coparent

[duke_of_illusions]

Barma knocks on Break's door with his foot. His arms are caught up holding the tea tray.

It's important that they speak, and in the interest of doing it civilly- tea.

Comments

[info-barma.livejournal.com]

"And we will have to begin working on that all over again with Vincent."

He sighs.

[almost_knightly]

Break's eye narrows.

"No. No, we won't. When I said I'd help he started parroting a 'thank you for your kindness' speech at me, and when I told him Canterbury was a doctor he said they didn't have the money for one.

"Barma, I fink this one's fresh off the street. He won't even know who Jack is."

[info-barma.livejournal.com]

"Lord help us."

Barma sighs.

"And- this is important- we can't let his older counterpart feel forgotten."

[almost_knightly]

"And we've only got one tiny Gilbert between them."

Face in hands again.

"He's already mad enough 'cause I won't let him have any stupid scissors."

[info-barma.livejournal.com]

"We'll just have to plan a few events with him in particular in mind. Continue the morning cooking whenever possible, read to him diligently."

He nods.

"Jack will help. I nominate that he not meet the new Vincent- not yet, at least. Let him keep his complete attention on the older version."

[almost_knightly]

"Gilbertine seems inclined to cling to him for the moment and she said he mistook her for his mum, so the younger one certainly won't lack for attention. I figger he'll be spending a lot of time wiv me, too, as I'm familiar wiv the injury."

The ferret in the button bucket finally awakens, disturbed by the voices. She leans her head out to sniff at the tea, and Break idly moves to scratch behind her ears.

"I don't know if he noticed me eye's red or not."

[info-barma.livejournal.com]

"-you have some sort of rodent in your room."

More importantly.

[almost_knightly]

"This," Break says, with immense dignity, "is the Lady Buttercup von Fuzzbutt."

Gently, he picks her up out of the bucket. Less rodent, more weasel. She sniffs at the tray, but when there isn't any food to be found, she snubs it in favor of running up Break's arm to settle on his shoulder.

"She belongs to Hatter, but visits me often."

[info-barma.livejournal.com]

"That's unsanitary."

It must be. He's from a time where rats are... something different. A harbinger of plague and sorrow.

[almost_knightly]

"Oh, but she's not. She's very well-trained, never makes a mess where she shouldn't. The worst problem she could have is fleas, same as any dog or cat, and we check her daily."

He's petting her more actively now, and she's snuffling around at his hair, confused because it's in a ponytail today.

"It's best to wash hands before eating if you've been handling her, but it's best to wash hands before eating anyhow."

[info-barma.livejournal.com]

"Dogs and cats aren't sanitary either."

He points out. Barma is from rather a different time, and he's eyeing her with distaste.

[almost_knightly]

"Neiver are small children or frogs, if you want to be upfront about it," says Break dryly. "In all cases, it's only a matter of keeping fings clean. It's fings like poor handling and parasites that cause disease, not the animals themselves."

[info-barma.livejournal.com]

"You'll notice I have neither small children nor frogs in my hair at this point in time?"

He points out, still leaning back.

[almost_knightly]

"You've never just -- sat wiv a purring cat on your lap on a cold night, have you? Or seen the little Elliot around here wiv his dog."

Break is still petting the ferret, quite content. After a few more moments, she hops down to curl up in the crook of his elbow, feeling dozy.

"The value an animal can add to your life is worf it. It's not just responsibility, like Liam wiv his frog. You're interacting wiv anovver living creature, and that always means somefing."