(no subject)

[kitchen_maid]

Amy is over by the fire, with tea, rocking a small, low cradle with her foot. Susan is just about asleep, with one tiny hand tight on the ear of white stuffed elephant.

Assuming you don't wake the baby, Amy would probably be simply delighted to talk to you.

Comments

[obligatoryass]

Logan can avoid waking the baby! It's a talent.

Of course, she's a princess baby, so she probably sleeps better than other babies.

"Hey, lady," he says, smiling at Amy. "How's life for you?"

[kitchen_maid]

"Very, very good," she says. "We got your gifts, Logan. Thank you. Sit down, tell me how you're doing."

Susan stirs a little, but doesn't wake up.

[obligatoryass]

"And I got yours," Logan says. "I carry it with me all the time. Thank you. Things are OK, I guess. I survived Christmas with my sister and her boyfriend, so that was good. How about you?"

[kitchen_maid]

"I survived the delegation from Plumblossomburg. They stayed for three weeks, and they're still very annoyed that Perry didn't marry Persephone, and for the moment, things are almost quiet. It's nice.

"I'm glad you got the present."

[obligatoryass]

Logan makes a face. "Of course they are," he says. "And of course they can't see why not."

Logan is quiet for a moment, then says, "It meant a lot."

There might be more to say. Logan is not sure how to say any of it.

[kitchen_maid]

"They're rather silly, really," says Amy, dismissing her husband's aunt's courtiers with a wave of her hand.

"Sometimes it helps to have something to hold onto," she says, her own fingers closing around her necklace. "Susan seems to think so, too."

[obligatoryass]

Logan smiles. "She sure does. And what's that you're holding onto there?"

[kitchen_maid]

She uncurls her fingers so he can see it. "Susan Allgood left it for me. I wear it all the time."

[obligatoryass]

"It's lovely," Logan says. "A dreamcatcher. They were trendy for awhile in my world. Everyone had one. They're out of fashion, but the story behind them is still pretty cool."

[kitchen_maid]

Amy doesn't concern herself with trends. She's a queen. She sets them, and if other people don't follow them, well, they're the unfashionable ones.

"I don't think I've never heard it," she says. "Would you mind telling me?"

[obligatoryass]

"Oh, it's cool," he says. "The dreamcatchers are usually hung over your bed, and they filter the evil spirits and bad dreams so the sleeper only gets good dreams."

Looking at Susan, sleeping peacefully, he notes, "It seems to be pretty effective."

[kitchen_maid]

"Yes," says Amy, with a smile. "I'd say it's very effective."

She's gone to one of those places he probably can't quite follow her, but only for a second or two.

"So you had Christmas with your sister? Did you have a good time?"

[obligatoryass]

Logan can't possibly follow her, and he's pretty much OK with that.

Wrinkling his nose, he says, "If by "good time," you mean talking about how messed up our family is, then yes."

Actually, it ended up not so bad. He was even nice to Chad. Sort of.

[doctor-weir.livejournal.com]

Verbs are only entertaining for about an hour or so before they all start to blend together.

Elizabeth smiles, asking in a hushed voice.

[kitchen_maid]

Amy looks up and smiles.

"It'd be lovely to talk to someone who knows actual words and isn't interested in talking about where to seat the ambassador's daughters," she says. "And you needn't whisper -- once Susan is asleep, she tends to stay asleep.

"I'm Amy."

[doctor-weir.livejournal.com]

"Elizabeth. Pleasure to meet you."

Elizabeth is never very sure about children -- better to whisper at the outset then risk waking them up.

"And I promise," she continues as she finds herself a chair, "I have no interest in seating arrangements for ambassadors. That's a part of an old job I do not miss at all."

[kitchen_maid]

It's harder to wake babies that most people think. Especially if they're baby princesses from fairy tales.

"It's lovely to meet you, Elizabeth. And what did you used to to that you had to worry about seating arrangements?"

[doctor-weir.livejournal.com]

"I used to work for an organization that negotiated treaties between countries," Elizabeth starts. "If you're from Earth, it's called the United Nations."

"Are you in a diplomatic field, Amy?"

[kitchen_maid]

"I'm from Earth, bit I've never heard of anything called the United Nations," she says.

A very bright smile. "You could say that. My husband is the King of Ambergeldar."

[doctor-weir.livejournal.com]

Elizabeth laughs, "That's what I get for not specifying a timeframe."

The name of the country gives her pause though. "...I'm afraid Ambergeldar doesn't ring a bell. What year are you from?"

[kitchen_maid]

"I don't think it exists on most versions of Earth," she says. "Which I'm mostly used to, here, but it's still a little odd to realize.

"It's hard to say, with years. It's the fifteenth year of the Reign of King Algernon, but that doesn't help. Well before electricity, if it helps."

It's fairy tale mediaval. The peasants all have nice teeth.

[doctor-weir.livejournal.com]

"I'm afraid I don't recognize King Algernon, you're right -- but that would explain why I don't know the name. I'm from 2006. Electricity and computers and spaceships."

Pause. "Not that some things we have that you don't I wish we didn't have. Television? Boring."

[kitchen_maid]

"I've visited 2006," says Amy. "I went to a mall. In Neptune, California. It was very . . . bright. And loud."

She found it mildly overwhelming.

"Television?"

[doctor-weir.livejournal.com]

"And that was your first experience with my time?"

Elizabeth's face reads something like 'I'm sorry', but she's still smiling.

"And yes, television. It's a...box, with recorded performances played simultaneously for a wide audience."

[kitchen_maid]

"Not exactly. I went to a beach before that, but it was my first experience with shopping in your time. And with . . . cars. They're very fast.

"Oh, like movies?"