Who's Valentine Is It Anyway?

 

Miku: “Wait! Nooo...”

 

*kerplunk*

 

 

Miku: “Ugh!”

 

Ellie: *quietly claps & whispers* “I win!”

 

 

Miku: “Connect four? I beg to differ!”

 

Ellie: *giggles*

 

 

Miku: “You vile game! How have you bested me again!”

 

 

Miku: “One more game El-chan? I'll get it this time!”

 

Ellie: “You sure? This will be the 73rd game today and I've had lots of practice.”

 

 

Miku: *tosses the game*

 

Ellie: "Ahh!" *tries to catch it*

 

 

Miku: “I understand the workings of the Tardis, I could breeze through Starfleet Academy in a year, and I can code in my sleep! Why can't I win at such a simplistic arrangement of plastic disks!”

 

 

Miku: “Why? Why??”

 

Ellie: *innocently scratches her cheek*

 

 

Mommy: “Ellie, a package came for you. It was addressed to me so I opened it before I knew who it was for.”

 

Ellie: “Is it really for me?”

 

 

Mommy: “Looks like the sender didn't leave their name but it definitely looks like a Valentine.”

 

Miku: “Ooooh, a secret admirer! I wonder who that could be...” *wiggles her eyebrows*

 

Ellie: *blushes profusely*

 

 

*the girls quickly clean up the game*

 

 

Ellie: “Oh my, it's huge!”

 

Miku: “You know what they say about size... the bigger it is, the more chocolate it contains! Heh heh heh...”

 

 

Ellie: “Here's some tissue paper we can save for drafting some new patterns ah, Miss Kyo-, mo-, umm... m'am.”

 

Mommy: “Thank you dear.” *quickly accepts the paper, wondering how long until Ellie decides to address her less formerly*

 

Miku: *whispers* “One quick peek isn't going to hurt...”

 

 

Miku: *jerks back and tries to look like she wasn't snooping*

 

Ellie: “Oh my!!”

 

 

Ellie: “Could this really be strawberries? I wonder if they are roots or seeds...”

 

Miku: “Ooh, look what I found!”

 

 

Ellie: “This means so much! We tried growing strawberries last year but I think the plants might have been sick before we got them.”

 

Miku: “A bouquet of roses. Red roses.”

 

 

Ellie: “And it even has a terra cotta pot! Isn't it darling?”

 

Miku: “You know what it means when they are red don't you?”

 

 

Ellie: “Yes of course I do. It means that they are ripe.” *still infatuated by the strawberries*

 

Miku: *facepalm*

 

 

Ellie: “Tamayuki will be so excited to see these!”

 

Miku: “The flowers are not from Tama-kun.” *looks deflated*

 

 

Ellie: “How about I put you down for now.”

 

Miku: “Mama-san, could I have a vase for these please?”

 

Mommy: “Sure.”

 

 

Ellie: “I think I saw something else in here...”

 

Miku: *hands the flowers over*

 

 

Ellie: “How lovely!”

 

Miku: “Come on girl, pick up the pace or the people out there are going to get bored.” *claps her hands impatiently*

 

 

Mommy: “What is it Ellie?”

 

Ellie: “Forget-me-not flowers.”

 

Miku: “Let's keep the show moving along here...”

 

 

Ellie: “They look like they will even be the perfect shade of blue!” *hugs the pot*

 

Miku: “What? You've got to be kidding me...”

 

 

Ellie: “Ringo will love having an indoor garden with flowers. Hmm... I'll have to think of something to make sure Bree won't eat them...”

 

Miku: “You don't mind if I finish unpacking this do you? Great. Thanks.”

 

 

Ellie: “I wonder. Does it open over here?”

 

Miku: “Now to just turn this over” *something falls out and makes a loud thump*

 

 

Ellie: “Oh wow!”

 

Miku: “Whew. This is heavier than it looks.” *rests a moment before shoving the box out of the way*

 

 

Miku: “HAHAHA! Who mails a mailbox? What's next, a shopping cart?”

 

Ellie: “It's dirt!”

