(no subject)

[sai_delgado]

Susan stands in front of the window, carefully taking ledgers off the shelf and stacking them neatly in a box on her desk. Frequently, she pauses for thought, looking out at the lake.

It's not the first time she's changed rooms at Milliways, say true -- but it's different this time, oh aye. Not bad, never that-- but different.

Comments

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

There's a light knock on the door, and a call.

"Susan?"

[sai_delgado]

"Come in, 'Bert," she calls out, smiling-- she knows this voice well, and could never mistake it for another.

"I've not locked it."

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

The door opens, and Cuthbert steps in, smiling when he sees her.

"Hey. Ready to get started?"

[sai_delgado]

And oh, but she smiles back, and comes across the room to greet him with a kiss.

"Aye-- I am, I think," she says, gesturing at the box on her desk, and other things lying about in various stages of preparation. "And thee, I wot?"

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

He slips one arm around her, and nods in the direction of the door.

"All my things are in my room still, but they're packed and ready."

[sai_delgado]

She stays there for a moment, leaning into the curve of his arm and resting her head on his shoulder.

"Ye're better-prepared than I am, then, say true-- but it'll not take long to finish, I think."

A beat. "Ye can settle Joanie in, mayhap." Is that mischief in her tone?

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

Mischief? Surely not.

The same way it can't possibly be mischief dancing in Cuthbert's eyes as he answers.

"Aye? As it so happens, I may have just the thing for that."

[sai_delgado]

She tilts her head back to look up at him.

"Do'ee say so?" Susan blinks, surprised. "I'd not have thought ye'd have given such thought to her--"

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

"Well, it wasn't me, precisely--here, I'd better just show you--"

He ducks out the door again, and returns a moment later with an armful of something.

Something yellow. And spiky. And with a small round window set above a slightly less small door.

[sai_delgado]

Susan stares at it, then looks at him with confusion clear.

"What-- 'Bert? What is that?"

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

"Well, obviously, it's a pineapple house."

No, Bert didn't know what a pineapple was a few days ago either.

[sai_delgado]

Susan looks a little suspicious, mayhap.

"... a pineapple house." Beat. "Is this anything like the things ye and Eddie had on yer Ka-Mai Fair Day?"

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

Cuthbert shakes his head, laughing.

He sets the pineapple house down, and then moves to take her hands. As he does, his expression becomes more serious.

"It was...a belated wedding present."

[sai_delgado]

She curls her fingers around his and gives the pineapple house another quick glance before looking back at him, noting the change in his manner.

"Aye?"

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

"Aye."

Cuthbert nods.

"From the Lady Delerium."

[sai_delgado]

...

Carefully, she says, "It were kind of her to -- to think of us, I wot."

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

Cuthbert says nothing, but nods.

Beat.

"She said Derry picked it out."

[sai_delgado]

Her smile is suddenly pleased and somehow soft.

"Derry? Oh, 'Bert." Susan squeezes his hands. "Such a dear thing for her to do."

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

Cuthbert smiles, and leans in to kiss her cheek.

"So, since we have it...it occurred to me it might be just the right size for Joanie."

[sai_delgado]

Susan giggles.

"That's a clever idea, 'Bert, say true-- and I think ye should be the one to introduce her to it."

"Mayhap there'll be peace between ye yet, with such a gift--"

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

There's a grin at that.

"Mayhap...let's see how she takes to it?"

Stepping back, he lifts the pinapple house again and carries it over to the corner table that holds Joanie's pen, gently lowering it down a few inches in front of her.

[sai_delgado]

As the large object gets lowered into her pen, Joanie backs away, trumpeting madly.

Susan bites her lip to stifle her giggles, then comes to stand beside Cuthbert, saying soothingly,

"Now then, thee little mischief, it's all right-- 'Bert's brought ye a present, do'ee ken?"

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

As an afterthought, Cuthbert opens the little door, and then takes a step back, watching with amusement.

Once she seems assured that the house is not going to attack her, Joanie creeps forward until she can touch it with the tip of her trunk, and commences snuffling intently.

[sai_delgado]

"There now, ye see?" she coaxes. "There's naught to fear, say true."

A muffled trumpet, as Joanie gingerly enters the pineapple house, and Susan looks up at Cuthbert.

"Do'ee think...?"

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

Cuthbert tilts his head to one side, considering.

"Well, she seems to like it..."

From the table, there are the muffled sounds of a tinyphant exploring a pineapple house.

...No, the mun doesn't know exactly what that sounds like, either.