Post MoM AU, general post

[use_everything]

And then one day, it was over.

The memory of how it happened was hazy. Perhaps it was as simple as being ported out, perhaps there was a great experiment, bringing together physicists, chemists, alchemists and scientists to get something WORKING. But like the memories of that time, that other dimension, singular events come and go, like a dream, or an age past.

From the very start, however, there were changes.

Comments

[dendarii]

[ Mlies graciously acquiesces to being handled for a little while. ]

That's what makes it fun. And I knew you'd catch me anyway.

[failureisntachoice]

You know what's even more fun? Giving me more warning so I don't have to cut it so close in grabbing you. [ Meaning yes, she might let him do that again. She gives him a slight look before setting him down.

Even as she continues, it's more good-natured teasing than anything else. ] You could at least try to make my job easier.

[dendarii]

[ Miles instantly latches on to the implicit offer there. As clever as he may be as an adult ... he is downright wily as a child. Prone to wriggling his way in and out of trouble with alarming alacrity. ]

So if I tell you, we can try it again?

[failureisntachoice]

I'll think about it, [ she says casually. ]

Depends on how you're being the rest of the day.

[dendarii]

Well I'm not gonna sit still. I could go flying instead.

[ Always his next suggestion when he's not allowed to do something dangerous. ]

[failureisntachoice]

I didn't say you had to sit still. I'd be an idiot to ask you to do that. [ She likes to think she's not that much of a damn fool. ]

Give me a top three list of reasonable things you want to do and we'll go from there.

[dendarii]

[ That provokes a spark of interest. He mulls over his options. ]

Hide and seek. Horseback riding. Eating cookies.

[failureisntachoice]

Well we can get cookies easily. [ And it doesn't involve him weaseling around the house while hiding or falling off of horses.

She offers him her hand, leaning down enough for him to hold it easily. ]

[dendarii]

[ Miles nods, accepting this bribe. He reaches up to put his hand in hers. ]

The cook made a fresh batch. I checked this morning.

[failureisntachoice]

And how many did you nab while you were there?

[dendarii]

Just two. Until she caught me and threw me out. But she won't throw you out.

[ Master strategist in action. ]

[failureisntachoice]

No, but I can watch her throw you out, [ she says as if she's pondering the idea for a good, long moment. ]

But I think I'd rather snag a few cookies for us instead.

[dendarii]

[ Miles' expression sags, then brightens again. Warm, childish affection brightens their link as well. ]

Good. C'mon, let's go then.

[failureisntachoice]

[ How her new job ended up as child wrangler, she's not sure, but it makes it more worthwhile with how easily pleased he is. ]

Once we extract the cookies safely, we can see about playing hide and seek. If you promise to stay within the boundaries.

[dendarii]

[ Miles is usually happy as long as he's doing what he wants to do. Or has been tricked into doing something he thinks he wants to do. Like now. He heads for the kitchen, bounding along ahead of her. ]

What boundaries this time?

[failureisntachoice]

[ She lets his hand slip out of hers as he goes on ahead. As long as he's in sight, she's happy. ]

Main floor only, no cramming yourself in spaces you're too big for.

[dendarii]

[ He's not going far. Mostly because he knows the cook will toss him out without an adult. ]

Deal. I'll follow both of those rules.

[ And only those two rules. ]

[failureisntachoice]

[ She keeps at a decent pace, knowing that moving too slowly would invoke his impatience. They'll make it to the kitchen quickly. ]

Good because your da asked for a status report later.

[ Not really, but she aims to give Aral one anyway along with whatever photographs or videos of the day's activities were worth sharing. ]

[dendarii]

[ It has the added effect of Miles reconsidering what he wants to do. If he pushes those rules too much, Da will hear about it ...

Eh. Cookies first. Mischief later. The cook scowls a bit when she sees Miles come back for seconds, but won't argue with Tex. ]

I'm fine. Nothing broken today. An' I didn't fall off the bannister so you don't have to tell him about that either.

[failureisntachoice]

You don't want to tell him about your fun sliding down it?

[ She gives the cook a nod in greeting and a quick look of apology for bringing Miles back into her domain. That doesn't stop her from snagging a cookie for herself however. ]

[dendarii]

[ He squirms a bit at that. ]

Um ... I don't think he'll see fun first.

[failureisntachoice]

You think so? Why not?

[ Because she wants to hear Miles admit it. ]

[dendarii]

[ Even now he's reluctant. Looking down at his cookie instead of replying. ]

Because ... I coulda broken the bannister.

[failureisntachoice]

I don't think he'd be that concerned about a banister.

[ She's seen how Aral operates long enough to know that'd be the least of his concerns. ]

[dendarii]

[ Miles knows that too. He takes a bite of his cookie. ]

I coulda broken me?