milliways_bar | (no subject)

(no subject)

Charlie is playing the Gibson. A really fine instrument is like a old and beloved friend, and Charlie is visibly enjoying their conversation--which is in Bach, for those who care about such things.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Hi Charlie! Look, I'm wearing my slippers!"

She shows him.

He laughs. "They look fab, love."

"And look, I got a shawl, and and more dress up clothes, and a doll house and lots of candy."

"Yeah? Cool. Which was your favorite?"

"I don't have one. I like them ALL."

Ingress is in a very very good mood. She gets to leave the House, finally.

"Then you got everything you wanted, didn't you.

"I can't decide if my favorite is the guitar or this." He leans over to show her the necklace around his neck: a small turquoise bear on a leather strand.

"Oooh, that's pretty. Who gave that to you?"

"My friend Darien. He's a very tall bloke who likes sandwiches."

"I like sandwiches! Especially grilled cheese ones."

"Me too! Those happen to be one the few things I know how to make."

"Tom can make them on the stove. He learned how this summer. He doesn't burn them like Door does."

Charlie Does Not Snicker. "Poor Door," he says, quite seriously. "They're a vital part of any diet--I'm glad somebody knows how to make them."

"I like curry, too, but not when it's too hot. We take that home, though. Tom and Door can't make curry."

"The best curry comes from restaurants, anyway. Lord, I miss curry."

"You can come to London Below and have curry! Oh, but wait, you can't right now. There's scary stuff happening there so we can't go out."

"Oh, dear. Do you know what kind of scary stuff?"

Ingress shrugs. She hasn't gotten all the details.

"I think it's a monster. And there's a mean lady here who is bad, and you shouldn't ever, ever talk to her, or she'll hurt you."

"Oh, my--who would this be?"

"Blodwen Rowlands. She was nice to me, but she's evil. Tom says. And so does Megwyn."

"My, my. That's the worst kind of evil--the kind where you can't tell."

"Yeah. Oh! But guess what! Gavroche is a wizard now! But I'm not supposed to tell everybody, but I can tell you."

Charlie nods, surprised. "Is he, now. Wow. How'd that happen?"

"We don't know! Rabbit gave him the Oath, and he has a rat who talks to him, but he's not a Ratspeaker. And he has a wand, just like Tom, but Tom says it's not the same as his. He's practicing a lot and he says he'll look out for me even better now."

Ingress is proud of her big brother.

"A rabbit gave him an oath?" He's bewildered--he knows of a few gods, but not al of them.

"That's what he told us! I expect it was a talking rabbit." She nods wisely.

"Not a demon bunny, I assume."

"No. They don't talk."

"They just burn things, I've heard.

"The only talking rabbit I've ever seen in here was Bugs Bunny . . . I don't know if he could make somebody a wizard. Though really I shouldn't be surprised if he could. Hm."

"I'll ask, but I think Gavroche just said his name was Rabbit."

Tom waves from the bar - it's nerly time for Ingress's bed time. She gives Charlie a big hug.

"I have to go, but I'll see you soon. Thanks for my pretty slippers."

"You're welcome, love. Thank you for the sweets. Happy Christmas." He beams at the hug. Hugging is yay.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only