Friday, February 11, 2011

Chapter 42: Dragon Slayer Grows Up

Deep Conversation + Dancing.


She was always a natural at dancing, he says. She learned to dance before she could walk!


Paprika thinks her father is embellishing just a bit.

But more importantly, has she decided what she wants to pursue? Her birthday is coming up soon, and Martin knows she's been troubled over this job thing.


"Cody could get you an apprenticeship in the science field easily," Martin offers.

"I love science," Paprika sighs. "But I don't know if I feel the nine to five grind. I guess I'm like you and Mom."

"Okay. Tuck your arm in a bit. Like so."

Sometimes butterflies have three wings...


Martin picks up a new hobby. This professional bar has been rotting in the basement since Jazz and Sacha's wedding.


The secret to good party drinks is elf magic.


It's weird to test drinks on oneself, but more ethical than the alternative.


Oops!

This drink has been tested true, but Melody is a bit nervous.



Fashion.

Martin and the family visit Cody's family. After his failed relationship with Sara Rinsler, Cody raised his son Kory alone for a while before he married Kellee Sargeant (Beverly's sister). They have a daughter, Tana, and Kellee would very much like her daughter to have a professional makeover from the neighborhood hero.

"I don't waaaanna, Mom."

Tana does not seem very interested, but money is money. Paprika can be seen interrogating Kory in the background. He's cute and smart; it's no wonder he's already in a relationship with someone else.

"Now stay in school."

Martin reaches stylist level 10. He can wear whatever he damn well wants, but Barney's Salon & Tattoo sent him this uniform. Martin finds it a bit underwhelming.


Josephine doesn't care what Martin looks like, she cares what she looks like, because she's getting married soon and must meet the in-laws tonight.


"Don't worry," Martin says truthfully, "I know that family, and they'll appreciate pants before skirts."

"You do know everyone," Josephine admits.


Kacey Cantina doesn't want a makeover; Martin already made her look like a fake Egyptian fabulous back when he was stylist level 7. She just wants to talk about the sun, her preferred method of suicide.


Vampire jokes won't be old until the next expansion pack.

"Maybe I could hunt gnomes, Dad. Firefighter special division, you know?"

Paprika feels her big day is coming up, so she calls most of the family in for a huge party.


Kory is first to arrive, and promptly sets his laptop on the table, intent on playing PSO for the duration of the party.

"Put that away... we're starting in like five minutes."

Woo!


In attendance are Melody's parents, grandmother, uncles, Sifton, Kory and little Tana, Nakisha, Cody and Josephine, and Josephine's son Grant.




Someone got Paprika this jacket for her birthday. Stylish, eh? She loves it.


Sacha is so proud. Grant is worried that the McFly jacket comes standard to aging up.


The party disperses. Paprika takes a shower, roots through her wardrobe, surfs the Internet, and comes up with the best idea ever. She must tell Sifton about this idea even before she tells her parents.

"So I was on the Internet.. .. ghost hunting... blah blah... 
yeah they hired me!... Blah? ...Blah blah! Of course it's real!"

Meanwhile...



Oblivious, Paprika tries out her rusty cooking skills. For parties, of course...


She also gives the living room new wallpaper, fresh paint, new upholstery and new carpeting. It's bright, it's fun... it's like she secretly has a nursery on her mind...


And then it's off to capture spirits. Nobody believed old Charlene Wicks about the haunting, but Paprika has slime all over her suit to prove it. She only wishes it would wash out.


Martin is, of course, absolutely horrified to see his daughter running around in such rags.

Paprika intends to do a lot of things her parents didn't exactly raise her to do.

"Get back here, %@#!"

____________________________________
Etc.: Martin does know everyone! EVERYONE.

When I rolled stylist for Sacha and Jazz's heir, my first thought was "great! I can have the stylist go to everybody's houses and find the perfect mate for NEXT heir." But then I rolled single parent for Paprika, and my attitude changed to a lazy "whatever."

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