(Untitled)

[smallestopener]

Ingress skips in through the House of Arch painting and then around the bar

Comments

[puckishly]

Puck may be peering over her shoulder.

"My," he says. "I'd not taken you for an artist, dearling."

[smallestopener]

"I draw lots and lots," she says, smiling. "When I was little, I'd come and draw here all the time."

She knows Mary hates Puck, and Tom and Door don't care for him, either, but she likes him just fine.

She draws a small D in the center of the page. She's not too sure how to spell "Dickon".

[puckishly]

"Clearly 'twas my own ignorance, then," he says, and smiles.

And ... peers.

Whaaaat could she be spelling?

[smallestopener]

"That's okay. You didn't know me then."

She turns over the paper and begins drawing a picture of a boy.

[puckishly]

"Most magnanimous of you to say."

As the new drawing begins to take shape, Puck grins a little.

"... And how do you fare these days, Ingress dear?"

[smallestopener]

"I'm happy."

She draws a blue-haired girl next, standing beside the boy.

[puckishly]

"Really? That's something few can boast of, you know."

He sidles over and takes the chair opposite hers.

"Care to divulge to secret of it? Or shall that break your concentration?"

[smallestopener]

She shrugs, smiling wider.

"I'm just happy!"

She hasn't connected Dickon with her extra happy mood. She probably won't, since she's only eight. But that's okay.

There are more hearts now, ringing the boy and girl figures.

[puckishly]

Puck tilts his head.

That's kind of zen, actually. Ingress is a tiny master of koans.

Also, that picture is the cutest thing to ever cute.

"Well," he says with a grin. "I do hope that enviable state continues, then."

[smallestopener]

"Me, too."

She sighs. It is a happy sigh.

"Oh, do you know Dickon? He's Mary's friend, so maybe you don't."

[puckishly]

"I do, as a matter of fact," Puck says cheerfully.

Moohahaha?

"That is, our paths have crossed."

[smallestopener]

"I just met him. He's nice. He has freckles and he likes flowers and he's-"

She sighs, trailing off as she colors a few more hearts.

[puckishly]

Puck does not giggle.

Or pat Ingress' ickle head.

But those who know him well will recognize an unmistakable aura of awwwww.

"He seems a fine lad, from what I know of him," he says."

[smallestopener]

She beams at this.

"I wish he'd come back to visit. I want him to stay in the House of Arch and go to school there and be my best friend ever in the whole wide world. Except for Megwyn, I mean."

She corrects herself. "He can be my best friend who's a boy in the whole wide world."

[puckishly]

Puck grins.

"Have you asked him yet whether he will or no?"

[smallestopener]

"Not yet. I hope he says yes."