milliways_bar | (no subject)

(no subject)

Kaylee is sitting in a chair by the fireplace with her feet tucked under her. There's an abandoned mug of tea on the table beside the chair.

It is a truth universally acknowledged ~~kind of~~ that daydreams are more interesting than tea.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Yeah? Like where?"

Kaylee is having an innocent conversation with a friendly young man.

Utterly unknowing.

Puck might just spot Simon out of the corner of an eye. And may make some rapid deductions regarding him, funny noises, and a certain charming young lady in the immediate vicinity.

To Kaylee, he says with another shrug, "Oh, here and there. All places have their charms, of course, but upon occasion those charms aren't quite enough to counteract ... other factors."

Options: (1) Run find someone from Security. (2) Run find the captain. (3) Try to distract Kaylee. (4) Try to distract Robin. (5) Stalk over and confront Robin.

Disadvantages: (1) and (2) both mean taking your eyes off the current situation, which could be disastrous if Robin is feeling ... whimsical. (3), (4) and (5) could all wind up making you look like a jealous twit (if you don't get the chance to explain to Kaylee), or getting you turned into something even less fun than a penguin (if Robin doesn't want to give you the chance to explain to Kaylee), or getting Kaylee turned into something, or quite possibly all three.

Current tactic: stay where you are and watch them like a h -- watch them like a person who wants very much to keep an eye on what happens next.

"What kind of factors? I mean, I know this place ain't exactly the safest all the time..."

Did Puck just wink at Simon?

Why, I do believe he did.

"Oh, not here," he says, shaking his head. "My world, I meant. I'm sure you know how it is. One isn't welcome everywhere."

Scrap current tactic -- Robin already knows you're here.

Simon takes a deep breath, and starts making his way over to Kaylee's table.

Kaylee looks up...and smiles.

Like nothing's the matter.

Because it's not. Right?

"Wei." She turns to Puck. "Puck, this is Simon. And Simon...this is Puck."

Puck smiles sweetly.

"Delighted, Simon." A pause. "My, you're looking less-than-shiny."

A bit thinly: "We've met."

And then a pause, and just the slightest misgiving.

"...Unless you have a twin brother named Robin."

Kaylee is now sitting up straight...and holding very, very still.

Her eyes go from Simon to Puck.

She's...scared.

Puck blinks.

And deadpans: "Has he been coming around here?"

Simon's voice is thinner, and transparently skeptical. "Oh yes. Two nights ago."

She watches this, and doesn't say anything. Doesn't move.

(Ain't nothing but a body to me. And I can find all unseemly manner of use for it.)

Puck spares Kaylee an unreadable glance, then turns back to Simon with a smile.

"I see you've molted."

"Yes. And if you'd like to make the joke about herring heads next, by all means feel free."

Simon has not missed Kaylee's tension, but he doesn't dare glance at her again.

(Maybe I come down the chimney, Kaylee. Bring presents to the good girls and boys.)

She draws back. Can't not.

(The path before you has been prepared.)

He shrugs.

"I could-- but that would, as they say, be far too easy. Besides, I was only trying to help." A tilt of the head. "Did it work?"

"That would depend," says Simon coldly, "on what you were trying to accomplish."

Her eyes are wide.

(You throw a monkey wrench into my dealings in any way, your body is forfeit.)

He leans towards Simon, a little, and says, "Was she pleased to see you?"

"Not until she figured out it was me--"

His eyes flicker involuntarily to Kaylee.

(run)

(Turn around and put your hands behind your back.)

She's not moving.

If she relaxes even a little, she'll start to tremble, and she can't do that.

(Deeper. Go...deeper.)

Puck frowns.

"Well, that's a pity. Must be losing my touch."

He turns to Kaylee and-- stops, for a moment (aught amiss?)-- before smiling again.

"He did make a lovely little penguin, sweet."

(That's her beating heart, isn't it? Pull off any one of a thousand parts she'll just die. Such a slender thread.)

"Like him just how he is."

Her voice is choked.

His smile gentles, sweetens. There's a hint of sharp teeth.

"Well, then. That's something."

Simon edges around to Kaylee's side, and reaches for her hand to pull her to her feet.

His own hand, like his voice, is cold but perfectly steady.

"If you'll excuse us, please."

And slowly, not running, drawing Kaylee with him, he heads for the front door.

Puck frowns at the pair as they go.

Twitchy and twitchier ... well, they're well-matched, sure enough.

Should've turned them both into penguins.

The door shuts behind them.

For a moment, Kaylee can be seen turning back to make sure it's closing...and that Puck isn't following.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only