Re: Manny, Time to go shopping!

[Epiphany]

He wanted help in the room? And he wanted her to help? "Very risky Manny," she chuckled as she followed him in. "We may never leave the room."

That must have sounded odd, or come across differently to people. In reality Epiphany liked to play 'dress-up' and could go at it for hours. Once she was inside it was okay to close the door right, because that's what she did. That's right guys, this Christmas Elf was closing herself behind closed doors with Manny. "This will be fun. You can do jeans, if they are dark, but green's good. "

While he dug around the closet she tugged on the back of his shirt. "Especially if you want to be a Helper - red's more for the Big Guy, ya know?" Letting go she peered around him and into the closet to see what he had.

[Guest]

The men all chuckled and 'Oooed' at what she had said. And the ribbing only got louder as she closed the door behind herself. But after a few moments they quieted. Were they trying to eavesdrop? Maybe. Or maybe they were just going about getting things together for later.

Manny found himself behind closed doors with his dear friend. Had she said they may never leave? That mane Manny smile and shake his head. He was looking for his green dress slacks when she said he could do jeans. "No, I think slacks would be better, more ... proper looking I think." And he would do the fashion unthinkable and tuck them into his boots for the full effect.

She gave him a bit of a start as she tugged on the tail of his shirt. But it made him smile. "You don't think the red shirt would work with the green slacks?" He saw a vest and pulled it out to see the color of it. No, it wouldn't work, it was black leather. She was now looking through the Armour with him. She smelt very good. He smiled as he closed his eyes for a second and shook his head ever so slightly.

He was looking for a green vest and green slacks to go with the red shirt, but it seemed she wanted him to change the shirt. So they were going to have to figure out something. He had a mental picture in his mind, but he could definitely use her input on it.

[Epiphany]

Epiphany was standing rather close to Manny. If he made any quick or sudden backward movements he would have hit her..

"No, no." she chuckled and moved in front of him to actively look through his closet. "It can, as long as you put something over it?" Epiphany was talking inside of the closet, but her voice was still clear.

She found that green vest - even thought she didn't know he was thinking about it - and pulled it out and held it against her. "You go with this. You know, if you were red and green you could be mistaken for mistletoe. That could lead to all types of trouble."

Thinking about that she couldn't help but smile.

[Guest]

Manny chuckled. He gently placed his hand on her side at he waist so he wouldn't knock her over as he saw the pants he had been looking for and reached for them. He removed the pants from the Armour and held them to the shirt. "See, festive." He winked at her and turned to step over by a bed. Manny was not a shy man, so he laid the slacks on the bed while he removed his jeans, leaving him in his boxer shorts and shirt.

He laid the jeans on the bed and pulled on the slacks. He tucked his shirt in and smiled. He sat down and pulled on the socks he had pulled out earlier. Then he grabbed up his motorcycle boots and put them on. He tucked his pants into them giving his pants a more 'Christmas elf' effect. Then he tightened the laces on his boots and tied them.

He let Epiphany help him with his vest and turned to look at her. "Oh, one last thing." He went over and opened up a box. He pulled out two hats. One was red and the other was green. They were not Santa hats, they were a little different. They looked more like the one Epiphany was wearing. They were elf hats. "Red. That way it's a half and half effect." He put the hat on and held his arms out to the side and turned for her. "Come on, let's go have some fun."

He opened the door to go back into the sitting room and they both stepped out for the men to see them. "Ok guys. While we're gone, you guys need to get this place ready for Santa." He winked. "The elves are going shopping." He laughed. This was going to be fun. He walked over to his desk and picked up a note pad. He read it over as he looked to some boxes in the corner of the room.

Then he looked back at the men. "Ok, Isah, you're the tallest. Mistletoe, every door." Isah walked over and grabbed up a shoulder bag and put it over his head. Then he grabbed up a staple gun and a box of staples. Manny continued down the list. "Shamus and Derek. Doors, all the paper has been pre-cut and rolled. Made your jobs a bit easier. Make sure you put naughty on top on Venis' door and nice on top on Tasha's. All the ribbons have been pre-cut as well and have arrows so you know if it goes down the door or across it. Make sure you keep things color coordinated. I'm not asking for much, just perfection." He chuckled and winked.

