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["Purrfect" is a little perplexing, and definitely something he'll ask about later.
When she arrives the next day, both Alfie and Royce will be in. Alfie will be making tea and lunch - roast rabbit - in the kitchen, and probably trying to chase Royce off of sitting on the counters.]
When she arrives the next day, both Alfie and Royce will be in. Alfie will be making tea and lunch - roast rabbit - in the kitchen, and probably trying to chase Royce off of sitting on the counters.]
[Meulin arrives in something a little more modest than he last saw her in, though a great deal more green. Fancy handwritten notes demanded fancier clothes obviously. Though really, she just missed having any reason to wear the nicer clothes in her closet. Even this wasn't something she could have worn to anything special.
But clothing choices aside, she knocks--waits, and then peeks her head inside with the air of someone unsure if this is infringing on privacy or expected behavior. If there's nothing she'd learned in her year around the tributes, it was that different cultures had vastly different expectations. ]
Hello?
[As she makes her way inside, a small basket dangling from her arm becomes visible. It looks like it's made of seagrass and holds a few fruits. Her personal delight in the ease of gathering food was to be shared]
But clothing choices aside, she knocks--waits, and then peeks her head inside with the air of someone unsure if this is infringing on privacy or expected behavior. If there's nothing she'd learned in her year around the tributes, it was that different cultures had vastly different expectations. ]
Hello?
[As she makes her way inside, a small basket dangling from her arm becomes visible. It looks like it's made of seagrass and holds a few fruits. Her personal delight in the ease of gathering food was to be shared]
[ Royce is indeed on the counter, ignoring Alfie's attempt to swat him away from sitting there. He likes it here. Leave him be. He actually kicks Alfie lightly with his foot when he hears the knock, letting Alfie know Meulin is here. He's a little on edge, mostly because guests in their house always puts him on edge, but it's alright.
He doesn't call out to her, expecting Alfie will take care of the pleasantries. He's not a great host. ]
He doesn't call out to her, expecting Alfie will take care of the pleasantries. He's not a great host. ]
Hello--
[He knees Royce's leg on the way out of the kitchen, putting himself in her line of sight so she can lipread.]
Yeah, hello. You look lovely this afternoon.
[He holds out his hand for a handshake, if she'll take it.]
This is Royce, here, in the kitchen - Royce, she has to see your mouth move when you talk; she can't tell what you're saying if you've got your hood up.
[He knees Royce's leg on the way out of the kitchen, putting himself in her line of sight so she can lipread.]
Yeah, hello. You look lovely this afternoon.
[He holds out his hand for a handshake, if she'll take it.]
This is Royce, here, in the kitchen - Royce, she has to see your mouth move when you talk; she can't tell what you're saying if you've got your hood up.
[The little bits of domesticity--the man up on the counter and the ease with which they act around each other--relax something in her. It's hard to realize how long it's been since she's been around people who acted like family. It makes her miss her own. A smile is on her lips before Alfie even greets her. ]
Thank you, I liked the excuse to dress up. [She takes his hand but the grip is uncertain and her mind is clearly elsewhere. There's far more attention paid to what he's saying. ]
It's nice to meet you...um, Roy? Roysh? [A dismayed look ] Names are the worst, I'm sorry. I'll figure it out, I promise!
Thank you, I liked the excuse to dress up. [She takes his hand but the grip is uncertain and her mind is clearly elsewhere. There's far more attention paid to what he's saying. ]
It's nice to meet you...um, Roy? Roysh? [A dismayed look ] Names are the worst, I'm sorry. I'll figure it out, I promise!
[ Ah. Royce tilts his head a bit, watching her. She can't hear. Alright. He's - actually accommodating, which might be surprising to some. He pulls the hood down and makes sure his speech is visible. ]
Royce. [ He says again, gently, a little exaggerated to give her an idea of how the name works. ] Don't worry about it.
Meulin, right?
Royce. [ He says again, gently, a little exaggerated to give her an idea of how the name works. ] Don't worry about it.
Meulin, right?
Ah--[She catches the spelling out, exaggerated for effect as much as how his friend exaggerated his name. She lights up when he makes the E]
R-O-Y-C-E. [She signs each letter carefully so Alfie can catch them, though she hardly expects him to remember them. ]
So Royce, it's nice to meet you as well Royce. I'm still meeting everyone. It doesn't seem like there's too many people here yet I don't think I've met half of them. There isn't really a communal...space.
R-O-Y-C-E. [She signs each letter carefully so Alfie can catch them, though she hardly expects him to remember them. ]
So Royce, it's nice to meet you as well Royce. I'm still meeting everyone. It doesn't seem like there's too many people here yet I don't think I've met half of them. There isn't really a communal...space.
