdom of stuffed animal land.]

I didn't know one person could have that many! You could've gotten me one! [She pulls away from him, going to look over each stuffed animal and picking a small teddy bear to hold.]

This is amazing! Thank you! [And she runs back to him to hug him tightly again.]

[jolting]

I didn't know what you would like. If you don't want them, I got a good suggestion from someone at the festival to donate the rest to the hospital.

[this time he is ready for that hug, and his return hug is tight without hurting her] You're welcome.

[thestoriesarereal]

I like anything. You could've gotten me one, Victor. I still would've loved it.

[But yes, they should donate a good portion of these to the hospital. She'll hug him tightly and just cling to him until he tells her to let go.

Welcome to parenting.]

If I could...can I keep a few and give he rest to the kids in the hospital? Please?

[jolting]

[it's excessive, but he wanted to please her, and Victor does have a problem with going to extremes. At least this one is a harmless extreme]

Okay. Pick out your favorites and we'll give the rest away.

[thestoriesarereal]

[It's okay, Lucy forgives him with the excess.]

I will!

[She pulls away to go over each stuffed animal, picking about two more: one that reminds her of Victor, and another that reminds her of her dad.]

[jolting]

[he watches her sort through them, intrigued by her choices. She's a strange girl, but he likes strange]

[thestoriesarereal]

[She had picked a teddy bear, a dog doll, and a penguin. All cute, and the dog even has a lab coat.]

I got the ones I like, I think they'll look great on my bed.

[jolting]

Speaking of bed, you should start to get ready. I don't think Emma would like it if I let you stay up late.

[thestoriesarereal]

Do I have to? We can't stay up just a tiny bit more?

[jolting]

All right, just a bit longer. [he sits on the floor] What would you like to do now?

[thestoriesarereal]

Mmm... [Thinking, thinking...thinking.]

...Wanna read me a story?

[jolting]

I don't have that many stories for children. [he thinks for a moment. Then picks up a stuffed rabbit]

Do you know about Bunnicula?

[thestoriesarereal]

[There's a shake of her head and she moves to sit with him.]

No, I don't. Can you tell me about it?

[jolting]

Bunnicula is a vampire rabbit. Instead of sucking the blood out of people, he sucks the juice out of vegetables. And he turns them pale white. He's very strong and fast and can get out of any locked cage. But garlic weakens him.

[thestoriesarereal]

[Lucy is trying to buy into this, really she is. But..a vampire bunny rabbit?]

How did Bunnicula become a vampire rabbit?

[jolting]

He was always a vampire rabbit. Some worlds have fairies and princesses. Others have vampire rabbits and reanimated corpses.

[thestoriesarereal]

[Is it really that simple?]

Really? So it was always like that? Did it have any enemies?

[jolting]

He was still just a rabbit, so foxes and other predators were still a danger. But if he happened to come into a family that took care of him and fed him vegetable juice, he was perfectly happy.

[thestoriesarereal]

So....what you’re saying is, we should look for a vampire bunny and adopt it?

[jolting]

They make good pets. Or skeleton dogs. You don't have to worry about allergies.

[thestoriesarereal]

Then can we find one of them? And bring it home as a pet?

[jolting]

I don't know if they exist in this land, but we can look around. [he smiles, picking up the labcoat dog toy] You may have to settle for a regular dog.

[thestoriesarereal]

Really?

[Oh now she's starting to get her hopes up about getting a pet.]

Do you think Emma will be okay with me having a pet?

[jolting]

That's something you'll have to discuss with her. For what it's worth, I think you're a very intelligent and responsible young lady. You would be a good caretaker for an animal.