Tori: I'm on a Saint Tail rampage!

Kegawa: O.o Scary…

Tori: Sorry. I'm trying to piece together a costume to wear to Shoujocon so I'm a little WHOO!

Ke: If this rambling has a point, feel free to come to it.

Tori: Well, the totally irresponsible and adorably clueless parents of St. Tail remind me Duo and Duet, should they ever get married.

Ke: You never let her live that long.

Tori: Also, St. Tail herself reminds me of… SOMEONE, but that's a WHOLE other fic.

Ke: What she's saying is, she's gonna type a short story about 2x2 and plagiarize a bunch of lines from St. Tail.

Tori: In essence.

Duo's Missing Sock

            It was a bright, clear morning in Nowhere, Japan, but the song of birds was soon broken by a cry of anguish.

            "WHERE'S MY OTHER SOCK!?"

            Duet rolled over to look at her husband who was frantically rifling through drawers. His hair was still undone and he looked for all the world like a middle-aged woman hell-bent on destroy all semblance of organization in the house.

            "What's wrong, dear?" Duet frowned and sat up, yawing and stretching.

            "I CAN'T FIND MY OTHER SOCK!" he yelled in response. The first was already on his foot.

            "Mommy… What's daddy so upset about?" called a small voice before the bedroom door swung open and a little girl walked in. She strongly resembled her mother, and had inherited her distaste for early morning hours as well as her impatience towards men.

            "He can't find his sock, pumpkin."

            "DUELL! HAVE YOU SEEN MY SOCK!?" Duo called from half-way under the bed.

            "No, daddy…" the little girl sighed and picked up the tiny hedgehog that scampered in after her. "Good morning, Emerald," she purred, just as her father crawled back out from his search spot.

            "Emerald…" he smiled and exchanged glances with his wife.

            "Wasn't that the kind of wedding ring you gave mommy?" Duell asked.

            "Yes, our engagement ring…" Duet grinned and the couple sighed happily.

            "You were a beautiful bride," said Duo as he perched on the edge of the bed and took Duet's hands in his.

            "And you were a handsome groom…"

            "HELLO!? Anyone HOME!?"  their daughter growled.

            "Oh. You're still here?"

            "Daddy, you're crazy… You put two socks on one foot," she pointed out. Sure enough, peeking from the lip of one sock was its 100% cotton twin.

            Duo tried to hold on to his dignity as he removed the extra sock and placed it on his foot. He finished getting dressed, picked up his briefcase, and walked out the front door.

            "Five… Four… Three… Two…" Duell and Duet counted off.

            "BALLOONS!" Duo cried in desperation and came tearing back inside.

            "I don't know why I married him… I could have had anyone… I could have been a Preventer!"

            "There, there, mommy…" Duell patted her mother's hand. "I'm sure you loved him at one point…"

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Tori: Granted, it's not that funny unless you were watching St. Tail at 3:00 in the morning with me yesterday, but this one's for a friend.

Ke: I believe she had one more request as well.

Tori: Ah, yes… Don't worry, buddy! You're Alex x Muller fic it on its way!