Derek went over and grabbed up the back pack with the tons of little wrapping paper rolls sticking out the top and Shamus grabbed up the shoulder bag with ribbons and bows putting it over his head. He grabbed up a staple gun and three boxes of staples. Manny continued. "Keven and Andrew, garland. The bows have been added already and they all have fresh batteries and no burnt out bulbs. Up and down every hallway, across the front of the bar and the counter at the front desk. Those two are marked. Also, in the Lounge, the wet bar, the game tables, use those sticky tab hooks on the game tables."

He looked back to his list as Keven and Andrew grabbed up the boxes of garland and a staple gun, yard stick and a box of sticky hooks. "Jorge, center pieces. There are two runners for the piano's There are small ones for every table in the bar area and some medium ones for the tables in the Lounge and Meeting Hall. Oh and don't forget to put garland up in both rooms around the walls please." And he looked back at his list again.

He looked up for a moment when he heard the sound of a staple. Isah had put on a pair of latex gloves, because real mistletoe is poisonous, and had put up the mistletoe above the employees door. Manny just laughed. "Joseph, hang the tree scones in the halls and around the Inn. Make it look nice. And Bo, collect the things that Venis and Tasha and Seleen have that need wrapped. Get them to the meeting hall and get the tables set up. I want one long table for wrapping and one for adding bows and ribbons. Everything should be already boxed and have tags on it so when it gets wrapped the tag can be put on the wrapping so I ... er, Santa will know who it goes to. Get ours down there too and anyone else you come across who has gifts that need wrapped and passed out."

He went over the list one more time. "Ok, it has started snowing already, so that's covered. We need someone to freeze the lake for ice skating. When everyone is done see who needs help where and then get outside. I want lights around the entire Inn, and around every window and door. I want all the trees covered in lights and the evergreens decorated. Oh and someone get these trees up in the Main Lobby, the Lounge and the Meeting Hall. And get them decorated. We have some inflatable yard decorations as well as some light up ones. Get them in place. And once everything is done get Venis to put a security spell on the place so nothing gets stolen. I think that's everything." He looked at Epiphany. "Can you think of anything else?"

Joseph grabbed up the boxes of scones and Bo went to get the hand truck. The men were all ready, and when they needed more stuff they would come back for it. They all headed out. They knew that Manny would have his to do list out where they could see it so they could continue after he left. If Epiphany added anything to it they would see it when they came back. They were going to start on the third floor and linger to see if she would give Manny a kiss on their way out.

[Epiphany]

Epiphany always knew that Manny was "the guy in charge" when it came to the men, not only due to his age but because of how Venis referred to him on things, but it was nice to see him in action. She hadn't said anything while he read off the list of things that the men were to do, only watched as they went about getting ready, or doing some of what could be done.

When asked if there was something to add she thought about it. The only thing she could think to add to the list was 'Cookies and Milk for Santa" and this is what she wrote on the list. She had caught the small slip, and besides, he was playing Santa for the kids.

There was mistletoe over the door and, once Manny had crossed the threshold of it, she made good on the tradition. She had told him in the room that if he looked like the plant then there would be trouble - even if the real plant was green and white it was all the same to her. He was taller than she was, though not by much, and when she got to the door she paused in front of him. Then, she rose up on her toes, placed her hands on the side of his face, and placed a kiss on the corner of his lips. "It's tradition." she whispered with a wink as she moved her hands finished moving out the door and started down the hall.

Waiting for him of course.

[Guest]

Manny chuckled. "I bet Santa likes white chocolate chip macadamia nut cookies." He winked at her. "Should we pick some up or have someone bake him some?" He placed the list on the table by the couch and they headed for the door.