 

 

Miku: “How can anyone confuse a mailbox with dirt??”

 

Ellie: “It came with it's own dirt.”

 

 

*The girls simultaneously look down at the compressed potting soil in Ellie's hand.*

 

Miku: “Oh...”

 

 

Miku: “Alright El-chan, you can play with your seeds later. Aren't you just dying to know what's in this non-regulation size mailbox?”

 

Ellie: “Oh yes, but let me put this back in the pot first.”

 

 

Miku: *mumbles* “Now there's got to be a way to get this open...” *shoves her hand in to see if there is a latch to unhook the lid*

 

Ellie: *rubs her hands together to clean them off*

 

 

Miku: *whispers* “Ack! My hand's stuck!”

 

Ellie: *brushes off the dirt from her skirt.*

 

 

Miku: *with violent shaking the lid popped off. Quickly she hid her hand so Ellie wouldn't see that it was still stuck*

 

Ellie: “It's a darling hand written letter!”

 

Miku: *uses the leverage of her elbow to push hard against the vicious mailbox lid*

 

 

Ellie: *reads the letter out loud* “'I hope you don't mind that I've kept my identity a secret, I just thought it'd be more fun that way! Good luck guessing. Happy Valentines!' Its only signed with a heart and question marks.”

 

Miku: *pretends everything is perfectly fine as she hides her hand* “Could it be from a certain someone?”

 

 

Ellie: “Oh gosh! No, no, no it wouldn't be! It couldn't be since I don't recognize the handwriting.”

 

Miku: *uses all her strength to pry her hand loose*

 

 

Ellie: “I don't know what I'd do if it was!” *hides her face in embarrassment*

 

Miku: *wiggles her fingers now that they are free*

 

 

Ellie: “I hope they aren't disappointed if I don't guess, I'm terrible at guessing games.”

 

Miku: “Oh well, it was fun while it lasted. Here's some more fan mail for you and some chocolates.”

 

Ellie: “Thank you.”

 

 

Miku: “And more chocolates.”

 

Ellie: “I wonder if I should let Rainie see this poster or not.” *giggles*

 

 

Miku: “And MORE chocolates. You wouldn't mind if I ate one would you? On Valentines, things are better in pairs.”

 

Ellie: “And here is another card! Oh what a pretty design. That is a wonderful shade of pink.”

 

 

Miku: “What does that one say?” *digs around*

 

Ellie: *holds the heart-shaped cutout in her hand* “'I hope you have a LOVEly day with joy and candy.'”

 

Miku: “We got the candy part covered.”

 

 

Miku: “They even sent you a necklace. Your secret admirer's got all the bases covered, flowers, jewelry, and sweets.” *puts the necklace on Ellie* “The other certain someone better not be a slacker.”

 

Ellie: “Oh, no... It isn't really like that... or anything...”

 

 

Miku: “HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!” *tosses the glitter hearts on Ellie's head*

 

Ellie: “Oh!”

