(Untitled)

[necessary_child]

There is a Sam! He's outside on the jetty, dabbling his feet in the water and watching the sunset.

Come bother him.

Inside is a Martha, curled up on a sofa with a big glass mug of Irish coffee (mmmm, whiskey), a slice of chocolate cake, and a copy of A Study In ScarletShe hasn't noticed that she's acquired a cream moustache from the coffee

Comments

[doesntsaymuch]

Teller, it has to be said, has serious issues with personal space.

That is, he has no respect for it.

So Martha has probably noticed that there's a man wearing a grey business suit and a dive mask, reading over her shoulder.

[took_a_year_out]

She looks up after a few minutes, eyeing him.

"Do you mind?"

[doesntsaymuch]

Teller seems to consider this before shaking his head.

And then he pulls a handkerchief from his jacket and reaches over to try to wipe the cream from Martha's face.

[took_a_year_out]

"Hey!" She uses her book to swat his hand away. "Get off!"

[doesntsaymuch]

Fine. Have cream all over your face. Teller was just trying to be helpful.

He shrugs indifferently as he folds up his handkerchief and slides it back into his pocket.

[took_a_year_out]

She gives him an odd look, wiping the cream off herself.

"Has nobody ever told you about the concept of personal space?"

[doesntsaymuch]

Teller just shrugs, smiling an odd little smile.

Apparently not.

Although, now he's rather curious about the book that she tried to hit him with. People seem to read very interesting things around here, he's noticed.

[took_a_year_out]

Martha tilts her head. "Don't do talking?"

[doesntsaymuch]

Teller shakes his head.

Of course not. This is more fun.

[took_a_year_out]

She laughs a little. "Okay."

Her coffee really does bring all the weirdos to the yard.

"One-sided conversations don't get boring?"

[doesntsaymuch]

Teller shakes his head.

And then he coughs, bringing up a grey mouse, which falls onto the back of the sofa.

He hardly seems to notice.

[took_a_year_out]

Martha hastily jerks away.

"That's gross!"

Yes, she can cut open dead bodies and living people without turning a hair, but coughing up a mouse is disgusting. It's a thing.

[doesntsaymuch]

Oh, what? This little thing? Teller picks up the mouse and gently strokes it with his fingertips.

Just a harmless pet, see?

[took_a_year_out]

Oh, it's alive! That's not so bad.

"Aww, it's cute." She holds out her hand. "Can I?"

[doesntsaymuch]

Teller very gently offers her the mouse. The critter seems used to being handled like this, and doesn't even try to bite or scratch.

She's just lucky he has some tact, and didn't cough up the tarantula instead.

[took_a_year_out]

She pets the mouse's head carefully. It really is cute.

"So that was a magic trick, right?" People do not really cough up live mice, after all. "How'd you do it?"