゜ﾟ*❀*ﾟ ゜ Five - Adventures in Babysitting

[bespell]

[Now that school's started, Mayfield has one more part time employed youth to look after the children of all the overworked parents, drones and prisoners alike.

And it's an easy way to make money once you've been in charge of hundreds of students in the past. So, if you happen to answer the door, here is one hopeful teenager arriving on time to babysit the children of the household.

Or perhaps just arriving, regardless of the existence of any children in the household.]

Comments

[whowhatwhy]

[ There's barking when she knocks, followed by Nathaniel's muffled voice telling the dog to be quiet.

He opens the door and blinks down at her. ]

May I help you?

[bespell]

Afternoon! I'm here for the children. [Lily beams, lasting a moment before absorbing the surprise as it dawns on her.]

That is, I was directed by the school to your house to offer babysitting hours for the children of upstanding citizens-- this all does sound rather silly, doesn't it?

[whowhatwhy]

Ah.

Well, we've no need for a sitter, really. Besides, the children are both drones.

[bespell]

Even drone children need minding. They're harder to ignore than drone parents.

[whowhatwhy]

[ Nathaniel considers this a moment. His not!wife wasn't home- no doubt having dragged Anders out of his study for the night. It's just him, the dog, and the drones. ]

I suppose Cupcake and I could come up with something to do for a few hours.

[bespell]

Thank you, sir! I promise not to disappoint you. I'll have the children in bed before you're back.

[scarredglasses]

[Whether it was fortunate or unfortunate, it was Harry who answered the door at number 754 Partridge Drive that day. He'd been happily doing his homework and making sure he'd gone to school every couple of days like Caesar had told him but seeing Lily made his smile fade almost instantly.]

Hi. [Awkward son is awkward.]

[bespell]

Harry! [She's genuinely surprised, realizing she's never really known where the boy lived.] I didn't expect you to be here.

The lady of the household called me to babysit her children, only she's a drone, really... [her words falter as she notes the smile disappearing quickly off Harry's face.]

[scarredglasses]

Maybe you should check who the kids are before you turn up on the doorstep.

[He's not really trying to be mean but this "Mum" situation is still a bit weird for him.]

[bespell]

And maybe you should check your tone when you have a guest at the door. [Lily's quick to be cross before she shakes her head. She's talking to a child, but she's too used to the Head Girl voice.]

I know this town must have agitated you, but what have I done? You've been avoiding me for a while, Harry.

[scarredglasses]

Stop telling me what to do. You're not my...[He stopped. The phrase had come out automatically as a defense mechanism he'd used at school. When he first picked it up, he's ended it with aunt because he didn't have a mum. But he soon changed it because it had made him slightly less unpopular. Now it just felt weird because...she was!]

Nothing. Doesn't matter. [And he tried to close the door. He had no idea how to deal with this!]

[splashpuppy]

Umm... hi?

[bespell]

Good afternoon. Your mum asked me to babysit today.

Well, not your real mother, of course. You know how it is here.

[splashpuppy]

Yeah, the drone lady. She's the... fifth person they've tried to tell me is my mom.

[He thinks it's the fifth anyway...]

[bespell]

Fifth mum! That's really something. Funny people, drone parents are.

I wouldn't want to impose, but can I come in?

[splashpuppy]

Sure!

I guess it's probably normal to go through a lot of people in your house after a while here.

[allwehad]

[Hey, Lily, what up? Have Sirius and James' not!mom answering the door, blinking. Margot has probably seen her around before, considering.]

Hello. You here for the boys? I don't think they're in right now...

[bespell]

Oh, I knew the address was familiar! [Lily groans, the whole thing becoming more obvious to her] I got a call asking me to babysit here. The two gits probably expect me to babysit them!

[allwehad]

Wasn't me. [Margot snickers, leaning against the door frame with her arms crossed.] Well you have my full permission to put them in time-out as long as you like or revoke dessert privileges.

[bespell]

That's a huge and critical responsibility and I accept it fully. [Lily grins back] Whether I actually succeed is another matter entirely.

[allwehad]

You are a brave, brave young woman for taking on this task that has been bestowed upon you. [She nods solemnly, barely able to contain a grin.]

[mounties]

[Well Canada doesn't have a rifle strapped to her back this time but she is carrying a rather grumpy looking polar bear in one arm as she answers the door.]

Oh, hello, what brings you here?

[bespell]

I'm the babysitter, ma'am! [Lily tries not to twitch, stare, or back away at the rather unexpected pet.]

[mounties]

Assigned by the schools, I take it? Well, regardless, Hilda's just finishing up her pancakes and then she'll be out for the day, and the drone's got the sniffles, so it's bed for the little one today. [Bed and pancakes because even creepy drone children need to be taken care of.]

I'm really sorry! I didn't get the notification for this

[bespell]

We need to be productive little citizens, it seems. It's not really a bother. Do you need someone to look after the drone child?