She stopped him in his tracks at the door. As she reached her hands up to his face and rose up on her toes he instinctively placed his hands upon her waist to keep her from falling. And when she leaned up to him, he leaned his head down slightly for her. Just as her lips grazed against the corner of his mouth, his did the same to hers. It was a very chaste kiss, purely innocent. But it made Manny smile as he released her just as quickly as she released him. "Can't break from tradition now can we?" He winked at her and they headed out.

The men were all making noises and cheering and making merry at the site of the kiss. They would have fodder for quite some time with that. But once Epiphany and Manny were headed for the stairs to leave they all returned to their work.

As they were headed out Manny realized he had forgotten to ask her something. "Is all of New Haven under a blanket of snow, or just the Inn? I need to know if we need to put the blades on the carriage. Or should we take the coach? It's enclosed. If it's going to be too cold out, I wouldn't want you to catch a chill." He had already spoken to some of the stable hands, and there was a team of six Clydesdales ready to be hitched to which ever they were going to take and a driver as well.

Normally, the carriage only took two, but the tongue had been changed out to use six in case they were going to take it, because the weight of the gifts would require more than two to pull through snow. Yes, Manny liked to be prepared for anything and everything. He couldn't wait to get the gifts, and get them wrapped and give them to the children. He was also going to play Santa at the Inn. He had a list of everyone in the Inn and what he was going to get them from Santa. Plus he knew that Venis, Tasha, Seleen, Casandra, Emilia, and JonLouis had all snuck in some shopping for everyone in the Inn. He was going to be a very busy Santa this year.

He was struck by an idea. "Epiphany, can we bring the kids here to get their presents? Have them get theirs when everyone from the Inn gets theirs? They can go ice skating and have hot cocoa and cookies and maybe even Christmas dinner or something. The nuns will be welcome as well of course. Unless you think that the Inn can't handle that many people in the Meeting Hall." Ok, so he was a little hyper.

[Epiphany]

Carriage? Coach? Of course they had to take something into town if they were going to have a lot of gifts with them, it only made sense, but it still was not something she expected. She had only been in a carriage maybe once, twice, in her lifetime that she could remember. "I...assume that it's snowing everywhere. Or snowed." She said with slight confusion. True that there was probably more snow here than elsewhere, but it was winter and they could be confident that it had probably snowed in other places too. "Maybe not as deep as here, but still snow."

Then she looked up at him, trying to mask the awe and excitement in her voice. "Is there really a carriage?" The sparkle in her dusky eyes betrayed her. "Oh let's do take the carriage. Hitched up to horses, pulling along the wintry land, it's such an absolutely wonderful idea!" Yes, she wanted to do the carriage, if he couldn't tell.

"Don't worry about me getting cold. If I were that concerned I'd have worn leggings or pants." Even a coat. Excited by the idea there was a bounce to her step as she finished descending the stairs and jumped over the bottom step to land on the ground, spinning so she was starting to walk backwards so she could see him. Fully aware she was in a short skirt, though not thinking of any effects her actions had on her clothing, Epiphany was at ease and nothing was done with any intentions.

"The kids would simply love the idea" spreading her arms wide over her head. "I think the Inn can handle the kids. There are some who won't be able to come. Like the infants or anyone who happens to be too ill, or think they are too old for such things." Too old. How can you ever be too old? "Still we will have a large turnout."

All they need do was get the horses.

[Guest]

Manny chuckled as they headed down the stairs. "Ok, ok, ok, the carriage it is." He smiled and shook his head. "And if all of New Haven has snow, than I shall put the blades on the carriage and turn it into our sleigh." He chuckled as she jumped off the stairs, the hemline of her skirt bouncing. And when she spun around to walk backwards the little handkerchiefs flailed out around her. There was nothing indecent about it, it was rather cute. Manny was all smiles.

