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[furgood]

Meulin Leijon
7752 Sweet Tea Alley
1334 Pound Cake Lane

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[devoutish]

Well, I was gonna steal you away for a bit, but if you're writing - shall I come back later?

[furgood]

Oh, no, I should get out. I've been holed up in here for like two days. Not-- you know what I mean?

[devoutish]

Mm, yeah. What are you working on, then? You've got that book, don't you?

[And things about Panem for the museum, but he can't imagine that that would have her holing up for days on end.]

[furgood]

Books don't write themselves. [Scarf and jacket acquired, she winds her arm around his ] I'm kind of in the editing phase. Knock out any ridiculous plot holes. Grammar. Errant cat puns.

[devoutish]

"Plot hole".

[He repeats, leaning into her companionably as they walk away from the house.]

Is that when the plot becomes far too dense and dark, as if it's taken a long fall into a deep hole, and you've got to find a way to bring it round again?

[furgood]

Um... sometimes it can be. It's sort of like... bits that don't make sense if you think too hard. Or that contradict facts about the people or world or stuff. Holds in the fabric of the story.

[devoutish]

Illogic. I see it now.

[Gently, he steers them towards the lake.]

[furgood]

[She hums, curious but not asking ] Basically? Trying to make it so you don't have to think too much about how the story fits together.

[devoutish]

You'll need a test reader at some point, I expect, won't you? I don't read romances, normally, but for you...

[furgood]

[Teasing:] Don't have to force yourself.

[devoutish]

It would be a pleasure to read anything you wrote.

[Pause.]

I expect this is where you'll call me a flatterer.

[furgood]

[Meulin kisses his cheek ] Maybe. It's sweet at least. You have a lot of faith in my capabilities.

[devoutish]

I can be brutally honest, if you like. Pick it apart.

[furgood]

Well, let me get it a little more polished before that. I'm more than aware that it's not up for that.

[devoutish]

I'm only joking.

[He says, elbowing her lightly in the ribs.]

[furgood]

Are you? [Grins] Honestly, I wouldn't mind a critique. I've gotten my things torn apart by editors before.

[devoutish]

Well, I'm not editor, really. I'm only here to drag you out; make sure you don't waste away writing for days.

[furgood]

An impurrtant person in a writer's life. Every girl needs one.

[devoutish]

I've got stories to share, as well.

[He leans in, kissing her on the top of the head.]

I haven't told you about how I was turned into a fox.

[furgood]

[A pleased hum meets both his affection and the prospect of new stories ]

What-- and you didn't come show me? I was sure I'd be there for your first animal cupcake. Fox is a weird choice got you though.

[devoutish]

[Wryly:]

Not quite. This was a trick.

[furgood]

Someone-- what? Why? [Her grip tightens on his arm ] Phil wouldn't do that on purpose, I'm sure.

[devoutish]

[Alfie snorts.]

No, Phil is just careless. No - this was Navarro. Revenge, because I was rude to Renart.

[furgood]

When were you even...mn. I'll assume that he knew your feelings on the matter of the transformation magic. Or it wouldn't be revenge.

[devoutish]

Mm, yeah. Royce was fucking furious; he said he would have preferred he'd killed me.

[Which... ruffled Alfie's feathers a little, but.]