(no subject)

[sunbaked_baker]

There is a lot to do. Ten year old Rae Seddon has new badges to sew onto her hoodie, and an entire patrol to get in touch with.

But currently, she is sitting at her table, bent over a starkly black embroidery design taking shape on a goldeny-yellow piece of duck cloth.

Wings are hard to get right.

Comments

[herr_bookman]

"Hello, Rae," Autor says as he approaches, tucking his book, The Ghost Road by Pat Barker, under his arm. "What are you working on?"

[sunbaked_baker]

"Ship's sails," she answers, smiling up at him. "Well, sails for a model ship."

"'m trying to embroider a raven in the corner, but the wings are hard to do."

[herr_bookman]

"I can imagine," Autor says, mirroring her grin. "But it looks good so far! What made you want to build a model ship?"

[sunbaked_baker]

"Oh, I'm not making the ship, just the sails," she replies, scooting out a chair for him and moving all her stuff out of his way so he can join her at the table. "Vikings come here, Autor! And I met some of 'em!"

"I met one of them who told really good stories and he was making a model ship and he asked if I'd like to make the sails for it, so of course I said yes, though I don't know just how big they'll need to be, so I've not cut the fabric down yet," Rae explains in one breath.

"...He said I could choose the colors. I thought I'd embroider a raven in the corner, too."

[herr_bookman]

Autor beams at her, sitting down immediately. "I've met some of them as well. But that's exciting that you're able to make a ship's sails with one! Congratulations," he says, setting his book aside on the table. "Embroidering a raven is a great idea. Did this Viking go by the name of Floki?"

[sunbaked_baker]

"Yes, he did!" Rae answers to the affirmative, nodding. "After he asked, I did some reading, and the pictures of the ships in the books sometimes had ravens on them, so I thought I'd try embroidering one. It's harder than it looks."

Maybe she should have Diaval model for her.

"I've also met Ragnar - he's got tattoos on either side of his head - and his daughter, Gyda. She's nice - and she was my first target in the Pseudo-assassination game," the girl grins a little.

[herr_bookman]

"Good on you for doing your research," Autor says, waving over a wait rat for tea. "Do you want anything?"

He orders tea for himself, but keeps the rat around just in case. "I've met Ragnar, but I haven't met Gyda yet. Did you manage to get her as a target?"

[sunbaked_baker]

"Some chocolate pinwheels?" she asks, giving a hesitant, slightly wheedling smile. "I'll share."

"We were talking about school and learning, so I distracted Gyda with my science homework to get her to come close enough for me to sticker her with out her suspecting - it almost didn't work."

[herr_bookman]

"Sounds good," Autor says, and sends the rat on its way.

He laughs softly. "That was sneaky of you," he says, shaking his head. "Congratulations on getting her. Do you happen to know who won the game?"

[onceaviking]

If she is still there when the sun has set, Eric will likely pass her by.


If she is now, chances are he will still know she was there. Scents linger.

[sunbaked_baker]

He may pass her by, but she definitely sees Eric. He is very tall and large and does carry something of a presence with him.

She waves, smiling, then likely will bring her embroidery project with her when she approaches.

"Hello," she greets him with a glad-to-see-you smile he will never get from her adult self.

[onceaviking]

A teacup human.

He leans against the wall and gives her a small nod.
"Good evening, Rae."

[sunbaked_baker]

With as-of-yet untapped magic relating to sunlight and creatures that can't stand it.

And she's smiling at him.

"How are you?"

[onceaviking]

"I'm good," he says. Completely devoid of irony.

"You? That looks very domestic."

[sunbaked_baker]

The smile turns grin-ish. "Makin' sails," she says, showing him the rough outline of the raven embroidered on the cloth.

"There're other Vikings here, and one of 'em was making a model of a boat he's planning on building, and he asked if I'd like to make the sails."

The only logical answer was 'yes,' of course. This shows in her smile.

[onceaviking]

"Funny looking guy with a tuft of hair here?"

[sunbaked_baker]

"Mmhmm" she nods, her finger tracing down her cheek in echo of Floki's markings. "And eye-paint, too."

[daringyoungman]

"Whatcha doing?"

Dick hops onto a chair near to her, cheerfully munching on a chicken sandwich as he tilts his head, trying to make sense of the shape she's sewing.

[sunbaked_baker]

"Makin' sails for a viking ship," she grins at Dick, showing him the outline of what might be an embroidered raven, once it's done. "A model viking ship, but still a viking ship."

It'd be made by a Viking, after all.

"Dunno how big they need to be yet, so I've not cut the cloth down," Rae adds, lifting the folded cloth momentarily from her lap to resettle it.

[daringyoungman]

Dick tilts his head the other way, and finally manages to make out the raven.

"Oh! Awesome."

He grins up at her. "Are you gonna make the ship as well?"

[sunbaked_baker]

"No, I wouldn't know how," Rae says, chuckling. "There seemed to be lots of math involved, from what Floki told me. He builds ships. This sail's to be for a model he's making."

[daringyoungman]

"Ugh, math."

Dicks frown is meaningful and long-suffering.

"Why does math always gotta get into things?"

Someone's had a few too many lectures about statistics and the geometry of projectile weapons and the mechanics of Batmobiles.

[sunbaked_baker]

"Seriously," she agrees, emphatically. "That's why I'm leaving the hard part to him, with balancing the boat's weight, speed, balance, and strength and all. I just have to make the sail the right size."

Win!

"I'm Rae, Rae Seddon, by the way. Who're you?"

[daringyoungman]

"Dick Grayson."

He grins at her brightly. "Hey, you're my patrol leader."

If Dick has a problem with a patrol leader who is a girl younger than him...
...he doesn't have a problem with it.

[sunbaked_baker]

"And you're in my patrol!" she beams at him. "It's good to meet you. Have you seen the badges Bonnie's put up for the patrols? What d'you think?"