He knew there were ways to avoid her getting cold. He would take care of it. He was very efficient, he made sure everything was under control. "As for the kids, we will send the hay trailers to bring them. It will be like the old fashioned hay rides that they used to do back on Earth. I'll send word to the keep." She was walking backwards and was about to trip over the rug. So he placed his hands on her waist and lifted her. He carried her for a half a step before he set her back upon the floor to walk.

Too ill, too old? Ok, too ill he understood, but who could possibly be too old for Santa Clause. "I will go with the hay trailers when they go back and give the gifts to those who do not make the trip here." He winked at her. Then he placed his hands on her shoulders and moved her two or three steps to the right so she would go out the door instead of into the wall.

As she reached the steps of the porch he put one arm behind her and leaned down to place the other arm behind her knees. He swept her up into his arms and carried her down the steps. He didn't want her to slip and fall. Once he had her down the steps he set her back upon the snowy ground. They walked towards the carriage and he smiled. She was still walking backwards and they were talking. Once they were close enough he reached for her shoulders again and stopped her. He turned her around to see the carriage that they were taking.

The carriage was a four seater. There were two bench seats that faced each other. They were upholstered in black velvet. Were one to inspect them closely enough they would see that the buttons were actually diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, and rubies. The carriage was wood, and it was painted a very shiny black. All the metal trim on the carriage was solid yellow gold. Very well shined and polished. The wagon wheels were not wood, but gold as well.

The seat for the driver was just as plush and luxurious as the benches for the passengers. The tongue to hitch the horses to was also shiny black with gold trim. The reigns were all black leather. There was a small door on the back of the carriage and it had a gold handle with a 13 carat diamond set into it. The hinges were gold as well. The only parts that were not solid gold were the mechanics under the carriage such as shocks and axles. Those were made of steel.

Under the carriage, hanging from hooks, were two solid gold blades. They would turn the carriage into a sleigh. They were long and straight with the fronts curling up. On either side of the carriage placed between the very front and the doors for the passengers hung two wreaths. Also on the sides, between the doors and the back hung two pairs of very large bells. A pair on either side. From the doors to the back and across the back, up where the wood ended and the gold began, hung tree like garland. The gold brake lever had silver garland wrapped around it from tip to base.

The leather straps that were going to be attached to the horses had sleigh bells upon them. When the six Clydesdale were brought around and put in place to be hitched to the carriage one would see that they had red and green ties in their mane's Their mane's were twisted up into little knots down their heads and necks. Their tails were braided in several braids with red and green ribbons braided into them And they each wore a wreath around their necks.

Manny walked over to the back of the carriage and opened the little door. He pulled out a mat and a small box of tools. Then he laid the mat out on the ground and laid down on it. He crawled under the carriage and lifted the blades down carefully. Then he got back up and pulled them from under the carriage and placed them one in front of each pair of wheels. Once the horses were hitched he walked them forward and the wheels rolled into the grooves on the blades.

Once they were in the right place, Manny knelt down and secured the blades to the wheels and tightened them down with some of the tools. Then he got up and put everything back into the little cubbyhole on the back. He hopped up into the carriage for a moment and he opened the bench seat that was directly behind the drivers seat. He pulled out two queen sized blankets. He laid one over the back seat and sat the other one down upon the seat. Then he stepped back down.

He walked over to Epiphany and held out his hand to her. "M'Lady, your carriage awaits." He smiled and gave her a wink. He walked with her the few steps to the carriage and then placed his hands on her waist again. This time he swung her and lifted her at the same time. He set her down in the carriage. Then he climbed up into the carriage with her. He offered her a seat upon the blanketed seat. He sat down after she did. The blanket upon the seat was for their shoulders if they got cold. The second one was for their laps.

The driver climbed up into the seat and turned to make sure they were seated. Once he had visual confirmation he slapped the reigns and they sleigh bells jingled as the Clydesdales pulled forward. There was a bit of a jolt bringing the carriage to motion but it began to slide through the snow with great ease. As the horses pranced along the sleigh bells continued. It was a sure sign that Santa Clause was coming to town. Even if right now it was just a pair of elves going shopping.