 

~~~~~

 

Huge thank you to Arienette's Raina for all the gifts. Ellie is so quiet a lot of the time that it was really fun seeing her spoiled. Miku was intended to just be an extra, but I can't complain too much since without her the story would have been even longer. With 43 photos, I believe this is the longest photo story I've done yet. (I intended it to be much shorter, but the girls just started to be who they were and I just went along with it.) Despite Miku's comments, I actually love the mailbox.

 

I'm sorry this took so long to get finished. I wanted to do the photos in daylight (normally they are done at night.) The good lighting didn't last as long as I thought so it took me 4 days to get the pics done.

 

~Sister Kyoya

Aw the story was sooo cute. I loved all of the pictures. Ellie is adorable! When I got partnered with you, it was instantly: YEP, RAINA'S VALENTINE IS ELLIE! I hope the little potted plants actually... work??? They were a cute size so I bought them, and I had remembered you talked about indoor gardening. I also was cracking up at the part about mailing a mailbox. Lovely photos and adorable storytelling!

I'm glad that you liked it. It makes me really happy.

 

Ellie made it into our family because Katnaper was trying to see what sculpts would make good boys. I was 100% sure she was going to be a boy, but the moment I opened her box I knew she was going to stay as she was. Her cuteness just overwhelmed me. She's so super sweet but I wouldn't challenge her to an arm wrestling contest. Pulling her arm out or the 'secret joint' is plenty hard as it is.

 

Ellie is going to have fun with the plants. since I can't garden outside because of Sun allergies I've experimented with growing various things indoors. I've had a Hubbard squash vine growing since last spring. Haven't gotten any squash out of it but it is so cool to see the big yellow blossoms really frequently. Much to my surprise and delight I've even managed to grow a miniature snapdragon from seed and it has bloomed once. I never had any idea I could grow them inside. The lighting isn't the greatest and I'm far from being the best gardener, but seeing things grow really makes me happy. Plus, who wouldn't love those pots?!?!

 

I couldn't resist making a little fun of Miku. I've done similar stupid things growing up, the kind that are too embarrassing to tell anyone about if you can help it.

 

~Sister Kyoya

Good lord, this was an excellent story! Those two girls together are gold! I hate to make the statement that those two even slightly resemble two of my girls because they're certainly NOT anything like any of my girls.... but damn if I didn't see a lot of my Rei in Ellie and a less sex/cookie crazed Manami in Miku. The way your girls play off each other and how they react to each other seems VERY similar to how my two girls go about their interactions. Of course my Rei is way more robotic and shows her aggravations with Manami much more than your Ellie does.... Ellie seems so much more "go with the flow" and laid back than my Rei. I think my Rei needs a vacation to relieve her stress....

 

Anyways, sorry to find similarities in our girls like that but after reading thru this, it felt just like that to me. And that's a good thing. Seeing a bit of my girls in other families is awesome. And seeing how well your girls get along even tho they are completely different from each other is wonderful. Miku is clearly a bit ADD and seems to enjoy attention but Ellie is so composed and easy going.... it's a great blend. These two clearly get along well and it's so nice to see them having loads of fun with these presents.

 

Excellent work my friend! I want more like this please!

 

 

 

Billy

I thoroughly enjoyed this! Your girls are so precious! I would love to see Ellie dobleepent her adventure in growing those adorable tiny plants. C:

Haha this was great, I was cracking up at Miku's hand in the mailbox, especially when she tried to hide it under her arm.

 

I liked the interaction between these two, they're fun since they're so opposite. And I'm with you in thati normally don't care for Miku but yours has a fun personality.

I'm glad that you liked it. It makes me really happy.

 

Ellie made it into our family because Katnaper was trying to see what sculpts would make good boys. I was 100% sure she was going to be a boy, but the moment I opened her box I knew she was going to stay as she was. Her cuteness just overwhelmed me. She's so super sweet but I wouldn't challenge her to an arm wrestling contest. Pulling her arm out or the 'secret joint' is plenty hard as it is.

 

Ellie is going to have fun with the plants. since I can't garden outside because of Sun allergies I've experimented with growing various things indoors. I've had a Hubbard squash vine growing since last spring. Haven't gotten any squash out of it but it is so cool to see the big yellow blossoms really frequently. Much to my surprise and delight I've even managed to grow a miniature snapdragon from seed and it has bloomed once. I never had any idea I could grow them inside. The lighting isn't the greatest and I'm far from being the best gardener, but seeing things grow really makes me happy. Plus, who wouldn't love those pots?!?!

 

