(no subject)

[ostro_goth]

Teja is sitting in the bar tonight, three cats sleeping all over his chair, and all over him.

The fourth cat is in the clutches of the sleepy, red-headed toddler in Teja's lap, to whom he is singing a long, long ballad in a low voice.

Comments

[road_to_calvary]

Valjean does not wish to disturb this scene. It is very lovely. He simply nods at Teja as he passes him to reach another chair nearby, and sits back with coffee to listen.

[ostro_goth]

"Greetings, Jean Valjean," Teja says, when he stops singing after Egil has fallen asleep.

The cat Ferdinand doesn't even try to escape from his little grasping hands.

[road_to_calvary]

Valjean smiles gently.

'Fauchelevent, please,' he says, all calm.

'Good evening, Teja. And little Egil. How are you both?'

[ostro_goth]

"I am sorry," Teja says. "And indeed, we are both well. Pyrrha is busy often with her friends in their world, but I find I that life with Egil is much easier than I believed."

[road_to_calvary]

He is not sure what to say to that. He could not possibly comment on relationship dynamics. All he can do is nod.

'He seems a quiet child, it is true.'

[ostro_goth]

"At the end of the day, but not in the morning," Teja says, with a little smile. "But the cats keep him busy while I am working."

[road_to_calvary]

'They must make good playmates for him.'

Cosette busied herself a whole day long with her doll. He remembers that as he remembers everything about her.

'Children are good at amusing themselves with the smallest things.'

[ostro_goth]

"They are," Teja says. "Both when he is human, and when he is fox-shaped."

[road_to_calvary]

Valjean nods, his gaze wandering around the bar. It alights briefly on Javert over in his corner, drawing on paper and consulting a book, but moves off almost at once. He looks at Egil instead, a small smile back on his face.

'I suppose it will always be normal to him, to be able to be both.'

[ostro_goth]

"For him, normal is Milliways," Teja says. "He will marvel, later, that there are worlds out there were all have ever the same shape, and the cats do never talk in human words."

[road_to_calvary]

'I hope then, he does not find himself bored as he gets older.'

Genuinely. Valjean cannot imagine it, but it must be a worry.

'Though with his family, I suppose that must be a moot point.'

[ostro_goth]

"I think so," Teja says. "We shall never completely leave here, even though we do hope to live in that house in Tuscany that I have access to, later."

[road_to_calvary]

'You have a house in Tuscany?'

He is not sure if he knew that. His expression turns a little faraway for a second, but it is not so different from his usual thoughtful air.

'Pyhrra mentioned that the boy may be taken away though. By his grandfather?'

[runningred]

Jay smiles when he sees Teja and Egil. He catches Teja's eye and nods to the bar, offering to grab him something. Kinda hard to get up and order when you have a lapful of child and cats.

[ostro_goth]

Teja nods, and while holding on to Egil safely with his arms, manages to nevertheless form the letter 'T' with two fingers, hoping Jay will understand.

[runningred]

Jay nods and give him a thumbs up. He heads to the bar and comes back with a pot of Teja's preferred tea. He slides it carefully onto the table and holds his hands out to him, his voice low. "Want me to take the little one for a bit?"

[ostro_goth]

"You would need to take him along with Ferdinand," Teja whispers, looking at the big white-and-tabby cat that Egil is clutching. "If you can indeed do that, I would thank you."

[runningred]

"I think I can manage that." Jay shifts closer and manages to carefully scoop up Egil and Ferdinand without too much fuss, settling them in his lap. "He's grown up a lot since last I saw him."

[ostro_goth]

"He grows very quickly," Teja nods. "Were he awake, he would speak!"

He pours his tea. "Would you wish for some, also?"

[runningred]

"Talking? Already, wow." He smiles and strokes Egil's back.

He shakes his head. "I'm good, thanks. How are things going?"

[ostro_goth]

Teja drinks his tea, grateful for it.

"They are going well, but Pyrrha is often busy," he says. "Luckily, there is Jack, also, who will look after Egil while I am in the forge; that is no safe place for a child Egil's age."

[runningred]

"The garage isn't much better than the forge but if you ever need someone to keep an eye on him for a while, I can help out."

"How is Pyrrha? Haven't seen her around for a while. I'm pretty sure I owe her a commission at some point."

[ostro_goth]

"I shall keep that in mind," Teja nods, earnestly. "And Pyrrha is busy -- with her associates, working in their world."

He rarely sees her; for most things they need to do, other versions of Loki are preferred. But he may not speak of it to any.

[runningred]

He nods, not asking anything more about Pyrrha. He can tell there's something Teja's not saying but it isn't his place to ask.

"How are things in the forge? Are you open to new work at the moment?"

[ostro_goth]

"They are well," Teja says. "I have no helper now, but the device Dejah Thoris suggested to me is working well, so I no longer need to endanger a man in the position of my bellows-puller. And indeed, I have room for commission, even though I no longer work through the night when there is a hurry, or I do not wish to stop -- I am expected at home, after all."

He smiles at sleepy little Egil, fondly.