[Epiphany]

He did it all didn't he? Watched out to make sure she didn't fall while she walked, took hold of situations and even worked on the underside of carriages. It didn't matter if he had to do some work on it before they go, Epiphany was captivated by the look of it. It was even better than she imagined.

It was simple things that made her happy. She didn't need fancy or expensive things, her day could be made with a simple story, actions, or seeing something marvelous. This was the latter. So taken by the scene before her that she didn't even have the words to say, simply stood there taking it all in and committing it to memory. This was defiantly something she would have to draw.

She might have looked funny to Manny, standing there wide-eyed and looking at the carriage, but wasn't brought back to semi-reality until he picked her up. That caused her to yelp a bit, but then that turned into a laugh as she was placed in the carriage.

"Manny, this is so much more than I imagined." All smiles. The blanket was just the topping. If it happened to snow while they were riding it would be icing. "Remind me to thank you for this." She said as she snuggled in the warm blanket.

[Guest]

Manny put the other half of the blanket over his shoulders as he sat down next to her. He grabbed up the blanket that he had set on the bench beside where they had sat down. "Driver, could you take us to that twenty-first century toy store on the outskirts of town please? Ok, my dear Epiphany, let's talk kids and toys. How many of each age group? Because I have some wonderful idea's for gifts." He made sure that the blanket was up on her lap enough to keep her warm, and then pulled the other blanket tighter around her.

[Epiphany]

Let's talk kids and toys. That's what he said. If they were not on their way to go Christmas shopping for kids that had a possibility of being taken out of context. Epiphany was getting comfortable - leaning against Manny, snuggled down in the blankets - then she heard the numbers question.

"How many. Uh.. Let's see..." Her hands had been under the blanket but she pulled them above now to count off on the fingers. "Two hundred kids, almost even..." Did she ever mention that math wasn't her strong suit? "Boys first. Twenty-five infants, Uh fifteen boys between the ages of five and ten. Thirty ranging from eleven to fourteen." She should know this, people came looking for kids of certain age groups. "And another fifteen from sixteen to eighteen. Once they are eighteen they can't be in the orphanage anymore. Many of them are gone before then. Either adopted or off working somewhere."

She shifted, pulling her legs up under her, knees slightly pressing against Manny's thighs. "More girls than boys though. Only fifteen infant girls, twenty-five between five and ten. Then thirty also from eleven to fourteen." Just counting them all off. "And uh twenty from sixteen to eighteen."

Boy was she glad that was over, she even exhaled and placed her hand against Manny's arm. "Please say you got all that."

[Guest]

((~Busts up laughing~ For once I wasn't the one with a dirty mind. I didn't even think about the other context of that comment. ))

When she leaned against him he smiled. She was curled up in the seat beside him so he knew she was staying warm. She starred counting kids on her fingers and he smiled even more. He had to admit it was rather cute.

Once she started rattling off numbers he leaned his head down and listened closely, nodding as she spoke. He even occasionally let out an 'mmhmmm.' Her legs came up in the seat as she counted kids and he pulled he blanket up more to cover her better. Without malice of forethought he placed his hand upon her knee atop the blanket. It wasn't something he was even aware he had done.

She finished counting children and then asked him if he had gotten it all. Her hand was upon his arm now, the very arm that had the hand resting upon her knee. He brought up his other hand and placed it upon her face at her jaw line. He gently placed a kiss upon her forehead. "My dear, I play Santa, of course I got it all." He winked as he used the hand from her face to adjust their blanket that was around their shoulders.

Then he began to think for a second. "Ok, so we will need to get, wait ok, infants are too small for some of those things, newborn ones that is. So ok, we'll call the cut off for those ... two, yes, two would work, maybe three. So for newborns we need those little mats that they lay one and play with mirrors and things that make noise and such, and stuffed animals for their second toys. Two to like, five I think, yes, five is good. They shall get those riding stuffed toys. I believe they have those 'Fur Real Pets.' There are two horse ones. A paint and a palomino if I remember correctly. And I believe playskool has a triceratops and some horses on wheels. Those would make great big toys. So for their small toys they will need ... those plush Christmas bears, yes those are always so soft and cuddly. So those would come to forty of the big toys and forty of the small ones for the infants and toddlers."

