Meribia Mansion: Just the two of us?

[gorgonfondness]

"Now you're going to be a good girl while we're gone, aren't you pumpkin?" Mel asks, holding Rachel with his arm and huge hand as they play in his office.

"A'course Gramps!" the small beastgirl coos in agreement. "Will I get a treat?"

Mel chortles before going, "You'll have to eat all of your supper for that."

Their conversation is cut short when a maid approaches. "Master Mel? Majesty Lemia's assistant is here to watch your granddaughter."

Comments

[gorgonfondness]

"Oh yes!" she answers. "I like reading to Auntie Mia's babies. She's got two, you know."

[herr_bookman]

"Oh, that's very kind of you," Autor says, elated by her not only reading, but passing it on as well. His students in the literacy class have depressed him a bit--not because they lack skills; they're actually doing wonderfully--but because of the alarmingly dismal literacy rate around Lunar.

Surely there's more than can be done on that front...

Then he focuses on Rachel again. "Hm, maybe next time we'll have croissants with Cepheus as well."

Autor is pretty amused that she refers to the three-year-old as a baby, given their short age differences. Then again, ages are always difficult for him.

[gorgonfondness]

"Are y'gonna babysit'em?" she asks.

[herr_bookman]

"I might, if someone asks me to. I know I wanted to play with Cepheus at any rate," he says, shrugging.

Then he grins. "But that doesn't matter much at the moment because I'm here with you, right?"

A sudden movement catches his attention, and he looks away. "Hoo, did you see that, Rachel? He knocked him clean out!"

[gorgonfondness]

"Yaaaay!" Rachel cheers and claps, prompting the victor to take a bow.

[herr_bookman]

Autor claps with her, though he does feel sort of bad for the one with the broken nose. They'll pray him back to health in short order, I'm sure.

He offers Rachel an apple slice. "How often do you come here?"

[gorgonfondness]

"Not much. Mom doesn't like me bein' in here."

She nibbles on the apple.

[herr_bookman]

Autor winks at her. "Then this is like treats before dinner. Our secret."

[gorgonfondness]

Rachel nods along.

"Our secret!"

Even though the guards know.

And Master Mel.

And she's definitely going to tell Cepheus and Scorpius.