(Untitled)

[shadowsusannah]

It's officially not any of her business, but Susannah finds the news that Elizabeth Tevlin's son has reappeared--dropped on the doorstep of her sister by an unknown party--simultaneously worrying and comforting

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[cutting_edgex23]

X, with her hair still slightly damp from a swim in the lake, pauses by Susannah's table.

"You are busy now?"

[shadowsusannah]

She sets the pen aside. "Well, I'm occupied, but not with anything important," she says. Precision of language. "How are you, X?"

[cutting_edgex23]

"I am okay."

Beat.

"I have more fish. Now."

[shadowsusannah]

"Oh, good! How many?"

[cutting_edgex23]

"Six."

Beat.

"They do not try to kill each other. That is good."

[shadowsusannah]

"Yes," she says. "It certainly is. Is that a problem with fish?"

Susannah has never tried to keep an aquarium.

[cutting_edgex23]

"Sometimes. They can be territorial."

Because of Pym, for instance, X will not be getting any more bottom feeders.

"I will still need a snail."

[shadowsusannah]

"What for? Or just because you like snails?"

Do people like snails?

[cutting_edgex23]

"They keep the tank clean."

Beat.

"It is what the books say. And the websites."

[shadowsusannah]

"Oh. I suppose that makes sense," she says.

Well, it doesn't not make sense. "Do you enjoy it? Managing the tank, and all?"

[cutting_edgex23]

"Yes," X says, very promptly.

"It is useful."

Beat.

"I like being busy."

She also likes taking care of things -- and people -- but it is not something she has words for. Not yet.

[shadowsusannah]

She nods."It's good to keep active. I have a garden in Maine I'm trying to get in order--it got left to the deer and the bindweed last summer, I'm afraid."

[cutting_edgex23]

"There are flowers?"

X tilts her head slightly.

"In the garden. Or it is where you grow food?"

[shadowsusannah]

"Mostly flowers, and some herbs. We've planted things there a time or two--peppers sometimes, and zucchini once."

Never again. "I'm not sure if we will this year. Depends on how much help I get with the weeding. Right now I have Eddie to fetch and tote and carry, but he's got a tour coming. Flowers are a little easier."

[cutting_edgex23]

"I have never had a garden," X says.

"The cactus is not the same."

[shadowsusannah]

"It's... something to do," she says. "I like the flowers more than the tending of them, to be honest, but you don't get nice things without hard work. That's just how it works."