Cywyllog is sitting in a chair with tea, but it's not by the fireplace. Tonight, she's near the observation window, staring at the exploding stars. Good, wholesome, mindless entertainment. Bother at will.
"I know. Bar seems to be having fun with my time again. It's good to see you."
Malcolm can't help but notice she's not there with her children. He doesn't ask, but he guesses she's still Bound. But maybe there are other things to talk about.
"Well ... simple pleasures. There's something to be said for those sometimes."
Malcolm watches a nebula go smoosh. "Is it just me or does it seem different every time? You'd think one universe ending would be the same as any other."
"We certainly did NOT get along at first. And I still have my doubts, to be honest. But he does seem to try to get along with people here at the bar more than he used to."
"And in at least a couple of cases, yours being one of them, he makes a special effort."
"We've reached ... I guess I would call it an understanding, though that makes it sound more formal than it is. I try to give him the benefit of doubt where I can. To some degree he's earned that."
Malcolm has an idea of what the more appropriate words might be, but he doesn't need to go there just now (Parnasse-Wytha, or, omg, Parnasse/Wytha), so he's not going to.
"It never hurts to have another person to look out for you. Even here."
"Well," Malcolm looks away for a moment, a trace of a smile on his face. "I guess he would recognize someone doing something stupid. He's had his moments too."
Of course, were he here, Parnasse would probably point out that Malcolm's had some too. But then he's not here.
"Hello, Lady Cywyllog, how are you?"
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Malcolm can't help but notice she's not there with her children. He doesn't ask, but he guesses she's still Bound. But maybe there are other things to talk about.
"Have I missed anything exciting?"
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"Just this, really." She gestures to the chair and the teacup, a little apologetically.
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Malcolm watches a nebula go smoosh. "Is it just me or does it seem different every time? You'd think one universe ending would be the same as any other."
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"Has Montparnasse ever spoken to you of me?"
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"He hasn't said anything specifically." (A bit of a white lie there.) "Parnasse isn't exactly the kind to share his opinions."
"But he seems to care about you."
Malcolm says that last part like he can hardly believe he believes it. But he does. Mostly. Sort of.
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"We certainly did NOT get along at first. And I still have my doubts, to be honest. But he does seem to try to get along with people here at the bar more than he used to."
"And in at least a couple of cases, yours being one of them, he makes a special effort."
"We've reached ... I guess I would call it an understanding, though that makes it sound more formal than it is. I try to give him the benefit of doubt where I can. To some degree he's earned that."
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"Which, by the way, is always a good thing. We're all better off when he's a little ... off-balance."
"Do you really think of him that way? As a brother? Or at least a cousin, maybe?"
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"A brother, yes. Younger brother." She feels the distinction is necessary. "I never had one of those."
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"It never hurts to have another person to look out for you. Even here."
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"I would more call it him telling me when I have done something stupid." Which really isn't as often as one might think.
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Of course, were he here, Parnasse would probably point out that Malcolm's had some too. But then he's not here.
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