milliways_bar | (no subject)

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Autor is stuck.

He found himself rooted to the spot a little while ago--which was quite rude of the floor, as he fell when he stopped abruptly and had to scramble back to his feet without moving them. Though he can flail his arms and speak, he can't lift his feet, nor can he take off his shoes.

All right. Stay calm, the boy thinks, already panicked. He's stuck, and zombies might come through the door. Or worse, Hannibal Lecter might find him this way and want to "chat" about something. What would Rae do?

"Um. Help?" he asks the bar at large, burying his fingers in the oversized, blue scarf he knitted for himself. "I appear to be glued to the floor."

He completely fails to notice the mistletoe above his head.

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"Right, of course," she says, aiming for 'calm bedside manner' and possibly going slightly sharp of the mark.

Sheesh, the poor kid. (Unless he's feigning flustered, which their last interaction has shown he's certainly capable of. It's not necessarily likely, but a distinct possibility.) This is the first time Ava can remember where putting somebody out of their misery doesn't involve entrails.

"Okay," she sighs, and steps in to peck his cheek.

Dr. Lecter slowly claps, twice.

Autor jammed his eyes shut at her approach, tilting his head up and curling his hands into fists at his sides. She may have noticed just how warm his skin was; his blush certainly produces that effect.

The peck feels like nothing to him, a brief wet brush of sensitive skin against sensitive skin. He slowly opens his eyes to Dr. Lecter's clapping, and raises one foot to test it. "Ah," he whispers to Ava, sighing. "Thank you."

Then he pulls his carpet out of his pocket, enlarges it with a soft, "effugium," and hops on.

--Whoa! Magic carpet, four o'clock. Ava's eyes widen.

But after a moment, her lips quirk.

"Don't worry about it."

She glances back to Lecter, but doesn't say anything just yet-- simply folds her arms over her chest.

"Shoo," Dr. Lecter says to Autor. "You're free, off you go, no need to thank us."

Autor grits his teeth. A large part of him wants to stay just for that, and an even larger part of him wants to stay to possibly lend his protection to Ava, if she needs it. But the high-pitched voice of reason saying, 'no, screw that guy!' reigns supreme.

The boy crosses one arm over his chest, ending in a curled fist, and bows to Ava. He thinks for a moment, and then lowers the carpet, offering her his hand.

Ava smiles, and shakes her head.

"I'm okay," she says. "I was gonna go back upstairs soon anyway. You should get out of here."

"Bye, Autor," Dr. Lecter says. "I'll see you soon, when you're less trapped."

Autor nods to Ava, and slants a look at Dr. Lecter. He sighs through his nose and bolts, speeding out the door to the grounds.

Ava watches him go, arms still folded over her chest. After he's out the door, she turns slightly in Lecter's direction.

"That was fun for you?"

"I always like to help," Lecter says. "It felt very wrong to kiss him myself, so I'm very glad you helped."

She frowns.

"I like to help too."

"See," Lecter says. "I knew we'd see eye to eye. Autor is so very jumpy, isn't he? He was probably disappointed I didn't go to the length of finding his favourite little pink Miss Negativity for kissing purposes."

Little Pink Miss Negativity.

Huh.

"Well, I'm flattered you settled for me." She shakes her head. "But ... I should go."

"Can I offer you a cup of tea and perhaps a seasonal cookie before you do?" Dr. Lecter says.

"Maybe soon," Ava says thoughtfully.

"Not tonight, though."

She hesitates.

"I think you should leave him alone, doctor. I'm probably not the first to say it."

"No, you are not," Lecter says, "on account of people misjudging Autor. He seems harmless, what with all his blushing and crushing, but actually, he is very cunning, devious and shrewd, and benefits very much from having me as his foil."

Ava would buy that Autor is a little devious and shrewd, but it can't be all that much because she's pretty sure she's managing to lie to him successfully.

Then again, they could be bluffing each other. Maybe that's why Lecter wanted them to kiss.

"Is he up to something?"

"Always," Dr. Lecter says. "Not anything specific -- but he observes people, takes notes, watches for the chinks in armours to appear. However, he still makes mistakes."

Her lips quirk.

"I think everybody does, eventually."

"Even you do," Lecter says.

"Yeah," Ava agrees, after a thoughtful pause. "I do."

She steps back, shaking her head.

"Maybe we'll talk about it sometime. See you later, Dr. Lecter."

"See you later, Ava," Dr. Lecter says. "It's been a pleasure, as always."

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