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[makesthings]

It had been almost a month since he'd left the Bar. A week after he came home, there was a letter from Nick saying that he was going to come to visit, but that was about the only bright thing. He didn't need to ignore doors since they just didn't show up and every day in his workshop, he'd wind the beetle from Kait and try to think about doing his

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[unlessidoit]

Ellie did not, actually, enjoy Petty Court. She was good at listening, getting better at judging, and could appreciate that it was both useful and needed, but she did not enjoy it. She still did it, though, and watching Sameth so blatantly not was infuriating.

And lately, Ellie's patience with her brother has been running thin.

What she said was, "I'll talk to you outside, Sameth." Getting to her feet, she gave him a glare long look, and swept out of the Court. She walked just far enough to get out of the way, and waited for Sameth to pass. She didn't have to wait long.

"What do you think you are doing?" She hisses at him, stepping into his path.

[makesthings]

Her glare was quite piercing but Sameth was used to them, he saw them so often and gives her a look right back when she blocks his way,

"Going to get ready for Perspective or maybe its Abhorsen prep, I'll have to check my schedule."

[unlessidoit]

"That's not what I meant, and you know it."

[makesthings]

"No, I don't. Just let me past."

He doesn't want to argue and she won't understand and let him be since for some reason, she still thinks he's not a failure.

[unlessidoit]

"No."

[makesthings]

Sameth sighs and moves to push past her since the path allows some space.

[unlessidoit]

Her hand snaks out to grab his elbow, pinching, hard.

"You could at least try to appear like you are helping."

[makesthings]

When she pinches him, he just glares at her again and holds his elbow before walking on, he knows she won't cause a scene,

"I am helping."

[unlessidoit]

"You're not. You're sulking."

[makesthings]

"I'm not sulking. I'm doing my duty, I haven't missed anything so just let me be."

He knows she won't understand what's really wrong that he can't do what he needs to so he just does what he can.

[unlessidoit]

Ellie clenches her jaw, watching him walk away. Then, after some internal arguing, she throws her chin up and marches after him.

"You're doing your duty? Fine. What happened in the Petty Court today?"

[makesthings]

"Nothing, you didn't need me."

If he can just get a bit farther, he'll reach the start of the stairs to his tower and hopefully escape her.

[unlessidoit]

I do!

But she can hardly shout that down the hallway.

"How do you know?"

[makesthings]

He stops and turns to her at that and for a moment just looks tired along with being annoyed,

"You don't. The few times that I've missed, you've been fine. Everyone trusts you and talks about how good a job you're doing."

[unlessidoit]

She crosses her arms and glares at him. She doesn't seem at all mollified by his explanation; if anything, she seems more annoyed than ever.

"And what," she says, coolly, "if I am not there?"

[makesthings]

"Then I'll manage."

Its all he's good at doing lately, he manages and tries to finish things in his workshop, not that he has anyone to show them to.