(no subject)

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

Cuthbert is lounging on the couch he and Susan most usually frequent. He is sadly hatless, wondering vaguely what the fourth of July is, and possibly keeping an eye out for Alanna.

Comments

[sai_delgado]

Susan comes out of the staff quarters and glances around the room-- and upon seeing Cuthbert, she smiles, and comes over to him.

"Long days and pleasant nights, 'Bert."

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

Cuthbert straightens up a bit on the couch, returning the smile. "And may you have twice the number, Susan."

[awesome_lilly]

Lilly comes downstairs holding an extremely garishly wrapped box and heads directly over to Susan and Koosh, grinning madly.

"What up, folken?"

[sai_delgado]

"Goodeven, Lilly," Susan answers brightly, with an innocent glance at the box.

"Long days and pleasant nights."

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

Cuthbert glances from the box, to Susan, to Lilly, and arches one eyebrow.

"Evening, Lilly. I'd tip my hat to you, but as you can see, it seems to have gone missing."

[awesome_lilly]

Lilly's face is the picture of friendly concern.

"I know Koosh, and I felt terrible when I heard the news."

She sighs heavily.

"Nothing could ever replace your beloved hat, of course, but... well, I think this might help."

She holds out the box, not smiling at all. It's a bit of a miracle.

[sai_delgado]

The same miracle doesn't apply to Susan, sadly. She's smiling, a little, as she tells Lilly,

"Oh, and ye're kind to take such care--"

She turns to Cuthbert, looking expectant.

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

Lilly is getting eyed rather a lot by this point.

"That's ever so kind of you, Lilly. I'm not certain I'll ver be able to repay you."

Finally, he takes the box. And opens it.

"...Yep, I think repaying this is going to take some doing."

[awesome_lilly]

"Oh, Koosh, you don't have to repay me, silly. This is a gift," Lilly says, her voice positively dripping with sweetness and sincerity.

"All I want is for you to enjoy it."

She's fighting back giggles now and winning, but barely.

[sai_delgado]

Susan is biting her lip hard as the hat is revealed -- she knows what it looks like, aye she remembers it very well indeed -- and her voice is light, very light, as she asks him,

"Are thee going to try it on, then?"

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

"Oh, but a gift as...special as this one is going to have to be repaid somehow, I feel." Cuthbert replies, matching the sweetness in Lilly's tone note for note.

As Susan speaks, he eyes her with the kind of eyeing that fortells of serious tickling in the not-too-distant future.

"I think trying it on might have to wait until later, say sorry."

[awesome_lilly]

At Koosh's words, Lilly's face falls. Her eyes get big, her bottom lip sticks out and... there might even be a hint of a quiver.

"You're... you're not even going to try your present on?"

[sai_delgado]

Susan looks gravely at Cuthbert. Very gravely, oh aye. She's not unaware of the risk of tickling, but they've come this far--

"Chosen special for thee, and gifted so, and thee won't even wear it to show the giver?"

[sai_delgado]

Sometime after Lilly's departure, Susan and Cuthbert are sitting on the couch.

She is trying very, very hard not to laugh, and to hold an innocent look in place.

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

Cuthbert is leaning back on the couch with his arms folded, eyeing her with mock sternness.

"You, Miss Delgado, are asking for it. Mind you, I'm not entirely sure what 'it' is, but when I figure it out..."

[sai_delgado]

She beams at him, laughing openly now.

"Aye, well-- it'll be worth it, I wot. Thee needed to know that ye're not the only one who can pull capers, 'Bert."

[the_lioness]

*Alanna spots them sitting very near where Barty had been earlier today and rubs her nose anxiously. They look so damn happy. The last thing she wants to do is ruin that, but this conversation must take place. Soon. Now.*

Susan? Cuthbert? *She moves around in front of them, face solemn.* Might I have a word?

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

Cuthbert glances up and then nods to Alanna, sobering somewhat, although not entirely losing his smile.