He counted again to be sure and then moved on. "So that takes us from five to ten. They have these things called laptop computers. And they have them for little children with nothing but educational things on them. We need fifteen in blue and twenty five in pink. Now kids that age are not always fond of stuffed animals. So how about fifteen action figures and twenty five dolls. Yes, those sound lovely."

He thought for a moment. "Eleven to fifteen is a big music and entertainment time in a persons life, they're trying to find their own identity. You said thirty boys and thirty girls, so lets go with personal radios for the big gift. Thirty in pretty colors and thirty in masculine colors. Then for their small gift we will pick up two hundred and forty music CD's, that's four each." This was easier than he had thought it would be.

"Ok, now, sixteen to eighteen. Laptop computers fully accessorised, web cams, Internet cards, microphones and headsets, cables and cords and the works. Fifteen of them with masculine colors and designs and twenty of them in feminine colors and designs. And for their small gifts, there are these things called MP3 players, they load them with music from the computer and they can take them where ever they go. If we get the ones called i-pods, on of them, it plays movie's and video's too. So that would be fifteen in masculine colors and twenty feminine."

Manny was quite proud of himself. He had gotten it all figured out and in a way that wouldn't lead to any fighting over who got the better gift. Everyone was getting the same thing, well in each age group that is. Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out a list. "And for our big kids, the guests of the Inn. I have made a list and checked it twice, and even added coal for someone who was naughty, not nice." He winked at her. "We'll shop for them once we're done at the stores for the kids. I want to get something for everyone on this list."

[Epiphany]

As Manny talked Epiphany could only look at him with a shocked expression. He was talking about a few really high tech things. That would defiantly be different considering that it was an establishment attached to a church that did not believe in the love of worldly possessions. It was run by Nuns. Though they knew that with training in many different areas could help the children.

"Wow...that.. ah.. sounds great." A few more blinks and a quick shake of her head. "And I was thinking about books, paper and pens; and games." She laughed and squeezed Manny's arm. "You're dealing with an elf here who hasn't dealt much in technology at all."

This should be fun. "This can open a lot of doors."

[Guest]

Manny got a rather somber look upon his face. "Are the presents wrong?" He thought for a moment. "I figured that most of them were rather educational. Christmas should be about fun. Right?" He knew that the church didn't want the kids caring too much about worldly possesions, that was why he had stopped at two gifts per child. If it had been something else he would have been buying a whole lot more.

His heart had sank a little when she had said books and pens and paper. He knew that if those things were needed that someone would be more than happy to get them. He would even get it out of his own pay if he needed to, he could afford it. He was highly paid and had next to no expenses, his money had just been sitting in a bank drawing interest. But she almost sounded displeased with his gift choices. "What if I just buy them those other things next week or something?" He wanted to make her happy. And he wanted to make the kids happy.

[Epiphany]

Epiphany had made him feel bad, it was there in the expression on his face. The hand on his arm gave a small squeeze and she gave him a smile. "Oh no Manny, what you said is fine, really." That hand move until she had her arm wrapped around him and was hugged. "Don't let me stop you. Think of all the things they can do with lap..tops and com..pew..tears?" Those two words were spoken slowly since they were both new to her and she wanted to make sure she said them right, even if the last one may have been a bit off.

"If I had had one afforded to me maybe my Latin wouldn't be so bad." Of all the things she's had to learn over the years, no matter the teacher, her Latin had never been that good. "So come on now, no frowning. Chin up and all that."

Reaching over with her free hand she lightly brushed the side of his face with the back of her fingers. "Let's have some fun okay?"

