(Untitled)

[bad_in_latin]

"Five years

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[tobeclosetohim]

"I never pegged you for a cupcake man."

The second to last word is pressed on.

[bad_in_latin]

Mal tries hard not to smile. Isn't he supposed to be all grumpy anyhow?

"Been comin' to Milliways for five years today, apparently. Ma 'n the bar thought they'd have their fun.

"'Sides - dessert's okay by me."

[tobeclosetohim]

"Huh. Five years."

The smirk folds toward a smile.
Maybe it catches more toward thoughtful.

Her words replaced themselves on the way out.
She means it without a bite. She doesn't know.

"Is that long here?"

[bad_in_latin]

"Very few folk I've known been here longer."

[tobeclosetohim]

Well. Alright then. "Congrats to that."

As it apparently ain't killed him yet.

[bad_in_latin]

"Thanks I think?"

[tobeclosetohim]

Jo shrugged. "Rome an' all that."

Except she mostly hates that phrase here.
But only because of her own stupidity.

"No one ever got cupcakes back home for it."

[bad_in_latin]

"For how many years folk came to a bar? Usually at home hangin' round the same place year in year out gets you an invitation to be elsewhere."

[tobeclosetohim]

"Sometimes."

Jo face screwed up, something of a smile in it.
Her hands half in her pockets, thumbs at her belt loops.

"I doubt I'll beat my longest running on here ever as is."

[bad_in_latin]

"How come?"

[tobeclosetohim]

Jo should smile her. She would have before.

Instead, it's simple. Not-quite-flat.

"I grew up in my parents bar."

[bad_in_latin]

"Oh! Shiny."

So Mal thinks?

"Explains the handy with the mean old men."

[tobeclosetohim]

She can deal. She's good at it.
It's no longer the first week.
And her mother's alive now.

And it's easy to spin it away.

"You aren't old, only cranky now and then."

Beat. "And now I can use cupcakes to keep you in submission."

[bad_in_latin]

"You've found my weakness."

One of them, at any rate.

"You been getting into any kinds of trouble lately?"

[tobeclosetohim]

The kind of trouble where she's Dealing with demons?
Capital D. Did that count as trouble? Or only stupidity?

Jo shrugged, fingertips pressing on hip bones.

"About as much as than normal."

[bad_in_latin]

"Wonder the 'verse is still standing then."

What!