milliways_bar | (no subject)

(no subject)

There is a Cuthbert, sitting at the bar with dinner.

There is also a newly acquired leatherbound notebook in which things--mostly lists, from the look of it--are being written and occasionally scribbled out. Mostly in the High Speech, though he's also taking the opportunity for more practice writing English.

~~There is also a recycled entrance post, but shhh.~~

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Anthy is serene like Kuan Yin.

"No."

"Hell no!"

Cuthbert looks concerned. "But what if they clash with my gunbelts?"

"We dress up the gunbelts."

Duh.

"Lace," Lilly says firmly. "And lots of it. People will wonder if they're gunbelts or garterbelts by the time we're through."

They could in fact double as both!

"See, now there's ruffles and sparkles and lace?" Cuthbert shakes his head. "Sorry, kids. I've always been a bit of a minimalist at heart."

"This wedding is Susan's special day," Anthy says, with big reproachful eyes. "Surely you can't be that selfish."

"I don't see Susan here encouraging ruffles." Cuthbert points out.

Ah, Bert. You with your logic.

We are her fellows in teenaged girldom, *Meg says solemnly,* and we speak for her.

"Same club," Lilly points out, grinning. "Also wedding planner, here. I think that lends the planning a certain authority."

"Hey, I agreed you could help. Never said anything about putting you in charge."

Beat.

"For...precisely this reason, actually."

Lilly looks wounded.

"I'm hurt, Koosh. Or I would be if the groom had any say in the wedding planning at all."

Cuthbert arches an eyebrow. "How many gunslinger weddings have you planned?"

"If we count my demonic wedding to Alain, one more than you," Lilly says promptly, not giggling. Nope, not at all.

"You don't know that, actually."

For a moment, there's a look that Lilly might be able to recognize, by now, from all the times she's stumbled on something doomy. Then,

"And considering yours and Alain's was not so much planned at all, I'd say I still have the edge."

"Very well," Lilly replies, conceding more graciously than she might have done if she hadn't caught the look in Cuthbert's eyes.

"No Aquanet. But if your hair's windblown in the pictures, you have only yourself to blame."

"I happen to think the windblown look works rather well for me, actually."

There's a part of Bert that's consciously steering the conversation elsewhere. But hey, don't knock the windblown look.

Lilly brightens.

"I forgot, you won't have to worry about your hair because of the ruffly wedding bonnet!"

"Susan asked me to help with the planning," Anthy says innocently, to no one in particular.

And it's at this point that Susan herself approaches, with a curious glance for the coterie of young women that Cuthbert seems to be surrounded by.

"Susan!"

At the sight of Susan, Cuthbert pushes his way through the cluster of girls, takes her by the shoulders, and kisses her soundly.

"I have never been so glad to see you."

Still holding her shoulders, he turns and points her at the other girls.

"Tell them you don't want me wearing ruffles?"

They scatter.

Lilly's giggling; Kaylee and Anthy are looking determinedly innocent; Meg's dragging a bewildered Ami.

They're gone in seconds. Like baby quail.

Susan looks after them in some bemusement and then tilts her head back to look up at Cuthbert.

"...ruffles?"

Is that a mischievous gleam?

"And sparkles." Cuthbert says solemnly. "It was a grueling ordeal."