(Untitled)

[tends_to_panic]

taktaktak*pause*taktak*pause*taktaktakTwo rooms off one of the less-travelled halls of the Mansion; the outer serves as living room and office at once. It's preternaturally neat and tasteful, as rooms in the Mansion tend to be, done all in immaculate beige and brown -- but there's the aquarium, moved from the window to a warmer spot near the door

Comments

[ari_v_2_0]

"How's it going?" Ari asks, standing diffidently on the hall side of the door.

[tends_to_panic]

Hello, familiar.

"Not bad. Quiet."

[ari_v_2_0]

Never fear, this time there are no fish.

"Good," Ari says, and nods.

[tends_to_panic]

He leans back in his chair. "You?"

[ari_v_2_0]

"All right." She leans against the doorframe.

"My maman's here."

[tends_to_panic]

That does startle him. He takes in a careful breath. "I suppose there's no reason she shouldn't be, is there?"

[ari_v_2_0]

"No. No reason she shouldn't be."