[Guest]

Manny smiled. He took her hand that touched his face and kissed the back of it. Then he slid his arm from under her and put it around her shoulders while pulling the blanket up better. It was more innocent than it looked, because he looked up to the sky and the snow started to fall down upon them

The seats and the blankets had been treated for rain and snowfall. So they wouldn't get wet and ruined. He was more worried about keeping her warm against the cold in the air. "Today, we have fun, after Christmas, Venis and I will make sure they have those books and paper and things. Besides, I told Venis about the orphans and she told Casandra. They went and brought clothes and shoes and stuff like that for them. We'll let Santa give them fun things. And Tasha said she would engrave everyones names on their things or label them somehow so that no one could fight over their things."

He hoped it was a good compromise. The snow fell for about ten minutes before they had arrived at the twenty-first century toy store. The driver pulled up in front of the place and Manny got up offering her an hand. He got down then and helped her out of the carriage. What she hadn't seen back at the room was when he slipped two velvet bags in his pants pockets. It was the money to pay for everything. He held the door for her so she could go in.

[Epiphany]

It was as good a compromise as they could get and she was fine with it. Epiphany's excitement grew as they neared the toy store, she was excited about all the new and interesting things she would see. Although she spent a lot of time in town, it never really occurred to her to visit any modern stores - most of the modern places she visited were for clothing. De'Ryanna had done the shopping for the modern things about the Inn.

When they finally reached their destination it took a great deal of will power for her to not jump out of the carriage and run into the store. He helped her out and she was still trying to maintain calmness, her fingers fidgeting. Then, then he did the unthinkable: He opened the door for her to go in.

The old saying of "A kid in a candy store" would fit here nicely, for Epiphany bounded into the toy store and looked around at everything. Spinning on the flat heel of her shoes as she looked from one thing to the next, picking up what wasn't held down to see what it was and playing with displays.

Some things she had to bend down to play with, others she had to stretch up on her toes, all of it made her outfit move one way or another but she didn't pay it attention. And, of course, she stayed where Manny could see. They were shopping together.

[Guest]

Manny started laughing as he walked in letting the door close behind him. She was so excited by all the toys. He walked over to the man behind the counter and watched her while he spoke. "We are going to need some rather large boxes. We have a lot of gifts to get for the big guy." The kid behind the counter scurried off and went to go find the boxes.

Manny walked over to Epiphany and smiled. She was up on her tip toes trying to reach something on a higher shelf. He placed his hands on her waist and lifted her high enough to reach it and then set her back down. He chuckled as the kid brought out the first box.

Manny walked down the row they were in and stopped at the stuffed animals. He started tossing stuffed animals in the box. Things appropriate for infants. He was watching to make sure that no two were the same if possible. So he was moving some aside to get to others.

While he was doing this he was also watching her. It wasn't the fact that her short skirt kept rising up and spinning out around her that captured his attention, though he did notice it. But he was a gentleman, so he was ignoring that. No, what captured his attention was her joy over the toys. He told himself that if she became enamored with anything in the store that it would be hers.

He needed a total of forty between the smaller stuffed animals and the Christmas bears. So he stopped getting the smaller stuffed animals. He figured he'd better get a count on the Christmas bears and fill the rest of the forty with the other stuffed animals. He knew he had 15 in the box as it was, so he wrote the number on the side of the box.

The kid brought out another box and Manny moved to the display full of the Christmas bears and started counting as he was putting them in the box. The kid brought out more of the Christmas bears as well. Manny still watched Epiphany while he counted and boxed bears. She looked so lovely and innocent playing with the toys.

[Epiphany]

Epiphany thanked Manny for the help, even smiled with a slight blush on her face. He was busy getting things organized and put away in boxes - always the organized one he was, and he was friends with a seemingly unorganized girl. It occurred to her that she should help him but, in watching for a few moments, she saw that the help really wasn't needed.

Still.

