#anywhere

"Not unreasonable" She observes though he did want a bit more time off than Demetera. "Any other questions you want to ask him, Dagmar?"

"What about when a child is being utterly unreasonable? When they won't cooperate, or wont stop crying, or refuse to listen?"

"Sometimes when you put in a quarter, even if the wrong button has been pressed, you just have to wait out the song." Manny answers "When the last note stops and it's done, you can see what you do with a tired child where a wired child wouldn't allow"

"And food? Do you have picky eater policies?"

"mother knows best like the old Tv show says" Some lie and truth mixed a look to Tove "Would It be amiss to get a grocery list?"

"It would not. " Tove nods "I can tell you his favorites and things he turns his nose at. He has no allergies"

"Sometimes, with toddlers, they decide they don't like even stuff they like..."

Manny nods "That's why a Plan C is so handy." he says "Has he done this with you often? Decided he didn't like food he normally likes?"

She chafes her upper arms and shrugs.

Tove puts a hand on her daughter's shoulder, comforting, then answers Manny "Not often" Not ever actually but she's not going to undermine her daughter "But we never know, do we?"

Manny's face grows gentle "Children need Stimulous checks, but they also need Stables and Teas."

He coughs "As I just said, they need stability" and goes on "So messing with their food patterns and supply is not wise for anyone if it can be hepfllumped"

"Mmph."

Tove considers any other questions she can ask "Do you live near by?"

"My benefactors have offered to purchase me an apartment suite at the Seizure estates" he says easily

truish

Tove looks at her daughter "Any other questions, honey? "

Dag shakes her head.

"Thank you, mr. North." Tove says "You're very impressive " True. "We've got one more to interview and when we do, we'll make up our minds and let you know our decision"

"I'm glad to see that Hemlock's people sent such good candidates."

"As are willing to servile" He says with a bow "I shall see myself out, but it was a pleasure" True

And soon, he is gone.

"Whew" Tove says "I didn't know they'd send them one after the other . I liked him, but what did you think?"

"Well, pooka often give me a headache."

"oh" She nods "you're so good with connor I forget about that' her mother admits and considers "Well, what do you think of Demetra? I confess I worry about satyr passions but she seems stable"

"She seems nice? I want to like her."

"Well, we'll give the third one a shot. You know, the Chief once told me the Count often amused himself... I didn't know what she meant but I'm starting to see..."

There's a knock on the door.

"I am no longer surprised" Tove rolls her eyes "I bet that's our last applicant. I've texted your father about this. He says he's proud, but not proud enough to turn up a free nanny if it gives us more time. Will you get the door, dear?"

"Yes Mom." She's up to get the door.

Not ALL piskies are as forgettable as Jimmy (?) .. the one at the door looks rather dinstinctive, and she's the first applicant to carry a weapon

"Pardon, is this the King residence? I'm here to apply" She looks up and up at the tall girl "For the position of Nanny? Name's McKinley. How do?"

She is a grump, but appears to be in her early thirties.

She raises an eyebrow, gaze going to the sword, and then the piskie's face.

The sword appears to be purely chimerical, whichi is, of course still dangerous to dreaming things.

The piskie's face has a vaguely nordic cast. Perhaps because she's in this barony, she dyes her hair though. "Need me to peace tie? "

"Mmph. Nah, you try anything, you'd lose."

In a jersey tone she says "Why you gotta be like that? I mean, probably true, but you gotta come out flexing? I gotta sword. Lots of Kithain got swords. You might be glad I do if something or someone comes affter the kid and no one but me to protect him. So.. may I come in?"

"I think it's important to know that if you try anything with CJ, you would lose. Yeah."

"Come in."

"Has this kid been under a lot of threats?" She asks concerned "Don't get me wrong, I'll still take the job if so, but helps me to know. I can set some cameras outside or something"

And she does go in

"You don't know what can happen. And usually the biggest danger to a kid are their caretakers."

"Who are usually family members" She points out "I aint' family. I'm a pro"

"Hello," Tove says , surprised at the sword but not against it

She narrows her eyes, jaw jutting.

"Begging your pardon," McKinley says, "Not on my best foot forward here it seems. I'm McKinley, here for the nanny job if you think I'm up to it" A beat "I'm up to it."

"Being paid for it doesn't make anybody safer. Plenty of abusive assholes seek positions of power over children."

"And can put on a real nice face when they need to."