I couldn't resist making a little fun of Miku. I've done similar stupid things growing up, the kind that are too embarrassing to tell anyone about if you can help it.

 

~Sister Kyoya

 

Haha, wow! Yeah, she is adorable. I'm not sure how she would have been as a boy, but probably just as sweet if she ended up making it to that state. That's really cool that it has yellow blossoms, even though there haven't been any squash. It's still pretty awesome that something grew from it being inside! I wouldn't have even thought that so many plants could have success indoors either. Miku's great! I love her wig's style, it's so whimsical and seems to perfectly match her personality.

Good lord, this was an excellent story! Those two girls together are gold!

 

Wow, I'm actually a bit speechless.

 

I hate to make the statement that those two even slightly resemble two of my girls because they're certainly NOT anything like any of my girls.... but damn if I didn't see a lot of my Rei in Ellie and a less sex/cookie crazed Manami in Miku.

Seeing a bit of my girls in other families is awesome.

 

I'm not bothered by that at all! One of the problems that I have with socializing is that if I can't relate the conversation to myself I literally don't know what to say. (This has always driven my sister Elizabeth nuts because a lot of the time she says I sound self-centered when all I'm trying to do is to figure out how to talk to people.) I'm surprised that no one on the forums or even Twitter has ever mentioned this before. LOL! Anyway, it makes me so very pleased that you were able to really identify with our girls. The writer in me is just tickled pink because reaching other people outside of myself in that way really is the ultimate goal. I love it when I can see aspects of the personalities that we have popping up in other DD families. In the inside I always feel like: Yipeee! I get (understand) you! Plus I find it fun seeing what parts are similar and what isn't.

 

Ellie is very much the country girl, if Miku hadn't been there Ellie would have wandered off to play with the plants and forgetting that there was more stuff to open. She's not an airhead, she just likes plants that much. Only she would be that happy to get 'dirt' in the mail.

 

As for Miku, in our house she's pretty much regarded as an Idol on hiatus and her impatience stems from her normally being really busy, pushed by her manager, etc. No matter how much she changes, there will always be the diva part of her personality. I don't think it showed up in here too well, but Miku also has no respect for the fourth wall. A lot of the time I try to make it feel like the camera isn't there, but with Miku I think she's always aware that someone's watching. She's also becoming quite the busybody. Even I was surprised at how easily these two just fell in together! How many of Ellie's secret does she know?!?

 

Excellent work my friend! I want more like this please!

 

Thank you so very, very much. I have really missed doing photo stories but I was a bit afraid that people wouldn't like them if they were too long (I normally try to cap them at 20-25 images.) Even I've been bored with my backdrops and the lack of real rooms for the DD, most of which is due to not having various types of flooring to swap out. I'm currently trying to research what the easy options are that I can make. Neither Raven or I can do photos on the floor so everything needs to be raised up. I'm currently working on making a larger platform area to give me a decent sized room that I can swap the flooring and walls in and out to do a lot of the scenes I've been longing to do (like an indoor yard for Ringo with fake grass, or some storefronts on a street, maybe even some interiors for Naiomi's Closet as an actual set.) This has been a lot of the reason that most of our DD don't have intro stories, not because I don't know what they are, but because I don't want to put them over an all-white background!

 

So, yes! I really am planning on doing more but some are still being delayed because the stagecraft crew won't pick up the pace! In the meantime I'll have little cameo stories like this to show off what is currently going on and then doing the past stories when things finally get together enough to do them. Many of them will have hints on some of the things going on in the background (like Sohi's Valentine pic) just because I love tucking in things like that when I write.

 

I thoroughly enjoyed this! Your girls are so precious! I would love to see Ellie dobleepent her adventure in growing those adorable tiny plants. C:

 

I'm so very glad that you liked it! I had definitely been thinking about doing at least a small story on the plants. It has been warm enough around here that last week or two that some of the other plants I have are suddenly growing like crazy. Plus I still have a lot of seeds leftover that I bought last year that I want to see what else will grow. Ellie has been (sweetly) pestering me that some of the plants really need to be re-potted. I think she just wants to get her hands in the dirt and I'm trying not to get sidetracked by 3D modeling her some gardening tools and a watering can.

 

Haha this was great, I was cracking up at Miku's hand in the mailbox, especially when she tried to hide it under her arm.

 

