#⭒ ˙ ˖ ✧ — ˗ˏˋ ❝ ʀᴀᴢᴢʟᴇ ᴅᴀᴢᴢʟᴇ ‘ᴇᴍ; ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇʏ’ʟʟ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴄᴀᴛᴄʜ ᴡɪꜱᴇ ❞ ◌ ɴᴀɴɴʏ ᴀᴜ ¦ 「 Peri 」

[canon-fcdder]

Dale is way too busy typing stuff into his pad to even bother paying attention. But he knows at least it's the baby sitter he's talking to. "So, hey, I was thinking we could go out for dinner sometime? Don't worry, you're still getting cash." He adds, waving his hand dismissively. "Are you free after your job?" ( -is not sorry- for Peri! ) - ✧ ˖ ˙ 「 @deceitfulmorals 」 ˙ ˖ ✧

「 ☆ 」 Things are going— decently. When compared to before, anyway. Then again, the LAST time Dev was put under his care, worlds had been thrust into peril… and he almost died. But frankly, that feels like an afterthought when compared to the bigger consequences of failing his godchild. Besides, if he HAD exploded in a burst of confetti, he would have been the one to deserve it. Not the others… Not his parents… Not even Dev; the poor kid resigned to a different fate but one that makes Peri grimace with just as much vitriol.

Stuck with only Dale Dimmadome… Worse than that- stuck in the same desperate, lonely, approval-craving state he had been before being given a fairy. On some level, he understands it. Actions having consequences and some children being too dangerous to let have fairies and blah blah blah… But on another far stronger— far more stubborn —level, he doesn’t care. Dev was is his godchild and he’s miserable. He’s ALONE and miserable and helpless to do anything about it. So Peri will have to fix things for him.

Just… Better this time.

Which is why he respects Dev’s order request for space. His godkid had come home insisting that everything was FINE. Despite Peri witnessing quite the opposite when secretly tagging along at school; a literal fly on the wall as he kept an eye on Dev while avoiding the ones of his parents. Thankfully, they were too busy tending to their newest godchild to notice. Besides, Peri has only been doing this live-in nanny job for about a week or so. Not nearly long enough for his disappearance to stir up suspicion. The incident was nothing earth-shattering… and that’s the problem. It was a minor fumble, a small embarrassment as Dev spilled lunch on himself.

But it stuck with the kid. Even after Peri discreetly poofed away stains as Dev frantically wiped at them in the bathroom, making it worse with his soaked paper towel and tear-blurred vision. Not wanting to push his luck, Peri resisted the urge to dry the jacket as well. But it hurt to see Dev wearing the dampened garment, as if trying to ignore that anything happened at all. Even though everyone saw. Peri doesn’t blame Dev for snapping and rushing to his room when his nanny ❛ unknowingly ❜ inquired about how his day was. He DOES blame the circumstances that put so much emotional strain on the kid that one mistake feels like the end of the world.

… Speaking of which.

Peri doesn’t even notice he’s being spoken to until Dale is already a few words in. Lounging on the couch with a How-To Guide on ❛ connecting with your child ❜ in his hands, Peri had been fixated on finding a way to ease into conversations with Dev. Preferably without the boy screaming at him and barking commands like he’s one of those infuriating Au Pair drones. Blinking as he’s pulled from the page, he quizzically looks up at the so-called dad. Brow raised and impatience already settled in his gut, lids lower with unamusement at how little effort Dale is giving the conversation. He can’t spare a second to look away from his screen, huh?

Fine. Then he won’t notice if Peri looks back at his book… Gaze lowers, yet attention remains split between Dale and his research. An elbow propped on the armrest, cheek rests in the palm of his hand, Peri hardly invested in the conversation. Perhaps he should show his employer more respect, to avoid getting in trouble… Although, he could easily rig things to regain his job should need be. The thought does faintly arise, but before Peri can swallow his pride and posture a bit better, he’s dismissively absentmindedly replied, ❝ I already have dinner plans. ❞

Swallowing his annoyance at having to reread the same sentence for a third time— how long is Dale going to stand there half-assed talking to him? —he can’t shove down the slight bite in his tone, ❝ I try to eat when Dev does. It’s good for kids to have company during mealtimes. ❞ Instead of eating all alone staring at a screen while their dad likely does the same in another area of the house. 「 ☆ 」

[canon-fcdder]

(( Tag Dump - Peri Fairywinkle-Cosma ))