(Untitled)

[isaysimplewords]

Sam Linnfer and Cal Chandler are on a sofa by the fireplace, taking up less of it than you might think; they're sitting comfortably close, leaning together, with Cal slouched down to accommodate Sam's much smaller frame. (Either Cal is too tall or Sam is too short. It really depends on who you ask

Comments

[stuck_mynock]

Sam is too small. Atton is assured of this.

Usually he'd feel a little bit awkward about intruding on a cuddly moment, but he's spent the past few weeks on a scavenger hunt for a doom squid. He's too tired to care at the moment.

Thus, Sam and Cal get an Atton draped haphazardly over their shoulders.

[necessary_child]

Atton is a mean Atton, Sam feels. A very mean, bullying Atton.

This is why he looks up at Atton and grins, reaching one arm up to ruffle his hair.

"Hey, dorkface."

[isaysimplewords]

Cal looks up and smiles, a bit lazily.

"Hey, Atton. You ever manage to extort that seal meat from anyone?"

[stuck_mynock]

"I did. Guppy found sealburgers. They were delicious." Atton says. "You were foolish for not getting it for me, Cal. Foolish."

[necessary_child]

"He is, isn't he?" Sam says to Atton conversationally. "Nearly as silly as you are. Going to sit down?"

[isaysimplewords]

Cal rolls his eyes.

"Just because I don't let a polar bear push me around . . ."

What's so silly about refusing to concede the advantage to a predator who could take your head off with very little trouble indeed?

[stuck_mynock]

"You were a hateful Cal. I wanted the seals, and you denied me them!"

To Sam: "No. I won't sit down. I will slump on you." He slumps, a little.

[necessary_child]

"Just because he stood up to you." Sam sticks his tongue out at Atton, leaning against Cal.

"Where've you been, anyway, Lanky?"

[isaysimplewords]

Cal will just take this moment to look mildly smug. And sip the raktajino that Sam has not figured out a way to spill yet.

[stuck_mynock]

"He was being mean! He hates bears. He's a bearist." Atton says, sulkily. "I've been away. I took Guppy and Will to Transimir, and we ended up going on a big long trip to find a doom squid."

[necessary_child]

Give him time, Cal.

"...Yes, Atton."

Sam reaches for his coffee.

"Was the doom squid nice?"

[stuck_mynock]

"No! It was also a bearist." Beat. "If I am a bear again, I will bite Cal. Then, then he'll be all 'Why are you biting me, Atton? That is not nice,' and I will be all 'Because you are mean!' and he will be all 'This is true, and a very good reason for biting me. Continue," and I will have sharp teeth."

This is a good plan, Atton feels.

[necessary_child]

Sam bats at Atton's head.

"What if he likes it?"

[isaysimplewords]

"You never know," Cal says.

In theory, it's solemn and enigmatic. In practice, he's laughing.

[stuck_mynock]

Eventually, sulkily: "You are weird."

[necessary_child]

Sam laughs too.

"Pot, kettle and black, anyone?" he teases. "Come sit down properly, Atton. You're bloody heavy."