I liked the interaction between these two, they're fun since they're so opposite. And I'm with you in that I normally don't care for Miku but yours has a fun personality.

 

I think I've re-read the story all the way through about five times since I posted it, and I'm still cracking up over Miku's bit of clumsiness.

 

At first I used Miku because she was already sitting in the photo area and I hadn't done more than a pic or two of her at a time. Not long into the shoot I realized I was dealing with the 'city mouse vs. the country mouse', something I hadn't even planned on.

 

One of my early perceptions of Miku (long before the DD ver.) was that a lot of people saw her as really sweet and adorable, but I found her to be overbearing and constantly in my face. She was a Diva to the extreme. I really can't think of a personality I hate more and why I told Raven that Miku was not coming into our house if I couldn't make her into whoever I wanted in the stories I do. To put it simply, two queens in a castle don't work, and I was here first. LOL!

 

Haha, wow! Yeah, she is adorable. I'm not sure how she would have been as a boy, but probably just as sweet if she ended up making it to that state. That's really cool that it has yellow blossoms, even though there haven't been any squash. It's still pretty awesome that something grew from it being inside! I wouldn't have even thought that so many plants could have success indoors either. Miku's great! I love her wig's style, it's so whimsical and seems to perfectly match her personality.

 

Here is the pic that triggered Eddie (thanks to katnaper): And if you want to know about Eddie's personality...

 

I can get things to grow inside, but the lighting is never as good as being outdoors. I really shy away from taking pics because the plants look really lanky due to not enough light even in our south facing windows. The dwarf snapdragon is the exception to this. I thought I had uploaded that pic... it was taken in November, and it has only grown bigger since then but it hasn't bloomed more than once.

 

As for Miku's hair, they always gave her twintails when she had asked for buns. (If anyone remembers this line when I get Miku's into video up, you'll know why I'm laughing.)

 

(Wow, so many comments! They kept popping up when I was trying to reply! LOL!)

 

~Sister Kyoya

Here is the pic that triggered Eddie (thanks to katnaper):

 

~Sister Kyoya

 

Ellie as Eddie would have been so cute but I love your Ellie as herself not only because she IS cute but because she is such a sweetie. I had actually wanted a Yui sculpt myself but to make a custom Asuna. I don't know why if I picture Asuna, I think of Yui's sculpt. I love how you made this photostory. I think having assertive Miku and sweet Eddie together makes the perfect team. Miku balances out Eddie's sweet personality without taking over the story. Its nice to see you giving us a glimpse into the lives of your other kids and I for one, can't wait to see more.

I still completely have plans to make Eddie because Ellie misses him like Rainie missed Ringo. At least I knew about Eddie beforehand and he wasn't simply invented. Getting the sculpt is kinda hard though because I want just the head and eyes but I don't want to have to fork out for another full girl with an old DDII body that I'd rather not have. (I've been really wanting to upgrade our DDII girls to DDIII and for Naiomi & Yuriko they would have to be SWS since Volks no longer has WS ) Plus with the craziness with preorders this year, I've stretched myself as thin as I'm comfortable with. I've mildly considered making Eddie from an Obitsu head, but I just don't think it would be right even though it would be more affordable. I hate to say it but Eddie cracks me up because he looks so sweet and innocent but he can be an annoying stinker. He tends to repeat things a lot, just like I do. I have to be careful when talking to people face-to-face because I can (unintentionally) repeat the same information 3-4 times in a conversation, often word for word, without actually realizing it because my brain gets stuck in a loop.

 

I think Yui would make an interesting & unique Asuna. I'd personally find her more intriguing than the others I've seen.

 

When I was working on this, it was strange to realize I had two conversations going on since each of the girls were having one track minds. I didn't intend to, it just happened that way. Miku seems relieved that she only has to go into Idol mode around Yuriko but she's actually pretty relaxed around everyone else. As for Miku and Naiomi... that story hasn't been dobleepented yet.

 

~Sister Kyoya

Miku totally stole the show in this photo story and I loved it! Her personality is just golden and makes her my most favorite Miku. Her body language was just so funny and worked so well with Ellie who is totally oblivious to the fact that Miku is making antics happen (though some by accident but keeping a good job of hiding it). And I love how sweet & excited Ellie is to find out that a Valentine present came just for her Even though she could've definitely worked as a sweet young boy I'm glad you kept her as a sweet young girl because she's just too adorable this way!

HAHA Supre cute! I love her buns! XD