milliways_bar | (no subject)

...

...

Cuthbert stops staring at Manuel long enough to staaaaaaaaaaare at Anthy.

"Who is this 'Roland'? Is he your FAMILY?"

"He's Cuthbert's," says Anthy sweetly, ignoring the staaaaare.

*Meg has had enough of this.

She shoves the tutu over Manuel's head. And then dives under the table.*

As Cuthbert now sees it, he has several options.

a) have a seizure

b) fall down laughing again

c) harm Anthy

d) join Meg under the table

e) all of the above

or,

f) make a desperate grab for sanity

"Roland," he says in a perfectly level tone, "would be my friend. My male friend. Who has no more interest in people of the same gender than I do. Which is to say, none."

"He seemed very interested in Walter," Anthy points out, with a look of innocent confusion.

This is true, *Meg volunteers, from under the table.*

Also ka-tet is family, Cuthbert. You said!

Manuel looks disdainful.

"You are not to be putting your gun in another man's holster."

"That's...a rather apt way of putting it."

Having decided, for the moment at least, to simply Ignore Anthy, Cuthbert glances under the table and says, sweetly,

"In any case, Meg, I'm certain Manuel here would find your family ever so much more interesting than mine."

He looks at Meg consideringly.

"Do YOU have a beautiful wife?"

I have a beautiful ex-fiancee, *Meg says dubiously.* But, er, no wife.

Anthy looks betrayed.

Manuel gives Anthy a look of LUST.

Cuthbert gives Meg a look of "What the almighty fucking HELL?"

But, er, *Meg adds hastily,* they're not here. The ex-fiancee, that is. They're. Er. Somewhere else.

Manuel sidles closer to Anthy and speaks in his Sexy Voice.

"You like Manuel, no?"

Meg owes Anthy.

Anthy ignores Manuel as hard as she can, and says to Meg, with some confusion, "I am?"

....

Bert...

...Yeah, Bert's got nothin'.

*Okay, if Anthy's just going to throw herself to the wolves like that . . .*

Well, okay, she's not. But she is underage!

Manuel's eyes gleam.

"Does she hhhave all hhher teeth?"

Anthy covers her mouth.

Cuthbert considers the situation.

On the one hand, he has a rather extreme grudge against Anthy.

On the other, Manuel is sort of creeping him out.

Mmm, internal conflict.

No, *Meg lies blatantly.* She lost all her teeth at age two. Tragic baking accident.

Manuel looks DELIGHTED.

Cuthbert, meanwhile, is considering Manuel's inquiry, and his reaction, and putting two and two together.

"OW. Ow, brain, I did not need that, thanks."

Oh, damn. He's going to hate himself for this, but...fucking chivalry...

Cuthbert steps in front of Anthy. Protectively.

And possibly grumbling a bit.