Adalace: Just a bit of innocent digital eavesdropping, nothing wrong with that is there?


    Ha-ha! He was looking at Kaydence''s door. Oh, poor boy, he''s missing his non-girlfriend. Which reminds me-


    Gotcha! I''m so enjoying this. Leroy is such a nice diversion from thinking about you know who.


    Suck it up, baby!


    Mr Leroy, I suppose I now have to look up the dick-, I mean look up Richard."


    Both boys look puzzled. But, hmm, no one else looks very surprised. Am I that transparent?


    Should I put on my big innocent smile - probably not, since I''m not actually innocent, am I.


    Aww, just drop the act.


    Me neither. But I wouldn''t mind watching Leroy squirm at his apology!


    OK! OK! I''ll stop the negativity. Since when did Sarsa get to know me so well?


    Teylon still looks off kilter.


    Teylon: Freaking out


    Oh shit. Not again.


    go away." said Juniper.


    Esmeralda! Can I have something to distract her!


    Saved the day. Again. How long is this going to go on for? At least Juniper now looks happy, and Devina looks like a mother hen, happily clucking around her little chick.


    Sigh, she treats me as if I had bubonic plague, or as if I was some monster that that had just crawled up from the sewers, dripping all over the floor and table.


    God damn it, I''m only trying to help! I am helping!


    Bloody hell, this is what Sarsaparilla eats. I didn''t realise how awful it actually was.


    But she already got some new clothes from the last time, when we all visited the theatre. Why does she need more? Females.


    This is too much, can''t I get away from it for a while. All this commitment. These constant demands for my emotional support. I don''t know how to do this! And I never get any support from Devina. All I get is the memory of burning skin...


    Devina: Having a few words with Teylon


    Damn him!


    He certainly did! However...


    Am I actually defending a man?


    And Juniper looks as if she might start crying at any moment. What do I do?


    Ah, the Angel of Death sign. Wish I knew what all of that was really about.


    What? Me confront a man? How do I do that?


    That''s no help, Francesca. But, for the sake of Juniper, I guess I will have to.


    What do I do now? What do I say?


    Shit, he''s actually been crying. This is getting ever so complicated - but Juniper is still hurting!


    And now I''m feeling sorry for a man. What the hell is going on?


    messages from some angel or other. So you got to get over your funk and help Juniper!"


    not your father! I didn''t cause you all that pain. I didn''t go insane and start burning you."


    No! Men are not the cause of your pain. Your father was the cause! Not all men are insane monsters!"


    What, me? Be friends with a man?


    But, shit, I suppose he is right - after all he isn''t my father.


    But those other men also did their best to hurt me!


    But, Teylon hasn''t. In fact, Teylon saved my life.


    But, but.


    And Leroy and Erasyl have always been kind of friendly. In spite the fact that we tried to kill them when we first met.


    Why do I have to go through this?


    To save Juniper. Isn''t any effort worth it to save her?


    So that means I have to be friendly with Teylon?


    I have to make the effort and separate out my image of my horrible father from my image of Teylon.


    After all, Teylon experienced all of my pain.


    Oh geez, this is painful in its own right.


    Is he saying that I have to look after him also?


    But...


    Well...


    I suppose...


    How do I look after him?


    Well, how do I comfort Juniper?


    By hugging her...


    So, does that mean I have to hug Teylon? A man.


    Sigh.


    For Juniper''s sake.


    How does it go again?


    Just remember how I hug Juniper.


    No! He is not my father! He is helping me look after Juniper!


    Why am I crying?


    For whom am I crying?


    Francesca: Impressed beyond words


    This is absolutely amazing.


    My, they certainly need a lot more practice. But it''s a start!


    I know, I''ll ring Sarawatch, suggest that they come back also. In fact, why not capitalise on the situation, and ask her to suggest to Teylon and Devina that they should take Juniper off somewhere, all by themselves? Strike while the iron is hot and all of that; let them really wallow in their happy little family grouping.


    Erasyl: At last, Maggie gives him a hug


    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Ooh look! Now that''s a lovely sight. I think it is within my allowable rights to make a comment...


    I''m impressed.


    But that hardly counts!


    If I look suitably contrite, maybe she will...


    Yes! A win for team Erasyl!


    Have I died and been blessed by Esmeralda?


    too bad. Well, as far as I can tell. After all, I don''t have Sarsaparilla''s cheat ability of getting soul readings of everyone."


    think Sarawatch was, also,” said Adalace.


    Erasyl: Having a visit from his family


    Who''s this, an email from ...


    Shit! I could push past her... Like hell. She knows perfectly well that I dare not touch her.


    Maybe out of my bedroom window - damn, none of the windows open.


    Well then, dash out the front door and round the corner, I still might avoid them... Oh.


    So she is. This could be interesting - but my father and brothers! Meeting all of my friends? Oh hell.


    Maggie: Thoroughly enjoys herself


    This might be fun! Finding out what sort of weird family Erasyl has.


    He is certainly freaking out, he''s not even distracted by my short skirt.


    Oh wow, they are all big hunks. Good looking with it, too.


    They hug each other? Hey, that''s nice!


    A hug fest? I wasn''t expecting that.


    He''s not skinny!


    Except when compared to the rest of this family, I suppose.


    Yeah, I can see that they could be intimidating. Not to me of course! After all, I''m Maggie the Magneto! I don''t get intimidated by massive hunks of men. Definitely not!


    And all of that muscle is so attractive - no, no there is no way that I just thought that!


    We''re not an item! Ah, but we not quite just friends either... Shit, what do I say here?


    That''s a bit more sophisticated an observation than I would have thought possible.


    For someone who could crush my hand with ease, his hold feels firm but gentle.


    I''m trusting him already.


    Not bad.


    Oh crap. Oh crap. Where is this going to end up?


    My, Francesca''s smile has become a lot nicer all of a sudden.


    is the most dangerous one?" said Erasyl''s other brother.


    It''s a bit late now, Erasyl.


    Ha, Adalace is going to get a few words, later!


    Oh - oh, what is it going to be this time?


    too much, but you''re all going to get a soul reading. A different one for each person. Ready?"