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[furgood]

Meulin Leijon
7752 Sweet Tea Alley
1334 Pound Cake Lane

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[devoutish]

Come for lunch today?

- A.S.

[furgood]

[Rather than reply, she just shows up. Knock knock.]

[devoutish]

[He opens the door for her, leaning in to give her a quick peck.]

Things are quieter here.

[He says, sounding about as heavy as he looks.]

Emily's gone off - home, I suppose.

[furgood]

Oh--oh I'm sorry. I didn't even know. You can't tell when houses don't disappear...

[devoutish]

We had to ask Zephyr, when she didn't come home for dinner.

[He steps back, giving her room to come in.]

[furgood]

[She hesitates, before stepping in and grabbing his hand to give it a squeeze.] I'm... I don't really know what to say. I wish there was something better to say. Do you need me to do anything?

[devoutish]

[He shakes his head, giving her a squeeze back.]

Sit and have lunch with me. That's all.

[furgood]

Well luckily, that's what I came here to do. [She gives him a peck on the cheek and smiles a little tightly]

[devoutish]

What would you like? We've got rabbit stew.

[furgood]

Rabbit stew is fine. Any bread to go with it?

[devoutish]

As much as you'd like. It's hot from the oven.

[furgood]

[Crooked smile] My one true weakness, fresh bread. [Her outerwear is set aside before she wanders to the kitchen in search of a slice, but hesitates to see if he follows]

[devoutish]

[He does, keeping a light hand on her shoulder. There's a breadbox on the counter, where - true to his word - two loaves of rye are stored away. They're not actually hot anymore, maybe, but they're warm enough.]

[furgood]

[The touch steadies her but there's still an air of awkwardness. Her hands flutter and hesitate before setting on finding a knife and her smile is small and doesn't reach her eyes. She babbles to fill the space between reaching the kitchen and finding a knife]

I wish it were spring already. It's beautiful but I'm not made for this weather. And the ice on the sea is so in the way all the time, it makes it hard to fish. I'm stuck fishing in the river like a landlocked person.

[devoutish]

Is that all that's on your mind?

[Even in his own grief, he's still an observant guy, and her face isn't telling a good story right now.]

[furgood]

I'm fine. I just don't really know what to do. [She cuts an uneven slice] Or rather, I'm not sure what your like me to do. Just have lunch but do you want to talk about it. Not talk about it. It's upsetting and I'm upset for you but I don't know what makes things easier for you.

[devoutish]

I'd rather talk of other things.

[That answer comes quick enough.]

Cut me a piece of that, while you've got the knife in hand?

[furgood]

[She does. It's just as uneven as the last slice.]

I did mean it you know, this weather is making me grumpy. I'm meant for sunshine or at least rain. I hadn't seen snow until I left Four.

[devoutish]

I've felt the same, since Norfinbury. It's difficult to drag ourselves out of bed in the cold, sometimes.

[furgood]

If I'd ended up there, it would have been non-stop whining. I am a delicate flower. [Exaggeration. A little bit.]

Beds are best. Then baths, then fires. In that order.

[devoutish]

[It would have been more than whining, Alfie thinks. More like horror, and then trauma.]

And a bedroom with a fireplace in it?

[furgood]

The very best. If only I had one.

... It's an idea. Maybe I should wish for one.

[devoutish]

I do recommend it. We've got one, and it's a blessing in the winter.

[furgood]

I'll think about it. I haven't wished for anything since the islands. Maybe I could just make my room magically the right temperature all the time.

[devoutish]

Mm.

[He furrows his brow, thinking about this.]

But wouldn't you miss blankets?