In the Courtyard on a Birthday Afternoon
The roses have just begun to bloom in the House of Arch courtyard; whether that's due to nature or a charm helping them along is immaterial. Ingress loves the courtyard. It's where she goes for archery and sword lessons, and it's nice, happy place to breathe fresh air. Of course, who knows from which century the fresh air comes; that is immaterial
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She's nine, now, and her legs seem to grow longer every day. She looks less like the little girl he met upon her rescue, sucking her thumb and sitting in Door's lap, and more like the young woman she'll be.
The party is grand fun. He enjoys conversing with the adults in attendance, although he refrains from the games. Someone must keep an eye on the madness, after all.
He watches, that is, until it's time for badminton. After he sets up the net (with a flick of his wand, of course), he taps Ingress playfully (and softly) on the head with a racket. "May I offer my skills as teammate for the first match?"
"Okay, Tom," Ingress laughs, taking the racket. "Do you remember how to play?" It's been a while since the weather was nice enough and the adults not so very busy to break out the badminton gear.
"Hmm," Tom says, staring at the racket he's just picked up. "Let me think. There's something about hitting a bird into the net, right?"
Ingress rolls her eyes at him. She's been doing that more lately, although he thinks it more amusing than disrespectful. So far, at least. "You remember. You're just being a goofball."
"Why, I've never been so insulted in all my days," he says, serving the birdie over the net to their waiting opponents.
"Yeah, yeah, that's what you always say," Ingress says, chuckling as she watches the birdie, ready to hit it back over if it comes her way.
They win the match (of course).
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