[For Sugar and Sophie] Good as new

[blackjewelmale]

It might have taken a little while to repair the Shields woven into the ring that Sugar had entrusted to his care and tending: Karla's Craft is a bit different from his, given her nature as a Healer and a Queen, and he has to take care not to disrupt the core. But he's able to restore the Shield, enhancing it, given that his Black Jewel outranks

Comments

[crimson_sugar]

It will be at night, and Saetan will find them in the kitchen. Though Sophie is now heavy, she's in Sugar's arms, and they are talking in quiet hushed tones.

The little girl's face is tear-stricken from a nightmare, and milk is already warming on the stove. Sugar, on the other hand, is entirely focused on soothing the girl.

[blackjewelmale]

He'll clear his throat gently, letting the ladies know they aren't alone just before he enters the room. "My ladies... Is something troubling the little one?" he asks, gently, concerned.

[crimson_sugar]

Said little one is rather cuddly and clinging a little to Sugar, who is keeping a hand in her hair.

"It's only a bad dream, my lord," she replies, inclining her head where she cannot curtsey.

[blackjewelmale]

He bows his head to her, acknowledging her gesture and understanding. "Perhaps I can be of assistance, or at the least, I can give you something to ease her lady mother's mind and spirit," he says. And he'll hold up a small black velvet pouch on the flat of his hand, holding it out to her. "Karla's gift to you: I have restored it and added some extra reinforcement to the Shields."

[sophie_darling]

Sophie looks up, as if she were suddenly awake.

"Auntie Karla's back?"

She looks incredibly, incredibly hopeful. "Does she remember me?"

Go ahead! I'll alternate as needed.

[blackjewelmale]

He'll shake his head sadly. "Alas, no, my dear lady," he says. "But she did leave something behind with your lady mother, something that I mended for her when its magic left with Karla."

[crimson_sugar]

Sugar tries to remain polite, but gives Saetan a bit of a pleading look: she never told Sophie about the ring, nor does she intend to.

The less people know, the less Darkling will know.

"It's just a little ditty," she insists, smiling, "it's for memories, you see?"

[blackjewelmale]

He gets the hint as to what Sugar is getting at: mothers know better how to handle a child's delicately balanced heart. "A ring to remember the lovely things of the past, with a spell to help store them, the better to be recalled when needed," he says, thoughtfully.

[sophie_darling]

"Ooooooh." Sophie considers this, then nods. "So, it's a keepsake?"

She may or may not be curious enough to try to steal it from her mum, so she can examine it.

[blackjewelmale]

"In so many words, it is," he replies, simply and straightforward.

Stealing it would be plotterrific...

[crimson_sugar]

"A very important keepsake, poppet," Sugar adds. "And a secret. You mustn't tell a soul. Promise?"

The little girl crunches her face, nods.

Oh god the panic. Yes, it would be.

[blackjewelmale]

"There is power in this trinket: it's safe, but it's the kind of thing that must be kept close to one it was meant for," Saetan adds. "It could cause someone else to remember things that they're safer not remembering."

Not entirely a lie, but a half-truth told to protect sensitive things...

[sophie_darling]

The kid listens, because she's with Sugar, because also Saetan is impressive, like a grandpa (she never really had one) or like a very very old and serious and slightly ponderous uncle.

"Yes sir," she replies. "I promise I'll keep the secret, sir."

[blackjewelmale]

He'll smile on her, and bow to her. "I trust you with that promise, as a lady of your word," he says.

[crimson_sugar]

Sugar smiles, a little softly.

"It's important, poppet."

The little girl nods, nestles her head against her mother's shoulder. To Saetan, Sugar says, "Thank you, sir, for everything."

She's clearly grateful beyond words.

Looks like we might be good to wrap up? I'll assume Saetan gets to see Sophie once in a while, most often with Sugar, who likes to confide in him with regards to the difficulties of Cal's return? Sophie will occasionally demand attention and want to show him stuff, generally 1910s comics she's reading.

Works?

[blackjewelmale]

"It was an honor to serve both you, my ladies," he replies.

Perfect arrangement: and I think Saetan likes Sophie a *lot*, as if she were his own granddaughter.