[ the orphanage is extremely lively at the worst and best of times. livio wrangles the children, herding them like cats (which is roughly the same difficulty level), trying to get them dressed and fed for the day. he's expecting milly to come visit like she said she would, so he tries his best to get them on good behavior. ]
[ obviously, it fails. they're running around playing with a new toy they got, a little game with marbles in a maze case. it's not the most exciting toy, but it is enough to get a few of the younger kids riled up. they'd obviously rather play than get dressed or anything. ]
[ he's got one kid under each arm when milly arrives, giving her a sheepish look ]
[ Milly steps inside with a smile and a wave, holding a mysterious cardboard box under her free arm. The chaos is honestly pretty heartwarming; when you grow up in a big farming family like Milly's, there are always kids running around underfoot. ]
Oh, don't be silly! It's lively in here, it's nice to see everyone having fun.
[ She holds up the box! ]
I brought along some donuts! Mr. Vash recommended the shop, so they must be good.
[ there are certainly children underfoot now. the ones who aren't playing with the new toy (or more accurately, fighting over the new toy circle around milly, reaching for her box and screaming hellos at her or just plain giggling. ]
Vash did, huh?
[ as he has to let go of one of his kids to gently try to pull some hands down so they don't snatch the box away from her wholesale ]
Well, far be it from me ta question the expert... Donovan, don't grab!
[ he's literally got his hands full so he can't stop one of the bigger boys from tugging at her shirt to try to pull her down ]
[ So the thing about being the youngest adult sibling and Fun Auntie to a small horde of niblings (as well as being 5'11 and built like a tank!) is that you get really used to being grabbed by tiny children. Milly laughs and puts the box of donuts onto a nearby countertop before letting Donovan grab onto her arm, and then just. Lifting him up, so he hangs off her arm like he's doing chin-ups. ]
Donuts are for dessert, Donovan. Listen to Mr. Livio!
[ donovan seems thrilled with this, hanging on like a monkey. it's a momentary distraction from the real prize: donuts!! but he giggles, obviously having fun. ]
[ But I want donuts now! I'm not hungry for dinner! ]
Ya can't have dessert until ya eat dinner! [ livio insists, albeit weakly. he is too much of a softie for these kids ]
Sorry about this, Miss Milly...
[ even if she seems to be taking it all in good humor ]
[ Milly doesn't detach the kid, just gives him an equally sheepish smile. ]
I'm sorry, not today. But maybe next time!
[ Shouldn't be too hard, right? Just gotta source some tomato sauce, some cheese, pizza dough is easy enough to make... given enough prep time, they could probably manage it! ]
And we can make tonight's dinner taste just as good, I bet!
[ in response to livio trying to be firm, they blow raspberries at him. which is better than blowing them at her, but not by much. he puts his hands on his hips ]
Now everyone needs ta behave when we have a guest!
[ with whatever vegetables they have on hand.... so there will be a need for both washing and cutting. some of the kids make a face, anticipating the amount of vegetables in it ]
No complainin'! Everyone will help out, we'll make it a nice meal fer our guest.
[ this is said with genuine enthusiasm. Milly isn't even trying to hype it up for the kids at this point, when you grow up in a big family, hearty soups are a staple food. ]
Come on, it'll be fun! Meals taste better when you all work together on them.
[ kids love a chant. they go along with it with no problem. ]
Follow me, Miss Milly.
[ satisfied that she has drummed up some excitement, he leads her to the kitchen! it's a modest thing, but there's plenty of room for both of them and the kids. a little stepstool for the smaller kids at the sink, too ]
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[ obviously, it fails. they're running around playing with a new toy they got, a little game with marbles in a maze case. it's not the most exciting toy, but it is enough to get a few of the younger kids riled up. they'd obviously rather play than get dressed or anything. ]
[ he's got one kid under each arm when milly arrives, giving her a sheepish look ]
Hi miss Milly.... Sorry fer the mess.
[ it's a disaster inside right now ]
BELATEDLY SLAMS IN HERE
[ Milly steps inside with a smile and a wave, holding a mysterious cardboard box under her free arm. The chaos is honestly pretty heartwarming; when you grow up in a big farming family like Milly's, there are always kids running around underfoot. ]
Oh, don't be silly! It's lively in here, it's nice to see everyone having fun.
[ She holds up the box! ]
I brought along some donuts! Mr. Vash recommended the shop, so they must be good.
[ SURELY WHAT THE CHILDREN NEED IS MORE SUGAR ]
hehehe
Vash did, huh?
[ as he has to let go of one of his kids to gently try to pull some hands down so they don't snatch the box away from her wholesale ]
Well, far be it from me ta question the expert... Donovan, don't grab!
[ he's literally got his hands full so he can't stop one of the bigger boys from tugging at her shirt to try to pull her down ]
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Donuts are for dessert, Donovan. Listen to Mr. Livio!
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[ But I want donuts now! I'm not hungry for dinner! ]
Ya can't have dessert until ya eat dinner! [ livio insists, albeit weakly. he is too much of a softie for these kids ]
Sorry about this, Miss Milly...
[ even if she seems to be taking it all in good humor ]
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[ This immediately sets off a few of the kids, who start exclaiming "Pizza! Can we have pizza??". Milly goes red, and gives a sheepish little laugh. ]
Oh! Um... sorry, I probably shouldn't have said that...!
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We don't have pizza, kids.... we'll have ta settle fer what we actually have.
[ they blow raspberries at him. one grabs milly's leg ]
[ Can you bring us pizza, big sis? ]
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I'm sorry, not today. But maybe next time!
[ Shouldn't be too hard, right? Just gotta source some tomato sauce, some cheese, pizza dough is easy enough to make... given enough prep time, they could probably manage it! ]
And we can make tonight's dinner taste just as good, I bet!
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[ livio looks scandalized at this behavior, and attempts to be.... firm. it doesn't quite work ]
Be nice to Miss Milly! She's a guest, and she brought donuts!
[ the kid hanging onto her doesn't let go, at least ]
Yeah, exactly.
[ is she volunteering to cook? ]
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We can all work together on it! You can be head vegetable-chopper.
[... Wait. Maybe don't give the small child access to knives. ]
... Or vegetable-washer, they're both very important positions.
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Now everyone needs ta behave when we have a guest!
[ still trying to sound firm. ]
... Let's stick to washing.
[ the grown ups can handle the knives ]
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[ Milly claps her hands together in a decisive, let's-get-down-to-business sort of way... and then pauses as she hits a mental roadblock. ]
... Actually, what is for dinner?
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[ with whatever vegetables they have on hand.... so there will be a need for both washing and cutting. some of the kids make a face, anticipating the amount of vegetables in it ]
No complainin'! Everyone will help out, we'll make it a nice meal fer our guest.
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[ this is said with genuine enthusiasm. Milly isn't even trying to hype it up for the kids at this point, when you grow up in a big family, hearty soups are a staple food. ]
Come on, it'll be fun! Meals taste better when you all work together on them.
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[ the kids are reluctant, but a few of them are won over by milly's sheer enthusiasm ]
And she's totally right. Let's all work together.
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[ Watch out, now she's got some of the younger kids chanting along with her! ]
Which way to the kitchen, Mr. Livio? Let's get cookin'!
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Follow me, Miss Milly.
[ satisfied that she has drummed up some excitement, he leads her to the kitchen! it's a modest thing, but there's plenty of room for both of them and the kids. a little stepstool for the smaller kids at the sink, too ]