Deciding that she would go over and help Epiphany started in his direction only to stop after taking a few steps. Something had caught her eye. It was something that may have appeared rather simple in comparison to the other things that were around. It was a pirate ship, over in the boy section for the older kids around 12 or so. In a box, the ship was wooden (in fact the box said it was "Real wood!") and had working movable parts. The sails were cloth and able to retract, there was a cannon and netting. It even had a few men. This distracted Epiphany for a while, she wasn't sure of the length of time. Brushing her fingertips over the various parts gave her a distant look in her eyes. Her mouth moved silently as if she were speaking out patched of play here and there.

Other pirate items were around - seemed to be the aisle - and she laughed at a few of them. Fake swords an doubloons, she had a few real ones of her own. It always amazed her how they thought pirates dressed. Still, she loved it all. For chance she picked up the box and started turning it around in her hands before she remembered that she wasn't' here for herself.

Besides, she could get one herself. She didn't need a boat. She could probably make one. The many excuses she told herself as she put the box down and brushed her hands. Manny, she was suppose to help him.

"Hey Manny," finally reaching him, all smiles she was as she looked into the box he was filling. "Need help?"

[Guest]

Manny smiled when he saw her playing with the pirate ship in a box. She was so taken by it that he knew she had to have it. He was putting the last bear into the box when she walked over to him and asked if she could help. "Of course sweety, could you get another box and get some of those playtime mats for the infants? The clerk will help you find them." He smiled again.

He headed back over to get the other box of stuffed animals and put four more animals in it so the two boxes would equal forty. Then he went over and grabbed up a pirate ship in a box for Epiphany. He carried the ship to the counter and dragged over the two boxes of stuffed animals. Then he went to get the mechanical toys.

[Epiphany]

Epiphany smiled and clicked her heels together, giving Manny a quick salute before she headed off to find the clerk. She didn't have to go since he was helping organize the toys anyway. Dipping down she picked up the rather large box and held it up over her head as she followed the clerk.

Holding the box above her head caused her hemline to raise an inch or two but she didn't pay it much attention aside from a quick thought about wearing leggings next time. She wore bottoms underneath, so there wasn't anything to really worry over.

Playmats, those things looked fun with all the different toys hanging from bars and stuff for a baby to do - she could only judge by the picture, but it still looked fun. Box down she started to put them into the box, trying to get gender-neutral mats - some of them looked girl or boy specific. This toy store was going to love them for all the money they were going to get.

[Guest]

Manny looked up and saw what looked like her underclothes peeking from under the hemline of her cute little dress. He saw the clerk looking at her like she was something to eat as well. Many cleared his throat. *Ahem* "Epiphany dear, you might not want to raise your arms so high." He smiled. He didn't mind the show, but the kid looking at her like that did bother him. He started counting the horses not on wheels first. The kid went to get more things from the back of the store.

[Epiphany]

For the record, they were the same color green as her outfit. Hearing Manny speaking from behind she turned around. "Huh?" Looked at the clerk and then back to Manny. "Oh...oh!" Catching what he was saying she put the box down and pushed it the rest of the way with her foot, her back to Manny once again. Then she gave a small tug to her hemline and smoothed the skirt down. Possibly a too elaborate gesture given how she stretched the fabric over the curves of her hips before letting go. The material even had a bit of a spring to it.

"Got it covered." She did. Literally. Now a crimson color started making its way to her cheeks, but she got busy with filling the box.

[Guest]

Manny chuckled and walked over to her. He kissed her upon the cheek and smiled. "You're fine dear. Some boys just have no respect for a lady." He hoped she wouldn't be so flush with crimson now. He had counted seven electrical horses, now he needed the triceratops and the horses with wheels.

[Epiphany]

Manny's words made her chuckle, but it did nothing to remove the blush that was on her cheek. She even gave him a slight friendly nudge on the side. "You flatter me Manny. A lady." It was another reason why she laughed. She tried to be a lady...sometimes. Though hardly in the way she dressed. She could be, and she knew what Manny meant by the lady comment. Not one for getting compliments usually she appreciated his.

Looking at the filled box she tapped it with her foot. "I think I'm done here. How about you?"

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