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Esme reads Celine a story about a little lion who goes looking for diamonds.
"I don't either, but that's fine," Dillon says. "I know you love me and I love you. That's all I need."
Esme reads Celine a story about a little lion who goes looking for diamonds.
She nods, "Me too Dillon, me too." She says before turning to wrap her arms around him in a tight hug.
Shaking her head as she's confused by a lot of the words in the story she stops her auntie from reading and turns in her lap so she can look at her, "What's di...dimonds? What's eee...enemies? Shut up?" Putting her hands on her aunties face she says, "No no Auntie Esme...not nice. Bad lion...not nice. MY GOD!!"
Arista's eyes get a little large, "What....was that?"
"I need to talk to your mommy real quick, Celine," Esme says, taking the book into the kitchen. "Arista...what kind of books are you buying for your daughter?"
Looking a little startled and confused she says, "I...I..what do you mean? I didn't look at all the books...they all looked pretty old and Halfpocket let me have them for practically nothing. Why? Was that Celine in there?"
"Yes," Esme says. "That was her."
The dhampir then proceeds to show Arista the story that she had just read. "Thankfully, I stopped halfway through."
The color seems to drain from Arista's face as she looks at the book that Esme showed her, "Okay....that's total garbage, and exactly where it's going." She says as she tears up the book into little bitty pieces and throws it in their trash bin, "Why....I....I don't know why anyone would have stuff like that in a children's book. It was just in the pile with the others and I haven't even read all of them with her yet....so I didn't know. I guess from now on I'll have to be more careful about what I get for her. That was just....it was just sick." Looking a little sick she sits back down at the table, "Thank you Esme...for bringing that to my attention and for not finishing that awful story. Who would do something like this?" She says as she sips on her water and tries to fight down the bile she felt rising up in her throat.
Esme shrugs. "Someone who doesn't know children apparently."
She shakes her head as she sighs, "Well...there were quite a few books, but they all looked relatively harmless. Hopefully that was the only bad one in the bunch. I think the other ones are just harmless fairy tales. I'm sorry Esme...don't worry about it. Alethiro and I will talk to her about it tomorrow and explain that those aren't nice words to use. I think there's one in there about a beanstalk and giants...I think that one would be okay if you'd like to give it another try. If not, then I'd understand." She says as she looks apologetically at her big sister.
"I guess I'll look over the story while she goes potty and gets settled into bed," Esme says, heading back to the living room. "Come on, Celine. Time to get ready for bed and Auntie Esme will read you a nicer story this time."
Looking up at him she asks, "You wanna walk a little more? We can walk down the beach for a bit if yo want to, but if you're too cold we can head back to your place, and then I can get home...unless you want to walk me home first. I know you have to get up early in the morning for work." She gazes up into his face as she reaches up with one of her hands to place it softly on his cheek.
She looks up at her while holding her dolly, "Want dolly too. Hold please?" She asks as she holds her dolly out for Esme to hold so she can go potty and brush her teeth.
While Esme holds her dolly she goes through her routine of using the stool to go potty, wash her hands, and finally brush her teeth. Washing her face and finally drying it she gets back down and goes back out to her auntie as she yawns. Holding out her arms she says, "I hold you?"
"We can walk a little bit longer before I walk you home," Dillon answers, giving Rajni a tender kiss.
"Just until I get you tucked in," Esme answers before she hands Celine her dolly back and carries her to her room.
She sighs happily into the kiss, "Okay Dillon." She says as they continue down the beach together.
She sticks her lower lip out but nods before laying her head on her shoulder, "Okay...." She says in a sad little pouty voice.
She looks at Alethiro, "Well....on top of everything else...that should make for a fun conversation tomorrow." She sighs, "Maybe we should talk about Celine tonight before we go to bed so we kinda know how we want to talk with her tomorrow? I don't know honey....she's just...she's so smart and she's making such progress...but I feel like...like I'm not...like I can't teach her everything she needs to know. I just...I don't know what to do." Feeling suddenly very tired she puts her head down on the table after moving her tankard out of the way.
Esme sets Celine in the bed and tucks her in. She then opens the book and reads the story about a boy and a magic beanstalk.
She lays there quietly listening to her auntie read her the story, one arm around her dolly while her other hand rests on Esme's leg. The story is so fun...but she feels so sleepy. She doesn't even realize when her eyes start to close about five to ten minutes into the story. Before too long the little girl is snoring quietly in her bed with her dolly in her arms and dreams of magic beans and cows in her head.
Esme finishes the story even though Celine has fallen asleep already. She sets the book on the nightstand and goes back to the kitchen. "She's asleep and I'm gonna head on home. Have a good night, you two."
After another ten minutes of walking, Dillon escorts Rajni back home. "Have a good night, love. I'll probably see you tomorrow."
Nodding she wipes her face as she picks her head up off the table and stands up. Going to Esme she gives her a hug, "Thanks for stopping by Sis. Sorry about the book thing, I'll be more careful what I get her in the future. Let Mirrin know I said hi and you be careful going home okay?" She says as she lets her go so she can walk her to the door.
"Yeah sure," Esme says. "I'll see you around."
She nods as she stretches up to give him a kiss, "Alright honey, you be careful going home and I'll see you tomorrow. I...I'll be happy when we don't have to say goodnight to each other anymore." Giving him another hug she reluctantly lets him go, "Rest well my love."
She nods, "Okay...stop by anytime. I'll see you later." She opens the door for her and steps back out of her way.
Esme heads out of the house and back home.
"We'll say good night to each other even after we're married," Dillon says with a grin. "We just won't go to separate houses."
She gets a pouty look on her face, "You know what I meant mister. I know we'll say goodnight....I'll just be happy when I can just stay with you. Why you gotta be like that?" She asks with a laugh.
"Made you laugh, didn't I?"
Arista watches her go for a bit before closing the door and going back to the kitchen to check on Alethiro, "How you doing there sweetheart? Did you get enough to eat?"
Getting herself under control she gives his arm a playful slap, "Of course you did ya smarta$$. You can always make me laugh, just one of the million things that I absolutely love about you. Now get your butt home and into bed so you can be ready for your students tomorrow you silly man." Putting her arms around him she pulls herself up so she can reach his lips and gives him a deep and tender kiss.
Dillon returns the kiss. "Love you."
Forcing herself to let him go she steps back while putting her hand on the handle to their door, "I love you too."
Dillon steps away and heads home.
She watches him for a minute before sighing and turning she goes into the house.
Celia moves closer, setting herself up in a position to channel divine power should the creature attack.
The figure realizes the group is waiting for it to make the first move. It moves completely behind the statue.
"Seems that way," Charity says.
She rubs his back lightly before sitting next to him, "Alethiro?"
She nods as she finishes up her stew and lemonade. Wiping her mouth with her napkin she lets out a contented sigh, "Would either of you like anything else? I think I'm pretty well stuffed."