"Alanna. Aye, I think we've both been hoping to speak with you as well." He glances to Susan for confirmation.

[sai_delgado]

She catches his glance as her own smile fades, and Susan straightens, facing Alanna fully.

"Aye, we had, say true."

[the_lioness]

*Alanna studies them both intently, her expression guarded. She is a knight, but she is also to some extent a diplomat, as much as she loathes the thought. Surely she can get through this.

Straightening, she unclips her sword and flips it horizontally so it's just resting on the tips of her fingers as if she is offering it up for inspection. After a moment, she gently places the sword on the table nearest the couch. Bowing deeply, she speaks in measured tones.*

Susan, I understand that you and Clarice argued over something that I believe to be mostly a misunderstanding. I wish to start by assuring you that no offense was ever intended, my lady. I simply wish to keep all patrons, you and the horses as safe as possible. You have dominion over the stables. I've never believed otherwise. Unfortunately, I thought this had all been worked out with you, and that it was obvious that Clarice, and any security member who happened to be in the stables for that matter, would keep an eye on Barty.

*She straightens once more, her eyes alert.* I apologize.

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

Alanna's words are directed at Susan, and thus, Cuthbert leaves it for her to answer. However, at Alanna's gesture with her sword, he straightens up somewhat, and as she finishes, he glances at Susan, and then reaches toward his gunbelts.

One revolver is unholstered and held out, flat in the palm of one hand, and then laid beside Alanna's sword. This done, he settles back and looks to Susan again, waiting for her to speak.

[sai_delgado]

(everything the Way of the Eld is not)

The symbolic movement of Alanna's sword makes her wonder, but it's 'Bert's removal of his gun that troubles her, and troubles her greatly, say true.

(she took Roland's guns)

Quietly, carefully, she says, "It's not-- I've no doubt that ye intended to protect--"

(we'd all protect her if we could)

"-- it's that ye gave Clarice orders to go 'undercover,' and that I weren't to know of it, nor Alain, I wot. That it were to be a secret, and here I were trying to protect those under my own responsibility and care, do'ee ken?"

[the_lioness]

*At Cuthbert's gesture, Alanna turns her head slightly and smiles. It's very appreciated. Susan's words startle her, and her mouth drops open, but she keeps quiet until the other girl is through.*

Susan, on my word as a knight, I gave no such order. *Her brow furrows.* Perhaps something I said was misconstrued, but that was certainly not how I wanted this to go. I spoke with Barry before I received word from Bigby that he had worked out the stable arrangement with you, and that I was to release Barty. I mentioned to Barry that Barty would likely be released soon, and that stable duty had been discussed as punishment. Clarice has worked with us in the past, and I suggested that she be informed, and help keep an eye on him. Yes, we discussed her new role, but that wasn't... I didn't think it would trump her position in the stables.

I do not care for such secrecy, and I respect the job that you do. *She nods firmly.*

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

Cuthbert listens in silence, his brow furrowing when Alanna tells them it wasn't her who gave Clarice her orders.

When she finishes, he leans forward. "It seems to me that Security's biggest problem right now is failure to communicate. With Tim's situation, things are...chaotic, to say the least--but we need to get everyone on the same page, as soon as we can manage it."

[sai_delgado]

Susan frowns, and winds a lock of hair around a finger, thinking. She's less strained now than she had been when Alanna first arrived -- but Cuthbert's mention of Tim causes her to tense up once more.

"Clarice-- I spoke with her again last night," she says thoughtfully. "Mayhap it were-- were a mistake, as 'Bert says-- she thought that because ye hadn't told me, Alanna, that she were supposed to keep it secret. That I didn't need to know." It has the air of a quote.

(no more secrets)

"She-- aye, she takes it seriously, her security work, I wot." A beat. "She quit the stable-work for it, only to volunteer there, or were to, anyhow. She's... devoted, mayhap."