I gesture ::Well done:: a few times without disturbing Ace, then rest my hand on Dog.
Mouth up next to her ear: "I told Ace we'd help Hope. Maybe when we do whatever we do, we get Hope out first. Just take her out of it, so she doesn't make any s…
I'm happy for us to just hold each other while we wait for Dog's return. I half-sing a lullaby into Ace's hair, quieting only as I myself slip into an almost sleep. I don't say or sign anything, but the other Arrows should know it's cool if they e…
My vision sort of goes white, and it's like I'm going to faint for a second. I slide out from under Chance, not saying anything back. It probably looks weird but I just can't handle that kind of talk.
I end up next to Ace. I don't say anything y…
I laugh at the whispered suggestion. "That doesn't seem like a good bet. Folks usually catch what Belka's throwing, if she's throwing hard enough."
Thinking about plans for HM doesn't seem so fun to me, so I quiet down a bit when I'm answering her…
A frisson of cold runs through my spine from watching Ace talk. Ace talks like she's dancing, wide gestures, hard swipes. Talking about the wind, being the wind, she's hypnotic-like. I find myself nodding, then I catch myself. That shred of feel…
I'm frozen. Did I go to all that trouble to keep HM alive for the rest of the gang to just decide to end the bastard?
Can't see all the handsigns Dog is talkin' at Ace. I just wait.
I shrug against her. "I don't miss that life, at all. But feels strange to see that face again and just get... nothing. I'd take anything else. Fear, anger, anything. And now he's gonna be here all the time? What a red bloody flood."
Maybe tha…
I settle in against Dog. "Okay."
I thank Elder Mako when he comes by with the drink, keep sipping and hide my shudders. "I saw Harbormaster today. At the Club. He...almost ignored me." I'm pretty sure Dog will hear both my relief and confusion.
"Thought you looked familiar," I say to Grunge.
I let myself get pulled into Dog's orbit, steal a swig from her drink while I wait for my own. Consider her question. "Yeah," I say. "Happy enough. Remind me to tell you about Snikt and Bamf later.…
::She looks sticky,:: I sign to Cujo, turning towards Grunge and flicking a bit of hair away from the makeup sweating off the stranger's cheeks. ::But nice enough?:: The question mark is conveyed with a shrug.
"I'm August," I say out loud to Grun…
I slide in the door and follow the noise, acknowledging the Arrows assembled with a nod or a wave. A wary wink at Rainey. Raise my eyebrows at Dog when she has to learn Cujo that lesson.
Sidle up to Grunge, put my arm on her shoulder. Careful no…
"Of course I'll return. And perhaps, if I find any other books, you'll read them to me?"
Union's tales intrigue me, as does their company. When we part, it is a pleasant feeling.
I hold my hand up in a silent goodbye as the door closes between me and Bon. I'll figure out how to thank her later.
I get back on my bike and tap the back seat in an invitation to Union. Whistle a note to Drumma and let her play-peck at my hair.…
I'm feeling really chuffed, the way this is working out. Sometimes you try to do a nice thing and it blows up in your face. You end up with unhappy campers and no eyelashes for three weeks. But this seems to have gone real well.
I just smile b…
I laugh. "I don't tell that one often, can't keep a straight face. Well met, Seaward. I will see you around." I give him a little smile and then circle back to Bon and Union.
I look from Bon's agreement to Union, genuinely curious what they'll s…
I give a small nod back to Union, but wait for Bon's response. To give them a little space, I walk over to my h-bike, extend my hand slowly towards Drumma before carefully preening the feathers on the top of her head towards her beak. When she tri…
I shake my head slightly towards Bon's retreating back, wondering, then bring my cloth back against my own forehead, wring it out. Use it to wrap up the white lace, now forgotten by Bon, fold it into my pocket.
As she steps through the door, I s…
The initial silence in response to my request worried me so much that Bon's eventual assent took my off guard. "Thank you," I say simply, trying to think of a way to make sure she knew how much I appreciated it. Union just seemed like such a good …
I fall back as we reach the window box -- our physicality is too strained, I can't find the sweet spot. I tie up my hair and start working the well pump. Best thing about coming to the greenhouse is getting cleaned up a bit.
I decide not to tell …
I blink, glance down at myself, back at Bon. "Oh, I'm right as rock. Just not every day I end up in the greenhouse with you, so thought I'd ask." Return the smile.
I follow Bon to the window box, being sure to dodge fertilizer and pottery with…
I leave Union with Drumma and my bike.
I take a circuitous route towards Bon, looking carefully at the different herbs and plants that I vaguely recognize. I pocket a handful of mint, enjoy the sharp, clean smell that fills my mouth when I grind o…
I close my eyes, stare against my eyelids for a second. Is it worth it? Maybe. I can always track down Legs later. And I'm nervous that a confrontation with Toyota, done poorly, might mess up whatever fake-gossip Admiral is feeding to Millions.
…
I shake my head. "I've tried a little. But the words ... " I make a gesture like topsy turvy.
"My memory is very good though. Like a trap." I squeeze Union's wrist to emphasize my point.
They seem genuine. And not as jaded as most folks I k…
"Bamf," I repeat. "Snikt. No. But you say you understood the other words? All of them?" Some of the old books had multiple tongues in one volumes, so it didn't mean too much.
I only knew one story in the southern tongue. Memorized only of cou…
Books of art in bags of plastic. My favorite kind.
This isn't working out. I don't need to listen to them scrog. I'll try and nab one of them afterward. Besides, the books sound much more promising. I make an exasperated face in Toyota's directi…
Ah. It's like that, huh.
I put my apology front and center on my face, just hold their hands loosely. Friendly still, but I stop trying to rouse 'em to fever pitch. Maybe I don't have to be bone quiet. Voice low so it won't carry, "Just taking a…
I'm expecting this excursion will be worth it, but only time will tell. Worst case, I'm asking Admiral for forgiveness.
When Union mentions their find, my eyes flash interest, but I put my finger to their lips. I give them a meaningful look -- 't…
"We are," I say. None of their business, to be honest, but it's not complicated and I'll talk about it if they ask. Dog and I don't own each other.
I flick a sign briefly at Admiral so that he knows I'm stepping out. Not going the same direction…