faun

[shesepankh]

Saturday morning sees Bella with her notebooks about magic all in her knapsack, her medallion safety-pinned by its chain to her bra just in case she trips the wrong way, waiting with Charlie for pickup for the Avalon trip.

Comments

[shesepankh]

"But what if I'm caught without later on and they rescind my badge? I will be a laughingstock."

[castmyown]

"Am I just going to end up doomed to follow you around, carrying your encyclopedias until the end of time?"

[shesepankh]

"Yes. Your job title is 'luggage cart'. On special occasions you will also get to carry my suitcase, you see, and we would like your title to make you feel as important as possible."

[castmyown]

"Oh, well, as long as my ego is soothed," snorts Darren. "Then I can be a luggage cart."

[shesepankh]

"Of course your ego must be soothed, or I'd be booked for labor rights violations or something."

[castmyown]

"Luggage carts everywhere would rise up in protest. There would be unions."

[shesepankh]

"That's what unions were originally for, you know. The forty-hour work week, safer conditions, and soothed egos. You didn't sleep through class that day in History, did you?"

[castmyown]

"Of course not," he snickers. "I am well aware of the horrifically unfair working conditions that left egos unsoothed. I'm glad you're avoiding that route."

[shesepankh]

"I want to be on the right side of history, of course. Remember me kindly in your memoirs."

[castmyown]

"Certainly, just keep soothing my ego and we will get along fine."

[shesepankh]

"You are infinitely more interesting than Mike Newton?" suggests Bella.

[castmyown]

Darren laughs. "Thank you. I wasn't comparing myself to him at all, actually, but I'm glad I win in a contest against him."

[shesepankh]

"You are also highly interesting on an absolute scale, I assure you."

[castmyown]

Well that just makes Darren blush and be flattered! "You are, too," he says, giggling.

[shesepankh]

"Thank you. My ego was not troubled, so it does not need soothing per se, but it can always use a bit of inflation."

[castmyown]

"Of course, is that a secondary job I have? Along with a luggage carrier, an ego inflater?"

[shesepankh]

"Yes. I might wind up giving you so many tasks that I have to abbreviate your job title to 'personal assistant' or something."

[castmyown]

Darren snickers. "Exciting stuff. I can move up in the world!"

[shesepankh]

"Mm-hm."

[steppingup]

That is when Vernon shows up to collect them! "... Coming with us, Bella?" he asks, raising an eyebrow.

[shesepankh]

"Yes please. Also if it's okay with you I'd like to borrow the car to go out for dinner with Darren."

[steppingup]

Pause. Consideration. "Hm. Okay, go ahead, but your father is going to be informed of this, right?"

[shesepankh]

"...That I'm driving, or that I'm going out with Darren? I mean, the answer is yes either way, but it hasn't escalated to urgent information yet."

[steppingup]

"Making sure. Responsible parenthood, it's required."

[shesepankh]

"...Okay."

Bella's not sure she likes Mr. Sanders attempting to parent her, given that he's not her parent, but if he doesn't get more obnoxious about it she's not going to make a fuss.