(Untitled)

[precocioustilda]

And lo, a Matilda appears. Her nose is in a book as she wanders down the stairs, yet she successfully manages to navigate the bar and plunk herself down in a seat by the fire, still reading. Feel free to interrupt. Despite appearances, she's feeling sociable.

Comments

[balletrat]

*From a nearby armchair, Meg watches the small girl make her way through the bar, and finds herself rather impressed.

Avoiding that many chairs and tables takes skill.*

[precocioustilda]

Hey, what can you say? That much reading develops certain skills in a girl.

Like drinking hot chocolate and reading at the same time.

Which is what Tilda's doing right now.

Conveniently, in an armchair very close to Meg's.

Mmm, hot chocolate.

[balletrat]

*Interrupting a reader deep in their book can be a perilous act.

Fortunately, Meg's always been reckless.*

Good book? *she asks, with a headtilt and a friendly smile.*

[precocioustilda]

Matilda looks up with a cute grin. "Yes, very. And good hot chocolate, too. Would you like some?"

She has found that offering hot chocolate to people immediately upon meeting them is a good way to earn their favour.

[balletrat]

Oh - merci, but I'm all right.

*Meg grins and raises her coffee cup. A little sheepishly:* Coffee - I'm sort of an addict.

[precocioustilda]

An understanding grin.

"I don't drink coffee. But okay."

Some spark of mischief prompts her to send an origami turtle skittering over to poke the coffee cup with its nose.

[balletrat]

*Meg blinks, squinting down at the turtle, and pokes it lightly with a finger before starting to giggle.*

- I'd pour some out for him, but I think it might make him a little soggy -

[precocioustilda]

Matilda giggles back.

"I don't think he wants any. I see him as more of a hot chocolate person, myself."

The turtle flips upside down and wiggles a bit. This occasions more Tildagiggles.

[balletrat]

*Solemnly:* As long as he stays away from the tea. That stuff's dangerous.

Has he got a name?

[precocioustilda]

"I don't think tea's all that bad."

It's the British in her.

"No; I don't generally name my origami. Would you like him?"

[balletrat]

I'm French, *Meg explains, with a laugh.*

Tea's sort of the national symbol of the other side.

*She squints down at the little turtle.* Well, origami that moves around I think deserves a name of its own - he is awfully cute.

[precocioustilda]

She giggles.

"Oh. I'm British. So I guess that makes me the other side."

She gives the turtle a look. It flips over to be right side up again.

"It doesn't exactly move on its own. I'm doing that."

[balletrat]

*Sympathetically:* It's all right. You can't help it - being British, I mean.

Moving the turtle, I guess you can, though, *she adds, glancing up with some interest.*

Is it a superpower sort of thing? Or magic, or what?

[precocioustilda]

A shriggle. That'd be a shrug/giggle hybrid, for those of you not in the know.

"I'm not sure exactly what it is. I can move things with my eyes."

And a Look. Yes, that Look. The snarkface Look.

"I'm not sure being British is something I need help with."

[balletrat]

My cousin can phase in and out of existence, *Meg offers.*

It's maybe something like that. Technically they're mutants, I think, though I don't know if that's exactly the right word -

*The tiny snarkface gets a broad grin.*

[precocioustilda]

She giggles.

"I don't think I'm a mutant. I think I'm just me." A tiny shrug.