[ He watches those letters! He's going to try to remember them, if only because he's endlessly fascinated with languages, especially signing. The letters vaguely resemble the ones he'd learned in the Diamond, but they're not similar enough for him to be fluent. ]
Not exactly, no. People tend to harass you in the street if they want to talk, though. Might not exactly need one.
Not exactly, no. People tend to harass you in the street if they want to talk, though. Might not exactly need one.
[Her shoulders lift in a silent laugh, her eyes crinkling at the edges with her bright smile]
You say that like there's something wrong with being friendly. [Her tone is a little teasing] I prefer to think about it as being proactive. Have to meet people halfway if you want to get to know them. Or more than halfway for some people.
And I'd love some tea. I miss that most about the Capitol sometimes. They had so many kinds. I was a little spoiled by it honestly.
You say that like there's something wrong with being friendly. [Her tone is a little teasing] I prefer to think about it as being proactive. Have to meet people halfway if you want to get to know them. Or more than halfway for some people.
And I'd love some tea. I miss that most about the Capitol sometimes. They had so many kinds. I was a little spoiled by it honestly.
[ Oh god, she's a friendly get to know you type, Royce thinks grouchily. He pulls a bit of a face, but he doesn't say anything, settling on his counter. Alfie can cuff him all he wants, Royce isn't moving. ]
You can wish for whatever tea you want, here. [ Royce tells her. ]
You can wish for whatever tea you want, here. [ Royce tells her. ]
[As Alfie finishes up the tea, he leans into Royce heavily, trying to shove him off-balance (and maybe trying to make him laugh a little, too; don't be grouchy, Royce!).
He waits to speak until he can look over his shoulder at her.]
This isn't anything fancy, I'm afraid. Proper British tea - I don't suppose you've got any idea what Britain is, where you're from.
He waits to speak until he can look over his shoulder at her.]
This isn't anything fancy, I'm afraid. Proper British tea - I don't suppose you've got any idea what Britain is, where you're from.
[Setting her basket on a nearby surface leaves her with both hands relatively free but honestly all it accomplishes is to make it easier for her to press her fist to her lips to stifle a laugh. ]
It's okay if you're not that into small talk. I'm fairly sure that for my best friend, getting accosted by people who want to chat is a nightmare. Man of few words even with people he likes to be honest.
And I heard you can wish for all sorts of things. I've been thinking about pets from back home. I know they might be fine but I still worry--And no, I don't, but I'm sure it's fine! I liked most kinds honestly. I'm easy to please with tea. Coffee requires a little more work to make palatable.
It's okay if you're not that into small talk. I'm fairly sure that for my best friend, getting accosted by people who want to chat is a nightmare. Man of few words even with people he likes to be honest.
And I heard you can wish for all sorts of things. I've been thinking about pets from back home. I know they might be fine but I still worry--And no, I don't, but I'm sure it's fine! I liked most kinds honestly. I'm easy to please with tea. Coffee requires a little more work to make palatable.
Edited (i'll do the html later i said, gj self) 2017-09-12 23:30 (UTC)
[ Wah! Royce catches himself on the counter with a disgruntled sound, kneeing Alfie in the side. Gently. They're really overgrown children. ]
Didn't know Britain either. If it produces people like Solomons, I can't imagine I'd ever want to visit the place. [ Royce says loftily. His expression totally gives away that he's ribbing at Alfie. ]
Didn't know Britain either. If it produces people like Solomons, I can't imagine I'd ever want to visit the place. [ Royce says loftily. His expression totally gives away that he's ribbing at Alfie. ]
You poor poor thing. [Her expression is solemn but her eyes are dancing] Such a tragedy, dealing with such abuse. Aren't you just so mean to him, Royce?
[She takes the cup of tea and breathes it in] Oh--sugar purrhaps? Milk? I've never heard of milk in tea.
[She takes the cup of tea and breathes it in] Oh--sugar purrhaps? Milk? I've never heard of milk in tea.
I'm the worst criminal there is. [ Royce says dryly, settling back against the counter. He's quiet otherwise, content to just listen to them talk. He doesn't want to get too much in the way, especially when it's Alfie who invited her in the first place. ]
[She sips her tea, making a little face at just how strong the tea as it is and contemplates the addition of sugar and possibly milk.]
Purr--oh it's just a thing I used to do when I was younger. It still pops up once in a while. It annoyed some of my older friends so I sort of did it on purpose. [She grins] But my pa--family? The people I lived with didn't mind.
Purr--oh it's just a thing I used to do when I was younger. It still pops up once in a while. It annoyed some of my older friends so I sort of did it on purpose. [She grins] But my pa--family? The people I lived with didn't mind.
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