todays challenge - "Roy is dog sitting hayate. Kitty litter. Fruit juice. Apartment has to burst into flames."
Roy had to admit that, perhaps, he had overextended himself.
"Elysia! Don't climb up on the table please!" He reached out to pull the toddler off of what had been his mother's favorite coffee table, wincing as her shoes scratched across the finish. A bark and a thud heralded continuing chaos the next room over. "Hayate! Come!"
Yeah, he had overextended himself. Overscheduled himself. He should have been able to handle the dog and the girl. Hell, he could command military units. This shouldn't be so damn complicated…
He needed a drink.
Settling Elysia back onto the couch, he reached for his mug. Coffee was the strongest thing he could imbibe, as per Maes' orders, when in the presence of the man's beloved daughter. He looked away from the child for what, one minute at most, but that was apparently enough. There was a light thud, a splash, and a burst of anxious crying.
Roy took another gulp of coffee, looked at Elysia, and decided he wanted to join her in her vocal expression of displeasure. She had spilled her juice across the table and down onto the rug that was a hedonistic sort of soft on the feet. Red fruit juice spread an interesting blot pattern, adding new angles and shapes as it dripped forlornly off the furniture.
"Well, at least it isn't blood for once." Roy groaned, righting the cup and pulling the wailing toddler into his lap. "It's ok, Elysia. I'm not going to yell at you."
Black Hayate ambled out of the kitchen at that point, something suspiciously gritty looking all over his coat. Roy stared for a moment, and then it clicked. The cat litter Al had asked him to hold onto…Roy stood, arms full of Elysia, and made his way slowly into the kitchen.
Kitty litter everywhere. Apparently Hayate had been amusing himself for the last few moments by playing in it, digging and tracking it over every dog-accessible surface in the small kitchen.
Roy felt a tick in his left eye, never a good sign.
"Elysia, why don't you go play with Hayate in the yard." He muttered, setting the girl down and opening the apartment door. Squealing in delight she scurried outside, the dog close behind.
A moment later Elysia ground to a halt, eyes wide. There had been a scream of abject frustration, a boom, and then the sound of a window being hauled open. She looked up, blinking, to watch Roy stick his head out of the window in a cloud of smoke, coughing.
"Elysia, soon as I toss some water over the kitchen, I am taking you back to daddy."
hopefully things will settle down this week and i can get back to responding to everyone! just have no time right now...gomen! -fireun